Just wondering. Since taking the N2 exam I’ve began job hunting for jobs in Japan once again. (I worked there for 3.5 years). While I don’t have the results yet I did pass the practice exam.
But I digress, often times in job ads they do in fact specify N2 as being “business level.” I personally have a hard time believing that it is based on my own abilities and would consider it moreso intermediate-advance maybe, but that’s for another discussion.
Some also specify N3 as conversational and N1 as near-native or fluent (again, hard time believing it’s near-native but these are the classifications I’m seeing).
Reason I’m bringing all this up is because there are job ads that specify business-level Japanese but don’t specify a JLPT level. The job ad is entirely in Japanese and I hesitate to apply even if my skills may be a good fit as it sounds more like they’re looking for bilingual native speakers and knowing that most Japanese companies don’t even know about the JLPT I often just don’t apply at all.
What are your thoughts on this? Anyone job hunting run into similar considerations?
4 comments
N1 is ‘business level’ hence why it is the standard bonus for immigrants and such, you are presumed to be functional in business and society at that point. You need to be able to function in the business is what they want, not enjoy complex subjects. N2 is passable if you understand what your field is. If you are in customer service it will be one thing versus manufacturing.
IDK but I would inquire with them what level of Japanese they expect.
It could be anywhere from N2 to “If you have to ask you don’t have the qualification”
It’s just used as an initial filter in many cases. The certificate doesn’t prove you can handle the job but it proves you at least know something.
For example translation jobs often put down N2 or N1 to remove timewasters but then really judge via a translation test.
If the job ad is in Japanese and doesn’t specify they probably would not take much notice. The application, interviews etc, will be in Japanese and you will either cope with that process or not.
Most Japanese companies don’t know what the JLPT is, that is why they just put business Japanese. If you make a Japanese resume and work history document （職務経歴書）you can just apply regardless of what JLPT certificate you have. A resume in Japanese is what is important. They will judge your Japanese level in the interview even if you have N1, if you cannot communicate they will not hire you. If you apply with an English resume that says N1, they will probably ignore it, unless they frequently hire foreigners.