1.What is nenmatsu chosei?

年末調整/ねんまつちょうせい (year-end tax adjustment) is an adjustment of the excess or deficiency of the income tax by comparing the income tax to be paid by the employee for the year and the income tax deducted from the employee’s monthly salary and bonus. Although the tax amounts are deducted from the monthly salary as withholding tax, they are just estimates. There may also be an over or underpayment when there is a change in salary or family structure, or career change during the year. Therefore, once the salary of the year is determined, the company recalculates the tax according to the employee’s salary between January and December, and adjusts the excess or deficiency and determines the amount of tax to be paid, on behalf of the employee.

1-1.Who is/is not subject to nenmatsu chosei?

Foreigners who have an address in Japan or have been living in Japan for more than a year are subject to year-end tax adjustment, since their tax is handled basically the same as Japanese workers. In addition, foreign technical interns/trainees and interns are also eligible if they meet these conditions. On the other hand, those who have their address overseas or work in Japan on a working holiday are not subject to year-end tax adjustment.

1-2.How to submit nenmatsu chosei

The documents and their areas to fill out differ depending on the salary earner’s situation, such as “have/do not have spouse”, “have/do not have various insurance premiums such as life insurance and earthquake insurance” and “with/without housing loan”. Therefore, you need to declare the amount of deduction correctly for each item that applies to you. If you have some difficulty in understanding, you can refer to the declaration form in your native language and confirm it carefully, and fill out the form in accordance with the instructions by the HR person in your company.

Example of nenmatsu chosei

Below are the specific items required for nenmatsu chosei.

Declaration forms in foreign languages (English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese) are available on the National Tax Agency website, so you can check the details of the form.

2.What is gensen choshuhyo?

源泉徴収票/げんせんちょうしゅうひょう (withholding tax statement) is a document distributed by your company when the end of the year is approaching. It shows how much you were paid and how much income tax you paid during the year at a glance. When you resign in the middle of the year, you will be handed a withholding tax statement including the total amount of your salary and the total amount of income tax deducted from your salary between January 1st of the year and the day of your resignation.

2-1.How to read gensen choshuhyo

In order to confirm your income and earnings on your withholding tax statement, make sure the following four items are correct.

Example of gensen choshuhyo

2-2.Keeping gensen choshuhyo

Withholding tax statement is also required when you change jobs. If you are considering or have already decided a career change, you should be sure to keep your withholding tax statement. In addition, you need a withholding tax statement if you change jobs from one year to the next, if you have an annual income greater than 20 million yen, or if your secondary income exceeds 200,000 yen, as you need to file an income tax report. Furthermore, if you want to apply for the special deduction for housing etc. related to a dwelling, you may want to keep your withholding tax statements for three to five years, as you may be required to submit them for the past three years.

3.Summary

Year-end tax adjustment is a procedure that many employees should do. Although there are many documents to be submitted and it can be time consuming, this article will help you understand the important issues and make the procedure smooth.

Learning Japanese

• Online Japanese Language Study Services
• Listening
• Speaking
• Language Certifications

Business Japanese

• Business emails 
• Answering phone calls

List of ways to look for jobs in Japan

• Recruitment Agency for Expats in Japan
• Job Board for Expats in Japan
• Search for jobs by occupation in Japan
• Search for jobs by industry in Japan

Job Hunting Guide for International Students

• Job Hunting Guide for International Students

1.What is a payslip?

A payslip is a document that describes items such as your salary, deductions and tax amount. It is generally handed to you by your employer prior to the payment date, and there is a paper version and an electric version which can be viewed on your PC and other devices.

In Japan, companies pay insurance premiums and taxes on behalf of the employee by deducting the amount from the salary. Remember that this is a system for the employees to avoid troubles such as spending too much money or forgetting to pay the tax, by previously deducting insurance premiums and taxes. By deducting the required amount from your monthly salary in advance, you won’t need to conduct payment procedures by yourself such as filing tax returns or paying resident taxes.

