I'd really like to spend a year or two in Japan, and I'd like to study the language while there, because it would probably be a lot more effective than the studying I'm doing on my own right now. All I see when I scour the Internet is tons of people who teach English at various schools through programs like JET, etc. Are there any jobs at all for people from the USA to get a working visa in Japan, if you don't already speak very fluent Japanese? I've looks at some job postings here and there, and they all seem to want JLPT N2. Never any other level. Do I have to just give in and become an English teacher in order to live the dream for a year or two, or is there some other way?
Are there any non-teaching jobs for English-native speakers without JLPT N2?
- Thread starter Ark42
- Start date
- 21 May 2003
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If you are really desperate , join one of the military branches that will station you there, LOL. The Navy gave me two wonderful years of shore duty there for which I will forever be grateful.
Uncle Frank
Uncle Frank
- Thread starter
- #3
That may be a great option for some. I'm married, with a house and cars, and in my 30s. No kids. I doubt the military would accept me, even if I was up to the task. Unfortunately, I think I'd have a lot better luck just teaching English. Thanks for the input though!
- 20 Aug 2003
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Why would you imagine that a country as isolated as Japan would have any jobs that didn't require knowing the language to a functional level of reading, speaking, listening, and writing? Think about it! Pretty arrogant thinking if you imagine they will take people who aren't functionally literate (other than English teachers).
You might (MIGHT!!!) find something if you can squeeze into a foreign company with a branch here, but are you even qualified? Tell us your background, and we'll tell you your chances.
If your goal is to study the language, get accepted to a school and apply for a student visa.
You might (MIGHT!!!) find something if you can squeeze into a foreign company with a branch here, but are you even qualified? Tell us your background, and we'll tell you your chances.
If your goal is to study the language, get accepted to a school and apply for a student visa.
- Thread starter
- #5
It's just odd that there are never job postings (that I can find at least) that accept JLPT N3, N4, or N5. It's like I have nothing to work for in the meantime. Once I reach N2, awesome! But with the tests given once per year, I might pass N5 next time it's offered (December I think), if I keep up my current studying (Pimsleur's audio CDs from my library right now)
My background is that I'm in my 30s, married, own 2 houses, 2 cars, no kids, have a savings of around $50k, an IRA with >$100k, a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and have largely been self-employed working-at-home as well as doing freelance work for 10 years. I do computer programming/software development - anything from C/C++ to web design PHP/HTML/CSS to Android app development.
While my savings and residual income could probably keep me afloat for quite a bit, I'd much rather do -something- to make money while also part-time studying Japanese on the side. I don't care if the job isn't in any way related to my field, I'd just be happy to do something. More than one option would be nice though, as English teacher may be less fun than just gas station attendant/convenience store clerk, etc. It's not that I wouldn't do the teaching thing, I'm just trying to find more options still before I commit.
My background is that I'm in my 30s, married, own 2 houses, 2 cars, no kids, have a savings of around $50k, an IRA with >$100k, a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and have largely been self-employed working-at-home as well as doing freelance work for 10 years. I do computer programming/software development - anything from C/C++ to web design PHP/HTML/CSS to Android app development.
While my savings and residual income could probably keep me afloat for quite a bit, I'd much rather do -something- to make money while also part-time studying Japanese on the side. I don't care if the job isn't in any way related to my field, I'd just be happy to do something. More than one option would be nice though, as English teacher may be less fun than just gas station attendant/convenience store clerk, etc. It's not that I wouldn't do the teaching thing, I'm just trying to find more options still before I commit.
WonkoTheSane
先輩
- 12 May 2013
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Check usajobs.com and you might find a GS position. Also look into companies which have contractor positions with DoD.
This is assuming you can pass at least a 7 year NACLC, and preferably an SSBI.
You might not end up right where you want to be to start, but it's a foot in the door.
Frankly, I don't think you'll find any Japanese employer interested in taking you unless you're well qualified for the job (or any employer, for that matter).
Why would a gas station want to hire someone barely literate to work around dangerous chemicals?
If you really want to come here make yourself attractive to employers. Maybe that means going back for a masters, or getting certified in things people here need, or getting your Japanese solid. I don't know, it's a totally different field than mine, all I know is that this country is not exactly itching for immigrant workers.
Sent from my fingers using the internet.
This is assuming you can pass at least a 7 year NACLC, and preferably an SSBI.
You might not end up right where you want to be to start, but it's a foot in the door.
Frankly, I don't think you'll find any Japanese employer interested in taking you unless you're well qualified for the job (or any employer, for that matter).
Why would a gas station want to hire someone barely literate to work around dangerous chemicals?
If you really want to come here make yourself attractive to employers. Maybe that means going back for a masters, or getting certified in things people here need, or getting your Japanese solid. I don't know, it's a totally different field than mine, all I know is that this country is not exactly itching for immigrant workers.
