What's the most ideal timeline to find a job in Japan as an international student?

Author: Abbey Kruska│Publish date: November 20th, 2019

Especially in a country as unique and structured as Japan, job-hunting isn’t easy. Filled with unspoken rules, subtle cultural nuances, and strict ideologies, it can feel like a never ending maze. But we’re here to guide you through the hardest part. No matter what stage you’re at in your job-hunting journey, we have suggestions you can start doing today to make a better candidate tomorrow.

First Year in Japan 一年生

Regardless of age, you’ve just entered your Japanese university. For you, job-hunting is still a distant worry, but don’t let it creep up on you! Get started now by participating in fun activities that won’t only help you make friends and enjoy your college life, but also boosts your resume for later!

Join a student group in Japan

In Japan, student groups are a huge part of university life. From sports teams to volunteer work, it’s likely that your Japanese university will have a student group for just about anything. Whatever you like, there’s something to match. Ask your student center for a copy of all of the registered student groups, and take the leap!

The word サークル or "circle" refers to a less intensive, hobby club. These clubs are more flexible and My first month in Japan, I immediately joined the acapella circle at my university, and became really close with my band mates, as well as had a super fun experience performing with all of my circle-mates.

Find a baito or part time job

You’ve been in Japan for a few months, and you’ve gotten used to your classes and your schedule. Getting a part-time job in Japan is a great next step for building your resume.

It can also be a great first-time practice for interviews, filling out Japanese resumes, and interacting in a business setting with Japanese people. Depending on your Japanese ability, the jobs you’re likely to get hired for will change, but being able to say that you have worked in Japan with Japanese people is a huge plus when it comes to job-hunting.

Click here to read learn how to get started writing your Japanese resume! And click here to learn about the best baito for foreigners in Japan!

The minimum wage in Tokyo is 1013 yen per hour. Here we’ve gathered the most popular positions for foreigners in Japan and their average wage range.

Enjoy life in Japan

The most important part of your first year of university is just to settle in. Enjoy life, get the hang of living in Japan, and try to fit in lots of tourism and adventures while you can!

Second Year in Japan 二年生

You’ve survived your first year in Japan! Your Japanese is improving, and you’re completely at home in any train station. You’ve moved up a few positions in the club you joined last year, and you’ve tried a few different part-time jobs. Second year is still a busy time full of core classes and studying, but it’s the perfect time to really start thinking about job hunting. In just one more year, you’ll be on your way to starting your search for a career in Japan. It’s the perfect time to challenge yourself, try new things, and really self-reflect.

Do study abroad programs

Yes you’re a foreigner in Japan. But as an official student, you’re also liable to study abroad. If you’re not a native English speaker, this is your chance to get your native tongue, Japanese, and a third language under your belt.

If you already speak proficient English, consider Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Thai. These are countries that Japan does business with the most, and will likely continue to increase in the future. Having one more language will give you an edge when it comes to the hiring process, and the experiences one gains while abroad are priceless. You would know, you’ve already come this far!

Find an internship in Japan

Know your skills

Knowing your skills and how to market them during a Japanese interview is your key to selling yourself as a good worker to your future company. Now is a good time to start thinking about your own skills, so that they can be put down when you start writing your resume during your third and fourth year.

Third Year in Japan 三年生

You’re in your third year of university, and now is when the clock starts ticking. The good news is, you still have plenty of time! This is the season when Japanese students begin preparing for job-hunting, so you're right on time. As long as you get to work now, it'll be smooth sailing from here on out.

Get a winter internship

Before job-hunting season starts in the spring, find a winter internship for the chilly months. Japanese companies offer various types of internships from 2 days to 2 years, so know what you're looking for before you begin. Not sure where to start? Check out our article on Short Term vs Long Term internships in Japan

Talk to your school alumni or senpai

Many schools hold events for students to learn more about job hunting and different companies. These events will likely be held in Japanese, but if your Japanese is proficient enough it may be worth going. Especially since it will give you the chance to meet your job-hunting Senpais, also known in Japanese as OB or OG.

If the words OB and OG make you think of something medical, you’re just like me. OB/OG is actually an acronym for old boy/old girl. This is Japanese slang that refers to alumni from your university that are now working for a particular company. In Japan, you can use these connections to learn about how to get into the company you want, and what its like to work there.

Meeting with your local OB/OG can help you decide what companies you want to work for, and get some real advice from someone who has experienced job hunting first-hand.

Sato Junki, 22, a student at Meiji Gakuin University has recently begun working at Suntory in Nagoya prefecture. He recommends reaching out to your OB/OG to get a first-person perspective on working in the company you’re interested in.

“The old boy I talked to had been working at Suntory for 3 years. He helped me prepare for my interview and told me what kind of questions I would be asked. It really saved me!”

Below we've listed three popular connecting apps for meeting with your university's OB/OG!

Get ready for your job search

Job hunting comes with a lot of preparation. The sooner you start, the more ready you’ll be when the time comes. Check out our articles on writing a Japanese CV, preparing for your job interview, what clothes to wear when job hunting, preparing for job hunting, and check out our career guide section for helpful resources for job hunting and finding a career in Japan.

Fourth Year in Japan 四年生

You’re a fourth year! You may be panicking because you’re late to the job hunting game. The good news is you’re not too late. You still stand a chance at getting a job at a good company if you get to work now. Most Japanese companies prefer to hire straight out of school if not before graduation, so start as soon as possible.

Get ready for off season job hunting

Your first place to stop would be our article on off-season job-hunting. Off season job-hunting can be very different from your typical job hunting season that begins in March, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a job! After you’ve read up on off-season job hunting get some advice from those who experienced it, like William, who landed a successful job as a traveling salesman for a Japanese insurance company.

You got the job offer!

Make it to the finish line!

The most important factor for successful job hunting in Japan is to build up your story and your soft skills to illustrate who you are. If you want help building and telling your story, click here to submit for free career counseling session with us in Tokyo or Online.