Perhaps you’ve heard the term in hushed back alley whispers by frightened young freshmen.
Maybe you’ve lost friends to it. They disappear for weeks, even months on end. You catch
only occasional glimpses of them on campus; their once colorful, orange hair now a hopeless
black, much like the stiff suit uniform they now wear. They look hurried. Weary. Majime.
Then one day, they emerge. They’re back! They seem relieved, happy. And yet tired,
somehow older and less innocent.
Where were they? What happened to them? And what will happen to you?
The answer:
Shukatsu.
(Also known as job hunting)
I’ve done it as well. I’ve had workplaces in Japan ranging from the rural rice paddies of the
deserted Japanese countryside, to the crowded concrete commerce of the prime real estate
right across from Hatoyam….err, Kan’s residence.
From these experiences, I’ve learned a few things about job hunting in Japan, and I’d like to
share with you some of my thoughts and advice. Think you’ve got lot’s of time and don’t need
to worry about it now? Well, when you come back to this blog in a desperate rush a few years
from now, don’t say I didn’t warn you…
Japanese – That test. You know the one
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes that a person can make is assuming their only options
are teaching and tech jobs if they don’t have a certain Japanese test level. While the test
certainly is good to pass, don’t let it limit your options. If you’ve taken it and are close to
passing a certain level, you can honestly write on your resume “Approximately JLPT level 1, 2
etc.” If you can (or can’t) communicate well enough to get your job done, they’ll find out in
the interview. There are people who don’t pass it yet still have good Japanese, and vice versa.
Just don’t let it limit what you apply for.
Volunteer – Anywhere. For anything.
Volunteer work is an incredibly accessible and flexible way to gain solid experience that you
can list on a resume. English speaking (and Japanese) volunteer groups are out there in
Tokyo. If you’ve heard of them back home, chances are they have them here. It’s great way
to meet people, and no matter what role you may end up with, it will lead somewhere useful
or help out on a resume. This is one instance where unpaid overtime in Japan actually pays off.
Resumes and cover letters – Perfect is good for starters.
It can be a bit overwhelming. There seems to be more resume advice articles than there are
jobs. My suggestion? Read as many as you can stand, then read some more. Bear in mind
that any decent position in Tokyo, teaching or non, will likely get at least 100 applications.
You’re exceptional; so should be your resume. Talk to a recruiter if you want to as well, the
only thing it will cost you is time. Amazingly, sometimes a few words can make the difference
between an interview and an empty inbox.
Lastly – Don’t wait for the opportunity, create it.
I would caution against letting the want ads determine the course of your career. Don’t get
me wrong, there are good postings out there. But there are a lot more good positions that
aren’t on any website. These are the jobs that fit you perfectly. These are the jobs doing what
you want, at the company you want work for. Don’t wait around for that perfect position to
open to the rest world, go out and find it.
Contact the place of your future dream job. Introduce yourself, explain why you’re impressed
with their organization, and that you’d like to learn more about getting a position there. Offer
to take someone out to lunch for an informational interview. Few people will turn down a free
meal and a chance to talk about themselves to an eager listener.
You probably won’t get offered a job on the spot, but you will certainly leave an impression.
Maybe you’ll find out when they’re hiring, get advance notice of openings, other contacts, or
who knows? Try it now, months in advance, so that you aren’t desperate and don’t come
across as such.
Thanks for reading my thoughts on tackling the Shukatsu monster. By the way, if this topic is
of interest to you, be sure to check out the Themed Lunch on June 25th and June 30th, about
internships and job hunting.
JM (ICC Staff)