1-1.When you receive your payslip

Payslips generally show the correct amount of your salary calculated by the company, but it may be wrong in some cases. Be sure to check your payslip every month that your working hours, benefits and deduction are correct, and that there are   no errors in your overtime, certificate benefits, etc., so that you are receiving the correct amount of money. If you are not sure of an item or if you find possible mistakes, you can inform your company to take care of it. When there is a mistake, it is important to contact your company as soon as possible.

1-2.Keeping your payslips

There is no definition about handling the payslips you received, and there is no obligation to keep them. However, we encourage you to keep them for at least two years because they can be used as evidence of your income or tax payment. If there are unpaid salaries, you can claim them as far back as two years. Application for the employment insurance that you need in your career change and resignation is also limited to two years. Keeping your payslips can be viewed as equal to keeping data of your salaries and tax payments.

2.Three categories on your payslips

2-1.Attendance

• Shugyo Nissu（しゅうぎょうにっすう/就業日数）：Number of working days in the relevant month as determined by the company
• Shukkin Nissu（しゅっきんにっすう/就業日数）: Number of days you worked in the relevant month
• Rodo Jikan（ろうどうじかん/労働時間）: Number of hours you worked in the relevant month
• Kekkin Nissu（けっきんにっすう/欠勤日数）: Number of days you were absent in the relevant month
• Kyujitsu Shukkin Nissu（きゅうじつしゅっきんにっすう/休日出勤日数）: Number of days you worked on legal holidays (one holiday per week in minimum) defined in the Labor Standards Act
• Yukyu Shoka Nissu（ゆうきゅうしょうかにっすう/有給消化日数）: Number of acquired paid holidays
• Heijitsu Futsu Zangyo（へいじつふつうざんぎょう/平日普通残業）: Overtime exceeded from the working hours stipulated in the employment contract
• Heijitsu Shinya Zangyo（へいじつしんやざんぎょう/平日深夜残業）: Working hours between 22:00 and 5:00
• Kyujitsu Rodo Jikan（きゅうじつろうどうじかん/休日労働時間）: Overtime on legal holidays stipulated in Article 35 of the Labor Standards Act
• Chikoku Sotai Jikan（ちこくそうたいじかん/遅刻早退時間）: Number of late arrival and early departure hours in the relevant month
• Yukyu Zan Nissu（ゆうきゅうざんにっすう/有給残日数）: Number of remaining paid holidays as of the closing period of the relevant month

2-2.Payment

• Kihon Kyu（きほんきゅう/基本給）: Base amount of salary paid by the company
• Yakushoku Teate（やくしょくてあて/役職手当）: Varying benefits depending on the position
• Shikaku Teate（しかくてあて/資格手当）: Benefit paid to employees when they try or acquire qualifications
• Jutaku Teate（じゅうたくてあて/住宅手当）: Benefit that the company pays a part of the employee’s house rent or loan
• Kazoku Teate（かぞくてあて/家族手当）: Benefit that company pays a certain amount to employees with spouses or children
• Tsukin Teate（つうきんてあて/通勤手当）: Benefit for the commuting transportation fee
• Zangyo Teate（ざんぎょうてあて/残業手当）: Benefit for overtime work exceeding the ones specified in the employment contract
• Shinya Kinmu Teate（しんやきんむてあて/深夜勤務手当）: Benefit for employees who work between 22:00 and 5:00
• Hotei Kyujitsu Teate（ほうていきゅうじつてあて/法定休日手当）: Special benefit for working on legal holidays (one holiday per week in minimum) defined in the Labor Standards Act

