[Mind Check-ins] My first talk with recruiter in Japan

It has been one month since I graduated from Le Wagon bootcamp. Most of us have already started exploring job opportunities—and of course, I’m no exception. Thanks to Flo, whom I met at the alumni party, I was introduced to a recruiter named Andre. He’s originally from Germany but has been living in Japan for thirteen years.

To be honest, I felt a bit nervous before our call, as I haven’t had much experience speaking with recruiters. However, it turned out far better than I expected. I wanted to take a moment to jot down some valuable advice I received during our conversation.

Start with a Personal Connection

I joined the video call five minutes early. When Andre logged in, he greeted me with a warm smile. Despite it being our first time meeting, he didn’t act distant or overly formal. Instead, he made me feel like we already knew each other.

Rather than diving straight into business, he began by mentioning my projects. “Hey, I just checked out your GitHub profile and even tried logging into your StudyHive project! That was really interesting!” he said. I was pleasantly surprised—and, of course, excited. It made me feel closer to him because I could tell he’d taken the time to learn more about me.

After that, he asked if I knew the iPhone app "Shortcuts," and began sharing how he uses it for automation. He mentioned how convenient it is and said he wanted to talk about it with me because he doesn’t often get to chat with fellow tech enthusiasts. Even though I had only used the app once or twice, I found the conversation fun and engaging.

Looking back, I think this was a great strategy for starting a conversation. First, it works well as an icebreaker. Second, it shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the person you’re speaking with—which naturally makes people feel appreciated. And third, it gives you a meaningful topic to follow up on later.

Personally, I’ve always found it challenging to maintain connections over time. I worry that people might think I only reach out when I need help. But through conversations like this, I get to know more about what someone genuinely enjoys—like Andre’s passion for automation—which gives me a natural way to continue our dialogue in the future.

Think of Career like a Diet

During our talk, I opened up to Andre about something that had been weighing on me—my career path. I used to work in investment banking, which most people see as a highly promising industry, especially given how well it pays. And it’s true—the salary can be very appealing. But after working there for three years, I started to feel lost. I began to question whether this was truly what I wanted.

At the same time, I’m also very aware of how important money is. So I sometimes wonder if walking away from that opportunity was the right decision.

Andre offered me an analogy that really stuck with me: think of your career like a diet. Investment banking, he said, is like pizza—rich and satisfying—while programming is more like vegetables—nourishing and fulfilling in a different way. There's no absolute right or wrong choice between the two. It all depends on what kind of “nutrients” you’re looking for.

Some people, for example, might make their income through investment banking but find personal fulfillment through programming in their free time. In that way, they’re balancing their “diet” according to what they need most.

His perspective helped me realize that I’ve been limiting my own mindset. I often focus on what I’m giving up when I make a decision, rather than what I’m gaining. But maybe the so-called “loss” isn’t really a loss—it could be a different kind of gain, depending on how I choose to see it.

Talent Is Nothing Without Hard Work

Once you choose a path, stick with it. It’s completely normal to hit low points along the way, but don’t let them shake your resolve. You need to give it enough time and commitment to truly see whether it can work out.

Andre shared one of his favorite quotes with me: “Talent is nothing without hard work.” But he emphasized that hard work doesn’t mean sitting in an office and working around the clock. Instead, it means being fully committed to what you’re passionate about—and sticking with it through both the highs and lows.

Be Open-minded

Andre said, “Career paths are actually pretty random.” He graduated with a degree in computer science, yet never imagined himself becoming a recruiter. But somehow, he ended up in recruiting—and he absolutely loves it.

I could totally relate. Back in university, if someone had told me that I would one day leave investment banking and move to Japan to pursue programming, I would’ve thought they were crazy.

That’s why it’s so important to stay open-minded and let go of our own biases—especially the ones we hold about ourselves. If we let those assumptions define us, we risk missing out on unexpected but meaningful opportunities.

Andre also said, “Interesting people are never just the ones sitting in an office all day.” We often fall into the trap of thinking that success only comes from grinding away in an office and working long hours. But the truth is, there are many different ways to live a fulfilling life.

Some of the happiest, most successful people live low-profile, unconventional lives that we don’t always notice. That’s why we need to break free from narrow definitions of success, stay curious, and remain open to the unexpected paths that might lead us to where we truly belong.

Most of the time, I just need to spend less time doubting myself—and more time sticking to the choices I’ve made.

If I choose a career that’s profitable but makes me miserable, I might end up rich by the time I’m sixty—but not happy.

But if I choose something I’m truly passionate about, I’ll be happy when I’m sixty.

And if I get lucky along the way, I might just end up rich too. Haha :) 💫