Japan has one of the most powerful economies in the world. This is facilitated by the widespread use of advanced technologies, effective government reforms and a disciplined workforce. However, since the beginning of the 90s of the last century, there has been a significant decline in economic growth rates. In addition, the terrible earthquake and tsunami of 2011 caused great damage to Japan. Nevertheless, today the country has a high standard of living, unemployment is about 3%, and inflation is practically absent.

Working in Japan for Russians and Ukrainians in 2017, especially those with sufficient qualifications and experience, is a very real task. Of course, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the Asian country, the requirements for language skills and the peculiarities of employment for foreigners.

Jobs in Japan for foreigners. Features and work visas.

The population of Japan in 2017 is about 126.9 million people. The bulk of local citizens are employed in the service sector (72.2%) and industry (26.6%). Agriculture accounts for just over 1%. Foreign job seekers who want to find a job in Japan in the fishing industry or rice cultivation have very little chance.

Japanese workers are highly skilled and hardworking. Therefore, finding a job will require serious competitive advantages. For example, jobs in Japan for girls are available in the modeling business, while men can apply for jobs in the automotive industry. In almost every case, a foreigner will need knowledge of the Japanese language. Moreover, English proficiency must be at a high level.

Working in Japan without knowing the language is an unrealistic task, if only teaching Russian in Japanese educational institutions or illegal employment. The second option is absolutely losing, promising large fines, a ban on entry into the country and even imprisonment. To search for a job in Japan, a foreigner needs to have sufficient qualifications, experience and skills in a particular profession. Without this, finding a job in Japan, especially for a citizen of Russia or other representatives of the CIS countries, will definitely not work.

In most cases, in order to move to Japan for the purpose of employment, it is necessary to find an employer in advance, which in the future will allow you to obtain a work visa. This is a prerequisite for foreign workers. And in Basically, visas are tied to a specific profession and do not allow you to engage in other activities. The most common is a work visa to Japan for highly qualified specialists. The document is issued for a maximum of 5 years.

To obtain a visa at the regional immigration bureau of Japan, you need to obtain a special Certificate of Eligibility, which indicates the right of a foreigner to engage in professional activities in Japanese territory. Typically, a Japanese employer is responsible for issuing a certificate for a foreign employee.

Japan Work Visa Documents

Two copies of duly completed visa application forms.
Two color photographs (4.5cm×4.5cm).
Original and copy of foreign passport.
Copy of civil passport.
Original and copy of the certificate (Certificate of Eligibility).
In addition to qualified foreign personnel, Japan provides work visas for holders of various professions:

Professors (teaching and conducting scientific activities in educational institutions of Japan).
Religious figures.
Journalists.
Representatives of creative professions (artists, composers, singers).
Managers and senior managers.
Medical workers.
Scientists.
Engineers and Humanities.
Employees of foreign companies.
Workers in the field of legal and accounting services.
For more information about the types of work visas, validity periods and requirements for foreigners, see the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

How to find a job in Japan. Job search.

Japan’s immigration policy towards foreign workers allows a wide range of professionals to apply for a job. The main difficulty lies in finding a Japanese employer. Pay special attention to compiling a high-quality resume and cover letter, usually 2-3 sheets are required. Be sure to indicate your competitive advantages, experience and skills.

Finding suitable vacancies in Japan for Russians and other citizens of the post-Soviet space in 2017 is very difficult. Personal contacts and acquaintances play an important role. If there are no connections with representatives or employees of Japanese companies, you can try to establish communication with foreigners living in Japan on social networks.

A large number of vacancies in Japan are not publicly available, that is, it is not possible to find a job on the Internet. Therefore, contact Japanese companies directly. It is advisable to write job offers to large corporations where English-speaking foreign workers are guaranteed to be employed. For example, Toyota Motor, Mizuho Financial, Hitachi, Mitsubishi and others.

Jobs and salary in Japan in 2017

As you know, the Japanese economy is built on the widespread use of high technology and, in principle, is very diverse. The main industries in Japan where vacancies for foreigners are available are automotive, information technology, electronics, food processing, financial and banking sectors. Very often, girls with a bright appearance are required to work in Japan. There are vacancies for models, dancers, singers.

The average salary in Japan in 2017 is 310,000 Japanese yen ($2,650). The minimum wage is about $7 an hour. In large cities like Tokyo, these figures are significantly higher. If we take the available jobs in Japan for Russians and Ukrainians in 2017, these are translators, IT specialists, automotive industry professionals, medical workers, experienced engineers, builders and other technical specialists. You can earn here from 2 thousand dollars and more.

Finding unskilled work in Japan is very difficult. And without knowledge of the Japanese language, it is not at all realistic. Among the scarce vacancies, there are professions for which separate work visas are provided – professors, scientists, artists, owners of creative professions, correspondents, and so on. Most of the immigrants get a job in Japan as teachers or teachers of English, and sometimes Russian.