Sent from my fingers using the internet.
nekojita
先輩
- 14 Jan 2009
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You couldn't get a visa to come to the UK to work in a supermarker or at a petrol station, either; those aren't jobs that anybody needs to import workers for.
At any rate, you don't need to scrub floors if you have a CS degree and appropriate work experience/skills. There are definitely IT jobs around for the less than perfectly fluent. It's just that nobody will ask for JLPT N3/N4/N5 if they need someone who can speak Japanese because, frankly, those levels don't mean anything to employers. Even asking to see a N2 certificate is just the "filtering out time wasters" step, since JLPT doesn't test your speaking skills.
You need to look for those jobs where having the specific technical skills required overrides any language requirements. A quick check on daijob for IT-related jobs with native English and "minimum" Japanese turns up a couple:
Daijob.com :: UNIX Administrator - ITCS Group
Daijob.com :: ﾂ【ITﾆ探ﾂーﾆ池ﾆ湛ﾅ?ﾃｩ窶ｹﾃ?】ﾆ箪ﾆ稚ﾆ暖ﾆ脱ﾆ巽ﾆ但ﾅ?J窶敖ｭﾅｽﾃ? Software Development Engineer 8343 - ﾆ湛ﾆ鱈ﾆ停?ｹﾆ地ﾆ脱ﾆ湛ﾂ・ﾆ湛ﾆ耽ﾆ鍛ﾆ稚ﾆ達ﾆ停?愴丹ﾂ･ﾆ箪ﾆ椎?ﾆ停?ｦﾂーﾆ歎ﾆ停?｡ﾆ停?愴炭ﾅ?窶敘ｽﾂｮ窶ｰﾃｯﾅｽﾃ?Skillhouse Staffing Solutions
At any rate, you don't need to scrub floors if you have a CS degree and appropriate work experience/skills. There are definitely IT jobs around for the less than perfectly fluent. It's just that nobody will ask for JLPT N3/N4/N5 if they need someone who can speak Japanese because, frankly, those levels don't mean anything to employers. Even asking to see a N2 certificate is just the "filtering out time wasters" step, since JLPT doesn't test your speaking skills.
You need to look for those jobs where having the specific technical skills required overrides any language requirements. A quick check on daijob for IT-related jobs with native English and "minimum" Japanese turns up a couple:
Daijob.com :: UNIX Administrator - ITCS Group
Daijob.com :: ﾂ【ITﾆ探ﾂーﾆ池ﾆ湛ﾅ?ﾃｩ窶ｹﾃ?】ﾆ箪ﾆ稚ﾆ暖ﾆ脱ﾆ巽ﾆ但ﾅ?J窶敖ｭﾅｽﾃ? Software Development Engineer 8343 - ﾆ湛ﾆ鱈ﾆ停?ｹﾆ地ﾆ脱ﾆ湛ﾂ・ﾆ湛ﾆ耽ﾆ鍛ﾆ稚ﾆ達ﾆ停?愴丹ﾂ･ﾆ箪ﾆ椎?ﾆ停?ｦﾂーﾆ歎ﾆ停?｡ﾆ停?愴炭ﾅ?窶敘ｽﾂｮ窶ｰﾃｯﾅｽﾃ?Skillhouse Staffing Solutions
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks for the links and the suggestions. It helps a lot.
What do you think they mean when it says "Japanese Level" "Minimum Communication Level" at the bottom. To me, at first, I would have thought those postings still want somebody who can carry out a fairly fluent conversation. I guess it doesn't hurt to apply and be turned down though.
My other concern is that these postings don't say if they'll accept people who are currently living in the USA. I'm sure I can manage the paperwork for visas myself (vs having an ALT/JET company do the paperwork for me), but I won't be doing that paperwork until after I found a job.
What do you think they mean when it says "Japanese Level" "Minimum Communication Level" at the bottom. To me, at first, I would have thought those postings still want somebody who can carry out a fairly fluent conversation. I guess it doesn't hurt to apply and be turned down though.
My other concern is that these postings don't say if they'll accept people who are currently living in the USA. I'm sure I can manage the paperwork for visas myself (vs having an ALT/JET company do the paperwork for me), but I won't be doing that paperwork until after I found a job.
nekojita
先輩
- 14 Jan 2009
- 1,660
- 444
Ignoring the slightly dodgy post above for the moment:
If a posting doesn't specify that they require someone who is already in Japan with a work visa, that means they are likely to be willing to sponsor one. Many job postings will specify that they only recruit those who are already in Japan (that is, already on a valid visa allowing you to work, not on a tourist visa). You could always contact them to check, before you go through all the application rigmarole.
The levels that Daijob have for language skills, in descending order:
Native Level
Fluent
Business Conversation Level
Daily Conversation Level
Basic Communication
None (sometimes means unspecified - if the job ad is in Japanese you can assume they want someone with a reasonably high level)
I would estimate these levels to be:
Business conversation level or above = you can do your job in Japanese
Daily conversation level = you do your job mostly in English, but you can interact/socialise with coworkers who don't speak English.