2-3.Deductions

• Koyo Hokenryo（こようほけんりょう/雇用保険料）: Insurance premiums to receive unemployment benefits and childcare leave benefits
• Shakai Hokenryo（しゃかいほけんりょう/社会保険料）: Public insurance premiums such as health insurance, employees’ pension insurance, employees’ pension fund and nursing-care insurance
• Shotoku Zei（しょとくぜい/所得税）: Taxes based the salary of the year
• Jumin Zei（じゅうみんぜい/住民税）: Regional tax based on the previous year’s income
• Kyosaihi（きょうさいひ/共済費）: Monthly deposit fees for company travels and recreational expenses

3. Summary

Your salary is important because it reflects your hard work as a number. Although there should be no mistakes in your salary payment, it is impossible to say they are error-free as they are processed by human hands. Payslips are evidence to define your income and tax amount. Make sure you check your payslips every month when you receive them, not leaving them unchecked.

Learning Japanese

• Online Japanese Language Study Services
• Listening
• Speaking
• Language Certifications

Business Japanese

• Business emails 
• Answering phone calls

List of ways to look for jobs in Japan

• Recruitment Agency for Expats in Japan
• Job Board for Expats in Japan
• Search for jobs by occupation in Japan
• Search for jobs by industry in Japan

Job Hunting Guide for International Students

• Job Hunting Guide for International Students

Here Tomomi Hanyu from Career Fly, a company that helps women from overseas get jobs in Japan, asks Do Thi Thuy, a new graduate who has been working at Goalist since April 2019, about working in Japan.

Studying in Japan expanded my opportunities

Tomomi Hanyu (TH) (Career Fly): It is very obvious that your Japanese is very good, how long have you been in Japan?

Do Thi Thuy (DTH) (Goalist): Thank you very much. Everyone asks me how many years I’ve been in Japan, haha. I came here when I was 18 and my first two years were at a Japanese language school and then I went to university and graduated, so this is now my 7th year here – so quite long!

TH: Did you have other options besides studying in Japan?

DTT: No I didn’t. If I had stayed in Vietnam at that time, I would have ended up never leaving the country, but I wanted to see and experience the world. In Vietnam, the only jobs available to me would have been menial labor roles, so to expand my possibilities I realized I would have to go and study in another country.

TH: Did you consider any other countries besides Japan?
DTT: It was a toss-up between Japan and Australia. My parents had some friends in Australia, but I felt I wanted to go somewhere where I didn’t know anyone to boost my independence and confidence, and I thought that the environment in Japan was similar to Vietnam, so I chose Japan.

For overseas students, job hunting in Japan is full of obstacles and puzzles!

TH: Was learning Japanese difficult?

DTT: Yeah, it was difficult, especially when I first entered Japanese school. When I first started, the only Japanese I knew was basic greetings, but the teacher was full on speaking Japanese non-stop throughout the classes, and that was really tough work! I also found it difficult to hold full conversations in Japanese at that time for some reason. Everyday natural conversational Japanese seemed really different to what I was learning in the grammar classes, but through texting with friends on LINE and talking with Japanese people in person, I gradually improved my understanding.

TH: But you managed to go through the job hunting process?

DTT: Yes, it was incredibly hard to be honest. To start with, the system of finding a job in Vietnam is rarely as systematized as it is in Japan, so at the start I didn’t know the best way of looking for a job.

After the selection process started, I had screening tests and interviews at least 3 or 4 times, going through the exact same procedure as Japanese natives. That was hard! Through experiencing this first hand, I wished that the job hunting process could be a bit smoother, so this is why I started working helping Vietnamese nationals through the job hunting process here!

TH: What kind of advice would you give to people who are studying Japanese?

DTT: You really have to work your hardest and keep at it. Try not to give up, haha! Some people come to Japan to study but end up spending a lot of time working part time and not focusing on their studies. If you really work hard on studying Japanese, you will end up opening more doors for your future.

Starting work at Goalist

TH: How did you start working at Goalist?

DTT: A friend at my previous job introduced Goalist to me. Up until then, I was working at a completely different company, not helping overseas nationalities get jobs, but hearing about the company I thought, “yeah, that’s something I’d like to do”, so I got in touch with them. I started working as an intern for half a year, and finally in April I got a full-time position!

