How many hours do the Japanese work. How long is the work week in different countries? About foreigners in Japan

So, the eight-hour day has come to an end. The most important work for today is done, and everything else can wait until morning. Almost every employee thinks so, leaving the office in the evening. But not the millions of employees of Japanese corporations, for whom leaving work to be home in time for dinner can lead to serious accusations of lack of loyalty to their company.

As of 2016, almost a quarter of Japanese employers allow their employees to work 80 hours a month. Moreover, these overtime working hours are not paid, because the workers do it of their own accord. In addition to everything, the Japanese do not take the time prescribed by law, and if they take their legal paid vacation entirely, they feel guilty.

How many work in different countries of the world?

Recent studies of the labor market by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) cover the number of official working hours per year in 38 countries. It is noteworthy that countries such as Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg occupy some of the last positions on the list, with the leaders being Mexico, Costa Rica and South Korea.

Working hours table in some countries of the world

A country	Working hours per year	A country	Working hours per year
Mexico		Spain
Costa Rica		Great Britain
South Korea		Australia
Greece		Finland
Russia		Sweden
Poland		Austria
Israel		Switzerland
Turkey		Luxembourg
USA		France
Czech		Norway
Italy		Denmark
Japan		Germany
Canada

According to official figures, Japan is not in first place in the world in terms of the number of working hours, but this is official. If you add 80 hours a month overtime to this, you get over 2,500 hours a year. This will leave Japanese employees far behind workers from other countries.

"Death by Recycling"

The term "karoshi" means "sudden death from fatigue in the workplace." "Karoshi" in Japan can be officially documented as the cause of death.

An employee of the largest Japanese advertising holding Dentsu died suddenly at work in 2015. The cause of death was then attributed to depression due to overload at work. This incident attracted widespread attention and public condemnation of Japan's usual endless overtime.

Dentsu was fined for gross violations of labor laws, as facts of 100-hour monthly overtime were revealed. Dentsu later changed the approach to the working hours of its staff. For example, it was introduced to turn off the light in offices after 22:00 so that employees do not stay late.

Now the Japanese authorities and employers are leading active work to combat "karoshi". The government has legislatively limited the number of hours spent in offices and introduced mandatory rest between the end of the previous and the beginning of a new working day.

In 2016, a new holiday appeared in Japan - Mountain Day. It is dedicated to the many mountains of this country, and by the decision of the authorities it became an annual official holiday. Thus, the number of Japanese public holidays per year will increase to 16. Holidays in Japan are considered a generous gift from the government to dedicated workers. In May, for example, the so-called Golden Week celebrates three whole holidays: Greenery Day, Constitution Day and Children's Day. At this time, business life in the country practically freezes.

Not so long ago, the country's government introduced the so-called "Premium Friday", when employees are allowed to leave work at 15:00 on the last Friday of every month. However, according to polls, only 4% of Japanese employees leave their jobs that early. Usually to work office staff in Japan, they arrive half an hour earlier, at 8:30, and finish work late at night. For them, there are special shops in this country where you can buy a clean shirt, and capsule hotels where you can spend the night, if it makes no sense to go home after work.

Working people in Japan avoid taking long vacations, unlike people in European countries who usually like to go on vacation for several weeks. Some Japanese employees admit that they feel anxious and uneasy when they leave their workplace for a long time. The Japanese do not count their holidays in weeks, but solely in days. Just as they try to extend the working day for themselves, staying late at work, so they do with vacations, reducing them to the maximum in order to get back to work as soon as possible.

Instead of a summer vacation, they prefer to take a few days of rest in August during the traditional three-day Obon festival and on new year holidays, which in Japan last from December 29 to January 3.

The power of tradition

The main reasons why the inhabitants of the Japanese Isles are workaholics lie in the system of seniority and commitment to the team. The amount of time worked determines the possibility of further promotion and is often more important than the quality of the work performed.

Open offices are extremely popular in Japan, when desktops are grouped in such a way that employees form separate teams. Each such team has a leader who determines the tasks for the day. Each Japanese office has two meetings every day, one by the senior executive and the other by the leader of each group of workers.

