🎙 Speaker 1: Philippus “Flippy” Poggenpoel
🌏 Background
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Country: South Africa
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JET Placement: ALT in Nagasaki Prefecture for 3 years
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Post-JET Roles: Sake brewery → Marketing → Nestlé Japan
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Prior Experience: Corporate background before arriving in Japan at age 30
💡 Key Career Themes
1. The Value of Starting Somewhere
Flippy’s first job post-JET at a sake brewery wasn’t ideal—but it allowed him to demonstrate adaptability in a Japanese work setting. He prioritized momentum and staying in Japan over finding the "perfect" job.
“I wanted to just get a job to find my way in Japan… less worried about landing the perfect career.”
2. Translating Experience for Japan
He emphasized the importance of repackaging past experience in terms that Japanese employers would understand.
"If you don’t present your experience in a way that makes sense here, the value is lost."
3. Growth Mindset and Personality Over Credentials
In Japan, employers often hire for potential. Curiosity, initiative, and being "teachable" matter as much as qualifications.
4. On Being a 'Job Hopper'
Flippy embraced change, reframing career transitions as strategic moves rather than instability. Each job built on the last.
5. Navigating Work Culture
Japan’s workplaces are evolving. Flippy noted progress toward flexibility—but also stressed the importance of resilience and curiosity in navigating lingering challenges.
🎙 Speaker 2: Varuna De Silva
🌍 Background
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Country: Australia (Sri Lankan Tamil & Sinhalese heritage)
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JET Placement: 5 years as an ALT in Kansai
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Current Role: Full-time English teacher at a private junior-senior high school
💡 Key Career Themes
1. Job Hunt Anchored in Purpose
Varuna began preparing a year before JET ended. He refined his resumes (EN & JP), requested recommendation letters, and stayed focused on securing a full-time teaching role.
2. Emphasizing Differentiators
His multicultural background, involvement in clubs, and classroom leadership made his applications stand out.
"You have to offer more than just being a native English speaker. My multicultural experience was my edge."
3. Interview Lessons from Failure
After several rejections, Varuna fine-tuned his interview approach by building confidence, preparing responses, and seeking feedback.
4. Making the Jump: ALT → Full-Time Faculty
Now teaches 19+ classes/week, oversees a homeroom, manages curriculum, and student conduct issues—a significant step up in responsibility.
5. Adapting to Japanese Work Culture
He noted both the rewards (trust, community) and challenges (hierarchy, outdated systems). Adaptability remains crucial.
🔑 Key Combined Takeaways
| Theme | Speaker Insight |
|---|---|
| 🔁 Start Small, Aim Long | Flippy’s first role opened doors—don’t wait for perfection |
| 🎯 Define Your Value | Varuna showed how extracurriculars and background can set you apart |
| 💬 Practice Telling Your Story | Tailor your experience for a Japanese context |
| 💪 Stay Resilient | Rejections are common—both speakers learned and improved through experience |
| 🗣 Language Matters | JLPT N2 or higher makes a difference—even for English-based roles |
| 🌏 Build Relationships | JET, community, and alumni connections matter |
| 🛠️ Prepare for Work Culture | Japan is evolving, but patience and flexibility are still key |
At Nisshin Global, our mission is to help you grow professionally in Japan by equipping you with the skills, confidence, and connections you need to succeed.
We offer:
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🔍 Tailored job introductions to Japanese SMEs open to foreign talent
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🧭 Post-hire counseling and support to ensure smooth integration
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🤝 Cultural onboarding and long-term growth alignment
Whether you're just starting out or shifting gears, we're here to guide you every step of the way.
👉 Want to join our matching list? Just reach out—we’d love to connect.
Brett Huestis
Career Support Lead
日賑グローバル株式会社 (Nisshin Global)
📩 huestis@nisshin-global.com