Employment in Japan
To succeed in finding employment in Japan, students should start job-hunting activities as early as possible. Sufficient information is also essential to effectively find employment. There are various means to access to employment information, such as career support centers of respective universities/schools, job search websites of private companies and the official student organizations indicated below, so students are highly recommended to actively obtain the necessary information before starting job hunting activities.
Main information-source public institutions
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Japan Student Services Organization
(JASSO)Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), an organization managed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, aims to promote further international understanding among students and international student exchange programs.
Learn MoreClick here to access job-hunting guidance information for international students.
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Work in Kyushu
Matching site connecting international students and companies in Kitakyushu
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Kitakyushu Foreigner Employment Support Center
Provides support in hiring foreigners to businesses located in Kitakyushu
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Fukuoka Hello Work
for Supporting New GraduatesHello Work (Employment Service Center) services are also available to international students seeking employment in Japan, providing information on employment opportunities, consultation, and support.
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*This website is only offered in Japanese -
FiSSC
Fukuoka International Student Support CenterFiSSC provides various support services for international students aiming to work in Fukuoka Prefecture or other parts of Japan. Services include employment guidance seminars and individual career counseling and job placement.
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Recruitment Schedule
Internship
Internship is a system that allows students who are yet to graduate to gain experience in positions related to their future career or major by working at companies. Some universities recognize internships as part of education and give credit for it. Inquire directly with your school about the availability of internship programs and the possibility of gaining credits. The internship aims to provide an opportunity for students to grow and gain practical experience for their future career, and internships are often unpaid.
- Advantages of Internship
- 1. Gaining firsthand experience of working practices in Japan, 2. Learning business manners in Japan, 3. Industry and job research
Company and industry research
Japanese industry can be broadly categorized into about 20 groups, such as construction, manufacturing, and retail/wholesale, but there are a total of 1,460 detailed categories. The first step in gaining employment is to study industries and companies, understanding what is available, and discovering which ones interest you the most.
ShigomaruShigomaru
Shigomaru is the nickname of the Employment Information Bureau, a job-hunting site operated by Kitakyushu to help connect people wanted to work in the city with companies looking for qualified people. The website features not only information on employment opportunities in Kitakyushu, but also a variety of information on the industries and companies in the city.
Entry
To proceed to the selection process, you first need to submit entry sheets. You will receive company information, recruitment information, and information about seminars and events via email or postal mail from companies to which you have sent entry sheets. Submitting an entry sheet does not mean you have applied for that company, so do not hesitate to submit entry sheets to companies you are interested in.
Joint Company Information Sessions / Company Information Sessions
Companies hold information sessions aimed to recruit students. By attending such events, you will understand the companies and their recruitment policies. Joint company information sessions are also held, where many companies gather at a single venue. Frequently visit your school’s career department, etc. so as not to miss information on recruitment seminars and events.
Written Examinations/Interviews
After applying for companies by submitting the required entry sheets, curriculum vitae and other application documents, you will take written examinations. The written examinations include an aptitude test to assess the applicant’s behavior characteristics and judgment, a general knowledge test to measure the applicant’s basic academic ability and knowledge, and an essay exam to assess the applicant’s logical thinking skills and creativity. You will also have interviews, in which you must explain the reasons for you application and present your selling points. Generally, written examinations and interviews are conducted in Japanese. So you should be used to reading and writing in Japanese, and should practice sufficiently for the interviews.
Procedure for change of residence status/job offer
In order for international students to take full-time employment in Japan, they have to change their status of residence from “Student” to a status of residence that allows full-time employment. Please note that it may be difficult to change your status of residence if the type of job in which you are to be engaged in the company is unrelated to your major or subjects you studied. The screening process for change of status of residence takes one to three months, so once you receive a tentative job offer, you should start the procedures as soon as possible so that you can start working in April.
Requirements for Change of Status of Residence
It will be assessed whether the major you studied at your university or professional training college is related to the knowledge and skills required for the job in which you are to be engaged.
- l Foreign nationals who have graduated from a Japanese university can engage in translation, interpretation or instruction of their native language, regardless of their major at university.
- l Foreign nationals who have passed information processing technology tests or possess qualifications specified by the public notice of the Minister of Justice can engage in computer technology-related jobs, regardless of their major at university or professional training college.
- l International students who were granted the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status accounted for about 90% of the total number of international students who were permitted to change their status of residence in 2017.
Four key points for screening for change of status of residence
- Whether the applicant has knowledge and skills corresponding to his/her academic background (major, research, etc.), and other career history
- Whether the job the applicant will be engaged in is one to which he/she can apply his/her knowledge and skills
- Whether the applicant will receive appropriate treatment (salary)
- Whether the company the applicant plans to work for has a stable management foundation and business performance (stability and continuity) so that he/she will be offered the opportunity to fully develop his/her expertise
Guidelines for Permission of Change of Status of Residence from Student to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Learn MoreIf you can't find employment by graduation:
If an international student at a Japanese university, graduate school, or specialty school cannot finalize employment by graduation, it may be possible to apply for a one-year extension to keep looking. Likewise, international students graduating from one of the following Japanese language schools in Kitakyushu after graduating from a university or graduate school overseas may be able to apply for a one-year extension.
Qualifying schools (designated under the National Strategic Special Zone Act)
Kitakyushu YMCA
Japanese Language Department, Kyushu Medical Sports Vocational School
Ask your school for more information.
To launch a business in Japan:
If you plan on starting a business in Japan after graduation, you will have to change your visa status to Business/Management. In addition, you will require at least 5 million yen in capital, will have to employ at least two Japanese citizens (in addition to yourself), and satisfy various other requirements. Be sure to allow sufficient preparation time.