The management style in Japan is based on the concept of "group accordion". The main thing is to achieve agreement among employees, in which any idea submitted to senior management first goes through a comprehensive study and discussion in the group. Approval of the proposal working group helps to avoid condemnation of the employee by the management, because any even the smallest public condemnation for the Japanese is considered a disaster.

Japan has always stood out from the list of countries with a high pace economic development... it eastern state successfully fights against any crises and cataclysms. This is also due to the hard work, as well as the diligence of its citizens. Purposefulness, ideology and responsibility have been brought up in Japan from the very beginning early age... It is no coincidence that the management systems developed in this country are recognized throughout the world as the most effective, which is why they are used as a standard in many large enterprises.

Features of employment

Immigrants who come to Japan have to adhere to the overstated requirements of the employer and a peculiar national mentality. For those who don't want to do this, the company quickly finds a replacement.

The Japanese are most often employed for life. That is, having come to the company as a young man, they are on its staff until the very retirement. If you want to find a job in another company, the new employer will take into account the time of the previous continuous contract.

Japan is considered a country that is fairly closed to immigrants. After all, when employed in a highly paid prestigious job, you will need not only to be a real professional, but also to have a fairly high level of knowledge of the Japanese language. But, of course, when considering candidates for vacant post preference will always be given to the indigenous people of the country. In order to get a job in Japan, you need to prove your extraordinary abilities. And for this, the documents confirming the high will obviously not be enough. It is recommended to prepare the brightest independently created projects in advance, translating them into Japanese, so that you can present them.

Profession rating

What specialists does the labor market of the Land of the Rising Sun need today? Work in Japan without special efforts can find:

IT specialists. It is quite easy to explain the demand for such professions in a country that is a leader in the development of electronic technologies. However, an immigrant should prepare in advance for great competition. The fact is that Japan has many of its own professionals. The most in-demand specialties in this category are project managers and developers.
Designers and Architects. It is enough just to get a job in Japanese companies and good specialists from this field. Moreover, employers are happy to attract immigrant professionals for cooperation. It is worth noting that in this regard, this is one of the few categories of specialists that deserves such a favorable attitude.
Trade professionals. The most popular specialty in this category is sales managers. Japanese firms and trade representatives, freight forwarders and other workers in this field are invited. However, it should be borne in mind that to fill a vacancy you will need not only work experience in your specialty, but also excellent command of the Japanese language.
Management staff. Such employees form the backbone of Japanese business. The fact is that it is impossible to obtain evolutionary results of economic development without proper planning of workers' efforts and time. For this reason, Japanese employers value highly recruiting, planning and management professionals. However, it should be borne in mind that the indigenous people of the country are still easier to navigate in this area. But at the same time, foreign experience in implementing modern systems departments may also be of interest to the employer.
Marketing and PR specialists. Advertising is the engine of progress. The Japanese do not neglect this rule either. In addition to the employees who manage projects, the country is in demand for managers working in this direction... However, only a person who, in addition to experience, will be fluent in Japanese can work in the advertising field.
Electronics engineers. For Japanese employers, specialists who are able to work in production are of particular value household appliances, road vehicles, shipbuilding and instrument making.
Production personnel. Many large Japanese companies operating in the food and pharmaceutical industries, machine tools and mechanical engineering need such specialists. So far, in this country, full automation of production is a prospect for the future. That is why immigrants will always be able to find work for themselves in any factory. This usually requires technicians and operators for automated production lines. However, despite the fact that specialists in this category can quite successfully find a job in the country, it is necessary to clarify the requirements that the employer imposes on the candidates. Often they are required to obtain a diploma in technical education.
Consultants and teachers. These specialists are also in demand in the state. Here you can even get a job as a teacher of the Russian language. But recently, there are a lot of people willing to fill such a vacancy, so you have to wait for a suitable place for years. English teachers can get a job in Japan without any problems. However, if their place of work is schools, then the specialist will need a teaching license.
Accountants and financiers. No organization can do without these workers. That is why they are also ranked among the most sought-after professions in Japan. But knowledge of the language for people who decide to apply for such a vacancy is a prerequisite.
Pharmacists and healthcare professionals. This category of specialists in Japan is considered one of the most privileged. Most of the clinics in the country are private. Thanks to this, the salary in Japan medical worker approaching 760 thousand yen in one month. In terms of dollars, this amount will be 6400. However, it is almost impossible for an immigrant to get a job as a doctor in this country. The fact is that diplomas of other states confirming the acquisition of this profession are not quoted in Japan. To obtain permission to work as a doctor, you will need to graduate from a medical school directly in this country.

