What is the low-skill jobpool like for EU citizens?

6 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

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   **What is the low-skill jobpool like for EU citizens?**

   I had a round of interviews with tech companies in Japan, as I am searching for a UX / Web Development position, but sadly the majority of them declined my applications because I’m not a resident.

   So my wife decided to action and told me to come live as her house husband once my spouse visa has been renewed, and then she will give me the time I need to study japanese and do freelance tasks until I find a stable job.

   I don’t want to be a financial burden to her. I want to look for a temporary job, even if it’s part-time.
   The problem is that I’m Danish, and while we are taught english from the age of 7, we are not what people in Japan would consider “native speakers”, so english teaching jobs are not an option (right?)

   Looking up other low-skill positions, such as factory work, they seem to be aimed at people from Southeast Asia.

   What can I, a EU citizen apply for?

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2. I knew a guy from Sweden who taught English in Japan. The pay was terrible and the hours were very bad. If you’re not native, they really take advantage of you

3. > so english teaching jobs are not an option (right?)

   Theoretically, this is true, but I have a very nice German friend who’s an English teacher and we communicate in Japanese not English.

   **Since you are covered for visa**, I would expect you can find a lower level IT Job that pays more than English teacher or konbini-work. You might be able to find contract work that will be shorter term and perfect since you’ll find a webdev job pretty easily.

   As far as factor work, I expect you won’t find any because they generally want longer term workers and they fully recognize you’ll be leaving ASAP.

4. I’m confused. If you’re a web developer and the only current problem is that you’re not a resident of Japan yet, then go live in Japan and apply for web dev jobs? There are some that don’t need Japanese I think.

   Edit: though it may depend on where you’re at. Definitely in Tokyo there are options, probably also some of the other major cities, beyond that I imagine options are sparse.

5. >The problem is that I’m Danish, and while we are taught english from the age of 7, we are not what people in Japan would consider “native speakers”, so english teaching jobs are not an option (right?)

   If you wanted to get an ‘instructor’ visa, to be an ALT at public schools, then you’d need to have received 12 years of education in the language that you’d be teaching. The jobs themselves generally don’t have this requirement, and eikaiwa is even less restrictive. So I’m sure you’ll be fine.

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   >What can I, a EU citizen apply for?

   As the spouse of a Japanese national there are no restrictions on the work you can do. Practically the main issue you’ll have is in communicating with customers/coworkers/management. Keep in mind though; there are no restrictions on the work you can do. So if you want to freelance online or work remotely for companies in Europe or the US, go for it. Just make sure you pay your taxes accordingly.

6. With a spouse visa you should be able to find a good job in your speciality, in particular the jobs which refused you for not being a resident.

   Without the language it’s more challenging but possible.

   And don’t, please don’t jump into the low skill pool, it’s easy to jump in but hard to get out of there.