BA (Hons) Japanese and Philosophy, graduated July 2009

If you're reading this, most likely you are thinking about your future, the course you wish to take and the career opportunities it will bring to you. Being just a recent graduate myself, I'm no expert on career paths or long-term strategies, but I can tell you where I am now and what I wish I'd known back then.

I chose to undertake a Joint-Honours degree in Japanese and Philosophy. Having just returned from a gap-year in Japan, I was eager to continue my Japanese language education at university but also unwilling to give up the Philosophy that I loved so much in school. Leeds University gave me the flexibility to pursue both and now, 4 years later, I'm very glad that I did. Although balancing the two subjects was at times hard, I felt the two very different disciplines complemented one-another, giving me a much more fulfilling education.

But towards the end of my studies, I became increasingly aware that what I was gaining was primarily just a language skill. Of course, learning about Japanese culture and developing critical thinking skills through Philosophy are also very valuable, but they aren't easy to sell to employers as vocational skills. It sounds almost laughable to write it now, but when I entered university I had not fully considered the qualifications I would have upon graduation. I have now realised that the language I acquired is better thought of as something like a feather in a hat – a compliment to other more important skills.

Put simply, unless you intend to become a professional translator or interpreter, I personally think that a language skill is something you should consider additional to the other skills you have to offer. If you can speak Japanese and do nothing else, you aren't likely to be valuable to employers, but if you know business and economy and can also speak Japanese, you're going to stand out. I'm now working in Japan as a Coordinator of International Relations (CIR) on the JET Programme. The position I have is only temporary and because I lack more vocational skills I plan to use my time here to gain new expertise, further hone my Japanese and network with people so that I may be in a better position to find work afterwards.

But all of the above takes for granted the incredible advice and guidance I received over the 4 years. The Japanese teachers at Leeds University are outstanding. They not only listened to and responded to the needs and opinions of my class, providing us with a thorough grounding in Japanese, but also gave me many hours of individual help and advice. This dedication was, without a doubt, indispensible to my winning the UK Japanese Speech Contest for University Students in 2008, the success in my degree and in landing my first job. Regardless of the skills you decide to develop, you can be sure that the Japanese department will support you all the way in your language education.