In recent years, engineers who are active in their work are required to have English skills. However, the term “English skills” covers a wide range of levels and types, so by learning about real-life examples of engineers using English, you can understand the English you need to learn. In this article, we will explain real-life examples of engineers who are active in their work using English. Let's grasp real-life examples of engineers using English and do some image training for career development.

In addition to real-life examples, we will also explain the reasons why engineers use English at work and the benefits of learning English. If you are looking for a job where you can use English, please use the job-placement agency “G Talent”, which specializes in global companies.

Summary of real examples of engineers using English at work

First, we have compiled real-life examples of engineers using English at work.

• Communicating with foreigners
• Reading English technical books
• English interviews
• Project management
• Bridge SE work

For each example, we will explain the type of work, the characteristics of the company you work for, and the people you work with, as well as introduce examples of how English was used in the work. Please use the examples of changing jobs, studying abroad, and working overseas as a reference, and imagine your career as an engineer taking on new challenges in a new environment.

Communicating with Foreigners

Mr. A, who has changed jobs to a company where he has the opportunity to work with foreign engineers, uses English in his daily communication. After working in web marketing, Mr. A changed jobs to a global IT company. At his new company, he is able to learn the latest information on IT and English, such as debating with foreigners at morning meetings and being exposed to the latest IT trends on TED, and he is working in a workplace where he can make use of his expertise.

Despite being a small company, the workplace environment is diverse, so I discuss and communicate with native English-speaking engineers, and I am able to work hard alongside colleagues who share the common language of English and IT. I can say that the things I gained by diving into a global environment were significant. This is an example of using English not only at work, but also in everyday conversation.

Reference: 【社員インタビュー Vol.9】DXエンジニア　英語力と専門性を高められるグローバルな環境／株式会社プリンシプル

Reading English technical books

Ms. B, an engineer, started using English in his new job. She had always wanted to work as an engineer using English, and her wish came true.

Since she started working in English, she has been able to read English-language technical books and other voluminous documents with ease. She is still continuing to study IT-related subjects in English, and is also working to improve his English skills in order to keep up with the latest information. This example focuses particularly on reading ability.

Reference: エンジニアの僕が仕事で英語を使うようになって思うこと／masaytan's blog

English interviews

After studying abroad in the US, Ms. C, who became an IT engineer after returning to Japan, was able to make use of the English skills she had acquired during her time abroad and grew to the point where she was able to exchange opinions with the interviewer in English during the interview. She was able to communicate her experiences during his time abroad in English during the interview, and the interviewer was able to understand that she had studied hard during her time abroad. Although she had to interrupt her career to study abroad, she was able to acquire sufficient English communication skills, so she was glad that she had taken on the challenge.

At the web services company where she changed jobs, she reads technical books and websites written in English, and responds in English when she receives inquiries from overseas teams in English. In this example, she is using English in a variety of different jobs, but in addition to business English, learning everyday English will also help you to express your thoughts in interviews and other situations.

Reference: 【インタビュー】ボストン留学を経て未経験のIT業界へ！英語力を活かしてエンジニアに転身／English Hub

Project Coordinator

Ms. D, who works in a department that verifies whether mobile phone lines and machinery are operating correctly, is also a project coordinator in her department. She carries out follow-up and problem solving to ensure that the verifiers can concentrate on their work, problem escalation, document creation, and meeting participation, etc.

Due to the nature of the work, there is a lot of communication with the relevant parties, and as a verifier, it is necessary to give instructions in English to foreign engineers. In addition to making sure that communication conveys sincerity in everyday situations, it is said that adding English to the communication with foreign engineers helps to make difficult requests easier to carry out. Ms. D's strength is that she is able to communicate in English, which makes it easier to build a relationship of trust with foreign engineers.

The number of foreign engineers working in Japan has been increasing in recent years, and by communicating in English it is possible to make more complex requests, as in this example.

Reference: 【新卒2年目インタビュー】外国人エンジニアへの連携・指示でミッション完遂！バイリンガルプロジェクトコーディネータの奮闘記／AVINTON

Bridge SE work

Mr. E, who works as a bridge SE in the Philippines, works with Filipino engineers in English every day. Before he started working as a bridge SE, his TOEIC score was around 300, but after he started studying hard when he was hired, he improved to the point where he now has a TOEIC score of 700.