Work mentality

Every inhabitant of Japan certainly follows the traditions that have developed in the country over many centuries. If we consider the attitude of the indigenous population of the country to work, then it can be noted that it has certain qualities. Among them - politeness and loyalty, personal responsibility, as well as the ability to effectively work within a specific work team.

The main goal of the Japanese is to benefit the company, while working as a kind of cog in one well-coordinated large mechanism. Individuality is not welcomed in this country. Those loners who are guided by the principle "my house is on the edge" have no chance of success. Highly educated, but at the same time ambitious people for leadership are less valuable personnel than those who, although not so educated, but at the same time are patient and open to compromise. Why is this happening? Yes, simply because the Japanese do not believe that money can be given to people in simple ways... They will not respect anyone who does not work by the sweat of their brow.

By the way, many Europeans complain that their lives are practically spent at work. But is it? What are the working hours in Japan? This should be clarified in advance by the one who decided to take one of the vacancies in this country.

The beginning of the working day

Everyday life in Japan begins with a trip. They rush to work, usually using public transport. Most residents of this state refuse to use a car. They do this in order to save money. After all, the maintenance of a personal car will cost them about 10 thousand dollars. And that's just for one month! And is it worth using a private car in a country that has the best public transport system on the planet?

However, in large cities, the Japanese pay for such savings with tedious trips to work in wagons filled with 200% of their estimated capacity. Nevertheless, such a morning ritual does not at all cause irritation among the indigenous inhabitants of the country, which they would tear off on a neighbor.

Coming to work

The Japanese begin with a kind of ritual. It includes more than just greetings from superiors and colleagues. The ritual of starting the day includes the joint chanting of various inspiring statements and slogans by employees. Only then can you start performing production tasks.

What time does a working day start in Japan? Officially, most companies in the country have the same schedule. It provides for the beginning of the working day at 9 o'clock, and its end - at 6 pm. Nevertheless, most Japanese come to their workplace at least half an hour earlier. It is believed that an employee needs time to tune in to work.

Currently, many corporations have introduced a temporary card system. What is it? A special card is issued for each employee. It must be lowered into the device installed in front of the entrance upon arrival at work and at the time of leaving it. The card reflects the time that affects the salary in Japan. Some firms deduct one hour of work for a delay of 1 minute. There are corporations when in this case the employee will not be given a salary for the whole day.

Work days

How long is a working day in Japan? Officially 8 o'clock. There is also a lunch break in the country. Its duration is 1 hour. Thus, the standard work contract specifies 40 hours per week.

However, working hours in Japan tend to exceed these limits. This is influenced by another tradition of the inhabitants of the country. The fact is that climbing the career ladder is of great importance to them. And climbing these steps, as a rule, does not depend at all on the qualifications and intelligence of the employee, but on the amount of time during which he does not leave his chair. It is because of this that the length of the working day in Japan is far from the official one. Employees often stay late to complete assignments in the evenings. In this regard, the length of the working day in Japan sometimes reaches 12 hours. Moreover, the residents of the country do this mainly on their own initiative. In addition, despite the fact that the work week in Japan lasts only five days, employees come to the company on Saturdays. And this is also most often their own desire.

A bit of history

The beginning of the increase in the average working day in Japan was facilitated by the rather low wages that the country's population received in the 1970s. Employees did everything to increase their earnings. That is why they were keen to get extra money for overtime hours. This trend continued into the 1980s. And this is despite the fact that the period has come when Japan entered the list of the most highly developed economic countries, taking second place there. The inhabitants of the country did not change the established tradition in the late 1990s. At this time, the working day in Japan was long due to the outbreak of the crisis. In order to successfully overcome it, companies began to carry out internal reforms, realigning their organizational systems. At the same time, workers were delayed at work, trying not to get laid off. At the same time, companies began to hire temporary employees who work without any guarantees or bonuses. Such a move made the existence of the people on the state even more unbearable.