TH: Was working at Goalist different from what you anticipated?

DTT: No, not really. But the Japanese way of working was a bit of an eye-opener for me. There are a lot of people that really work hard! In Vietnam, you start work and go home at set times. Even if you still have a lot of work to do, you just leave when it’s time to go home!

But, in Japan, especially at Goalist, everyone finishes what they have to do thoroughly before they leave. It’s pretty amazing to be honest. I really enjoy what I’m doing, and I’m always looking forward to getting what I have to do tomorrow done too. This work style is really good for me!

Advancing with your career means expanding your horizons

TH: Your career has just begun, where do you see yourself going in the future?

DTT: To start with I want to get used to doing my job the best I can. I want to continue to introduce Vietnamese people to the possibility of studying and getting jobs in Japan. In the future, I have a plan to be a sales rep for a Japanese company. After that, actually I studied marketing at university, and I’d like to try my hand at marketing. My image is that it would expand the breadth of my skills. I also think that I might like to work in other countries too.

TH: Finally, can you give a few words for people that have an interest in working in Japan?

DTT: Come to Japan! There are lots of kinds of jobs in Japan. A lot of Vietnamese people think the only jobs for them in Japan are translation or interpreter jobs. But this isn’t true, there are jobs at hotels, at restaurants, sales work positions, customer service jobs, admin jobs, construction industry work, there are a lot of different choices. There are lots of jobs that aren’t available in Vietnam, but are in Japan, so don’t think you can’t do it, if you want to try something, please talk to us!

First of all, take that first important step, and come to Japan!

According to a survey published by the National Tax Agency, the average annual income is 5,320,000yen for men, 2,870,000yen for women, and 4,320,000yen when both genders are combined. You can see the top 10 below, and how it is different from industry to industry.

No. 1：Medical industry （Average of 6,510,000yen）

No. 2：Security industry （Average of 5,960,000yen）

No. 3：Electrical equipment industry （Average of 5,760,000yen）

No. 4：Mining industry （Average of 5,390,000yen）

No. 5：Transportation equipment industry （Average of 5,150,000yen）

No. 6：Non-ferrous metal industry （Average of 5,080,000yen）

No. 6：Oil／coal product industry （Average of 5,080,000yen）

No. 8：Rubber product industry （Average of 5,030,000yen）

No. 9：Chemical industry （Average of 4,930,000yen）

No. 10：Electrical and gas industry （Average of 4,920,000yen）

According to the survey results, medical industry positions ranked first place, whilst security industry positions came second. Though both are already known as high income industries, the reason why they came in as the top 2 is that there are many foreign-owned companies in these industries, which tend to pay even more than the Japanese companies.

Sales persons of pharmaceutical companies （MR） are especially known for their high income compared to other sales positions. Many payment statements over 10,000,000yen were posted by the users of Career Connection.

Although people associated with the security industry, came in 2nd in the ranking, the notorious stressful work environment has recently improved to some degree because of the latest work-style reforms. The data says that as of February 17, the average annual income is 6,950,000yen at Nomura Securities, and 5,090,000yen at Daiwa Securities. In contrary, at foreign-owned companies, it is 19,970,000yen at Goldman Sachs and 15,540,000yen at Barclays. There is a significant difference in the amounts of the income between Japanese-owned and foreign-owned companies.

Many industries related to natural resources such as mining, non-ferrous metal, and oil and coal product industries also made the top 10 in the ranking. The income is generally high in departments which require special skills related to technology or handling international business, and that seems to increase the average annual income in these industries.

Electrical equipment industry, came in 3rd in the ranking, and can be categorized into two groups, home appliances companies such as Panasonic, and heavy machinery companies such as Hitachi. Labor unions of most large electronic manufacturers have a strong influence on the employers to provide good benefits. Japanese companies in this industry also need to compete with foreign-owned companies like Keyence Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Japan, and IBM Japan, all renowned for their high pay.

