Hi everyone,
I need some advice on jobs in Japan. I am a graduate student from Canada, currently studying at one of the universities in Japan. My research field/expertise is in marine science, and I also hold an undergraduate degree in science from one of the top universities in Canada.
My girlfriend is Japanese, so I want to find ways to stay in Japan and secure a job here. I have sent my resume to over 50 companies for job applications; however, I have received no offers. My Japanese language skills are virtually as good as native speakers since I learned from my mother when I was young in Canada. I can write kanji and have 漢検三級, so I reckon they are pretty good. I also have JLPT N1.
Currently, I work part-time as an English teacher to cover my living experience. However, I do not want to be an English teacher for the rest of my life. I am only 25 and want to work in various organizations.
I honestly feel depressed about this situation. Why do no companies want to hire me? It is always the case that I pass the web exam portion of the job interview process, but I get declined after having the online interview… with 100% certainty.
I am losing hope and have started to think that it was a mistake to leave Canada in the first place. I feel like I have to build a company from scratch if I ever want to stay in this country because no existing organizations want me. I have Japanese PR since my mother is Japanese.
Should I leave the country, or should I keep applying for jobs here? What kind of skills are required for people to find jobs in this country? If you are in my shoes, would you leave Japan for a life in Canada? If there is anyone who has gone through similar experience and share insights, that would be amazing.
Thank you!
8 comments
Hard to say without knowing a lot more, but I want to point out that 50 applications isn’t a lot.. and if you are getting through the web screens, you are actually doing pretty well.
What kind of companies are you applying to? Are you going through the new grad hiring process? If it’s only big name companies then that could be why. Those positions are incredibly competitive. Getting into a company like Sony or Toyota sets you up to be very successful for your entire life. It might be more realistic to set your sights a little lower.
How is your keigo? If you are getting to first interviews without advancing further, weak keigo could be to blame.
Beyond that, marine science is a pretty niche field, so you can and should take advantage of any advice or connections that your university can provide.
Have you searched here (for academic and R&D positions) [Japan Research Career Information Network JREC-IN Portal (jst.go.jp)](https://jrecin.jst.go.jp/seek/SeekJorSearch?fn=3&ln=1&dispcount=10&keyword_and=marine) (I am unclear if you have a Masters or a PhD which will drastically change your market chances, but [Japan Research Career Information Network JREC-IN Portal (jst.go.jp)](https://jrecin.jst.go.jp/seek/SeekJorDetail?fn=3&ln=1&id=D122101875&ln_jor=1) for example is full time and requires Master as qualification.)
Sorry, I always botch the links, the first one should be a general link, the second is one explicit job opening, currently running.
ETA I send the English links forgetting that you have a high Japanese literacy degree, so you will be even better at operating the page. Good luck.
ETA2 If you want to stay, keep applying – sometimes a path is winded and the direction is not obvious: Ask your Prof. and Uni for help. As someone else points out, it might be your keigo. But, it could also be that right now after 3 years of pandemic many companies dont hire as much? Or maybe it is more common in your field to have a PhD?
Every time I’ve bumped into people embedded in non-STEM academia in Japan they seem to have been from wealthy families. It seems to be a sinecure or a club for connected people.
I just wanted to speak to your experience of applying to 50 companies and receiving no offers, as something is definitely unusual there.
I’ve just graduated from a masters program at a Japanese national university. My background is in humanities and my research focus was on regional revitalization in rural Japan. I also have N1 but would never classify my ability as being anything close to native level. That said, when I started job hunting last spring, I had submitted around half a dozen application (エントリー) and gone through maybe four or five interviews when I received a job offer from one of the top manufacturing/IT companies in the country (where I’ll be starting as a new graduate hire next week). While I do think I had a bit of luck getting an offer from my #1 choice so early, all the other international students I know who went through job hunting at the same time as me got good offers themselves by the time we finished.
So I’m not sure what’s happening with your situation but it’s definitely atypical. Are you applying 新卒 or 途中採用? Have you read up on or sat any seminars on the Japanese job hunting system and typical expectations companies have for international students? Do you know your ガクチカ, 強み・弱み, etc. and can you talk about them logically using a method like STAR?
Without more information, I can only speculate about what might be going wrong for you, but I am absolutely confident that it’s something that can be course corrected, if you did want to stay in the country on a medium to longterm basis.
Not sure going back would make sense at even double the wage in Canada: housing is ruinously expensive, every adult needs a car, because even if you live downtown Toronto/MTL/Vancouver, you cannot rely on our trash transit to commute. You’ll need a car to go anywhere else at all, even though you can rent. Wages are no way keeping up with cost of living.
You know you can live in Japan. You don’t know how the GF will like Canada, longer term. Also, sponsoring is a PITA. Much more difficult if not married (possible?).
Find ways to build your skills for the Japanese market, including gaisha. Study to brush up your advanced Japanese skills. My 2¢.
What kind of industry are you applying? Are you applying through the fresh graduate course? Fresh graduate interview is very different than a mid-career interview. If you pass the 1st screening and web test that’s a good sign, but you might need to work on your interview skills. How did you feel after interview, did you feel you could’ve done better or did the result catches you by surprise? Did the company offer you a feedback?
You said you do not want to live in Tokyo, but seriously that’s where jobs opening are. With your qualification, english/japanese bilingual and science skills, I’m sure you will be welcomed by most of international companies here. Might want to try Tokyo for a few years and try to transfer to location on 地方 or look for a new job then.
Just my two cents, don’t be too honest during the interview. say things that what the interviewer wants to hear. Do not talk about any negative experience and in general be as positive as possible in any interactions with them.