High Demand Jobs in Japan for Foreigners
With the influx of new foreigners, jobs in Japan have become more foreigner friendly. There is now an abundance of new job ventures. Let’s take a look at the most popular.
In order to proceed further, there are some things to consider.
How long do you want to live in Japan?
For example: a short duration/ long duration/ seeking Japanese citizenship/ or on a working holiday visa.
There are jobs that will be perfect for each category.
What type of job are you looking for?
Job specifications may include: full time/ part-time/ visa sponsorship/ cash-in hand/ low Japanese level/ high japanese level/ etc;
Most foreigners want to live for 1-5 years in Japan with a visa. Here are the most popular options:
Teaching jobs in Japan
There are many jobs as an English teacher. As of right now, there is a shortage of English teachers throughout the country. These positions are considered entry-level. They are easily attainable if you meet the basic requirements.
ALT jobs
An ALT is an Assistant Language Teacher. This job is primarily to help the Japanese teacher through an English lesson. ALT may work in all levels, including elementary, junior high and high schools. You will help lesson planning, preparing content and games. Or helping the teacher in any way you can.
Being an ALT is the most stress-free out of all education categories. It provides a stable income (roughly 180,000-250,000 yen monthly). It also has a regular working hour schedule (mon-fri, no overtime).
Requirements:
• Highschool Diploma with compulsory education in English (15 years)
• Bachelor’s degree in any major/minor
• Conversational level Japanese is a plus
• A positive attitude.
Eikaiwa jobs
Unlike an ALT, an English teacher at an Eikaiwa is more one-on-one. Your main position is as a private tutor to students of different grade levels. Some classes will be conducted in either groups or individually and the scope of education is more vast. You will be in charge of your own lesson planning and your hours.
Your salary will vary by the amount of lessons you have throughout the week and each lesson can be 45 min-1 hour. The basic salary is 200,000-250,000 yen per month if done full time or hourly of 3,000 yen (roughly 25$).
Requirements:
• 15 years of compulsory education in English
• Bachelor’s degree in any major/minor
• Flexible days/hours (saturdays/sundays)
Kindergarten/ Nursery teacher jobs:
In Japan, it’s most common to start learning English in the 3rd grade of Elementary school. But some school will start teaching English from a younger age.
Kindergarten teachers are required to create lesson plans on vocabularies/ topics (as per the school’s curriculum).
Requirements:
• Already residing in Japan
• Native english speaker
• 15 years of compulsory education in English
• Bachelors degree in any major/minor,
• Conversational/intermediate Japanese, (preferred)
• Previous experience with children ages 1-5.
Service/ Hospitality jobs
These jobs are suitable for those with basic Japanese skills (preferably N1-N3) and customer service experience. Confident foreigners may find these jobs to be more immersive than teaching English.
Hotel Concierge/staff
A hotel concierge will deal with customer flow, help with reservations and delegating tasks to others. Japanese people take hospitality very seriously and always ensure the customers’ satisfaction. This job comes with a higher income, with a basic salary of 300,000-400,000 yen (depending on the hotel)
Requirements:
• Japan proficiency test (N1-N3) results
• Be open to work various hours
• Able to delegate tasks and assist
• May need to work overtime
• high school diploma
• Bachelor’s degree (preferred but sometimes not needed)
Izakaya/ Restaurant server:
Restaurant jobs are great if you don’t want to work in the mornings! The nightlife is vast and busy in Japan, especially in tourist spots like Tokyo/Osaka. An Izakaya is a bar that caters to more Japanese clientele. Restaurants are often more foreigner friendly.
Your job will be as a wait staff or host. Like all hospitality jobs, you will be responsible for the enjoyment of the customers at your establishment. The main benefits of this job is being able to immerse yourself in the community. The basic salary ranges from 200,000-300,000 yen as a full-time worker.
Requirements:
• Japanese proficiency (preferred: N3/N4)
• Previous experience in the service industry
• Positive attitude
• Open to flexible hours/ working overtime
IT Professional jobs in Japan
Japan is ever growing in terms of technology and is not as saturated as it may seem. However, there are very few foreign companies/ start-ups in Japan, so it may be a slightly different environment. Also, technology is not an entry-level profession, some necessary qualifications or experience will be required.
Software developer:
The majority of software developer/engineer jobs will involve providing technical support, UX/UI design, test management, or product management. Most of the communication will be in Japanese. But if the hiring company is foreign, there might be a translator/foreign team.
Technology job locations can be either in-office (preferred), partial remote, fully remote, or overseas. The basic salary is 5-8 million yen per year (roughly 47,000-75,000$ per year). A senior developer will receive a higher salary.
Requirements:
• N1-N3 Japanese proficiency level (exam/test will be required),
• Experience as a software developer (2-3 years),
• Bachelor’s degree in said field or similar field
• Master’s degree (preferred)
Interpreter/ Translator Jobs
More and more businesses in Japan deal with foreigners. Because English is the most common language in the world, Japanese companies often hire interpreters and translators to help in business dealings and re-writing contracts. Thanks to globalization, there’s an increasing demand for skilled translators and interpreters for other languages as well.
You’ll need a high level of proficiency in Japanese, but this career choice is good for foreigners who want to leverage their language skills.
The basic annual salary is roughly 5-7 million yen (roughly 45,000-65,000) depending on the company.
Requirements:
• Japanese proficiency level N1-N2 (exam/ test)
• Language proficiency in other language (English/ French/ Chinese)
• Translator certification
• Prior experience as a translator/interpreter
Becoming an ALT in Japan
Getting a job in Japan will help you settle down into Japanese culture. Consider every job opportunity that comes your way to find the best career for you. Experience the Japanese work culture and further your career in any chosen field.
As a foreigner myself who has spent 4 years living in Japan, my advice is this:
I applied as an ALT the first year I came and never left. It is a simple job and very good for first-timers who want a slower pace coming into Japan. You can learn about the culture, make good friends, and live a substantial life, free of worry. It’s good to experience school life for a time. Even if you choose to change careers, you can always leave at the end of the year with the knowledge that you helped children learn.
Click the link to learn more about [ ALT jobs in Japan ] with RCS.
