need some advice...

[naoki4ng]

Hi there everyone!

I am currently 24 years old and I arrived in tokyo with a working holiday visa. It has been a month since I came here and I just started looking for a job 2 weeks ago. I first had a chat with one of the headhunt agents my friend introduced me and got a pretty good overview about foreigners getting a job in Japan. (NOT EASY) I then did some search up for companies that helps foreigners to get a job over the net and got my first interview a week ago, but unfortunately failed.

To be honest, I still dont have a clear view of what type of job iam looking for since I graduated like two years ago and only had 1years8month of working experience back in Hong Kong as a sales executive in a japanese electronics company before i decided to quit and come to Japan. The reason why I quitted my last job was because I wanted to take my japanese to the next level. I got a BA degree with a major in Japanese & Econ and passed level 1 test after having a one year student exchange in japan. I speak fluent chinese too.

Iam looking for a job that relates to business/finance/marketing while i could keep building up my japanese. Although I had a major in Econ, its really too general and nothin specific. Iam planning to join those career fairs and see if I could get any luck.

Anyone mind telling me what type of jobs that I might be qualified for? suitable for me?

Thanks alot.

[zhangxiaoshi]

do you have a base salary in the headhunter?or only commission-based one?

[naoki4ng]

no, i just had a chat with that person and he said most of his clients are looking for people who are well experienced and over 30!

[Wonky]

Not knowing what you want to do is your biggest problem. When you go in for the next interview, even if it's not for your ideal job, act like it is! If you seem wishy-washy you most likely won't be considered a serious candidate.

[naoki4ng]

i think one of my biggest problem is I get really nervous during interviews and because of that my Japanese gets crappy all of the sudden. I guess I need more practise...

[Ewok]

no, i just had a chat with that person and he said most of his clients are looking for people who are well experienced and over 30!

Thats pretty normal, also depends what positions you are going for. Depending on how much experience you have, you would be wanting to go for Junior/Entry level positions.

[BigMoney]

Hey Ewok, sorry to get off topic but Im very interested in landing a job where I can spend all day posting on Gaijinpot, how did you get such a job??

[Ewok]

Hey Ewok, sorry to get off topic but Im very interested in landing a job where I can spend all day posting on Gaijinpot, how did you get such a job??

Several years of experience in large companies, glowing letters of recommendation, ability in Japanese and youthful enthusiasm.

Or just get a job where you spend 90% of the time sitting infront of a computer.

[BURLZ]

Several years of experience in large companies, glowing letters of recommendation, ability in Japanese and youthful enthusiasm.

Or just get a job where you spend 90% of the time sitting infront of a computer.

Which did you choose??:confused:

[Ewok]

Which did you choose??:confused:

The latter, think I can be bothered getting any of the things I listed at the start? :o
I need to start looking for my "next" job, but I have no idea when my current one ends... might be worth asking I guess.

[BURLZ]

The latter, think I can be bothered getting any of the things I listed at the start? :o
I need to start looking for my "next" job, but I have no idea when my current one ends... might be worth asking I guess.

Will you do more of the same or something different??

[Ewok]

Will you do more of the same or something different??

I want to do the same - good $$$, something I am good at, if I keep doing it I can do something bigger and better after that. Only issue will be getting a visa sponsor, which shouldn't be too hard really.

[naoki4ng]

Thats pretty normal, also depends what positions you are going for. Depending on how much experience you have, you would be wanting to go for Junior/Entry level positions.

I really dont have much experience so Iam looking for Junior/Entry level jobs. However, it seems that coming to Japan with a Working Holiday Visa doesnt really make it easier for me to find a job.

[paulh]

I really dont have much experience so Iam looking for Junior/Entry level jobs. However, it seems that coming to Japan with a Working Holiday Visa doesnt really make it easier for me to find a job.


A Skilled labor visa requires that you have at least 10 years experience in your field. A Specialist in Humanities requires 3 years of experience or a degree. with little work experience and spotty Japanese I dont think your prospects look that good (Level 1 tests your Kanji and reading ability, not so much your functional and communicative skills.

MY advice also is not just use your job so you can improve your Japanese, that is not what they are paying you for.

You would probably have better luck if you had graduated from a business department of a Japanese university as a foreign student and go through job fairs and school introductions. Connections are KEY here.