Advice for Candidates with Japanese as a Second Language or Japan-related Experience

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What level of Japanese is required?

The level of Japanese required depends very much on the nature of the role. Naturally, the higher the level of fluency, the more opportunities become available. For this reason, it is a good idea to sit for the Japanese Proficiency Tests, JETRO Business Japanese and the Kanji Aptitude Test firstly as a benchmark and additionally as an incentive to keep studying “Nihongo”. But rest assured, for some positions, the Japan experience is sufficient to convince the company that you would be a "good fit" within their corporate culture.

Useful Contacts

The Japan Foundation - London Language Centre
6th Floor, Russell Square House, 10-12 Russell Square, London,WC1B 5EH
Tel - 020 7436 6698 Fax - 020 7323 4888 Email info.language@jpf.org.uk http://www.jpf.org.uk/language/index.php

A great source of information on Japanese language learning for both teachers and students including links to learning centres and language exams.

Japanese Plus a Skill

Although proficiency in the Japanese language still opens doors, for most employers they are looking for additional skills. Many fresh graduates or JET returnees have other skills but fail to market them effectively.
These might include:

  • Degree level equivalent in a European language.
    (There is an increasing demand for candidates with European language skills as Japanese manufacturers choose the UK to base their European Headquarters)
  • A vocational or technical first degree discipline such as Business, IT or Engineering
  • Numeracy and analytical reasoning demonstrated by ´A´ level Maths or higher
  • Computer and keyboard literacy.
  • Soft skills - i.e. interpersonal, flexibility, team player, communication, skills etc.
  • Relevant non-teaching work experience

Bar work and hostessing never go down well with Japanese recruiters and are best left off the CV!
If you are lacking in any skills besides teaching and the ability to speak Japanese, at the very least, get computer literate now!

How to find a suitable opening

Try as many of the following as you can:

Network at some of the Anglo-Japanese Societies.
These include The Japan Society (Tel: 020 7828 6330), Hashi no Kai (Tel: 07974 689990.  The JET AA also organise events for ex-JETs; check their website and subscribe to mailings http://www.jetaa.org.uk/

There is also the "Nihongo o Hanasokai" organized by JETRO´s PR department. Telephone them for registration on their database and information on their events in both Sheffield and London.

In addition, most universities with Japanese Studies courses also have their own Anglo Japanese societies and it could be worth making contact with them

Newspaper adverts

Several newspapers have recruitment pages, eg. The Guardian on a Monday and The Times on Wednesday and Thursday.

Register with a recruitment agency

Never allow yourself to be pressurised into taking a job which is not quite right by an unscrupulous agency which has more interest in hitting their sales target than your career development. After all there is always the option to temp. A good temporary assignment can transform the look of your CV!

There are 3 main ways in which your career might develop:

  1. On a structured training programme which is usually with a non-Japanese blue chip organization. The qualities they seek might be leadership, initiative, assertiveness, interpersonal skills etc. They rarely look specifically for language skills. There could be an option to be transferred to an overseas office at some stage but it is rarely guaranteed. This might not therefore be an option for those looking to use their language skills. But the huge advantage is that you know where your career is heading and the timescale for training.

  2. On the job training - this is more common and should not be viewed as inferior to a structured training programme. This could typically be training for a logistics, research, sales, or an IT role. There is often a need for language skills. However, you do need to take more control and make sure that the learning opportunities are maximised.

  3. Jobs for 6 months - another typical scenario is that a graduate without commercial experience and skills joins a company. Initially the learning curve is steep but then it levels off. This is the point to ask for more responsibility. If this is not possible , it might be time to move on. With experience under your belt you should be in a better position to find a role with long term prospects.