EDIT to avoid confusion. I don’t have an offer in Europe but I am looking for one. I’m sorry for any misunderstanding.
EDIT2 to avoid more confusion. What I am looking for is advice on job hunting in Europe while still living in Japan. Ideally I would like to secure a position and then relocate. I am not looking for advice on life altering decisions, although I do appreciate the comments received so far.
Hello everyone, long time lurker some times commenter. I hope this is the correct place to ask for advice.
I’ve been residing at this pint in Tokyo for about 5 years, originally took the opportunity presented to me to receive MEXT scholarship and proceed with graduate studies in my field (civil engineering). Currently I have about half a year left to finish my PhD degree and at the same time I have started job hunting. So far I have been scouted by one of the biggest companies in my field and offered a very competitive salary according to Japanese standards in comparison to the years of working experience.
The issue is that I am not sure if Japan is the place for me to stay long term and have a family here. Call it cliche or ridiculous but I think I have found reason to push forward and try to achieve things in the face of a woman I admire. Unfortunately she lives in Europe and although her work schedule perhaps allows her to travel to Japan once per month, to have a chance at creating a future together one or the other would need to relocate a bit closer proximity.
My current expected salary would allow me to travel to Europe (round-trip) twice per month and still have some money left over for personal expenses but not a significant amount left over for saving. In comparison if I lived in Europe I could do 10 round trips to country in a moth and still have the same amount of money left for living expenses.
Since I’m currently sustaining myself on the MEXT funding I don’t have any kind of significant funding available to sustain myself in a foreign country while job hunting (max perhaps 2 months?)
While initially focusing my job hunting efforts in Japan, I have contacted recruiters though LinkedIn and made some progress with them, when I reached out again asking for potential opportunities in Europe I have been met with less than warm responses.
What I would like to ask for everyone that might come across this post is their advice and perhaps connection with somebody in the field who can be of assistance.
Unfortunately professors and university although they have been really helpful which job hunting for Japanese companies they are not really familiar with the European market and I cannot blame them.
The company I may receive the offer from although it has several overseas branches, None are located in Europe.
I would really appreciate every piece of advice I can get.
P.S. I am a European passport holder so perhaps visa will not be an issue
8 comments
I don’t have anything helpful to add, but 2 roundtrips to Europe per month sounds exhausting and a huge waste of money. Just move if you can’t let this person go.
All that money won’t keep you warm at night.
> In comparison if I lived in Europe I could do 10 round trips to country in a moth and still have the same amount of money left for living expenses.
Do I understand correctly that you don’t actually have an offer in Europe yet? Are you just guessing this would be a possible offer?
” P.S. I am a European passport holder so perhaps visa will not be an issue ”
Just move already?
I also have an European passport, and I decided to move to Portugal later this year. You can rent and live a basic life there with just $1000 per month.
Unfortunately, the PhD in Japan isn’t as competitive in Japan as it is in Europe (generally speaking, there are exceptions of course depending on the location and actual field) which makes your current situation more difficult.
But at the same time, European companies expect international experience these days (while Japan does not at all). So coming from Japan is already a bonus in this regard.
I don’t have specific tips other than to play at your strengths. Update your resume to more western standards. The japanese job market is very different. Don’t shy away on listing short contracts. Having experience at multiple locations is not considered as bad as it is here. Plus nobody will care at which university you graduated. Your actual skills matter.
I would also advice against your travel plans. It sounds nice at first, flying international often and get nice money but it’s getting bad real quick. Also, when you move to Europe for a bit, nothing prevents you from coming back to Japan again (if things go south). Then with even more knowledge from overseas.
Two trips to Europe a month is exhausting. You’ll never really get out of the jet lag. And when do you plan to work – in a Japanese company with its gruelling work culture? I don’t think, that’s realistic.
I guess, you’ll have to decide between a career in Japan and one in Europe. You can’t have your cookie and eat it too, or it will eventually kill you(r relationship).
Don’t base your entire life decision on a long distance relationship that could end.
Are you interested in the position and do you like being in Japan? There must have been a reason you chose to do a PhD here. If you do, getting a few years experience in “one of the biggest companies in your field” sounds like a great opportunity. Meeting once a month isn’t the end of the world.
If not, find a job back in Europe. Just be aware of the current real world situation.
What kind of advice are you actually after? The process would just be looking on company careers pages, LinkedIn, indeed, maybe contacting some recruiters based in the European countries. Most companies willing to hire non-residents are capable of video interviews or, if big enough, might fly you over some some in person meets. This is also basically how applying for jobs in Japan from overseas works too.