Working in Japan with fluent Japanese?

Question

I speak fluent Japanese and will graduate soon with a bachelor of arts and commerce from a top Australian university. How easy would it be for me to land a job in a Japanese firm and what kind of salaries would I be looking at? I don't want to work as a teacher, and instead would like to enter the accounting/insurance/banking sectors.

Of course I want to use my Japanese ability for work in Japan, but would however like be exposed to opportunities to travel the world on business.

How successful do you think I would be in Japan?

Answer 1

The best way to get a visa that allows you as a foreigner with your qualifications to work in any other profession than teaching is to find an employer who will sponsor you.

Bear in mind though, that you will have tons of competition from native Japanese students who graduated from a Japanese university.

One of my Japanese friends actually moved to Tokyo from Northern Japan in order to find a job.

Answer 2

Congratulations that you have achieved the JLPT level 1. It is not difficult for you to get a job especially if you like to be translator. There are many opportunities.

I would recommend you to send your resume to all the Japanese job agency and let them do the searching for you. Do a search through the search engine. But one thing you must clarify if they contact you please do not forget to ask if there is any charge should the candidate get the job through them.

As I noticed a few agencies does charge. However there are still many other job agencies who will only charge the employer.

Good luck and do update us if you found the job to share your joy ;)

Answer 3

Can you also read and write at a native level ?

  It's not going to be easy as these jobs will always go to a native Japanese first.

  You need to have a skill that few Japanese have.

Will your degree be of any value in another country ?

Answer 4

first, you shouldn't be picky of what work you'll do. second, it's hard to land yourself in japan knowing that their foreign entry is stricter than in the US. however, knowing their language is a big advantage, especially you also know good english. and if you are really great in you academics, i don't see any reason why you shouldn't be employed in japan for high positioned jobs.

even so you can't get in to japan, if you're an accountant, you won't have to worry landing a job in the US where that profession is quite in demand nowadays. =)

Answer 5

You would probably need  some business Japanese to work in a company outside of English teaching or similar. Tokyo would also be your best city, as the person below has said - most jobs will go to a Japanese. My son lives and works there and moved to Tokyo for work for that reason - he is in IT with a large international firm.Speaks very fluent Japanese and had to take time to learn business Japanese.He had to take a job in a slightly different area first to a) get his work visa and b) get  work experience and business Japanese to a certain level .

Having JLPT Level 1 may help, -you may well be interviewed in Japanese, he was. Also he had a problem in one firm where he did not get the job because he was much younger than those he would have been managing, and was not Japanese. He also had good work experience at home in his field in a large international firm.

Even housing there - as a non Japanese you will be restricted to what accommodation you can live in.Not all accommodation is for people who are not Japanese.

However, he does have a large number of friends from different countries - New Zealand, USA  etc who are all living and working there.

I see your lack of work experience in your field as maybe a problem.

Travelling the world on business from Japan? Well, that might come in time once you had proved yourself as with any place, but I would be surprised.

Answer 6

日本語の読み書きは出来ますか？

If you'd like to work at a Japanese firm, you need reading and writing Japanese as native level, speaking is not important that much.

電話オペレーターとして働くのでない限り、会話はそんなに重要ではないと思います...

JLPTのlevel 1 ってどの程度なんでしょうか?

Japan is still a bit in recession, so I imagine that it is not too easy for foreigners to get a job in Japan. Anyway 頑張って下さいな。

Best of luck:)

Answer 7

you should go to the boston forum and other similar job fairs.  

Answer 8

Did you take the JLPT exam?

If you did and passed either level 1 or 2, it should be relatively easy for you to find work in a Japanese firm as companies are often willing to train bilingual newcomers.

In case you didn't, the exam is in early December. I recommend taking that first.

You can find jobs in the business sector at www.gaijinpot.com

Be sure to check if they can sponsor your visa!

There's a wide range of salaries and benefits available. If you check out the gaijin pot page you can get a better idea.

Also, you may have luck contacting some recruiting firms in Tokyo that work with bilingual candidates.

I just wanted to add... you CAN find a job in Japan! I know many bilingual foreigners working in these fields in Tokyo. There are not as many bilingual Japanese people as you may think. Also, Japan's population is shrinking and they are desparate for qualified Japanese-speaking employees.

It might be easier if you start out teaching English at a big eikawa like Geos (to get the visa) and then use that opportunity to network and land your dream job while living in Japan.

It all depends on your motivation.

Good luck.