Work In Japan – Is It Difficult?
Getting work in Japan is an excellent choice. This is the best way to broaden your perspective of the world and gain a deeper insight into the culture and professional dynamics of an entirely different culture. Before you make the decision to apply for an overseas position though, there are a couple of challenges that you need to face and overcome particularly on Japanese soil.
Language
The written form of the language is characterized by hundreds of characters in katakana, hiragana and kanji scripts. You need to memorize more than a handful of these to get by. This is just the written part of what you need to learn. You also need to familiarize yourself with how the language is used orally. This may sound like a no brainer for you but working in Japan means you need to use polite speech as taught in the principle of Keigo.
Work Principles
Your Japanese boss will most likely require you to be extremely diligent and disciplined in the performance of your duties. There are no excuses for foreign employees. In Japan work hours cannot be mixed with leisure time so you need to use your time accordingly. Furthermore, while you work in Japan, you will be asked to commit to heart certain work principles. Depending on where you are employed these may be such world renowned principles as Lean and 5S. Even with these standards though, employees are all encouraged to think with Kaizen or continuous improvement in mind.
Culture
Your job is not the only one that comes with certain rules. There are also some unwritten cultural policies that you’d have to get the hang of. Sharing with a community is one of these. You may have to share more than just sleeping quarters and mess halls. In Japan, bath areas may also be communal, in which case, you’d have to get rid of your notions of privacy.
Living Expenses
You should expect to have to pay quite a bit for food and accommodations in Japan. Even if you plan to prepare your own meals, you’d have to prepare around 50,000 yen a month for ingredient purchases. For accommodations, a budget of about 70,000 yen will get you decent lodging. Expect to spend even more if you plan to occasionally dine out or enjoy night circuits. If you want to save, you can apply for positions in winter resorts where food and rooms are usually free.
Temperatures
The weather in Japan can be extreme from one place to another. Depending on where you come from, you may find the change a bit jarring. Hokkaido which is home to the finest winter resorts can register temperatures as low as -12 degrees Celsius. At the opposite end of the spectrum is Okinawa where summer activities can be surrounded by heat of up to 37 degrees Celsius. Get a job in a spot where you’d love the temperature.
What’s not to love about jobs in Japan for foreigners? You get to experience the best in cultural education and the most breathtaking samples of nature. You will definitely love your experience but only if you make sure that you’ve got firm control over the factors that may negatively impact your stay.