Basic communication = you can manage a basic conversation and/or they are looking for some evidence that you aren't going to be that guy who after two years in the country still only knows three words and pronounces two of them wrong.
Different companies will have different ideas of what "basic" means, of course, but a job advert that specifies they're looking for native English speakers suggests to me a "lots of interacting with other English speakers" position. Of course, if you have better Japanese skill than the minimum required, even better.
If a posting doesn't specify that they require someone who is already in Japan with a work visa, that means they are likely to be willing to sponsor one. Many job postings will specify that they only recruit those who are already in Japan (that is, already on a valid visa allowing you to work, not on a tourist visa). You could always contact them to check, before you go through all the application rigmarole.
The levels that Daijob have for language skills, in descending order:
Native Level
Fluent
Business Conversation Level
Daily Conversation Level
Basic Communication
None (sometimes means unspecified - if the job ad is in Japanese you can assume they want someone with a reasonably high level)
I would estimate these levels to be:
Business conversation level or above = you can do your job in Japanese
Daily conversation level = you do your job mostly in English, but you can interact/socialise with coworkers who don't speak English.
Basic communication = you can manage a basic conversation and/or they are looking for some evidence that you aren't going to be that guy who after two years in the country still only knows three words and pronounces two of them wrong.
Different companies will have different ideas of what "basic" means, of course, but a job advert that specifies they're looking for native English speakers suggests to me a "lots of interacting with other English speakers" position. Of course, if you have better Japanese skill than the minimum required, even better.
- 20 Aug 2003
- 4,910
- 416
The reason employers for non-teaching jobs don't accept anything lower than a certain JLPT level should be obvious...those levels are not sufficient enough to do one's job. So, unless you get lucky enough to find an employer who is willing to dip lower in the JLPT scale, the vast majority of jobs here will be beyond your reach.
You need a degree related to the field. You have one. This will get you a work visa in that area after you get hired.
To get hired you have to prove to employers you can do the job better than a Japanese can. That means being able to communicate well enough in Japanese first, and add to that having the abilities/experience/skills they want. Programmers are a dime a dozen here, and Japan often goes to India to farm out its work (or hires Indians to come here), largely because they will work for less.
Putting on a career guidance counselor's hat, I'll tell you that unless you find something in your field within a year of entering the job market here, don't even think of taking a job that isn't related, even if it gets your foot in the door. Gaps in one's work history are serious, whether you want the job in Japan or back home.
So, go ahead and get a teaching job to tide you over for a year if you are diligent and persistent enough to job hunt for a programming job while you learn the ropes of teaching. It should seem like very hard work, but that's because it WILL be. You will be physically here, which means you'll be available for any interviewing, but you still need to prove to an employer that you can communicate well enough and that you have the background needed.
Communicating means speaking and listening, reading and writing. Office memos, phone calls, weekly meetings, reports/updates, etc. Programming engineers in Japan are notorious for avoiding the use of English, by the way, so you have a very long and hard road ahead of you if you think you can get by with a smidgeon of Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone and whatever work history you have now. Whether you own a zillion homes in Michigan makes no difference whatsoever. Would you hire someone and want to work beside them in the US if they couldn't understand daily WORK-RELATED conversations, meetings, reports, email, etc.?
You need a degree related to the field. You have one. This will get you a work visa in that area after you get hired.
To get hired you have to prove to employers you can do the job better than a Japanese can. That means being able to communicate well enough in Japanese first, and add to that having the abilities/experience/skills they want. Programmers are a dime a dozen here, and Japan often goes to India to farm out its work (or hires Indians to come here), largely because they will work for less.
Putting on a career guidance counselor's hat, I'll tell you that unless you find something in your field within a year of entering the job market here, don't even think of taking a job that isn't related, even if it gets your foot in the door. Gaps in one's work history are serious, whether you want the job in Japan or back home.
So, go ahead and get a teaching job to tide you over for a year if you are diligent and persistent enough to job hunt for a programming job while you learn the ropes of teaching. It should seem like very hard work, but that's because it WILL be. You will be physically here, which means you'll be available for any interviewing, but you still need to prove to an employer that you can communicate well enough and that you have the background needed.
Communicating means speaking and listening, reading and writing. Office memos, phone calls, weekly meetings, reports/updates, etc. Programming engineers in Japan are notorious for avoiding the use of English, by the way, so you have a very long and hard road ahead of you if you think you can get by with a smidgeon of Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone and whatever work history you have now. Whether you own a zillion homes in Michigan makes no difference whatsoever. Would you hire someone and want to work beside them in the US if they couldn't understand daily WORK-RELATED conversations, meetings, reports, email, etc.?
