Part-time Jobs in Japan

If you are living in Japan as a visitor, or a foreign student, or a resident, you may be interested in finding a part-time job."I have no idea how to start!", If you say so, this article may help you. We will show you an overall image of part-time job in Japan, including how to find one, what skills needed, what advantages you can get from it, and how the working environment will be etc. Also we will share some job searching websites designed for foreigners.

How to find part-time jobs in Japan

Firstly, please make sure that you are permitted to work in Japan by checking your visa status. For example, a "Temporary Visitor(tourism, business, visiting acquaintances, etc)" is not allowed to work and will be punished for violation such as deportation, imprisonment, penalty charges, etc, while a "College Student" can work as holding "Permissions for part-time job".

Secondly, please confirm the allowed amount of working hours and places according to visa status. A "Working Holiday" visa holder can work without limitation in hours, but a "College Student" can't work over 28 hours per week and isn't permitted to work at the adult entertainment related business, such as bars, night clubs, etc.

Then you can get started with checking job descriptions on part-time job magazines, or part-time job searching websites.The positions posted on magazines may be nearby and you can get touch with the recruiter directly and get a fast interview.Free magazines can be found at the ticket gates of train stations, shopping malls, and large supermarkets.Also you can buy job magazines from kiosks, convenience stores, bookstores, and university cooperatives.They are usually published once or twice a week.

If you try a job searching website, usually you start from registering an account and log in, and editor your resume and expectations of the job.Then try to search jobs by specific areas, train lines, job types and so on.Also the website can keep you notified of recommended jobs everyday based on your resume and expectations.It is really convenient to hunt for job through websites.

Then try to contact with the recruiter of the job which you want to apply.For the job on the magazines, you may contact them by phone, while e-mail or chat for the website case.There will be an interview normally.The contents of the job, wages and workable time of you may be talked about.Then you can start to work immediately if you get an offer successfully.

Part-time Job Search Websites

A website will not only provide you rich job information and powerful search function, but also some other support like training lessons, resume making, employment counselings, daily life information and so on .You can try these commonly-used websites below according to your needs.

Quick Jobs Japan

"Quick Jobs Japan" hosts over 3,000 jobs. All the information you need is easily found, such as an address, salary, working hours, working period, workplace, job descriptions and qualifications, so that it helps to shorten time for job search.

GajinPot

"gaijin pot", Japanese pronunciation of "foreigners". GajinPot will help every newcomer to start their life in Japan smoothly by providing information on the following five pillars:find jobs, study, live, travel in Japan and understand Japan.You can search jobs by types, areas, industries quickly. There is also a collection of jobs no need for Japanese skills.Not only job-finding , you can also rely on GajinPot for finding language schools, restaurants, tourist spots and so on.

Daijob

"daijob", Japanese pronunciation of "no problem". As a multilingual job board, Daijob aims to help bilingual job finders get a contact with recruiters looking for their skills. If you can speak Japanese, this website may help you find a part-time job using your bilingual skills. Daijob keeps a clear information display for users and you can do a quick search by country, language, job type and keyword on the homepage. Also the recruiter will appear on your Facebook if you connected Daijob with Facebook and like the job offer in Daijob. Currently IT and sales have the most job positions but there are also many electronics and manufacturing opportunities.

Jobs in Japan

As a job posting website showing employment opportunities from various companies, you can look on Jobs in Japan for a job that you are interested in and apply after creating an online resume or uploading your PDF file resume. Jobs can be searched by category, location and keywords as normal. Especially "VISA Offered" jobs are collected which will be useful for people who want to come to Japan but has no visa.

JapanCareer

As a website introducing students to Japanese companies looking for non-Japanese entry-level staff from all over the world, JapanCareer will support you from making a resume to counseling about job interviews.And it has a very detailed classification of job titles like sales, customer service, translators, interpreters and so on.This will let you know what kinds of positions there are quickly.

Yolo Japan

As a job searching website for foreigners who want to work in Japan,Yolo Japan provides information for both part-time and full-time jobs. Besides it provides a new working way for foreigners that they can receive a reward by being an influencer or a participant in a survey and then uploading opinions on their social media. The rewards are able to be collected anytime 24 hours 365 days and can be changed to money once per month.

Job Type and Detail

There are some popular part-time job types for foreigners.

