Contents
"What kind of method is there for overseas employment?" "Which country should I choose?" If you are thinking about overseas employment, this kind of question may arise. Employment circumstances in Japan and overseas are different, and experience and skills tend to be emphasized overseas. It is important to collect information in advance so that your first overseas employment will be successful.
In this article, we will explain the countries and occupations recommended for overseas employment, steps for overseas employment, and tips.
Differences in job hunting between overseas and Japan
First of all, I will explain the difference between job hunting activities in Japan and overseas.
There are no new graduates hired overseas, and there are various job hunting periods.
In Japan, there are many companies that are implementing "new graduate batch recruitment" to work as new employees from April for those who are planning to graduate from university. It is common for students to start job hunting from an early stage while they are still in school. On the other hand, there is no idea of hiring new graduates in Europe and the United States, and hiring is done all year round. In addition, the amount of learning of Western students is much larger than that of Japan, and the fact is that it does not take much time for job hunting.
It is common to find a job at your own timing during the semester near graduation or after graduation. It is different from Japan in that you can apply throughout the year as long as you have a vacancy in your desired position. Another characteristic of Europe and the United States is that many students participate in internships conducted by companies while still in school.
Human resources with immediate capabilities are required overseas
In Japan, there are two slots, "new graduate recruitment" and "mid-career recruitment", and students who have just graduated from university are treated as new graduates. Companies are prepared to carefully train inexperienced new graduates. However, overseas, such as Europe and the United States, there is a need for human resources who are ready to work, regardless of whether they are new graduates or mid-career. In other words, unlike new graduates in Japan, there is no frame for them to be carefully trained.
Companies recruit human resources when the necessary quotas are available, and even new graduates are hired if they have the ability. If you want to get a job at an overseas company, check if you have the ability and skills to work immediately for the recruitment quota.
There are few companies that have a training system overseas
Since overseas companies are required to be able to work immediately, there are few companies that have a training system in place. After joining the company, you will have to share essential information and start working immediately.
Japanese companies tend to hire people who will work for a long time, so many of them have a solid training system in place. However, since it is common for overseas companies to hire the necessary human resources when they are needed, it can be a risk to carefully develop human resources.
However, this way of thinking is just a general theory. There are many companies that have training systems overseas as well. Also, even Japanese companies may not have a training system. If you are aiming for an overseas company, one way is to find a company that has a training system.
How to choose a country when you are looking for an overseas job
When aiming for an overseas job, it is very important which country you choose. Here are four points to keep in mind about how to choose a country.
Choose by language
Language is an indispensable element for working and living abroad. Without communication in language, it will be impossible to proceed smoothly. Through language, you can deepen your understanding not only about work, but also about culture, history, and the people who live there.
Even if you think "I'm fluent in English, it's okay", the official language of the country where I work is not always English. When choosing a country, first check what language is used in the country where you want to work.
Choose based on the ease of getting a work visa
It is also a point that you want to keep the ease of getting a work visa. A work visa that is indispensable for working abroad. Visa acquisition conditions are subject to change depending on the economic situation of the country, and in some countries it is difficult to obtain a visa. Find out what conditions you need to get a visa for the country you want to work for, such as language skills, skills, and educational background. It takes time to process a work visa, so it is recommended that you check it with plenty of time.
Choose by living environment
Living environment is also an important factor when finding a job overseas and staying for a long time. Japan's security is one of the best in the world, so you should be worried about the good or bad living environment no matter where you go. Not only security, but also living environment, weather, and diet are important points that directly affect physical and mental health.
In addition, the living environment differs not only in the country but also in the area where you live, such as whether it is an urban area or a rural area. Let's check the living environment of the desired country in advance so that it does not mean that it should not have been like this after deciding where to work.
Choose based on whether it will lead to your future career
I would like to apply the experience of overseas employment to my next career. After getting a job overseas, it is not impossible to have a career path such as "use your experience to change jobs" or "aim for local hiring in your desired country". Think about what your experience in that country will lead to your future career.
The points I want to be aware of are skills that can be acquired only because I worked in that country, language skills, and overseas business skills. By looking to the future and choosing a place of employment, you can gain more experience and skills.
