Breaking into consulting in Japan as a new grad (JLPT N1, Econ major)

Hi everyone,

I'm a senior Economics major graduating in a few months and I'm looking to break into entry-level business consulting roles in Japan. (e.g., Accenture)

I have a B.A in Economics (GPA 4.38/4.5), JLPT N1 (173), 1 year exchange student experience in Japan, TOEIC 985 (I'm not a native English speaker)

I don't have prior full-time work or internship experience, and I can postpone graduation for one additional year, which means I'll keep shinsotsu status during that time. However since it's just one year I'm in a bit of a rush.

My questions are,

  1. Given my background, is it even possible for me to get a job as a foreign student?
  2. I'm becoming 25-year-old in a few days, and I'm kind of worried about my age. Is 25 still a good age for job hunting in Japan?
  3. Given my background, what would be the most realistic next step to target consulting roles in Japan?
  4. Should I focus on entry sheets and shinsotsu recruiting, or try to get short-term internships first?
  5. Is attending events like Tokyo Career Forum worth it in my situation, or would it be a poor use of time?

Any advice from people who've gone through Japanese recruiting or consulting hiring would be greatly appreciated.

by kevin7735