Is it hard to find job in Japan now?

[holaluna213]

I was planning to move to Japan to live with my boyfriend. Since I have already got a visa it should not be a problem. But I also heard that it is a very harsh time for foriegners at the moment due to the economic recession.

I found it was quite easy to find a job in Beijing since I graduated with a BA in Business Studies and Japanese in a UK university and I have certificate in copmuter and korean language, and other professional training certificates which I gained when I was in uni. Yet I am not sure about the situation in Japan. I can not run the risk of being unemployed for more than 3 months for financial reasons

Is there any suggestions here? I will be really appreciated

[Glenski]

What kind of visa do you have now?
What is your nationality?
What kind of job do you want?

Depending on circumstances it may actually take you 2-4 months before you get your first paycheck after landing here.

[well_bicyclically]

ditto!!
it will also depend on where you will be located. how much you expect to earn. how many hours you wish to work. .... and so on.

things are tough... not impossible, just tough. keep that in mind.

[holaluna213]

Hi Thanks for your reply.
I am Chinese by nationality and I have a working visa for Japan now which will be valid for one year.
I am going to be 25 this year and I am now working in an IT company in Beijing. I would like to find work in the business and finance field in Japan if possible or language school teacher.
I have got JLPT level 1 two years ago so Japanese is not a problem for me.

Anyone has any good idea about how to find work in Japan?

[thenoie]

Hi Thanks for your reply.
I am Chinese by nationality and I have a working visa for Japan now which will be valid for one year.
I am going to be 25 this year and I am now working in an IT company in Beijing. I would like to find work in the business and finance field in Japan if possible or language school teacher.
I have got JLPT level 1 two years ago so Japanese is not a problem for me.

Anyone has any good idea about how to find work in Japan?

know somebody.....

[holaluna213]

I want to be in Tokyo.
I do not expect to find a very well paid job soon. Just any work so I could pay my rent and living fees.

[parasitius]

I'll be doing the same in a month, and... even departing from the same country!

It sounds like you have a work visa already, but no job? How is that possible, I thought visas are granted based on a specific position. (Unless one gets so many that he can do self-sponsorship I guess.)

I was planning to head over on a tourist and go from there... upgrading when I found a sponsor. I hope its not too dumb an idea, really can't deal with this 3rd world country anymore.

[Guru]

For any job seekers in Japan, be prepared for the intense competition in a small pool of available high-paying job openings. For McJobs, there are many openings (but, who wants to do such a job if you are moving from other country). Teaching Chinese may be a good possibility for Chinese nationals.

Some people may give you some encouragement. But, the hard reality is be very grim in the land of the sinking sun. For anyone who already has a good decent job in his home country, it may be better to stay put there instead of jumping into Japan's teetering economy.

Of course, if you have an exceptional ability which surpasses anyone who is in the market in Japan, then, you might have a shot at the good position. I find such candidates are a small minority in the job market.

[schroeder]

I was planning to move to Japan to live with my boyfriend. Since I have already got a visa it should not be a problem. But I also heard that it is a very harsh time for foriegners at the moment due to the economic recession.

I found it was quite easy to find a job in Beijing since I graduated with a BA in Business Studies and Japanese in a UK university and I have certificate in copmuter and korean language, and other professional training certificates which I gained when I was in uni. Yet I am not sure about the situation in Japan. I can not run the risk of being unemployed for more than 3 months for financial reasons

Is there any suggestions here? I will be really appreciated.

Since you have the requirements (a degree, Japanese, work experience, a work visa, ties to Japan) you are already 2/3 of the way there.

I am sure there are a few recruiters on these boards, maybe they will PM you to get your details. If not, try registering yourself with some recruiting firms and see what they send you.

Contrary to what most people say, firms are always hiring regardless of current economic conditions. As NickW said on another thread, if you are good enough and bring something unique to the firm, they will take you on.

Don't listen to any negative comments. Be positive and give it a try because everybody is in their own unique situation and you shouldn't apply the general concensus.

Good luck!

[parasitius]

Can someone please explain the mcdonalds references? I wouldn't even mind as long as I can work on my language ability.

But I thought most 1st world countries only gave visas for highly skilled labor, not for frongers to come and take the minimum wage jobs aways from locals. It's actually possible to get sponsored by McD for a visa? Or ... if you already had a carry over teaching visa, you can keep the visa if you at least pickup McD's job?? Strange and surprising to me. I thought all the Nissei's there from Brazil is cause they are an exception as far as unskilled labor being able to get visas.

[KansaiBen]

Can someone please explain the mcdonalds references? I wouldn't even mind as long as I can work on my language ability.

But I thought most 1st world countries only gave visas for highly skilled labor, not for frongers to come and take the minimum wage jobs aways from locals. It's actually possible to get sponsored by McD for a visa? Or ... if you already had a carry over teaching visa, you can keep the visa if you at least pickup McD's job?? Strange and surprising to me. I thought all the Nissei's there from Brazil is cause they are an exception as far as unskilled labor being able to get visas.

