Japan
Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Japan entered a recession and there is currently a lack of available jobs for native graduates. Many Japanese firms are not hiring, although certain areas of the labour market are still open to international graduates, particularly those with a strong level of Japanese language ability. With little or no Japanese, the most realistic option would be to teach English.
Building contacts and networking with people in Japan before you move is one way of improving your chances.
One of the most common strategies for finding a graduate job in Japan is to go as an English teacher and then make connections with employers once in the country. One popular teaching programme is the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme . Competition for this programme is fierce.
You do not need to be living in Japan to apply for graduate-level jobs. However, apart from jobs teaching English, employers prefer candidates to have worked in Japan before and have strong Japanese language abilities.
Speculative applications are accepted, as many Japanese companies do not advertise specific vacancies. These should be made with a covering letter and CV.
The requirements of a Japanese CV vary between companies but many demand information not normally asked for in other countries. In general, a photograph, statement about your proficiency in Japanese and general CV headings such as education and experience are required. Companies may also ask for your medical history or even for your cover letter to be handwritten. The job advert should specify the requirements.
A rirekisho, or traditional Japanese résumé using a standard form, may be required. The International University of Japan - Resume and Rirekisho outlines the details of a rirekisho résumé and the particular form it takes.
Teaching English in Japan (TEiJ) also offers a guide to writing a CV for English teaching in Japan, but the advice may be applied to other types of jobs. For further advice, see JobERA.com: CVs and Resumes for Worldwide Job Search .
Japanese job interviews are formal, with the emphasis on how you can 'fit in' to the organisation and not what the organisation can do for you.
Etiquette is important, as is respect for hierarchy. It is polite to address people by their job titles. Handshakes are acceptable, combined with bowing. Eye contact should not be held for too long, as this may be considered impolite. Further advice about interviews in Japan can be found at JobERA.com: International Job Interviews .
Interviews for English teaching jobs conducted outside Japan are likely to be less formal and in more of a Western format.
A degree obtained in the UK will carry equal weight to a Japanese degree.
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is the internationally recognised qualification for non-Japanese speakers. There are five test levels (N1-5), with N5 being the lowest. The test can be taken in London at the SOAS Language Centre or at the University of Edinburgh: Japan Studies .
If you are planning to live and work in Japan, check your UK tax and National Insurance position with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to ensure that you are not losing any UK pension rights.
Sending speculative applications to Japanese companies based in the UK, as well as UK companies based in Japan, is a strategy worth considering, especially if you have a clear idea about the type of company you would like to work for. Your university careers service will be able to help you with such an application.
Networking is a good way to find out about jobs. You can start networking before you leave for Japan through organisations such as:
Alternatively, if you have services to offer, such as translation or journalism, you could place a 'situation wanted' advertisement online or in a newspaper.
If you work for a European company with Japanese-related business, you may be eligible to apply for a place on the Executive Training Programme (ETP) scheme. This is a 45-week programme combining intensive language and cultural study with an internship.
The Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme is the most popular work experience programme with UK graduates and places several thousand teachers and translators from around the world in Japan each year.
If you are a student, you may be able to apply for the AIESEC (Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales) training programme that offers work, teaching and volunteer placements.
Besides the JET Programme, other English language schools in Japan include Interac and Aeon . Berlitz Japan employs teachers of various languages and has language centres throughout the country.
Volunteer work can be arranged through Volunteer Abroad and Global Giving , although many of these volunteering opportunities require a fee.
The volunteer visa scheme allows UK nationals to do voluntary work for charitable organisations in Japan for up to one year. For more information, see the Embassy of Japan in the UK .
There are various opportunities for Westerners to obtain casual and temporary work in Japan. These include working in hotels, bars, restaurants, modelling, acting and providing voice-overs. However, English teaching, translating and editing are still the most popular and most easily available types of temporary and short-term work.
You will need a visa to do any work in Japan, including short-term or casual work. For more information, see visa and immigration. Alternatively, if you are aged between 18 and 30, you may be granted a working holiday visa. The Embassy of Japan in the UK has more information about this scheme.
Gap year opportunities can be found through Tokyo Connections and Lattitude Global Volunteering . As with volunteering, many gap year placements charge a fee. Alternatively, you could consider organising your own gap year, combining teaching with travel, for example.
The academic year in Japan runs from April to March. Foreign students must have completed 12 years of formal school education before they can join an undergraduate programme.
The university system is split into private and public schools. Public universities refer to schools that are not national universities but are run by local governments. There are about five times more private universities than public.
Individual institutions provide orientation courses for incoming foreign students. A visa granting foreign student status must be obtained before entering Japan.
A Masters programme of study lasts two years, while Doctorate programmes are five years.
Japanese is the language of most courses at university level, so prospective students often spend one or two years in Japan learning the language first. Some private universities offer Japanese language preparation courses for their own foreign students. The Japan Foundation (London Office) administers Japanese language proficiency tests.
There are a growing number of short courses taught in English. Most of these are short term, but there are also a few undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses available. More information is available from Study in Japan . The International University of Japan offers courses in international relations and MBAs in English.
You can find a list of Japanese universities, including their specialisms, and rankings of top universities at Abroad Education .
