Benesse i-Career’s doda Campus event and survey show Japanese students starting job hunting earlier

Benesse i-Career’s new‑graduate offer service doda Campus is running a hybrid “Working World” week for university students from 24‑29 August 2026, with on‑site visits to Benesse Corporation, Sega X‑DC, Microsoft Japan and ZOZO. The program aims to give early‑year students exposure to various industries and help reduce career‑mismatch by letting them experience real workplaces.

A separate doda Campus survey of 2028‑graduating third‑year undergraduates and master’s students (326 respondents) found that the start of job‑hunting activities is moving earlier, with 31.6 % beginning by the winter of their second year, while the preferred timing for receiving an informal offer has shifted later, 31.7 % now aiming for December of the third year. Over 81 % had already entered at least one internship or open‑company program, and 48 % expressed a desire to visit company sites directly. The data suggest students are seeking deeper understanding of work environments before committing to a job, reflecting a shift toward “informed” career decisions.