The previous poster was being sarcastic. McJobs refer to jobs that only require a pulse and that anyone can do (e.g. a counter staff at McDonalds, which happen to be everywhere). You have to have something to offer people apart from your business skills over and above what they can get from a local. Your Chinese ability and understanding of the Chinese market is your strongest selling point. There are probably thousands of people here with your skills and you need to give them a reason to hire you apart from the fact you need a job.


Nisseis are here because the locals thought that as they have japanese blood they would be easy to manage and employ and also cheap. They do the jobs that Japanese dont want to do and Nisseis work hard as they dont want to go back to Brazil.

Their employers didnt count on having to educate their kids as well who dont speak Japanese, or having thousands of Nisseis being laid off and having no jobs to go to.

[Ken44]

I want to be in Tokyo.
I do not expect to find a very well paid job soon. Just any work so I could pay my rent and living fees.

There are plenty of restaurants in the Tokyo area and I'm sure many are in need of a good waitress.

[holaluna213]

Hi everyone!

I really appreciate your replies. I understand it must be a quite difficult time for me to find a job in Japan now, well, perhaps same everywhere anyway. However I'll stay positive and do my best. I will let you guys know how it is going.

Best wishes to you all.

[MyShigoto]

I agree with schroeder that jobs are available in any economic climate although at the moment you need to work harder to be better than the (growing) competition. You may also need to lower expectations but that doesn't mean thinking negatively. As he said, think about your own situation only and, most of all, remain positive no matter how hard that may be.

[jkanji.com]

America, Ive never been hopeful than I am tonight....

Just kidding, it's tough to find a job here in Japan, I have a friend who lost his job due to the recession,
and until now, hes still a bum, a bum programmer. Company wants him to be nihongo proficient with at
least a level 2 grade. Tough. but not impossible like the previous post said. If you want to learn more of
nihongo, try out the quizzes and reading materials in my website. url is my username hehe. ganbare.

[MokonaRu]

Nisseis are here because the locals thought that as they have japanese blood they would be easy to manage and employ and also cheap. They do the jobs that Japanese dont want to do and Nisseis work hard as they dont want to go back to Brazil.

Their employers didnt count on having to educate their kids as well who dont speak Japanese, or having thousands of Nisseis being laid off and having no jobs to go to.

You know, I don't think any employers or government officials in any region in the world (Europe, the US, and evidently Japan) ever thought about these people's families. I'll admit I didn't either, until I started this master's program I'm in. If the J-gov was smart, they would see the Nisseis as a cultural and economic resource, and make the best efforts to make sure they and thier kids are literate in their first language as well as Japanese (or else-in the case of the children-their Japanese will plateau and their native language will deteriorate). Otherwise these kids will fail in school and may resort to crime to fulfill their needs.

We are finally coming around to this type of thinking in the US, although there are still those asinine fools that berate "why can't people who move here learn English!" They also tend to be privileged and can afford a good education (yet only use it to better themselves and nobody else). They also never left their comfort zone or tried to learn another language themselves. I think it will be another few years (maybe a generation) until people in America realize the benefit of multilingual and multicultural citizens. Hopefully Japan can learn this lesson quicker than officials in the US did (but we have never had to deal with a population decline, being a nation that takes in lots of immigrants and refugees).

Immigrants usually do work hard; I wish I had the work ethic they do (but they are up so early!!). There are fewer things to take for granted. It's just unfortunate that a lot of their knowledge is held back by a language/cultural barrier.

[Guru]

Nisseis are here because the locals thought that as they have japanese blood they would be easy to manage and employ and also cheap. They do the jobs that Japanese dont want to do and Nisseis work hard as they dont want to go back to Brazil.

Is it really that bad in Brazil? Never been there. Thus, this very elementary question.
At my previous company in Japan, I had a colleague who is a Brazilian Japanese. He was very weird though. On top of that, his Japanese and English were very stilted and sounded very unprofessional (I think he speaks Portuguese).

[Guru]

"At my previous company in Japan, I had a colleague who is a Brazilian Japanese. He was very weird though"

Yeah I seen that too. The regular Japanese look at them on the train like " whats the deal with you?"

Good to know there was another person who experienced the same. I think my experience was not reflective of the Brazilian Japanese as a whole. But, he was so strange and gave me goose bumps when I spoke with him.
But, my experience with the Brazilian (not the Japanese Brazilian) was very good. I met a nice couple of brother and sister in Hawaii during my Golden Week holidays.

[mattbg]

I was planning to move to Japan to live with my boyfriend. Since I have already got a visa it should not be a problem. But I also heard that it is a very harsh time for foriegners at the moment due to the economic recession.

I found it was quite easy to find a job in Beijing since I graduated with a BA in Business Studies and Japanese in a UK university and I have certificate in copmuter and korean language, and other professional training certificates which I gained when I was in uni. Yet I am not sure about the situation in Japan. I can not run the risk of being unemployed for more than 3 months for financial reasons

Is there any suggestions here? I will be really appreciated.

In Japan, as a woman with a boyfriend you are not expected to work.
I think you should rely on your boyfriend to care for you, if he can't then I would advise you to look for one who can, you should not have any problem here.

