[Students] When Should I Start Job Hunting?

Common Mistakes International Students Make

Every year we receive lots of calls from international students just several months before they graduate. They ask, “Is there any company which will hire me?”, and all we can do is to say sorry…
So we really hope that you will begin job hunting activity early enough to get “naitei(to secure a position)”.
It is important to understand the flow and the schedule of shukatsu before you regret.

Flow of Japanese Shukatsu

1. Self-analysis & Evaluation
   There are two purposes of self-analysis and evaluation: one is identifying the type of job you want to do, or the type of job you are suited to. And another is making a best impression in your Entry Sheet (ES) and interview.
2. Examining Industries & Companies
   In Japan, you can find millions of companies. Industry is a classification of business operations.
   For example…
   ・Manufacturing
   ・trading companies
   ・finance
   ・service
   ・distribution and retaining
   ・information and communications Mass media, etc.To deepen your understanding, we recommend you sign in マイナビ2020 and リクナビ2022 which are the platforms most used by Japanese students. And you also should sign in dodaキャンパス or OfferBox. Here you will get some job offers from companies individually. You can use these for different purposes.

3. Examining Job Types
   For example…
   ・Clerical and administration
   ・Planning
   ・Sales
   ・Technologies and research
   ・Specialized
   ・Sales and services
   ・Finance
   ・Creative
   ・IT, etc.
4. Visiting Alumni
   You can directly visit alumni to gather information that you cannot obtain from the company website or pamphlet such as…
   ☑Specific content of work,
   ☑Reason for entering the company
   ☑Workplace atmosphere
   ☑Difficulties at work, etc.
   There should be a career center of your school, so you can consult with the staff and ask them to help you look for someone who graduated before you.
   Of course, there are some online matching services: BizReach Campus is one of them.

5. Internships
   Internship is a valuable opportunity to experience the company’s work.
   It also helps you understand Japanese business manner or industries and job types.
   Companies basically start inviting students who want to participate in their internships from June to July for summer internship (held in July ~ September) , from September to October for autumn internship (held in October ~ December), and from November to January for winter internship(held in December ~ February).
   Duration of internships varies according to each purpose or type, some only take 1 or 2 days and others 1 or 2 weeks. There is a longer type of internships called “long-term internship”, but in this case you need to join them at least 1 or 3 months. It is better to first clarify WHAT you want to obtain from the long-term internship.
6. Attending Company Briefing Sessions
   Let’s listen to explanations provided by employment officers. This year many companies are providing online seminars/sessions due to coronavirus concerns, which makes it much easier to attend (You need to spend neither train fare nor traveling time!).
   You can gather some information and feel the atmosphere within the company.
   Do not forget to take a note in order to prepare questions and to improve the quality of your motivation for applying for the company.

7. Entry Sheet
   Now most companies require you to submit entry sheet (ES) online.
   Please jump to Questions asked in a Japanese job interview if you want to know how to answer common questions asked on ES or interview.
   You can also search for the company which you will apply for and see ES written by other students who applied before on ONE CAREER and unistyle.
8. Written Tests
   There are various types of tests: SPI3, CAB, GAB, Tamate-bako (玉手箱), TG-WEB, etc.
   Preparation is everything.
   Visit ONE CAREER and sign in, this site will give you information about which type of test the company will require you to take.
   When preparing for the tests, the most effective way to get a high score is to get a exercise book and practice all the questions at least three times.
   
9. Interview
   Please jump to Questions asked in a Japanese job interview
10. Receiving a Job Offer & Entering a Company

Job Hunting Schedule

(This is made by writer)

THE EASIER, THE BETTER. がんばってください！