Is food service industry suitable for you?
In the
industries with a lot of foreign workers, the food service industry is one of
the industries that foreigners are interested in when coming to Japan to live
and work as international students, specified skilled workers, etc. However,
like other professions, candidates need to have certain abilities to be
considered suitable for their chosen field.
In
this article, BOW will introduce you to the abilities that candidates need to possess
to enjoy working in the food service industry in Japan.
◇ Good level of Japanese Language Proficiency
In order for
foreign nationals to work in the food service industry, they must possess a
certain level of knowledge and Japanese language ability because most of the
customers are Japanese, so communication in Japanese is necessary or else you
will struggle with taking orders. There is also a Kitchen position in which you
do not interact with customers but your colleagues. In a kitchen position, your
job is mainly in the kitchen so a high Japanese level is not required but basic
Japanese ability will be asked.
However, it depends on the location of the
restaurant that the foreign customers may come to as well, in these
restaurants, another language besides Japanese might be expected. In terms of
the “Specified Skilled Worker” visa, in order to be fully eligible for Food
service jobs, The applicant must have the following qualifications: Japanese
Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 or higher or pass the Japan Foundation
Japanese Language Basic Test (JFT-Basic) A2 or higher.
◇ A person who is caring
The food and
service provided in the restaurant industry is for the customers who come to the
restaurants. When working, you are expected to think about what kind of menu
would please customers and what kind of hospitality would make them feel
comfortable. You might be in situations where you are not trained, or it's
beyond the rules, flexibility in these situations is indispensable.
◇ Being interested in food
People who love
to eat and who enjoy cooking by researching different recipes are a good fit
for the food and beverage industry. In addition to cooking and menu
development, staff who serve customers will be able to answer customers'
questions more smoothly if they have knowledge of food. You can also make
recommendations to the customers who come to the restaurant for the first time
about the dishes they should try at your restaurant.
◇ Being good at communication
In the food
service industry, there are many opportunities to communicate with customers
and other staff. People who can talk cheerfully with customers whom they have
never met before and people who can communicate smoothly with other staff
members to cooperate with each other are suited for this industry!
