You have to master these two things to work in Japan.

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Japan is short of workers, so there are not few workers. Also, the number of foreigners who want to work in Japan is increasing, so the employment of foreigners will continue to increase.

There are many excellent foreigners all over the world who can speak not only their native language, but also English and Japanese, and have experience in their field, but there are two main concerns that companies have when hiring foreigners.

Companies that have employed foreigners in the past or have branches overseas are already familiar with visa applications and other procedures related to hiring foreigners, so they have a high hiring rate for foreigners. However, the reality is that there are many companies that have never employed a foreigner before.

In this lesson, we will learn how to resolve the concerns of companies and work in Japan, so anyone looking for a job in Japan should make sure to learn carefully.

① Obtain JLPT N2 or higher and improve your Japanese language skills

Needless to say, working in Japan requires high Japanese language skills.

All internal communication and client interactions are done via email, so if you can’t speak Japanese, you can’t work in Japan.

In order to dispel concerns about your lack of communication skills after joining the company, you should appeal in Japanese to your skills and experience at the interview, and how you will contribute those experiences to the company.

If you can make the interviewer imagine you using Japanese to work at the company, you will receive a job offer.

Japanese companies’ job postings state that they are hiring foreigners of any nationality, but in reality, most companies only hire foreigners who have JLPT N1.

Even if you do not meet the skills required by the company or have little work experience, your chances of getting a job will be high if your Japanese level is high.

In other words, companies place more importance on Japanese language proficiency level than on skills or experience.

Take the following measures according to your age.

If your Japanese level is low and it is difficult to convey it in an interview, convey it in writing.

② Improve your skills

I mentioned that the selection process places importance on your Japanese level, but that is only when recruiting young people. For mid-level employees over 30, the skills will also be checked intensively.

Even if you have JLPT N3, if you have more than 5 years of experience and high skills, and you can convey how you will use that experience to work at the company, your chances of being hired will increase.

In particular, technical jobs such as engineering require experience and skills rather than Japanese language ability, so if you have more than five years of work experience in your home country and management experience as a team leader or project manager, your market value will be high and you will have a good chance of being hired.

If you can’t speak Japanese well, polish your skills thoroughly.

Don’t just polish your skills, polish the skills that companies want and that Japanese people don’t have.

For example, if you are a mechanical design engineer, use CATIA or SOLIDWORKS thoroughly to perfect the design of automobile parts that are in high demand.

If you are an app developer, make sure you can code quickly and without mistakes in the latest trending languages.

The older you get, the harder it is to remember new things.

Even if you start studying for JLPT N1 when you’re almost 40 years old, it’s hard to get it into your head.

So, just keep honing your skills.

Instead of applying just because there’s a job posting for the job you want, applying in this way can help you win a job offer.

Apply to job postings strategically.

① Actively apply to industries with labor shortages

The reason why companies hire foreigners instead of Japanese is because they don’t get any applications even when they post job openings.

Because there are not enough workers, they hire foreigners to make up for it.

Because there is a labor shortage, the hiring rate is high, so if you apply to an industry where there are not many applicants from Japanese people, you may be able to find a job fairly quickly.

For example, manufacturing industries such as factories are chronically labor-shortage industries.

However, for foreigners, factories are also jobs where they can advance their careers in the future.

In factories, high Japanese language skills are not required, and by working diligently, you can be promoted to a full-time employee and be involved in work such as production management and production technology, as well as on the production floor.

The point is that everything is up to you, and you can do whatever you want with your own efforts.

If you can advance your career, you can expect a significant increase in your annual income at your next job.

② Working at a client-based company

The advantage of working at a client-based company is that you can gain work experience at a large company where you would not normally be able to work.

Most of the companies that hire foreigners are small and medium-sized companies, and the range of work you can do is limited.

However, if you can work at a large company, the range of work you can do is wide.

Also, if you work hard at a client’s company and get results, the client will scout you for direct employment.

If the working environment at the client’s company suits you, you may be able to work there as a full-time employee.

③ 転職てんしょくエージェントへ依頼いらいする

③ Request a job change agent

Job change agents that specialize in foreigners have many job listings for foreign companies and jobs that do not require Japanese language skills.

There are also many private job listings that are not listed on job search sites.

Job change agents do more than just introduce jobs.

The following services are available free of charge, so if you are working in Japan for the first time, be sure to ask for the help of an agent.

In this way, you can get a wide variety of advice and find a job in Japan as quickly as possible.

Try out the above three methods and find a job in Japan that suits you.