The largest field of employment for foreign job seekers in Japan is definitely language education because the Japanese prefer to learn a language from a native speaker.  Some of the largest national language schools in Japan actively recruit from overseas and some even have recruitment offices abroad.  Anyone looking for jobs in Japan and who has experience and qualifications teaching particularly English as a foreign language will find many openings that they could potentially fill.

Alternatives for expatriate professionals seeking jobs in Japan can be found in the financial services and banking industries, IT and engineering, modelling and fashion, entertainment and in management in general in many industries.  This is a guide to work permits, finding jobs in Japan and Japanese business etiquette.

To get a job in Japan it is far easier to be in Japan when looking and to have a decent grounding in the language - while neither of these two requirements are critical or essential both will enable the job seeker to quickly and more easily secure a suitable position.  If an individual travels to Japan on a tourist visa and in the meantime lands a job they will have to change their visa to one of a number of possible work visas before they are legally allowed to begin employment.

There are about 10 or so working visas that may be applicable for by an individual depending on the nature of the work they will be doing and to get a visa one has to have an offer of employment.  Those who travel to Japan on a tourist visa to seek employment can later change their visa and are usually assisted by their new employer; an alternative for those living and working in Japan temporarily is to apply for a one year working holiday visa.  For nationals of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, France, Germany and the UK who are aged between 18 and 30 this is a preferred method of visa application.

The best way to find a job in Japan is to use an international recruitment company or to research the companies with whom you could work in Japan based on your professional qualifications and experience.  A great deal of emphasis is placed by the Japanese on qualifications and professional accreditation therefore those who can prove their background will find it easier to secure employment.  Jobs in Japan can also be hunted for online and applications can of course be made remotely - but there is no substitute for actually living in Japan when job hunting because so much is achieved as a result of person to person networking.

A basic introduction to business etiquette in Japan is essential for anyone moving to live and work there otherwise offence could be taken, caused or created at the very first hurdle!  One should always bow to greet a colleague and the more senior the individual the deeper and longer the bow.  As in many other nations business cards carry a great deal of importance and one should always ensure a good supply readily at hand!  If you receive a card from an associate or colleague accept it in both hands whenever possible, take time to review the details on the card and to put it away carefully rather than just putting it in your pocket to be forgotten about until much later!

Learning and applying ‘respect’ in business and social circles is probably the key to fitting in and one must be prepared for the culture shock that goes hand in hand with moving to, living and working in Japan.  Culturally Japan is very different to most other nations and the language is also extremely difficult to get to grips with quickly which can leave newcomers feeling isolated.

To overcome feelings of homesickness and to avoid the almost inevitable expat flu as much as possible, those with jobs in Japan should just throw themselves in at the deep end make an effort to socialize outside of work with colleagues when invited to do so and to get out and about and meet people.  That way one can find the human face of Japan, meet likeminded people and even expats from a similar background with whom to navigate and come to understand Japan.