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an increasing number of foreign students who obtain employment in
a Japanese company after graduation. |
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In 2008, according to the Japanese Immigration
Bureau, there were 17,490 people who changed their status
of residence from College Student to one for the purpose of employment.
There is also an increase of foreign students who participate in internship
programs at Japanese firms while they are enrolled in a Japanese educational
institute.
You can find details at the Ministry
of Justice Immigration Bureau web site.
(http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/index.html)
The details regarding finding full-time
work in Japan are as follows.
The procedures needed for a foreign
student to find full-time employment are basically the same as those
for a Japanese student. You will need to research companies through
various reference materials and then contact the company that you
are interested in. In terms of schedule, many Japanese firms tend
to recruit a student fresh out of school. Therefore, both students
and companies usually perform various recruitment and employment activities
during a particular season. It is important that you are aware of
such seasons. |
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| Schedule
for finding full-time employment (for work beginning in April) |
| Employment
guidance by the school |
From
October, two years before graduation |
| Requests for company
brochures made by telephone or through the mail |
From December, two
years before graduation |
| Attendance at company
explanatory meetings |
From March, the year
before graduation |
| Screening by the company
(document examination, test, interview) |
From May the year before
graduation |
| Announcement of test
results, tentative and unofficial job offers given |
From June the year
before graduation |
| Period from which unofficial
job offers are formally permitted to be given |
From October the year
before graduation |
| Application and acquisition
of a working visa (change status of residence) |
From January of the
year of graduation |
| Begin work |
April |
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Below is a list of convenient ways for
you to collect information so that you can contact a firm to get company
brochures.
1) Utilize employment magazines
There are many magazines available to
foreign students seeking employment, such as the Gaikokujin Ryugakusei
no tame no Shushoku Joho (Employment Information for Foreign Students)
published by the Japan Student Services Organization.
You can also check employment magazines for Japanese students.
Japan Student Services Organization
http://www.jasso.go.jp/index_e.html
International Foreign Students Association
http://www.ifsa.jp/
2) Utilize your university's career office
Such career offices have various materials that should be helpful to you in finding a job. It includes reports about past students' employment activities, lists of companies, want ads and company reports. Some universities also offer employment guidance.
3) Consult with the professor of your seminar's research laboratory or with students who are your seniors.
Many companies tend to provide recruitment
information directly to research laboratories, especially to those
in science and technology-related fields. Therefore, you can often
get valuable information from your seminar professors as well as senior
students.
4) Utilize the Employment Service
Center for Foreigners
The Employment Service Center for Foreigners
provides such services as counseling and job referral to foreign students
seeking work in Japan.
Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners
(http://www.tfemploy.go.jp/7language/english/index.html)
Osaka Employment Service Center for Foreigners
(http://osaka-rodo.go.jp/hw/gaisen/E_webpage/e-toppage.htm)
5) Utilize the Internet
There is now an increase in the number
of Japanese companies that provide information regarding employment
opportunities on their web sites and accept E-mailed requests for
information. |
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Once you have collected information
about companies in your field of interest, you should visit the companies
and meet with those assigned to the personnel division. We strongly
suggest that rather than approaching just one company, you initially
choose several companies and then narrow it down as your job-search
progresses.
There are several things that you should
take note of before you visit companies. Here are some examples.
1) Prepare the necessary documents
You should make preparations to get
the needed documents well in advance since some of the items such
as a transcript of your grades take time to get.
2) Get to know about the company
before you visit
Be sure to read the brochures and other
materials sent by the company, and study them beforehand to have a
basic knouwledge of the existing conditions of business of the company.
3) Be on time!
Confirm the time and location of your
meeting in advance and give yourself plenty of time to get there.
4) Gather your thoughts and be ready
to answer questions
Be sure to read the brochures and other materials sent by the company, and study them beforehand to have a basic knowledge of the existing conditions of business of the company. |
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Foreigners reside in Japan under one
of twenty-seven status-of-residence categories, and the activities
that they may engage in are determined by their status of residence.
If a foreign student plans to work full-time in Japan, the student
must change his or her status of residence from College Student to
one that allows full-time work in Japan, such as Specialist in the
Humanities/International Services or Engineer.
1) The application procedure
Please go to the nearest regional or
district immigration bureau or branch office to change your status
of residence from College Student to one that allows you to work full-time.
We suggest that you call in advance to confirm such things as their
opening hours. The documents that you will need to submit include
the following:
i) Documents that you need to fill out
or provide yourself
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- Your passport (or Travel
Document for Aliens in the case of those without passports)
- Your alien registration
card
- Change of status of residence
permit application form (Available at regional immigration
bureaus)
- Resume (There is no fixed
format but please clearly indicate your educational and
work history)
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ii) Documents
that you need to get from your prospective employer |
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- A copy of your employment
contract: if there is no formal contract, a written appointment
or hiring notice will be sufficient. However, it needs to
clearly state what kind of work you will engage in (in as
much detail), the duration of your employment and remuneration.
- Copies of the company registration
(issued within 3 months of the application) and financial
statement (balance sheet and profit and loss statement).
- Corporate guide (Brochures of the company that
clearly describes the content of your employer's business)
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iii) Documents
that you need to get from your university |
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- Certificate of graduation
from your university (Certificate of prospect to graduate
also accepted)should be the original.
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2) The
examination
After your submit the necessary documents,
the immigration bureau will make an examination and notify you by
mail regarding the outcome. The immigration bureau grants permission
for foreign students to stay for work if the content of the work and
the history of residence in Japan match the necessary qualifications
for such residence statuses as Specialist in the Humanities/International
Services or Engineer. |
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