Today, no one is confused by the length of the working day of 12 or more hours. As a rule, people are not forced to stay in the evenings, but they believe that they must do so.

Karoshi

It is not uncommon for workers in Japan to remain at their jobs, fearing that they will be thought of as professionals who cannot fulfill their duties. Moreover, when solving any production problem, a resident of this country strives to be the necessary link in one general chain of the corporation. The main thing for him is to work in such a way that the working group of which he is a member fulfills the task assigned to it within the minimum time and in the optimal mode. This is one of the reasons for the appearance of overtime. In addition, each employee, showing solidarity with his colleagues, seeks to provide them with all possible assistance, which, in his opinion, they really need. This is how overtime goes by in Japanese companies, which is currently unpaid.

Such a busy schedule leads to the fact that in the country there are often cases of death due to overwork or suicide. And all this happens right at the workplace. A similar phenomenon in Japan even got its name - "karoshi", it is considered the official reason for the death of a person.

An unusual tradition

The tense working conditions in Japan require some relaxation. This led to the emergence of an unusual tradition, which in the country is called "inemuri". It represents a dream or a kind of quiet hour during work. During this time, the person continues to remain upright. In this case, sleep for the Japanese is not only a sign of hard work. It indicates the employee's hard work and dedication.

However, those who have just got a job should not try to fall asleep on it. Inemuri is the privilege of the bosses. An employee is not allowed to sleep in front of a more qualified colleague. The only exceptions are revisions that take place after the end of the official working day... At this time, a person can sleep for 20 minutes, but with the condition that he continues to work intensively after he wakes up.

Holidays

As you can see, the Japanese are working literally to wear and tear. Their daily routine and work system for Europeans seems downright inhuman. After reading these facts, the question immediately arises: "Is there a vacation in Japan?" Officially, yes. According to the legislation in force in the country, it lasts 10 days and must be provided once throughout the year. However, having studied the Japanese mentality, one can understand that the Japanese will not rest for so long. And indeed it is. It is not customary for residents of the country to fully use their vacation. This does not allow them to do existing traditions. In the culture of the country, it is considered: using the days of rest, a person by this indicates that he is lazy and does not support the work of the entire team.

The Japanese compensate for their vacation national holidays, of which there are many in the country.

Wage level

What is the remuneration for labor in Japan? Its level will directly depend on the position of the employee and his profession. So, an immigrant who took one of the vacancies on initial stage must count on a salary lower than that of the indigenous population. It can range from $ 1400 to $ 1800 over the course of a month. Over time, a skilled worker will earn more. His salary will average $ 2,650.

Experienced lawyers, attorneys, pilots and doctors in Japan receive from 10 to 12 thousand dollars. Even the most highly developed European countries cannot boast of such a monthly salary.

Retirement

System social protection in Japan has been operating in the country since 1942. It allows people to retire when they turn 65. This rule applies to both sexes.

Pensions in Japan are paid from the Social Security Fund. Today, its assets reach 170 trillion yen.

The average social pension in Japan is $ 700. The professional one is calculated based on the system in which the person worked. Thus, civil servants receive, while retiring, 2/5 of their previous salary. For other employees, the amount of payments is determined based on the amount accumulated by them. It consists of monthly salary deductions (5%). The employer also contributes to the accumulation fund of a particular person. The company also makes monthly contributions to the employee's pension fund.

Since the mid-60s of the XX century, the concept of the "Japanese miracle" has entered the economy - those lightning-fast changes that have occurred in the Japanese economy in a relatively short period of time. There are several approaches to explaining this economic phenomenon. The most believable of these is the attitude towards employees. With the right priorities, Japan has a greater degree of labor productivity, loses less time in all kinds of strikes, protests, downtime, can more easily introduce new technologies, and in general produces more and faster high-quality goods than its foreign competitors.

In Japan, there are several laws, a number of regulating labor relations and issues of protecting the interests of workers. They are applicable in principle to all enterprises operating in the country, regardless of the nationality of the owner. In addition, they apply to foreign workers, provided that they fall under the definition of an employee.

How to find a job

In Japan, there is a state employment agency, which bears the self-explanatory name "Hello, work." There are offices and representative offices of this organization throughout the country. The agency helps people looking for work and companies looking for workers absolutely free of charge.

