Finding Employment in Japan After JET Conference February 10, 2015
Self-Introduction 2002-2005 2005-2008/3 2008/4-2009/3 2009/6-2009/11 2010-2012 2012- Present French 15 years in Japan CIR, Nara Prefecture PC, CLAIR Junior Economist, Public Finance Bank Business Development, Japanese SME Account Manager, Event Planning Company Manager, Cross-Border Strategic Consulting
Questions Before Getting Started Do I really want to stay in Japan? Local area or Big City? What should I target: Private / Public / Teaching / NPO-NGO? Japanese Company or Foreign Company in Japan? What are my interests? What are the skills that I developed while on JET?
Skills Acquired while on JET Class planning Event planning Event experience (AJET, etc.) Very good stress management Very good time management Imagination Adaptability Language skills Multi-Cultural experience Leadership Team-work Writing and other communication skills
Skills Most Companies Value Interpersonal skills Written & Verbal communication skills Adaptability Stress Management Time Management Organizational skills Language skills Multi-Cultural experience Leadership Team-work
Skills to Brush-up Business expertise (accounting, finance, marketing, etc.) Specific industry knowledge (especially the one you are targeting, if applicable) IT skills (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, etc.) Japanese (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) Global perspective
Getting Into a Japanese Firm Pros Your global experience is a unique attribute. Japanese firms need people with an affinity for Japan. Traditional glass ceilings are breaking. Generalists are welcome. You don t need to become Japanese! Cons Vacation Japanese Environment (public vs private) Long hours (let s be realistic here)
Potential Fields Hiring Foreigners in Japan Of course, it depends on your initial set of skills, but, to name a few: Recruiting firms (may be good for a start, and will allow you to brush-up your sales skills for the future) Translation/Interpreting/Localization (gaming, apps, etc.) Consulting (cross-border, etc.) Teaching (universities, private ALT companies, etc.) Start-ups that have just started their business in Japan, and are looking for individuals with a good grasp of the Japanese culture and working environment Japanese companies willing to expand their business abroad and looking for individuals with a good grasp of the Japanese culture and working environment (and obviously foreign)
Japanese Resume Always better to have a resume in Japanese Format different from the Western format: 履 歴 書
Japanese Resume 職 務 経 歴 書 Ask Japanese people to check it for language Ask any recruiter you have contacted to check it for contents Be prepared to make 1,000 versions of it, depending on the recruiter the job you are targeting what you want to emphasize Templates and tutorials can easily be downloaded from the Internet
Resume in English and/or in Your Own Language The length of the resume does not matter Be thorough List up your Previous jobs Responsibilities Figures (be as concrete as possible) Referrals Other interests Use action verbs as much as possible Try not to lie too much (things can be easily verified at the job interview or after) Clean-up your FB account/instagram/twitter Put a nice picture of yourself on Linkedin
Where to Look Social Networks Chamber of Commerce (of your own country or of other countries) Recruiters (pros & cons) International Centers Network of friends and co-workers (do not underestimate the power of recommendations )
At the Interview Punctuality: do not be late the day of your interview. If necessary, ask for directions in advance Professional Attire: wear a suit Smile Be honest about your abilities and your responsibilities as an ALT Be confident in your abilities as an ALT, not everyone can teach a classroom of 35 Japanese students for 1-5 years Be confident in your abilities as a CIR, not everyone can strive in a Japanese administration office environment from 1-5 years.
Once You ve Landed Yourself a Job Transportation : Ask the company s policy on commuting fare. Housing : Company s dormitory, housing allowance, guarantor? Insurance : Social Health Insurance, Pension, Unemployment Insurance Starting Date Length of the trial period Contract Employee vs Permanent Employee
Expectations on the Job Quite honestly, will depend on the company Will expect a certain attitude (close to the Japanese attitude) even if it is the Japanese branch of a Foreign company Often be the bridge between Japanese and Foreign employees, if applicable May request a lot of things OUTSIDE of your job description (interpreting, etc.) Will expect you to know everything about foreign culture
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