Many foreign job seekers have had difficulty finding a job because they don't understand the differences between job
hunting in their home countries and Japan and the visa system.
Some of them return to their home countries because their
period of stay is approaching, and they are unable to find a job.
To find a job in Japan with peace of mind, it is
necessary to fully understand the job-hunting process and the visa system.
In this article, we will introduce (1) the flow of job
hunting and the period (2) the flow of visa changes. Let's refer to your
job-hunting activity in Japan!
■ When an international student is looking for a job that recruits fresh graduates
In Japan, there is a method of recruiting new graduates, in
which a certain number of people are recruited at once at the same time every
year.
Students who have graduated from university or vocational
school are eligible.
In the case of hiring fresh graduates, the period from the
start of job hunting to the start of employment is about one year.
<Example: Scheduled to graduate in March 2024>
March 2023: Company information session and entry start
June 2023: Selection begins
October 2023: Receive a job offer
Around January 2024: Visa application starts
Around March 2024: Visa issued
April 2024: Start working
Depending on the company, the company information session,
entry, and selection start time differ.
In addition, Japanese students graduating from universities
and vocational schools are also recruited, so it is important to try to differentiate yourself from rivals, such as company analysis, self-analysis,
studying for qualifications, and participating in internships.
In addition, many foreign students who are hired as fresh
new graduates acquire visas for "Engineer/Specialist in
Humanities/International Services".
It takes about two months from application to issuance of an
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa.
■ Job hunting activity for Specified Skilled Workers
When conducting job hunting activity for Specified Skilled
Workers, the period from the start of job hunting to the start of employment is
about 5 months.
<Example: If the period of stay is April 2024>
November 2023: Register/interview with an employment agency
Start of document screening and
interview
December 2023: Visa application preparation
January 2024: Visa application
March 2024: Visa issued
April 2024: Start working
Unlike the case of hiring fresh graduates, recruitment will
start when a company needs additional personnel, so it is necessary to
carefully check the recruitment information sent by the employment agency.
In addition, it takes about one month from document
screening to the job offer and about two to three months from visa application
to issuance.
Specified skilled workers have a shorter selection period
than hiring fresh graduates, but the visa examination takes time.
If your current period of stay expires before you apply for
a Specified Skilled Worker visa, you can apply for an extension of your current
status of residence.
However, if your current status of residence is Technical
Intern Training, you are prohibited from working part-time during the visa
extension period.
■Summary
To succeed in job hunting in Japan, it is important
to understand Japan's job hunting and visa system, and approach job hunting
with plenty of time to spare.
BOW provides free support for job hunting and visa matters.
If you have any questions or concerns or you are currently looking for a job in Japan, please feel free to
contact us!!
