Recommended Jobs With Japanese Speaking in Japan

No doubt that a no-Japanese-speaker can still find a job in Japan because of its severe labor force shortage. However the more Japanese you understand, the more job opportunities you will bring for yourself, which also means better salary and better life in Japan. When you can't communicate in Japanese, you may have to do work alone such as light work in factories or bed making in hotels, but you can try kitchen staff if you can speak daily Japanese, or hotel front with polite Japanese.

What's more, If you practice Japanese on a daily basis during work, your language ability will be improved and your interest will also be stimulated. So if you are learning these fundamental vocabulary and grammar structures now, you are highly recommended to find a job with Japanese speaking. We are going to introduce some jobs for you.

How to find Japanese speaking jobs

Let's start from how to get the information of job vacancies. You may have noticed the recruitment information on the flyers and posters of nearby stations, restaurants or supermarkets. They will be good choices if they meet your expectations. Or you can try the following ways to get more information.

Job search websites

It will be really simple to look into hundreds of job descriptions by just hitting on the internet. There are many job search websites where you can search for jobs by inputting working location, industry, job title, etc. Most large websites provide service in English, while some others only in Japanese.

So you scan job vacancies on a website, then you decide one to apply for. Usually you can start an application by the website directly after creating or uploading a profile. Or you may send your application to the employer in other cases. If you are eligible you will receive an interview appointment.

Hello Work

Registering with Hello Work will not only allow you to search for extensive recruitment information at Hello Work offices, but also make you possible to be scouted by employers. Besides job matching between employer and job finders, Hello Work offices also provide recruitment support such as counselling and skill-up training, which will be very helpful. Most offices also serve in English.

Five Recommended jobs in Japan

So you have got the method to search for jobs, now what you need to do is to filter job vacancies. We are going to list some popular jobs with Japanese speaking in different industries and maybe you will find which one is perfect for you.

Cleaning jobs for Japanese speakers

The most common workplaces for cleaning job are hotels and shopping malls. The main work content is to do cleaning to make a comfortable space for customers. In the case of working in a hotel, you will need to clean guest rooms, including removing the used bed sheets, replacing them with new sheets, supplying of toothbrushes and tea sets, setting of face towels and cleaning bathroom and furniture. Not only western hotels in urban areas have a huge demand on foreign labor forces, but also traditional Japanese hotels in tourist spots like ski areas.

Usually you are supposed to do cleaning alone but a basic conversational Japanese will help you understand instructions and take working records. Moreover, speaking Japanese will absolutely make you a better relationship with your colleagues.

Hotel jobs for Japanese speakers

Besides cleaning jobs said above, western hotels also have other job positions such as front, doorman, bell person, concierge in accommodation section and cooking staff like chef, pastry chef, bartender, waiter/waitress and room service. Those positions are required to serve customers or coworkers directly so polite Japanese are required while conversational Japanese may also be enough for cooking staff.

In the case of Japanese hotels, as there are usually only 14 traditional rooms so one man may cover all of the following duties: futon set, kitchen assistance like dishwashing, preparation of tables and serving food and cleaning the onsen area.

Food jobs for Japanese speakers

Or you can try to work as kitchen staff or waiter/waitress at restaurants. Kitchen staff are also divided into different job types, like cooking, cooking assistance such as cutting ingredients and setting out dishes, washing dishes. Working in kitchen may don't require you to speak polite Japanese and conversational level to cover your work duties will be fine.

While a waiter or waitress is expected to serve customers in polite Japanese or in English at some restaurants for foreign customers. Work contents include leading customers, taking orders, serving food, cleaning up tables and other needs from customers.

Construction site jobs for Japanese speakers

If you prefer outdoor work, construction site jobs may be your choice. Construction sites may be mansions, commercial buildings, hospitals, parks, roads, bridges, railroads, dams, etc. A construction project is usually a huge system which needs cooperation of thousands of workers.

You can start from assistance work, then upgrade to skilled jobs like carpenter work, plastering, glass work, painting, interior finishing. No doubt that Japanese will be required by these jobs, and the key point may be not polite Japanese but Japanese technical terms.

English teaching jobs for Japanese speakers

If you are a native English speaker, you always have the chance to become an English teacher in Japan. If you have eligible academic and work experience, you can take the challenge to teach English in public schools, or you can try teaching in private Eikaiwa school, which means English conversation class in Japanese.

As English boom in Japan, there are thousands of Eikaiwa schools all over Japan. Public schools may require teachers with a higher Japanese level, while private schools may have no Japanese requirements on native English speakers, of course Japanese ability will be a plus.

Japanese speaking jobs visa support

Before starting to apply for a job, you have to make sure that you are allowed to engage in that work by your visa. Except for special visa holders like Permanent resident, Spouse or child of Japanese national, Spouse or child of permanent resident, Long-term resident who are allowed to do all kind of jobs they want, other working visa holders can only take part in predefined jobs.

A chef in a hotel may hold a Skilled labor visa, while a front may hold a Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services visa. And check your residence card carefully whether there are restrictions on your working hours and locations.