Foreign students in Japan have continued to face hurdles in securing employment, largely due to language barriers and the country’s unique hiring practices.

Despite an increase in the number of international students following the COVID-19 pandemic, many find navigating the job market difficult.

According to The Mainichi, international students are eager to work in Japan but encounter various obstacles, including limited employment support and communication challenges, even for those proficient in Japanese.

A recent job fair in Tokyo underscored these challenges, attracting 123 attendees from diverse backgrounds seeking guidance from 11 companies about job opportunities in Japan.

Vein Global Inc., the organiser of the event, has been assisting foreign students for 18 years. However, the availability of job-hunting support remains limited.

President of Vein Global, Ai Osawa, highlighted Japan’s distinct recruitment process, where students must apply for jobs while still in school, making it harder for international students to adapt.

“We have to explain Japan’s new graduate recruitment style, which takes quite a bit of time and effort,” Osawa said.

Language proficiency as a major hurdle for foreign students in Japan

Language remains a primary obstacle for foreign students. While some firms value English or Chinese skills, internal communication in most companies is conducted in Japanese, necessitating a high level of fluency.

A Chinese student proficient in Japanese shared their struggle with self-promotion during interviews. “I can’t express my characteristics in Japanese, and what I want to say doesn’t get across,” they said.

Beyond interviews, language barriers extend to company sessions and internships, making the job-seeking process even more challenging for international students, regardless of their Japanese proficiency.

Signs of Progress and Growing Demand for Foreign Talent

Despite these difficulties, there are indications of positive change. Osawa noted that more companies are now open to hiring foreign workers, although few have established dedicated recruitment programs for international students.

At the job fair, some companies demonstrated a shift in hiring practices by appointing foreign employees as recruiters to ease the application process for international students. Others have begun assessing aptitude test results individually for foreign candidates rather than holding them to the same standards as Japanese applicants.

While these developments signal progress, the transition remains slow, and there is still a long way to go.

Calls for Improved Employment Support

According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, fewer than half of the 54,000 foreign students who graduated from Japanese institutions in 2021 found jobs in Japan.

Osawa expressed concern over this statistic, stating, “Many students want to work in Japan but cannot find a place to be accepted and are forced to return home. It’s a real waste.”

Vanguard News