Waiter/waitress in the customer service

There are many foreigners working in the service industry like in the convenience store, restaurants, and so on.Most of these jobs need you to speak polite Japanese and behave according to Japanese manner. But for the restaurants in tourist spots like Akihabara, polite Japanese may be not a must skill but a better one, because you are much more expected to serve foreigner customers in English or Chinese. If working in a convenient store, you may get a midnight shift, and the wage is better of course.If working in a restaurant, you may have a chance to learn how to make dishes. Also you can make friends with other Japanese coworkers and it will be good for you to improve language skills and learn more about Japanese culture.

Sales clerk at tax free shops

You may be only required to speak basic Japanese if you can speak Chinese or English for working as a sales clerk at tax free shops, as almost all of the customers are tourists who are not able to speak Japanese.And to serve them will be your job.

Language Teacher

It's quite popular to learn a foreign language especially English or Chinese for Japanese people, so that language teachers are highly demanded. If you are proficient in English or Chinese and with needed qualifications like a Mandarin level, then it may be a good choice to be a teacher at language schools. If you lack those expertise, you can also try to be a tutor who practice spoken English/Chinese with students.You can find a tutor job by websites and the lesson can also be done through the internet.

Some other jobs using language skills

If you are good at Japanese, then you can try to work as a translator or interpreter between Japanese and your native language, or a tourist guide, or some other jobs making use of language skills.Furthermore if you are proficient in other skills like programming, then you can do part-time software developing jobs. It may be possible to work at your own place for this kind of jobs. Different jobs have different work contents.Please check the job descriptions or talk with the recruiter .

Skills and Qualifications

The required skills and qualifications differ from job to job.Some jobs may require a fluent Japanese speaking, while some others may have no requirement with language skills.Some jobs may request you to show qualifications while others not.Try to check the job description and find a suitable one for you. But the following qualifications will be really helpful for job hunting.You can try to get one at your idle time.

Japanese-Language Proficiency Test

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test(JLPT) started in 1984 as a test to measure and certify the Japanese-Language proficiency of people whose native language is not Japanese.Currently it has become the largest Japanese-Language test in the world. The test is hold twice a year in July and December. You can both take it in Japan or your own country. There are 5 levels for JLPT,(N5, N4, N3, N2, the highest N1). Test items are designed for each level in order to measure Japanese-Language proficiency, like N4 and N5 measure understanding of basic Japanese that is mainly learned in the classroom, while N1 and N2 measure understanding of Japanese used in actual everyday scenes. N3 bridges the gap between N4/N5 and N1/N2.

Now the JLPT certifications are widely admitted by companies around the world. N4/N5 may be enough for a part-time job as a sales clerk, but N1 level may be needed for a translator. Actually If you want to apply for the Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals visa, the JLPT levels can earn points under the government's "Point-based Preferential Immigration Treatment System", as 15 points for N1 and 10 points for N2.So if you are considering living in Japan, the JLPT is highly recommended.

Test of English for International Communication

The Test of English for International Communication(TOEIC) is an English language test designed specifically to measure the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment. TOEIC is admitted in the whole worldwide for business English scenarios.The test is hold almost per month and also you can take it in either Japan or your own country.There are different forms of the exam: The TOEIC Listening and Reading Test consists of listening test and reading test both with 445 scores totaling a possible 990 scores. There are also the TOEIC Speaking and Writing Tests.

TOEIC should be the most common assessment for English skills in Japan.Compared with TOEIC Speaking and Writing, there are more people taking Listening and Reading Test. A good TOEIC score will be helpful for those part-time jobs that serve to English spoken customers .

Advantages and Rewards of work

There are many advantages of part-time work. First of all, it can get you paid.If you are a student, you might be very well aware of the higher education expenses in Japan nowadays. So it's very common for students to take up a part-time job.

Secondly, Part-time job helps you understand the work culture of Japan. If you work in a convenience store, then you may learn how to serve customers politely as Japan is really famous for its service spirit. If you work in a ramen restaurant, then you may learn how to make delicious Japan ramen. Also you can know Japanese people more not just from co-workers but also customers.

Thirdly, different from a full-time job, you can try different career sectors easily with part-time work and discover a favorite one.Maybe it will lead you to a full-time work.

Moreover a part-time job can practice your Japanese and improve your language skills. This should benefit you in your whole life whether you keep living in Japan or go back to your country in the future.

Workplace Environment and Working

A part-time job can happen in a restaurant, in the street, in a factory, or just at your home. You may work with Japanese, people from your country or other countries. Just find a part-time job with the working style you like.

As more and more people come to Japan for travel, work, and living, it may become more and more common to encounter foreigners in the street, in the restaurant, in the daily life. So feel free to find a part-time job and enjoy your life in Japan.