On a side note, there is a possibility of the amount of income in the ranking deviating from the ones the companies officially release because the ranking was made based on users’ posts on Career Connection. However, the information can be considered more reliable since it is based on the real pay statements of the employees.

This ranking is useful information for those who are looking for a job, with the salary being one of the key factors in the process.

【Reference】Career Connection
【Reference】“The highest paying industries” released – medical industry ranked first place（customer review site, Career Connection）

The chorei, a kind of morning meeting, is a good example of this. Some workplaces in Japan have employees do this every morning, though the structure and purpose of course varies. I have been a contract worker for a local government in Japan for a short time, so I’ll use my experience as an example.

In my workplace, the chorei was a short speech given by an employee while confirming the day’s schedule. We rotated around our department desk and someone different did the chorei each day. The day’s speaker would talk about some random topic of their choosing at their desk. Often the topic was about work, but as this was a rural, conservative office, it wasn’t uncommon for people to talk about things that were going on in their private lives.

When the short speech was done, the person then went over the day’s schedule with everyone, and then asked the kachou to give his own short speech. Chorei in our office didn’t have any set length for anyone; some people would talk very briefly, while one kachou during my time there gave longer speeches.

This was something that took some time for me to adjust to, and my coworkers didn’t expect me to participate when I first arrived. I sometimes stumbled or made small mistakes during the chorei – it was hard to talk at length about a subject.

Chorei can sometimes be more formal than that, however. Some companies may have employees stand in front of everyone to give a longer speech. Other companies may have employees recite the company motto for employees to feel more motivated about their work.

The practice isn’t quite as common in recent years, but it’s still something that many companies do. It might seem unusual to non-Japanese workers – as it did to me – but you can also use it as an opportunity to understand the routines of a Japanese workplace, and perhaps as a way to challenge yourself to improve your Japanese by giving short speeches.

For the purpose of a new advertising campaign, Proctor and Gamble’s Pantene product team carried out a survey of more than 1,300 job seekers to gather their honest opinions about the job hunting process in Japan and, just as importantly, the way they feel about what they are required to do in order to succeed.

81% of the graduates that took part in the survey reported that during the job hunting process, they had hidden their real self to meet what they believed to be the employer’s requirements and expectations. The results are a little surprising when you consider that 4 out of 5 graduates cannot convey their true individual identity when looking for their all-important first proper job.

Furthermore, when asked whether they were satisfied with the way they looked or dressed during the job search, 73% of the young job seekers admitted they were not, and wished they had presented themselves differently. The comments and complaints received about the job-hunting process formed the basis for a special poster ad campaign that Pantene rolled out, accompanying a picture of a young women with a pony-tail, dressed in a typical black recruit suit.

The Japanese way of hiding the self and suppressing individuality when applying for jobs, is often seen as a weird practice by people from other countries. Japanese companies frequently insist however that how the candidates dress and style their hair is totally up to the individual applicant. In fact, the Pantene survey also asked companies to comment about how they feel regarding the job hunting appearance customs. Out of the 200 firms that answered whether applicants’ physical appearance was a factor in evaluating them, 45% said that hairstyles weren’t really of importance; 79% even replied that women didn’t have to wear their hair in a ponytail to make a good impression. In addition, 71% of companies actually announced they were open to the idea of applicants expressing more individuality in the way they dress and style their hair for interviews.

Regardless of this, young Japanese job seekers still tend to strictly follow the norm, not wanting to give a potential employer a reason to single them out as noteworthy for the wrong reasons. It could be also possible that conforming to a kind of uniform takes a certain amount of pressure off at an already very tense time; having to take time making decisions what to wear could easily create more stress and unease, especially when heading out into an entirely new and unknown world.