Each Japanese university sets different entry requirements for postgraduate study. However, it is a standard requirement for all students to have completed 16 years of formal school education (including an undergraduate degree) for admission to graduate programmes, and 18 years for medicine and dentistry programmes.
If you do not have the necessary qualifications but are at least 22 years old (24 for programmes in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science) and have recognised academic ability equal to or above that of a college graduate, you may also qualify for admission to a graduate school. Individual universities may set entrance exams to establish your aptitude.
Students normally enrol in April, so it is necessary to apply in advance of this time. Some universities permit students to enter at different times, such as in October. Check with the individual university for specific application deadlines.
For postgraduate study, applications are made individually to each university. These applications generally include proof of Japanese language ability, funding to cover costs, references, academic transcripts, a copy of your passport and photographs. For further information, see Education Japan .
Expect to pay 1million yen upwards for the first year of a Masters or Doctorate programme. Fees vary depending on the subject of study and whether the university is private or national.
Average monthly costs are around 138,000 yen. The Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO) has some excellent downloadable PDFs with further information and a breakdown of living costs.
Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation scholarships offer language study and a work placement to outstanding graduates.
The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) offers MEXT scholarships. They are available for UK undergraduates or for graduates who want to do postgraduate-level research. Applications should be made through the Embassy of Japan in the UK .
The Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO) provides scholarships to international students and also lists other organisations that provide scholarships to international students.
Almost all Japanese universities have exchange programmes arranged with international universities. For information on applying to your university for an exchange to Japan, see Study in Japan .
Japanese postgraduate qualifications are recognised in the UK for further study and by employers. For further information, visit UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom) .
A visa is not usually required for UK or Irish passport holders who wish to enter Japan for a period of six months or less. In such cases, your passport will be stamped for a stay of 90 days upon entry to Japan. This period of stay may be extended for a further 90 days upon application to an immigration office in Japan but approval is at their discretion. You are not permitted to work during this period unless you have a working holiday visa (which allows people aged 18-30 to work in Japan for up to one year in order to supplement their travel costs) or work visa.
On entry to Japan, you should have a fixed-date, confirmed return or onward journey ticket and any supporting documents that can serve as evidence of the purpose of the trip, such as conference details, details of the host organisation, etc. You may also be asked to show evidence of sufficient funds for the proposed period of stay in the country.
Overstaying your visa is a serious offence and Japan has a zero-tolerance policy, even in cases of genuine oversight. Should you overstay your visa, you will be deported and may also face detention or a fine, and you may experience difficulty re-entering Japan.
You will need to obtain a visa before you travel if you have arrangements in place for:
If you intend to work in Japan, you must obtain the correct visa before travelling to the country. Temporary visitors are not allowed to engage in any form of employment.
If you are going to work in Japan and already have an offer of employment, your employer will apply on your behalf for a Certificate of Eligibility from the Ministry of Justice in Japan .
For more details, contact the Consulate General at the Embassy of Japan in the UK or see the visa section of their website.
Non-UK citizens should check with your country's embassy about Japanese visa and work permit details.
Japan offers a variety of working visas which require a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Ministry of Justice in Japan . To obtain one of these certificates, applicants must ask a sponsor in Japan, such as an employer, spouse, school, etc, to contact the local immigration office and make an application on their behalf. The application form and further information can be found online at the Embassy of Japan in the UK .
If you are not a UK national, contact the Japanese embassy in the country where you are currently residing about how to obtain visas and work permits. If you are living in the UK, go to Embassy of Japan in the UK . You might also find it helpful to contact your ministry of foreign affairs, or your own embassy if you are not living in your home country, to ask whether there are any issues to be taken into account when considering working in Japan.
In order to secure permanent residency in Japan, certain conditions must be satisfied. You will need to have lived in the country for a specified period of time (in general, ten years but satisfying certain conditions may reduce this), have no criminal record and provide evidence that you can support yourself financially. For more information, contact the Immigration Bureau of Japan .
The Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners has offices in Tokyo and specialises in placement services and offering job-related information to foreign students and jobseekers living in Japan. The website also provides links to employment service centres for foreigners in other areas of Japan.
There is some careers service support at most universities, but services are better developed in the private universities, which tend to have stronger links with industry. These services are called Shushokubu and they are the nearest equivalent to our university careers services. They usually offer counselling, internet search facilities and a careers library.
The International University of Japan - Career Counseling and Services (CC&S) has a useful website with tips and advice for job hunters. Many of the bigger, well-known universities have English-speaking staff.
Universities often hold careers fairs for graduates similar to those held in the UK. Most of the dealings are in Japanese, but there may be opportunities to discuss options in English.
Professors frequently act as an interface between employers and students, particularly those representing technical students. For humanities students, there are recruitment fairs such as the one organised by DISCO International .
There are some career directories and journals, such as those published by DISCO International. Graduate recruitment publishers and event organisers are increasingly turning to internet technology to offer improved and more efficient services.
Some large companies target particular universities, but recruitment is often done through networking, word of mouth and alumni.
Registering with your embassy is recommended, as they can provide valuable help in times of emergency. Registration for UK citizens can be done online at the British Embassy in Japan . The British Embassy in Japan recommends that any citizen staying in Japan for more than three months registers with them.
Emergency contact numbers in Japan are:
Find the latest travel advice and a traveller's checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.
