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Zentern - Amazing Internships in Japan

Why choose Zentern - Amazing Internships in Japan?

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Reviews

That's me
Manasse
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My six-month product design internship in Tokyo

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What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go for it, embrace it, and be ready for the experience. This is your chance to learn and to experience in an authentic and safe way what it is like to live and work in Japan and in your professional field. On top of that, this will be a huge plus for your resume.

Second and important advice: Live in a Sharehouse. I wasn't sure about this at the beginning, because I am a bit introverted, but this was really a good thing. I made a lot of important and close friends and you can exchange your experiences from Japan with them. There is a huge danger of becoming very lonely in Japan, so I was very thankful. It made my experience in Japan significantly more enjoyable and wholesome, as the work life can be tough. Together, we went on road trips and excursions, supported each other, and really had a lot of quality time together. Plus, if someone moves out from the Sharehouse, you can get a lot of stuff for very cheap or for free. For example a bicycle, which saved me a lot of money 🚲
Pros
  • Super friendly, smooth organization & excellent support
  • Authentic and safe work experience in Japan. I have gained a lot of valuable insights
  • I made a lot of close friends and had a very good time
Cons
  • Be careful that you don't end up with tasks that only involve translating and writing in English. Remind your supervisor that you want to do tasks that you are specialized in.
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Ryan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Graduation internship - Software

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What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
My most surprising experiences happend when I was exploring tokyo without plan.
More often than expected was I able to stumble upon small unplanned events around Tokyo.

Once outside of Nakano station was a drum performance and where they parading a small portable shrine.

And many more to discover.
Pros
  • Helpful Team
  • Fun Events
  • Job Placement
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Madhuri
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An amazing opportunity for personal and professional growth

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What was your funniest moment?
I think I have never laughed as much as I did during the Japanese lessons. The ambiance was always great, very friendly and welcoming. Therefore, not only were we deepening our knowledge of Japan, its language and its culture, but we were also joking around before and after class, being silly with other interns and getting to know each other.
Pros
  • The internship really helps with growth, whether personal or professional.
  • You get to do an internship in the field of you choice, in the beautiful country that is Japan.
  • It is a great way to expand your network.
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Praise
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Experience with Zentern Internships

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What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Dango. Very interesting, chewy texture.
Pros
  • Competitive pricing.
  • Responsive communication and very supportive staff.
  • Enjoyable cultural outings
Cons
  • Internship was less technical than preferred
  • Unclear visa instructions.
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Joy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Thank You, Zentern!

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Praise Nnadi

Praise is a tech enthusiast who loves new experiences and is always eager to learn and grow. He's constantly seeking opportunities to broaden his horizons.
Praise Nnadi

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this Zentern Internship's "Interview + Culture" program because I was actively seeking an opportunity to intern abroad. I wanted work experience, but I also wanted to differentiate myself from others who do more typical internships. And their program stood out to me because the rates were competitive compared to other programs I looked at. And it also offered an interesting opportunity for both professional development and cultural immersion. I've always found Japanese culture and cuisine fascinating, and I loved that they had options for experiencing the culture alongside the internship work. Plus, Japan was an ideal location for me due to its reputation as a safe environment, which was important since I would be far from home.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Zentern Internships assisted in several key areas. They provided the necessary documents for visa applications and they offered advice on managing finances abroad, though I handled the actual applications and account setups. They also gave me access to an accommodation portal and SIM card options, but I was responsible for finalizing (including selecting and paying for) both. For the internship itself, they secured interviews with companies and supported me with interview prep, CV, and portfolio guidance. I still had to follow their instructions to implement their recommendations, however. Also, after securing the internship, they took care of all the required paperwork. Finally, I also had to cover flight tickets myself.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I have several. One is to double-check your visa eligibility (make sure you are applying for the right visa) and apply on time. I learned the hard way that it pays to be diligent in your preparations. My arrival into the country wouldn't have been delayed if I had known I was not eligible for an eVisa and just applied at the Japanese embassy from the start. Additionally, I recommend providing Zentern with all the necessary documents for job applications as early as possible- maybe 4-6 months before you plan to have your internship. This increases your chances of securing a desired role. Finally, I think it's wise to plan your return dates to allow some time at the end of your internship to explore and relax in the country, making the most of your experience abroad. If you can, stay right up till your visa is on the verge of expiring haha

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

My typical workday ran from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. The company I worked for, Mobell, was kind enough to adjust the start time to help avoid rush hour, which was great, although commuting home felt like being a sardine on those crowded Tokyo lines haha! During the week, I engaged in a variety of tasks, including data analysis, visualization, and even charity work with Mobell's sister company, Seibo, where I made school visits and taught an online statistics course. However, my main project was designing a customer support chatbot. Outside work, Zentern arranged cultural activities. They secured a few days off work for me to engage with those sometimes, but most took place on weekends. I spent most weekends, exploring restaurants, arcades, karaoke, local festivals, touring old towns, etc. sometimes with coworkers but mostly via Zentern. Overall, the program was enriching both professionally and culturally.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fears about going to Japan were the language barrier and my ability to cook. To tackle the language issue, I tried to learn as much Japanese as I could, but I ended up heavily relying on Google Translate once I got there. As for cooking, I was a little worried about finding familiar ingredients, but I didn't do any preparation for this beforehand. Once I arrived, however, I found that convenience stores and bento boxes made things much easier than I expected. Plus, the stores were more familiar than I thought, and while I couldn't find everything I wanted, there were plenty of common options and it was fun trying new things too. As for changed views, I realized technology is pretty good for bridging that gap, though I still value being able to connect to someone without external help. I noticed people reacted positively to unaided understanding/communication out of respect for the effort involved in learning a new language. And for cooking, I grew to love convenience stores and really miss them!

How has this program influenced your future career plans?

This program has influenced my future career plans in a few unexpected ways. During the induction event, I had the opportunity to meet the CEO of Zentern in person for the first time. Speaking with her and hearing her story of founding a company in a foreign country was really inspiring. Later in the program, dealing with the language barrier and seeing how technology could bridge that gap gave me a business idea. If I pursue it and it succeeds, then the trajectory of my life could take a completely different direction, potentially leading me back to Japan more often. It's uncertain but exciting to think about. On a practical level, however, I also honed my data analysis and visualization skills, which aligns well with my interest in pursuing data science as a career. The program also provided great networking opportunities, too, and I'm curious to see how those connections may shape my career in the future!

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