You will be doing yourself a huge favor by applying for jobs in Japan. There is just no surpassing the richness in cultural experience that you’ll get out of a stint in Japan. Don’t just jump into the opportunity though. There are some things that you need to set things straight first.
What form of employment is there?
Foreigners are often best employed in the fields of English education and the hospitality sector. Those who come from English speaking countries are often well paid. Do keep in mind though that acceptance and salary rate often depend on academic qualifications and additional training even if you come from a country where English is the primary language spoken. If you don’t have the right credentials, you can opt to apply for positions in bars, hotels and resorts.
Who can be accepted?
A lot of people would qualify for full term working visas. This is what you need to work for a long time in Japan. You might however wish to apply for a working holiday visa instead. This is a special visa that is usually only accorded to people who live in Australia, UK, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Denmark and Germany. Also applicants need to be 18 to 30 years old and have never been in Japan before. Once accepted, visitors are primarily required to enjoy vacations trips first. The chance to get jobs in Japan is only an additional benefit.
How much can you get?
This would obviously depend on where you work. For highly qualified English teachers in top private schools, a monthly salary of more than 200,000 yen is just about the standard rate. You do have to keep in mind though that this is the gross pay. You’d have to deduct your meal and accommodation expenses to arrive at your net take home pay. Resort workers are paid less at around 125,000 yen per month. Those who work in winter resorts however can still manage to save a lot because accommodations and meals are free.
What are the usual work hours?
Expect to report for work everyday at 8 and clock out at 5. There are a couple of jobs in Japan though that will require you to stay longer. For companies in the hospitality niche, peak months are in July and August which is when you will also be expected to work long, multiple shifts. In a lot of cases, workers in resorts have to work late at night and during weekends too. Some employees work twelve to sixteen hours a week for all the days of the week.
Is cultural adjustment necessary?
The Japanese are known for the value that they put on respect. As an employee, you would have to be very respectful too not only to your superiors but to customers and peers as well. There are different categories and levels of respect that you need to use depending on the status of the person you are speaking to. To be able to learn the right honorific language and titles, you need to learn the concepts of Keigo which is a Japanese term encompassing honorifics.
There is so much for you to gain from Japan jobs. Take the time today to learn more about living and working from Japan to benefit from this opportunity.