3 Jobs in Japan That Are in High Demand Right Now
What are the top 3 jobs in Japan? If you’re looking to get into the workforce in Japan, this article can help you find something that matches your skills and interests. With Japan’s rapidly aging population, there’s plenty of demand right now for workers in jobs that don’t require physical strength or long hours on your feet.
1) Elementary School Teacher
Japan has elementary school teachers work full-time to teach children who have just graduated from preschool. Children are taught the basics of reading, writing, and math as well as subjects like science and social studies. This position typically requires you to have a bachelor's degree in education or teaching and be able to speak fluent Japanese. Requirements also include teaching experience and excellent skills with children, patience, creativity, intelligence, good communication skills and organizational skills. There is a high demand for native English speakers who can teach children English at an elementary level for daycare purposes.
After completing a teacher training program, you must get your teaching certification from your home country and apply for a Japanese work visa. To be eligible for a visa, your prospective employer will need to go through an official process with the Ministry of Justice called 'shiniseki shitsumon,' where they provide documentation as proof that no other Japanese citizen can fill your position. A specialist agency can help with all of these steps, but is not required. You will also need to complete two days of training at one of eight designated centers within six months of applying for a visa.
After finishing training, you will begin working as an assistant teacher for several months to get a feel for Japanese teaching practices. You will be placed with a mentor who has experience working with non-native English speakers to ensure that you get all of your questions answered. This also gives your future students time to get used to their new teacher and vice versa. After three years of employment, you are eligible for permanent residency, giving you an added incentive to stay at one school long-term.
2) Pharmacist
A pharmacist is one of the most sought-after professions in Japan. Pharmacists are usually the go-to professionals for anything related to medicines and medications, including preparing prescriptions and advising on what medication is right for a patient. Pharmacists work closely with doctors so if you're looking for a career that doesn't involve working with people, this may not be the right choice. One of the best ways to get into this profession is by getting qualified through a pharmacy program at college or university before landing your first job. Another great way to land your first job as a pharmacist is by interning as an assistant while you study, allowing you to make contacts and gain valuable experience before starting out on your own career path.
A pharmacist is a health professional who dispenses drugs to patients. They ensure that drug products are safe and effective and that drug dosage is appropriate for a particular condition. A pharmacist will work closely with patients, doctors, nurses, physicians’ assistants and other healthcare professionals. If you enjoy working as part of a team with a focus on patient care, or you're keen to work in scientific or technical fields then pharmacology may be your dream job. Many pharmacists also run their own pharmacy practice so it's possible to earn your own way into self-employment, although as with most jobs it can take time to build up your client base!
Doctors and other health professionals rely on pharmacists to provide expert knowledge of drugs and their effects. The pharmacist works closely with doctors, who provide diagnoses and may recommend treatments. This can involve dispensing medicines to patients or providing information about self-care for certain conditions such as diabetes. A pharmacist will have detailed knowledge of a large range of medicines so you'll need strong scientific skills, numeracy skills and be comfortable working with figures. As well as dispensing medication, it's also important that pharmacists ensure that drug products are safe and effective throughout their shelf life and dispose of them properly when they reach their expiry date.
3) English Teacher
Many people who want to teach English in Japan do not speak Japanese, but there are many positions for teaching English that do not require knowledge of the language. The JET Program is a highly competitive opportunity that selects 20-30 candidates each year to teach at public schools all over the country. Of course, there are other opportunities as well and some private institutes offer positions specifically for non-Japanese speakers, so it can be worth looking into if you want to pursue this career path.
If you are serious about becoming an English teacher, or any other foreign language teacher for that matter, one of your best chances is to find a teaching position at a university or private school. Japanese universities often have language departments and therefore need native speakers to teach English as part of their curriculum. Many people prefer teaching at a university because it allows them more freedom and responsibility than working at a cram school, where there is much less interaction with students outside of class. Another option is teaching English online through websites like Tandem and eHi.