Nevertheless, in order to get a job that really suits us as an individual, it is important to be open and show ourselves as we are really are. If Japan wants to become more globalized and accept more international workers, this kind of culture needs to change to become more flexible. There’s currently too much at stake for young job seekers before even graduating to take the risk to express themselves in order to help make such a shift, so society as a whole will need to determine it’s perfectly fine to come as the real you.

Keidanren’s current guidelines demand that member companies wait until the start of March to hold company information sessions for prospective university students and job interviews in June. With this annulment, the government will now initiate the establishment of new rules.

Here is an overview of the controversy regarding the job hunting rules for university graduates.

Why were these job hunting guidelines initially put into place?

Let us take a look at the reasons why Keidanren had to set a schedule for the hiring process for member companies in the first place. This can be split into two main reasons: Firstly, to give university students more time to focus on their studies, and secondly, to guarantee a fair recruiting process for member companies.

Keidanren set these hiring regulations with the intention of helping university students spend more time on their studies instead of attending explanatory sessions or job interviews at the request of competing companies trying to get a head start over their rivals to hire excellent candidates. They were also aiming to guarantee a fairer recruiting process among member companies, at the same time also allowing university students to enjoy a more efficient job hunting experience.

Why have they now been abolished?

Noteworthy here is that the job hunting rules are merely an agenda, which means there is no penalty for breaching them. Moreover, the rules do not apply to non-member companies such as overseas multinationals or startups. Therefore, the guidelines have become rather redundant to some extent, and many promising candidates have been snapped up by foreign companies before their Japanese counterparts have had a chance to even evaluate their talent.

In addition, with the growth of economic globalization and a rapidly changing market, Japan’s traditional system of hiring new graduates en masse is no longer a sustainable practice within the global business movement.

Keidanren is also looking to accommodate the current economic situation and modern work style so that they can strengthen Japanese companies’ competitiveness in the global market by enabling them to plan a more flexible hiring schedule.

The pros and cons of scrapping the job hunting rules

The main consenting opinion regarding scrapping the job hunting rules is that setting an earlier hiring schedule is beneficial not only for companies but also for students because they have longer preparation time and can access more useful information. Furthermore, the changes will enable companies to formulate a more flexible hiring process.

With the current job hunting system, some students in fact receive multiple job offers within a few weeks after the job hunting season starts and they tend to feel pressured to decide a company to join without giving themselves enough time to consider carefully. This is a decision made under pressure that will substantially determine their future career.

This kind of adverse effect could be eliminated once companies are able to set their recruiting schedule without any restrictions. In addition, students are also able to decide themselves when to start job hunting, and the period of time they want to devote to it. This shift might eventually bring even more satisfying results to both parties.

On the other hand, some groups disagree with the idea of abolishing the job hunting rules claiming that abandoning the current system could seriously affect the process of job hunting, creating confusion among current students in the short term. On top of this, some people still believe that bringing the job hunting season forward could adversely impact on students’ education.

Japanese universities are hugely concerned about the negative impact of an early job hunting season on students’ academic performance. Needless to say, the role of a student is to study and job hunting should never interfere with their school work.

One way to solve this problem is to demand that companies put more emphasis on students’ academic performance in their hiring process so that consistently hardworking students are rewarded for their academic efforts.

Conclusion

The system of hiring new graduates en masse has been one aspect of traditional Japanese employment culture, which greatly contributed to the rapid economic growth of Japan post-WWII. Combined with the age-limit system, seniority system, job rotation and so forth, the graduate recruiting system used to be the source of Japanese companies’ strength. However, now that the economic and social conditions are changing, these practices are increasingly looking outdated.

Given the fact that Japanese companies are facing the need for talented non-Japanese workers to boost their chances to compete further in the overseas market, the recruiting system is also expected to develop more towards the global standard.

［Reference］ The summary of the press conference by chairman Nakanishi.