Also, free of charge employment services are offered by some regional state organizations and educational institutions. There are also several private employment agencies of various types in the country. Moreover, the majority need to pay only in case of successful employment. Finally, jobs in Japan can be found through numerous newspapers, magazines and Internet sites.

The principle of free contractual relations applies to the process of hiring labor: the employer has the right to decide for himself how many and what kind of employees he wants to hire. At the same time, in Japan there are a number of rules that are unusual for a Russian citizen. For example, employers are not allowed to indicate the gender of an employee in vacancy announcements.

How to register an employee

By hiring employees, companies enter into labor contracts with them. In this case, the employer is obliged to notify the employee in writing about following conditions hiring:

1) The duration of the employment contract (or, in the absence of provisions governing the duration of the contract, an indication of this fact)

2) Description of the workplace and the duties to be performed by the employee

3) Time of the beginning and end of the working day, overtime work, breaks, weekends and vacations

4) The method of determining, calculating and paying wages; the period for which the salary is calculated and the timing of its payment

5) The procedure for leaving and dismissing from work (including a description of all the grounds for dismissal)

Expiration date of documents

As a rule, employment contracts do not indicate their duration. If the period of validity is still indicated, then, with the exception of a number of special cases, it should not exceed three years. In this case, the employee has the right to quit, provided that a year has passed since the start date of the employment contract.

Probation

Before hiring an employee on a permanent basis, the employer has the right to establish a limited probationary period to determine if the person is suitable for him. Typically, the trial period lasts three months. Moreover, if after probationary period the employer does not want to hire an employee on a permanent basis, such a decision qualifies as dismissal. And in order for the dismissal to have legal force, it is necessary that during the probationary period there are compelling reasons for refusing to hire.

How salaries are paid

Employers are required to pay wages to the employee at least once a month on a pre-agreed date. In this case, the employer may, with the consent of the employee, transfer wages to the bank account indicated by him, taking into account tax deductions

The minimum wage is set in each region and in each industry separately. Moreover, if an employee has two different minimum wages, he has the right to receive more.

The monthly wage includes a minimum wage and a range of benefits such as housing allowance, family allowance and travel allowance. Usually, summer and winter bonuses are also paid to workers in Japan.

It should be noted that more and more companies are introducing salary systems in which the size of the salary depends on the abilities of the employee. As a consequence, the practice of paying salaries based on the results of the year is becoming more and more widespread.

Working hours

By law, working hours in Japan must not exceed 40 hours per week or eight hours per day excluding breaks. But some businesses are allowed to set a working week of up to 44 hours. These areas include retailers, beauty salons, movie theaters, theaters, health and hygiene facilities, and restaurants and entertainment.

If the working day is six hours, the employer must give the employee a break of at least 45 minutes. If a person works eight hours, then the break should be at least an hour.

Also, employers are required to give employees at least one day off a week or four days off a month. In this case, the weekend does not have to fall on Sundays.

Any employer who requires his employees to work beyond the statutory hours or on public holidays must submit to the local Labor Inspectorate an agreement on such conditions for the employee himself.

Those who work overtime or at night are entitled to multiplying factors:

Paid holiday

The employer is obliged to provide 10 days of paid leave to an employee who has worked for at least six consecutive months from the date of employment and worked at least 80% of the planned working days. Paid vacation can be used in whole or in parts. The duration of the vacation increases with the accumulation of work experience:

The entitlement to annual paid leave is valid for two years. In other words, unused paid vacation can only be carried over to the next year.

It should also be noted that in a number of cases (wedding, death of close relatives, birth of a child, etc.), most Japanese companies provide their employees with several additional days of paid leave.

Maternity and parental leave

If a pregnant woman asks for leave six weeks before the expected date of birth, the employer must do so. After the birth of a child, a woman may not work for eight weeks while on maternity leave.

An employer has the right to refuse to grant parental leave (1 year) to an employee who has worked at the enterprise for less than one year or has a spouse who is able to provide constant childcare.

