edit: *I re-worded things to better reflect my goals and what I hope to get out of this post*
edit 2: *Thanks for all of your feedback! I got a lot of good advice, so I know what I should do now.*
I’ve always been into Japanese culture, and after studying abroad in 2017, I really liked the idea of living and working there. I know I’m not qualified at this point in time, but I’d like to spend the next few years working towards it.
As of right now, I have a bachelor’s degree in video production and communications, and have experience producing and editing videos, with some experience in social media and news. I’d like to work for a company that does digital media, news, or digital marketing. My Japanese is at around N5, but I’m hoping to get to N3 by the end of next year (I don’t think I can go any faster than that).
What can I do now to increase my chances of finding work in Japan down the road? Obviously I’ll need to develop my Japanese ability and my hirable skills, but what else? What kinds of people should I network with? What kinds of work experience should I be pursuing right now, so that in a few years, I’ll have something that could be impressive?
Note: I don’t want to go the teaching English to get to Japan first route.
4 comments
To break into the media world of Japan, you have to know someone or you have to be EXTREMELY talented and know someone. I don’t want to bash your dreams man, but that’s not a good market for foreigners over there.
It’s a crowded field with a lot of ambitious people like yourself – many of whom are more talented than you – trying to break into it.
Basically unless you are fluent (not just ‘self-assessed’ N2, not just ‘actual certified N2’, but ‘you can be dropped into a production environment and not have anyone need to slow down their speech or translate something into English for you) and have production/editing skills that are at least on par (if not markedly better) than native speakers who would apply for the same position, you’re not going to get hired.
That’s not to say it’s impossible, but the golden rule remains true: when a potential employer asks “Why should we hire you over a local guy?” you need an answer and it better not suck.
> have gotten pretty decent at producing and editing videos
Countless Japanese are also *pretty decent*. You need to do better.
> I also have a bit of experience in news and social media
Countless Japanese have *a bit of experience* in those areas, you’ll need to do better.
> Obviously learning Japanese is good
It’s not *good*. It’s **mandatory** if you want to work in a field where you’ll need to excel at expressing yourself and understanding others. And for that
> I’d love to get at least an N3 certification next year
N3 is nowhere near enough. Even N1 wouldn’t be enough. You’d need to be native-level. So, get to that.
> I was thinking this is something that I could build to over the next few years.
Correct. This is what you do:
1. Keep working in the field, professionally, getting experience for the next 2-3 years
2. Improve your skills by a lot
3. Learn native-level Japanese
4. Contact recruiters and companies in Japan and apply for jobs
> I’d rather skip the teaching English step if possible.
Don’t ever, *ever* consider the “teaching English step” if you have other qualifications and experiences and want to work in Japan. Teaching English in Japan is for people who want to teach, and those who have zero relevant qualifications and want to live their Japan dream.
Japan needs a new guy in Myanmar.