So how did those expats who are working in Japan now learn the language? Daijob Global Recruiting Co., Ltd., which manages Daijob.com, a recruitment website for bilingual talent, conducted a survey of 300 non-Japanese businesspeople who work in Japan. Based on the results of the survey, we’d like to introduce you to some effective ways of studying Japanese.

Movies, TV dramas, anime, and manga as popular study tools among young people

The results of the survey show that the most popular method of studying Japanese among young people between the ages of 20 and 34 is through movies, TV dramas, anime, and manga. Effective and popular study methods also differed among age groups, however, with TV and radio being the most popular study method among Japanese language learners in their late 30s. Respondents in this age bracket also listed Japanese study materials and language schools in Japan as some of the more popular study methods.

The survey also asked those who originally started studying Japanese because of anime to name the series that sparked their interest. The top responses to this question were Naruto (31.7%), One Piece (29.3%), and Death Note (27.8%). The survey shows that many expats in Japan are studying Japanese through their favorite anime and manga.

Quantity matters when studying Japanese

Respondents were also asked to name the most important things to keep in mind when studying Japanese. The most popular response was, “Use Japanese as much as possible. Quantity is essential.” Approximately 40% of them agreed with this statement. This indicates that many foreigners who have mastered Japanese believe that actually using the language is the quickest way to improve.

The survey also asked which of the four major components of mastering Japanese—reading, writing, listening, and speaking—was the most frequently used at work. In response to this question, the highest number of respondents answered that they used their speaking skills the most often. It can, therefore, be said that honing your speaking skill is essential for mastering Japanese.

Choose a study method that works for you!

This survey revealed that using movies, anime, and manga can be an effective way of studying Japanese. What’s more, these things can also help you learn about Japan’s unique culture, and they are also recommended because images can make it even easier to remember than when studying with words alone.

Another important condition for improving your Japanese is to use the new Japanese words that you learn from movies, anime, and manga in daily conversation as much as possible. Try to find a story you enjoy, and use that to help you incorporate fun into your Japanese study methods.

［Referene］【Daijob.com　survey of international business people on Japanese lerning】Movies, TV dramas, anime are useful learning methods for the young while Japanese study materials and language schools are also popular for those in their late 30s.

Job-hunting schedule

International students are often surprised by the job-hunting process in Japan. Keidanren, the Japan Business Federation, which has more than 1,300 major Japanese companies in its membership, sets the rules about when firms can begin their recruitment activities. According to the schedule it sets, public relations activities for recruiting can be started in March, followed by the selection procedure – including group discussions and interviews – in June.
To select the best candidates, some companies offer internships before March. If you aim to be successful in job-hunting, you need to prepare for the process in the third year of university, or in the first year of graduate school, while balancing your study commitments.

Fashion

What to wear during job-hunting activities in Japan is something that many international students find surprising. It is common in Japan for students to wear a suit designated for recruitment activities, called a “recruitment suit”. Many international students question why everyone has to wear the same kind of “recruitment suit” for recruitment activities.

New graduate recruitment

New graduate recruitment is a unique system in Japan. You might have difficulty understanding that it is harder to get a job at a prominent company if you miss the timing of new graduate recruitment.

Written tests

International students have to take a written test in Japan, and Japanese students also have to do this. However, many international students find it difficult, as in most cases the test is in Japanese.

Application form called “Entry Sheet”

You need to submit a document called an “Entry Sheet” (ES), where you write your reasons for applying in order to take part in job fairs and selection processes with Japanese companies. Many international students find it strange that they still need to go through this complicated procedure, even if they are yet to decide to formally apply to a company.

Summary

A lot of international students tend to get confused by Japan’s unique job-hunting customs. However, if you hope to get a job in Japan, you need to be aware of this unique culture. It is strongly recommended that you gather information on written tests and the “ES” as soon as possible, allowing sufficient time to prepare.

