Live and Work in Japan! Finding Work as a Foreigner
People all over the world dream of someday being able to live and work in Japan. But while the Japanese government has been putting in effort in recent years to attract more foreign workers to the country and make it easier to find work, it can still be a daunting task to know where to start looking for employment.
If you have the skills and experience or know where to look, finding work in Japan in a wide range of careers is possible. So, let's take a look at what you should know before you start job-hunting in Japan before diving into some of the many resources available to find a job so that you can make that dream of living in Japan come true. We'll also give you tips about Japanese business culture to help you be comfortable and successful in your job once you arrive in Japan.
What to Know Before Starting Your Job Search
Know What Kind of Work Visa You'll Need
To legally live and work in Japan, you'll need a work visa. Most regular work visas in Japan have strict limitations, meaning that you can't do work outside of the visa you have.
For example, if you have an Instructor visa, you'll be able to teach at elementary, junior high, and high schools, but if you want to get out of teaching at regular schools and go into teaching English at a language school, you would need to change to a Specialist in Humanities visa, since that kind of work is not allowed on an Instructor visa.
If you are hired from abroad by a Japanese company, they will likely take care of preparing your visa application for you or guide you through the process of applying for the correct visa. But if you have to apply for your visa on your own, make sure that you apply for the right one.
Learn Japanese
If you are planning on working in Japan, you will need to be able to speak Japanese to perform your job effectively and communicate with your fellow employees. If you are planning to teach English in Japan, then you may not need any Japanese skills, but most other industries will require you to have at least conversational Japanese skills, if not business-level Japanese.
While many online job boards list work for foreigners in English, there are also many job boards written entirely in Japanese, so any job postings are also listed in Japanese. These jobs usually require a high level of Japanese ability, so the ability to read, write, and speak Japanese can open up many more job opportunities for you in the country.
Beyond that, knowing Japanese will make daily life in Japan much easier than if you come to Japan knowing little to no Japanese.
Do Your Research About Industries & Companies
This is more relevant once you start job-hunting, but it is a good idea to do research into the industries or careers you are interested in. In particular, looking into labor conditions and work environments in that industry or specific companies can help you avoid disappointment or stress after you start working. Also, make sure that you do research into salaries, benefits, working hours, and the potential for promotion and growth to make sure that you don't find yourself stuck in a job that doesn't align with your future career goals or work preferences.
How to Find Work in Japan
Now you know what you should look into and do before starting job hunting, so the next step is to try to find a job. There are many ways to go about trying to find work in Japan, so let's go over a few of them.
Look for Work on a Job Board
Searching on job boards is the most straightforward way to find a job in Japan. There are many online job boards in Japan advertising positions all over the country. Since you can filter job postings based on job type, location, required Japanese ability, and so on, job boards are a great way to go about trying to find a job in Japan.
While some job boards are Japanese websites where job postings are mostly in Japanese, there are also English job boards where most of the job listings are in English, so these websites are better choices if your Japanese isn't strong.
Job Boards in English:
Job Boards in Japanese:
Register with a Recruitment Agency
If you register with a recruitment agency, an agent will work with you to find jobs that match your skills, experience, and interests. Since these agents are based in Japan, they are familiar with the labor market and can often find jobs for you more efficiently than you could do on your own. If you want help doing the legwork to find a job in Japan and your Japanese ability is good enough, this could be the best route for you.
While there are many recruiting agencies operating in Japan, PASONA is one that specifically helps foreigners with strong enough Japanese abilities find jobs.
For more information about PASONA, click here.
Apply to the Company You Want to Work For Directly
Many companies specifically looking for foreign workers will advertise on their website and have information available about their hiring process. If there's a specific company that you are interested in working for, it is worth it to go to their website or contact them directly and see if there are any positions available.
Use Services for Foreign Workers Offered by the Government
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare has a "Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners" located in Shinjuku in Tokyo. The service center offers assistance to students and foreigners looking for work in Tokyo specifically, making this a good option if you are looking to change jobs or careers or to start working after finishing your studies in Japan. This route is only an option if you are already living in Japan on a valid work or student visa.
For more information, click here.
The Shinjuku Foreigner's Employment Assistance and Guidance Center specifically offers help to people living in Japan on spouse visas, long-term resident visas, or permanent residency to find part-time employment.
For more information, click here.
Japanese Business Culture
If everything goes according to plan, you'll find a great job in Japan that matches your skills, get an interview, get hired, receive your visa, move to Japan, and start working. Once here, however, you may find the work culture to be different from that of your home country. While modern business culture is slowly changing, especially in newer companies, large, more established companies generally follow traditional business cultural norms.
Let's look at some of the key aspects of Japanese business culture.
The Key Points
・Respect and Formality: Traditional Japanese business culture is characterized by a high level of respect and formality. When meeting for the first time, people usually exchange business cards (meishi) with both hands as a sign of respect. A slight bow is also standard when greeting, thanking, or apologizing.
・Hierarchy and Seniority: The hierarchical structure in Japanese companies is very pronounced, perhaps more so than in other countries. Employees are expected to show deference and respect to those higher up in the organization. Seniority generally trumps aptitude or performance when it comes to moving up in a company as well.
・Consensus-Building: Decision-making often involves a lengthy process of gathering consensus among all members involved. This method, known as "nemawashi", ensures that all opinions are considered and reduces the risk of conflicts. It can sometimes
・Punctuality: Being on time is crucial in Japanese business settings. "On time" is usually ten to fifteen minutes before start times. Lateness is considered disrespectful and can negatively impact professional relationships.
・Attire: Business attire in Japan is typically conservative. Men often wear dark-colored suits, and women wear similarly subdued business suits or dresses.
Communicating Effectively in Japanese Businesses
In traditional Japanese businesses, more communication than you might think is nonverbal. Here are some important points about communicating effectively at a business in Japan, whether you are working in a company where you need to speak Japanese or are able to use English.
・Indirect Communication: Communication tends to be subtle and indirect in Japanese businesses. Direct confrontation is generally avoided, so messages are often conveyed through implication rather than explicit statements. This can be tricky for someone new to the country, culture, or language, as you may miss the underlying meaning behind someone's words.
・Non-verbal Cues: Non-verbal communication, such as bowing, facial expressions, and maintaining a polite distance, plays a crucial role. It's important to be aware of how you carry yourself at all times, and keep these cues in mind.
・Silence as Communication: Silence is a big part of communication in Japan. It is used to express disagreement, contemplation, or respect and is not necessarily awkward or negative.
・Use of Keigo (Honorific Language): Using keigo, or honorific language, is essential when speaking with superiors or clients in Japanese businesses. It shows respect and acknowledges the social hierarchy within the business context. If you are still in the process of learning Japanese, or mostly use English at work, people tend to not judge you as much for making mistakes with keigo, but if you are fluent in the language, you need to be careful about this.
What to Do if You Have Problems at Work
If you are concerned about work conditions at your job or believe there may be illegal practices going on, the Japanese government has set up several consultation services and hotlines for foreign workers.
The "Telephone Consultation Service for Foreign Workers" provides advice about working conditions in thirteen different languages. The hours someone is available to consult with you in each language vary, so be sure to call at a time that someone who speaks your language is available. Keep in mind that this service is not toll-free.
The "Labor Standards Advice Hotline" offers free general advice on working conditions outside of standard working hours, making it a good choice to call if you only have time after work or on the weekend. They can provide you with information about laws and regulations surrounding working conditions toll-free, so if you are worried about your working conditions, don't hesitate to call.