Mr. E had experience working with foreign engineers in Japan, and he was giving instructions and feedback to foreigners in Japanese for domestic work. Now that he is working overseas, he has been able to learn the terminology and English expressions necessary for work, and is able to give instructions and feedback to Filipino staff in English. As this example shows, English ability is essential for those who want to work overseas.

Reference: 【社員インタビュー】業務をこなせる英語力ってどのくらい？【ブリッジSE編】／Infinite points Philippines Inc.

Why do engineers use English at work?

There are three reasons why engineers use English at work.

• Because programming languages are based on English
• Because there are many global companies
• Because a lot of information is released in English

Because programming languages are based on English

Programming languages are based on English. Having English skills means you can learn programming languages by associating them with English vocabulary, rather than by rote memorization. This can be expected to reduce coding errors, improve work efficiency, and make troubleshooting easier, so engineers with English skills have an advantage.

Reference: プログラミングに英語は必要？初心者のためのプログラミング学習の始め方／学舎さくら

Because there are many global companies

due to a shortage of labor and the delay in IT education in Japan, the number of companies hiring foreign IT engineers from overseas is increasing. The number of workers from Asia, including China, South Korea and Vietnam, as well as North and South America, is increasing, and globalization is progressing.

In order to make it easier to hire foreign IT engineers, some Japanese companies have made English the official language of the company, and the importance of English is increasing. English skills are especially necessary for global companies and foreign-affiliated companies, so English skills are essential for career advancement.

Reference: 4年で12万人増、外国人エンジニア採用に注目が集まる理由を解説！／xseeds Hub

Because a lot of information is released in English

IT technology is being developed all over the world, so the latest information is announced in English as soon as it becomes available. If you can understand English, you will be able to keep up with new information more quickly and easily. In recent years, translation services have also been developed, but they are not perfect, so engineers who can understand English in English are in high demand. If you want to quickly catch up with information and improve your skills, you should work on improving your English.

Reference: ITエンジニアに必要な英語力とは？よく使う単語やおすすめ勉強法など紹介／ユニゾンキャリアメディア

The benefits of learning English that engineers can use at work

There are three main benefits to learning English that engineers can use at work.

• It increases the number of job options available to you
• You can deepen your knowledge by reading English materials
• It leads to career advancement

It increases the number of job options available to you

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of projects that are ordered on the assumption that the person will be able to use English. Therefore, being an engineer who can use English will increase your options for work.

On the other hand, even if you have IT expertise and skills, there are cases where you cannot participate in important projects simply because you do not have English skills. The reality is that by expanding the scope of your work, you can increase your income by making a difference in your experience and achievements. English skills are essential for expanding the scope of your work and career.

Reference: エンジニアに必要な英語力は？IT業界のTOEIC平均や勉強法も紹介！／Career-first

You can deepen your knowledge by reading English materials

The latest IT-related technologies and trends are often communicated in English. There are also technical books written in English, so reading English materials will help you deepen your knowledge. In fact, some of the examples we have introduced here are of people who have become able to read and understand English technical books and the latest information.

Even if you use translation apps, it is difficult to understand everything, so engineers who can understand English literature as it is will progress more quickly. This will lead to professional development and skill improvement, and you may be able to achieve better results, get a pay rise or promotion more quickly.

Reference: IT業界で英語力って本当に必要？求められる理由や選考で影響するのか解説！／Digmedia

It leads to career advancement

In order for engineers to advance their careers, they need to have English skills. The number of jobs that require English as a condition of employment is increasing, and there are cases where people with high skills as engineers are not hired because they cannot speak English. If you are aiming to work for a large company where English is the official language or a foreign-affiliated company, you will also need English skills. If you want to advance your career or work overseas like the examples we have introduced here, you should work on improving your English skills.

Reference: 英語ができるエンジニア/キャリア(人生の選択肢)が超絶に変わります！【インフラエンジニア編】／CAMOUFLA BLOG

Engineers have many opportunities to use English at work, and the benefits of learning English are great

In this article, we have introduced some examples of situations where engineers use English at work. Engineers have many opportunities to use English, and engineers who can use English have many advantages. Acquiring English skills will broaden the scope of your work and help you to acquire skills and advance your career. There is no doubt that English skills will be a great asset to you as an engineer.

If you are looking for a job where you can make use of your English skills, we recommend using “G Talent”, a job-placement agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. They can introduce you to jobs that match your current English level, so please tell a bilingual consultant with a wealth of IT knowledge about your hopes and circumstances. Registration is free, so if you are thinking about career advancement or changing jobs, why not register?