Recommended countries for overseas employment
Here are five recommended countries for overseas employment. Please know the characteristics of each and use it as a reference when choosing a place of employment.
America
IT is Silicon Valley, finance is New York, manufacturing is the Midwest, and the United States is characterized by industry in each region. Since there are many big cities, there are many options for employment and work. Jobs in the United States require native-level language skills and a high degree of specialization, so finding a job is the most difficult task.
Those who already have specialized skills or have a high level of language proficiency have the opportunity to work for a global company. However, it is difficult to obtain a work visa, and it is necessary to clear strict conditions such as educational background and job description.
Australia
Australia is popular with Japanese people not only as a tourist destination but also as a place of employment. Since the whole country is making efforts to protect workers, there is little overtime or work on holidays, and it is stipulated by law to take appropriate measures when necessary. Recommended for those who want to balance work and private life.
Although living prices are high, the salary is also high, so you should be able to aim for an increase in salary. However, many people work on a Working Holiday Visa because getting a visa requires business-level English proficiency.
Singapore
Singapore, a multinational country, is a country where many foreign-affiliated companies are expanding. Many companies are expanding their business throughout the Asian region, and are perfect for people who want to make the most of their language skills and who want to advance their careers. Since human resources who are ready to work are required, high English proficiency, work experience, and educational background are also required when finding a job.
It is also known that the conditions for obtaining a work visa are strict. In terms of life, the environment is set up so that foreigners can live comfortably, and because it is in Asia, the food will be easy for Japanese people to eat.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a country that is relatively safe, has well-developed infrastructure, and is easy to live in. In addition to attracting attention as a base for the manufacturing industry, the number of job offers is increasing in the service industry and IT fields in recent years. The salary is not high, but the prices are cheaper than in Japan, so it will be easier to live. There are many pro-Japanese families, and as the number of Japanese companies increases, the number of people learning Japanese as a second foreign language is also increasing.
The official language is Vietnamese, but there are many scenes where you can use English and Japanese, so even people who are not very confident in their language skills should be able to take on the challenge. Since the hurdles are lower than those of Western companies, it is gaining popularity as the first overseas employment destination.
India
India, with its remarkable economic growth in recent years, is a market that companies around the world are paying attention to. Many Japanese companies are expanding into the manufacturing industry, and recently there are also job offers such as back offices in the distribution and service industries. In India, where there are many job offers, there is an advantage that it is easy to get a job.
Finding a job is difficult when finding a job overseas, but in India it tends to be easier to get a job without special skills. There are many jobs that are inexperienced, and it is possible to acquire skills while working. It is a country with a lot of momentum such as youth and diversity, and it is recommended for people who want to grow themselves.
Recommended occupations for overseas employment
Here are five recommended occupations for overseas employment.
Expatriate
Expatriates are one of the occupations for overseas employment. Expatriates are office workers who find employment in a Japanese company and temporarily work overseas. After gaining experience and skills in Japan, it is common to be dispatched to offices or factories overseas. There will be opportunities for people such as trading companies, banks, securities companies, and manufacturers.
Basically, people with abilities and skills are often selected as expatriates, and they are assigned to local positions such as top-class branches and factories, managers, and professionals. As a result, the annual income increases, and in most cases, Japanese companies prepare housing.
Sales position of a local Japanese company
The lower hurdle than expatriates is the option to work as a sales position at a local Japanese company. When a Japanese company expands overseas, it is often the case that a wholly owned subsidiary is established locally or a joint venture is established with the local company. If you get a job at one of these companies, you will be able to work while living abroad.
It is a comfortable working environment because there are many exchanges between Japanese people. The disadvantage is that the salary is lower and the treatment is not as good as that of expatriates, but it is attractive that you can freely choose the country of work and the period of employment.
Japanese teacher
Japanese teachers teach Japanese to foreigners who want to learn Japanese. You do not need to obtain a teacher's license to work as a Japanese language teacher, but you must meet one of the following requirements.
・ Completed a Japanese language teacher training course
・ Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competition Test
・ Obtained credits for Japanese language education at an educational institution
Japanese is said to be a difficult language in the world, and Japanese native Japanese teachers are required. Especially in Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, the demand for Japanese language teachers is increasing.