［Reference］2019年度　外国人留学生の就職活動に関する調査結果（2018年8月発行）2019 Results of survery on job hunting of international studenst issued in August 2018

Adecco, one of the biggest recruitment agencies operating in Japan, has conducted a job satisfaction survey for 300 foreigners who have regular and white-color jobs there.

The study revealed that 77% of foreign workers were very satisfied or satisfied with their job and the five biggest factors for their satisfaction were “Job role,” “Relationship,” “Working hours,” “Job security,” and “Welfare benefits.”

It seems like working in a Japanese company is a great choice for foreigners but it is still not obvious what exactly makes them feel satisfied with each of these factors. So, let’s go into more detail.

5 reasons why foreign workers are satisfied with their job

Job role

The majority of Japanese companies that are eager to hire foreign workers aim to tap into the overseas market and scale their operation globally. As it is hard to find local talent who can speak foreign languages and are familiar with foreign culture, there is a huge demand for foreign workers who can use multiple languages and have a global mindset, regardless of their professional expertise. You can get an important role which a Japanese national can’t take and you can leverage your strength as a foreigner.

Relationship

In Japanese companies, people think that the mutual relationships between co-workers are very important. It is common for Japanese workers to go drinking with co-workers after work and they seek family-like relationships with each other. Some foreigners feel uncomfortable with this very close relationship, while others think it is very attractive because it allows for security and acceptance within the community.

Working hours

As the word “Karōshi” represents, it is commonly believed that Japanese people work long hours every day, which is in fact true. However, this situation is gradually changing. Thanks to the Japanese government’s new policy called “Reform work-style,” the average working hours in Japan are decreasing. Some companies have even begun to prohibit overtime.

Job Security

In Japan, it is very hard for companies to dismiss their employees without adequate reason. This means that employees have a high level of job security and this is one of the biggest benefits of working for a Japanese company. Once you have a job, you can focus on your work and don’t have to worry about losing it.

Welfare Benefits

Basically, Japanese companies have excellent welfare and benefit programs. As companies are required to make foreign employees take out social insurance, you won’t incur lots of medical expenses if you get sick or injured. Additionally, companies pay for your commutates which means you can use public transportation for free on weekdays provided you don’t go outside the area covered by the ticket.

3 major complaints about working in Japan

While the majority of foreign workers enjoy their job in Japan, some do have complaints based on discomfort. The three factors which makes them uncomfortable are “gender inequality,” “high-context culture,” and “beating around the bush.”

Gender inequality

According to the research conducted by Teikoku Data Bank in 2016, the average proportion of women in a management position in Japanese companies was only 6.6%. Although the Japanese government set a target to increase the proportion of women who take a leading role in their companies up to 30% by 2020, this goal is far from the current situation. When it comes to gender equality, Japan is still behind other countries.

High-context culture

There is an expression “Aun no kokyu” in Japanese which means people can understand each other without using words. Japan is not a diverse country in terms of its ethnicity and language and this unique environment makes people prefer high-context communication. Foreigners, especially those from Western countries, often get confused with this aspect of Japanese culture. If you want to work in a Japanese company, you have to get used to the communication style at first.

Beating around the bush

In Japan, people think that saying “No” directly is impolite and instead they often use the words “All right” when they refuse something. For example, when you make a proposal to your client and he says “I will consider it,” he actually means “No” in many cases. Japanese people prefer beating around the bush and this aspect of culture can make it really hard for foreigners to understand what locals really mean. Sometimes this kind of indirect communication causes misunderstanding, leading to frustration.

Enjoy working in Japan!

What did you think of these pros and cons about working for Japanese companies? While most foreigners are generally satisfied with their job, it is revealed that some of them feel uncomfortable with Japanese culture and Japanese people’s communication style.

Needless to say, each company has its own unique culture and there are many companies in which woman are taking leading roles. If you are interested in working for a Japanese company, you need to think carefully about whether the corporate culture fits you or not. I hope you find your best-fit job in Japan!