Today, I’d like to talk about my job as an IT engineer — why I chose this path, what it’s been like over the past two decades, and what I feel now. Whether you’re job hunting, questioning your current role, or satisfied with your work, I hope there’s something here you can relate to 😌
Back in School — I Was Clueless (And Honestly, a Bit Embarrassing)
Being an IT engineer is usually seen as a science-related career. But back in high school, I was completely on the liberal arts track. When I saw the words “calculus” and “differentiation” in a math textbook, I’d joke, “Calculus? What’s that — a new flavor at Starbucks?” 😛
Despite that, I went on to college like everyone else, without giving it much thought. It was my first time living alone, and I drifted through campus life. Before I knew it, the years had flown by. Then came the moment I could no longer avoid — job hunting.
Looking back, it’s almost embarrassing how aimless I was. I had no real goals, no plans, no direction. So when it finally hit me that I needed to get a job, I panicked. At one point, I was seriously considering how I might get away with never working at all — pure escapism 🙈🙊🙉
In the end, though, I accepted my fate and decided to start job hunting.
The Road to Becoming an IT Engineer
Once I began job hunting, I started doing some self-reflection and researching different industries — and reality hit me hard. I quickly realized how naive I’d been about the real world. This was during Japan’s so-called “employment ice age” and as a liberal arts major who hadn’t exactly been a model student, my options were limited. Plus, being introverted, I knew sales jobs were out of the question. My list of potential careers kept shrinking 😵 I was backed into a corner, forced to choose a long-term job from a very short list of options. It wasn’t about passion — it was about survival ⛔
At the time, Japan was buzzing with hype around the IT industry. While watching TV and feeling lost, I was instantly drawn to the cool, flashy image of the IT world. The moment I saw it, something just clicked. I figured IT was only for science majors — it’s engineering, after all. But just in case, I looked into a few companies, and to my surprise, quite a few of them welcomed applicants from both science and liberal arts backgrounds.
With my new goal — “I’m going to become an IT engineer!” — Bit by bit, I found my motivation again. I spent every day researching, applying, reflecting. Interviews were especially tough for someone like me, but I did my best to get through them somehow. And in the end, I managed to land a job at a software development company!
In hindsight, choosing IT was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I didn’t have a grand plan at the time, but something about it intrigued me — I just had a gut feeling. And I’m proud of that younger version of myself for trusting it!
Life as an IT Engineer
So that’s how I finally started working as an IT engineer — something I had hoped for. But at first, it was a real struggle to get used to the environment. Some of my coworkers were also from liberal arts backgrounds, but the majority were science majors, and the overall atmosphere felt different. Conversations were expected to be logical and clear — the kind of emotional or intuitive talk I was used to didn’t really work anymore.
On top of that, I’ve never been a particularly quick learner or naturally skilled person.
It took me a long time to remember things. I made mistakes over and over again and got scolded more than I care to admit. I’d head home every day, feeling defeated and dragging my feet 🥲
This was also the first time I touched programming on the job. Rows of what looked like spells lined up on a pitch-black screen — it all felt like another world. And the precision! Even a single missing period could cause an error and stop everything from working. For someone with a pretty rough-and-ready personality like mine, it was seriously tough. There were countless little things like that — small mistakes, confusing rules — and they just kept coming. But somehow, I stuck with it. I didn’t give up. Honestly, I’m proud of that 👏
My way of thinking, my work style — they slowly evolved and became more aligned with the job. Little by little, I was able to do more, and my growth became something even I could see. It felt like I was watching myself grow up — not just as a professional, but as a person.
Over time — months, then years — things started to click.
I began to really enjoy the work.
The joy of building something.
The gratitude from clients.
These were feelings I’d never experienced before.
That feeling meant so much to me that I naturally started studying outside of work, experimenting, building things on my own, and applying what I learned to my job. This gradually became a habit. My skills improved, and the more I improved, the more fun the job became. This was my first taste of what people call a positive cycle ♾️
Of course, a job is still a job. It comes with its share of demands. And we work to earn a living — that’s the baseline. There were times when the workload was intense. But when you’re in that “flow” state — when you genuinely enjoy what you’re doing — the stress and the tiredness don’t feel so heavy. Even money starts to feel more like a byproduct than a goal (“Wait… when did my bank account grow like this?”)
I consider myself lucky to have had such experiences. If possible, I’d love to feel that way again and again in the years to come. Today, being an IT engineer feels like more than just a job — it’s my IKIGAI, my true vocation, my lifework, and a calling I’m grateful to have found 💖
How about you?
Have you ever felt that way about your work?
IKIGAI – LIFEWORK
Lastly, here’s a diagram you might recognize — it’s based on the book IKIGAI, written by a Spanish author living in Japan. The concept has gained worldwide recognition.
The center — where all four circles overlap — is said to represent your true “IKIGAI” or reason for being.
As a child, the idea of “work” felt distant —
something that belonged to the grown-up world, not mine.
Watching my parents, I thought,
“Work looks so hard … I hope I never have to do that”.
Or maybe, “If I could make a living without trying too hard, that’d be perfect”.
I held onto those quiet daydreams, half hope, half fantasy.
But one day, I took a step forward.
Then another. And then another.
And before I knew it, I was climbing.
Slowly, steadily — not always sure where it was leading.
Until one day, I looked up and realized:
the view was far more beautiful than anything I’d imagined at the start.
Life really is full of surprises.
That’s what makes it so endlessly interesting.