Interpreter / Translator
Although many local Japanese companies are fluent in English, the demand for interpreters and translators is high. Interpreters and translators do not work at a level where they are just fluent in languages. It is a job that requires advanced skills to understand the subtle nuances of foreign languages and convey them accurately. In addition to business interpreters and conference interpreters, there are also fields such as medical interpreters, so you can play an active role in a wide range of fields. Some people thoroughly improve their language skills and advance their careers to become interpreters and translators.
IT engineer
IT engineers with a wide range of occupations, such as system engineers, programmers, and web engineers, are also one of the easy jobs to work overseas. Overseas, the salary level of IT engineers tends to be higher than in Japan. When finding a job overseas, IT engineers are required not only to have programming skills, but also to have high communication skills and management skills. You can expect an increase in salary, but experience and achievements are required, so if you are inexperienced, it will be difficult to change jobs.
Sushi chef
Japanese food that is popular overseas, especially sushi chefs who provide sushi, can also play an active role overseas. Japanese food is attracting more and more attention as Japanese food has been registered as an intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO. The number of courses to train sushi chefs is increasing, and sushi chefs have a lot to offer. There are many job offers, so it should be easy to get a job. In the future, I can work at a local sushi restaurant or Japanese restaurant with a view to becoming independent.
5 steps to get a job abroad
There are five main steps to get a job abroad.
1. Decide which country you want to work in
2. Prepare documents such as resumes and certificates
3. Confirm job information and apply for a company
4. Interview
5. If you get a job offer, apply for employment
First, decide which country you want to work in. Let's thoroughly investigate cultural differences, prices, meals, etc., as well as security and living environment. Even if I can get a job at the company I want, I want to avoid having to quit because the country doesn't fit.
Once you have decided on your desired employment, prepare documents such as resumes and certificates. In some countries, not only resumes but also graduation certificates and recommendations from previous jobs are required. There is no resume format overseas like in Japan, and you can create your own from scratch on your computer.
There are two main ways to apply for a job, either by applying directly to the company or through a local dispatching company. If there is a company you are interested in, check the homepage frequently so that you do not miss the timing of the job offer. On the other hand, if you use a dispatched labor company, we recommend that you check what fields you are strong in recruiting before registering.
It's finally an interview. Overseas, there is a need for human resources who can work immediately, so it is important to properly convey what you can do now. It's a good idea to be able to answer your strengths, why you want to work abroad, and your future career plans.
Even if you are hired safely, it usually takes 3 to 4 months from hiring to starting work locally. First of all, you need to apply for a visa, and then you need to apply for overseas transfer notification, social insurance, pension, residence tax, etc. Let's prepare systematically so that we don't have to panic just before.
Tips for successful overseas employment
Finally, let's take a look at the tips for successful overseas employment.
Once you have decided on the country you want to work for, try staying for 1 to 3 weeks.
Even in a country that you have visited for sightseeing, you may find something unexpected when you actually live in it. Once you have decided on the country you want to work in, we recommend that you first stay for 1 to 3 weeks. Let's try living and decide if you can live according to your image. You can also experience prices, food, hygiene, and infrastructure.
Obtain English qualifications and professional skills qualifications
It is also recommended to obtain an English qualification or a qualification of specialized skills that will be advantageous for overseas employment. No matter what country you work in, you basically need English. Aim for a TOEIC score of at least 700, preferably around 900, which is a proof of your English proficiency. Also, if you have specialized skills such as IT engineer, interpreter / translator, and web writer, you can play an active role as an immediate force.
Conclusion
It is important to convey your strengths and skills, as human resources who are ready to work are given preferential treatment overseas. Also, employment circumstances and treatment differ depending on the country, so be sure to carefully consider which country to choose. It is recommended that you first acquire English, as having high language proficiency as well as specialized skills will give you more options for employment.
EnglishPhonetics English conversation, where you can talk with experienced teachers, is perfect for interview preparation. If you practice speaking to the instructor every day, you will be able to attend the interview without hesitation.
