1. **Do you have a bachelors degree?**
2. **Do you work in Japan?**
3. **What kind of work do you do?**
UPDATE: I am in my early staged of research I am aware I need a degree but I am just exploring options.
**Extra Info:**I’m curious if the majority of foreigners who move to Japan have a bachelors degree. I have an advanced diploma in graphic design and I’m currently working as a graphic designer making pretty good money here in Canada. However, I am unhappy living in my current city and I’ve always wanted to live in Japan (I am half Japanese, but I don’t have any family there).
I would like to live there for 1 year, but I know I may end up wanting to stay longer so I’m just doing research now. I know about the work holiday visa, but that is only a 1-year visa and I believe you can only work part time. I don’t plan on going for another 3-4 years but I wanted to start my research now so I am well prepared and I’d like to hear about real experiences as well. I have heard it is very hard to work in Japan without a 4-year degree, so I’d just like to know what other people’s situations are like.
I am considering going back to school to turn my advanced diploma into a degree (that would be an additional 1-2 years depending on the school), but realistically in Canada, my portfolio and design abilities are a stronger factor than my schooling when it comes to getting a job. I also don’t really want to go back to school, unless I really need to, because that would require me to quit my job.
**Please be nice, I’m a realist and I am just trying to gain insight and learn.**
2 comments
You’re not focusing on the right thing here. The degree is not about finding a job, it’s about being eligible for a visa. You could be the best graphic designer in the world, and Japanese companies could be dying to hire you – if you’re not eligible for a work visa, then you’re not going to be able to live in Japan because immigration control won’t approve one.
The requirements are either:
– A bachelors degree; or
– Ten years of relevant professional experience
Since you’re half Japanese, do you mean one of your parents are from Japan? Or those Japanese that has been in Canada for multiple generations? (Eg. Paul Kariya, David Suzuki, etc).
If it is the former, you can check if you may be registered to your parent’s koseki. May be an opportunity to “return” to the “motherland”.