[Guru]

In Japan, as a woman with a boyfriend you are not expected to work.
I think you should rely on your boyfriend to care for you, if he can't then I would advise you to look for one who can, you should not have any problem here.

I find the concept that a girlfriend/wife hoovers up her boyfriend/husband while watching TV or doing nothing productive at home all day very offensive and be in the same league as a toxic waste. With this bad economy, I really hope many housewives will be forced to do some wage-earning works to pitch in their household finance. Once that practice is put in place, it will become a norm.

[Effected After]

My wife is at home all day, but she is busy taking care of our home and our son. She doesn't have time to sit around. I keep telling her to make the time so that she isn't so tired, but the only time she can get any cleaning or other stuff done is when our son is sleeping.

I appreciate that she spends the time raising our child. And I appreciate that I never do laundry or cook, or do much cleaning. So I don't mind that she stays at home.

[mattbg]

My wife is at home all day, but she is busy taking care of our home and our son. She doesn't have time to sit around. I keep telling her to make the time so that she isn't so tired, but the only time she can get any cleaning or other stuff done is when our son is sleeping.

I appreciate that she spends the time raising our child. And I appreciate that I never do laundry or cook, or do much cleaning. So I don't mind that she stays at home.

rotfl ... your wife needs to get organized then, you can watch over a kid and do the laundry and cook at the same time, same for reading a book or watching dramas ...

[Guru]

Effected After My wife is at home all day, but she is busy taking care of our home and our son. She doesn't have time to sit around. I keep telling her to make the time so that she isn't so tired, but the only time she can get any cleaning or other stuff done is when our son is sleeping.

I appreciate that she spends the time raising our child. And I appreciate that I never do laundry or cook, or do much cleaning. So I don't mind that she stays at home.

rotfl ... your wife needs to get organized then, you can watch over a kid and do the laundry and cook at the same time, same for reading a book or watching dramas ...

Calling in a Six Sigma black belt to cut down the wastes and increase household productivity could be another option as well.

[Effected After]

Maybe, but I also appreciate that she spends as much time with our son as she does. She's an excellent mother, and he is being raised very well, so I cannot complain. She could probably leave him to do stuff by himself while she cleans or reads a book, but instead she gives her time to him. I think that's a good thing. I still think she should make some time to relax, but I understand why she doesn't. So I try to help out to make things easier on her, by cleaning up after myself, and taking care of our son on the weekends.

[sunao]

Good to know there was another person who experienced the same. I think my experience was not reflective of the Brazilian Japanese are. But, he was so strange and gave me a goose bumps when I spoke with him.
But, my experience with the Brazilian (not the Japanese Brazilian) was very good. I met a nice couple of brother and sister in Hawaii during my Golden Week holidays.

Just a shout-out to the Japanese-Brazilians I've met in Tokyo. They are awesome people and extremely talented in their respective professions, as well as having amazing linguistic ability. Another point of view...

[Guru]

Just a shout-out to the Japanese-Brazilians I've met in Tokyo. They are awesome people and extremely talented in their respective professions, as well as having amazing linguistic ability. Another point of view...

As I said, my comment was not intended for generalization. I am well aware it could be just one of the rare cases.

[deaflaguna]

What kind of visa do you have now?
What is your nationality?
What kind of job do you want?

Depending on circumstances it may actually take you 2-4 months before you get your first paycheck after landing here.

I am deaf as Filipino Philippines
I like to want job in Japan....I can hard work there in any position so i did work my printing, automative, and computer techinan....I hope you can to help me ....thanks

[JSheppard]

I find the concept that a girlfriend/wife hoovers up her boyfriend/husband while watching TV or doing nothing productive at home all day very offensive and be in the same league as a toxic waste. With this bad economy, I really hope many housewives will be forced to do some wage-earning works to pitch in their household finance. Once that practice is put in place, it will become a norm.

My wife and I are both looking for work in order for us to live more comfortable. I dont have my hopes up with trying to find a high paying job, but at least we would have two incomes.

[well_bicyclically]

My wife and I are both looking for work in order for us to live more comfortable. I dont have my hopes up with trying to find a high paying job, but at least we would have two incomes.

You should try to live more comfortably instead....

[sainz]

As I wrote in another thread I am looking for a part time job at night time, late night time and/or early morning. There were several responses to my ealier forum but I would like to find out if you anyone knows a contact person that can speak in English or a URL where a resume can be entered. Anybody with such information? I am not looking for a carreer, I already have one. Just need extra cash for a while.

Thanks for the help.

Manny

[well_bicyclically]

..... I am not looking for a carreer, I already have one. ....

I am thinking... something with Merriam Webster....???

[BackDoor_Man]

As I wrote in another thread I am looking for a part time job at night time, late night time and/or early morning. There were several responses to my ealier forum but I would like to find out if you anyone knows a contact person that can speak in English or a URL where a resume can be entered. Anybody with such information? I am not looking for a carreer, I already have one. Just need extra cash for a while.

Thanks for the help.

Manny

There is a job advertised in the jobs section here, for a bartender ever done any?