Assuming one speaks Japanese on a decent level (B2 or C1), what are the chances of getting a job with a Bachelor of Arts in Japan other than teaching English? I am currently studying International Relations in Germany. I know that STEM majors are more valuable in Japan, but do I still have a chance of finding a job in Japan with my degree, assuming we take the language out of the equation? If no, would the chances increase if doing a Master’s degree at a Japanese university?
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**Chances of working in Japan with a Bachelor of Arts?**
Assuming one speaks Japanese on a decent level (B2 or C1), what are the chances of getting a job with a Bachelor of Arts in Japan other than teaching English? I am currently studying International Relations in Germany. I know that STEM majors are more valuable in Japan, but do I still have a chance of finding a job in Japan with my degree, assuming we take the language out of the equation? If no, would the chances increase if doing a Master’s degree at a Japanese university?
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If you have the kind of experience a Japanese company needs and can’t get from a Japanese applicant, you have a chance of finding a job. STEM is usually more straight-forward.
Considering you are not a native speaker of English, getting a visa as an English teacher might actually not that easy.
Most international relations jobs are government or academia related. Japanese government jobs generally require Japanese citizenship and academia/university jobs require a Phd related to international relations and very good Japanese abilities. For a job using your international relations degree, your best bet is Germany’s [Foreign Service](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de).
Read the past threads about using [international relations degrees](https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/search?q=International+Relations&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on) in Japan:
* https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/comments/ie70ho/international_relations_jobs/
* https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/comments/7fxj2x/advice_on_career_trajectory_25m_ba_in/
* [*Ad nauseum*…](https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/search?q=International+Relations&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on)
>..do I still have a chance of finding a job in Japan with my degree, assuming we take the language out of the equation?
Taking the Japanese language out of the equation would be a massive assumption, and ridiculous.
>…would **the chances** increase if doing a Master’s degree at a Japanese university?
Yes, your “chances” would increase from Absolute Zero to 1 or 2 degrees Kelvin.
A Master’s degree would improve your chances for employment with the German Foreign Service (although getting a posting in Japan is just about the most competitive of all embassy placements). As I said before, you really need a Phd and high level Japanese to attempt to work in Japanese academia. Language teaching for you would be excreally limited since the need for German teachers is low (and there are many bilingual Japanese/Germans born in Japan competing for a handful of German teacher jobs).
> assuming we take the language out of the equation
If you take the language out of the equation, there are so many possibilities. But the thing is, you **can’t** take language out of the equation.