If an employee whose family member needs constant care asks for leave to care for that family member, the employer must grant the request. The maximum length of such leave is three consecutive months. However, the employer has the right to refuse an employee who has worked at the enterprise for less than one year or whose employment contract expires in the next three months.

Issues reflected in the rules internal regulations:

1) Start and end times of work, breaks, days off, vacations (including leave to care for a child and a relative due to illness), work shifts (when work is organized in two or more shifts).

2) The procedure for determining, calculating and paying wages (not including bonuses and other payments), the period for which wages are charged, and the timing of their payment, as well as issues of increasing wages.

3) The procedure for leaving and dismissing from work (including a description of the grounds for dismissal).

Other points

Employers are obliged to inform employees about the internal rules of the enterprise and about any collective agreements between management and employees of the enterprise.

Employers are obliged to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. Before an employee is hired in the state, he is obliged, at the request of the employer, to pass medical checkup... Then all permanent employees are obliged, at the request of the employer, to undergo a medical examination once a year.

Leaving and dismissing from work

If an employee working on employment contract without specifying the period of validity, expresses the intention to quit, he has the right to do this by sending a corresponding notification two weeks in advance.

An employee can be dismissed only if there are objective grounds. Downsizing due to enterprise restructuring can only be considered justified if it meets the following four criteria:

1) Production necessity. The company must prove that, given the prevailing business circumstances, staff reductions are inevitable and necessary.

2) Taking measures to avoid staff reductions. The enterprise must prove that its management has taken all possible measures to prevent downsizing, such as redeployment of the workforce and voluntary layoffs.

3) Reasonableness of the selection of laid off workers. The business must demonstrate that the selection of employees to be reduced was made using reasonable criteria and fairness.

4) Compliance with established rules. The enterprise must prove that its management has carried out all the necessary consultations with employees and trade unions.

An employer does not have the right to dismiss an employee if:

1) At the time the employee is on leave, which was granted to him as a result of an occupational disease or occupational injury, as well as within 30 days after the employee leaves such leave.

2) At the time the employee is on pregnancy leave, namely, within six weeks before the birth of the child and within eight weeks after the birth of the child, as well as within 30 days after the employee leaves such leave.

If the employer wants to dismiss the employee, he is obliged to send him the appropriate notification 30 days before the expected date of dismissal. If an employer wishes to dismiss an employee on an expedited basis, he must pay the employee a 30-day salary at the time of dismissal.

It should be noted, however, that in some cases, the employer has the right to dismiss the employee without giving notice and without paying benefits:

1) The enterprise is unable to continue its economic activities as a result of a natural disaster and in other similar circumstances, the occurrence of which it could not prevent.

2) The dismissal of an employee becomes inevitable due to the employee's fault:

- an employee, while at the workplace, commits an act that, in accordance with the Criminal Code, qualifies as a crime, including theft, embezzlement or bodily harm

- the employee violates the rules or generally accepted standards of conduct in the workplace or has a negative impact on other employees

- the employee provides information about himself that does not correspond to reality, and which could affect the decision on his employment

- an employee, without permission and without a valid reason, commits absenteeism for at least two weeks

- the employee is constantly late for work, leaves work earlier than the set time, is absent from the workplace without permission and without a valid reason

Japanese social security system

Japan has a universal insurance system under which all people living in the country are required to participate in the public health insurance system and in the pension system.

There are four different types of insurance systems in Japan that are mandatory for all companies:

1) Insurance against industrial accidents. This insurance covers occupational diseases and accidents that occur at the workplace or on the way to or from work.

2) Insurance of workplaces. Allows you to pay unemployment benefits and ensure the stability of employment by providing financial aid and payment of various subsidies.

3) Health insurance and medical care insurance. Covers medical and nursing expenses incurred by employees.

4) Pension insurance. This insurance provides workers with old-age pensions and survivor benefits or disability benefits.

Insurance premiums are paid by the company by deducting the corresponding amounts from the wages paid to employees and transferring these amounts to the accounts of the relevant government authorities, together with the contributions payable by the company itself.

Who will help

Social and labor insurance consultants are experts in human resources management. At the request of company managers, they are entitled to provide the following services:

- execution of contracts of labor and social insurance and performance on behalf of companies of other administrative functions related to employment

- advising on compliance with the requirements of occupational health and safety and human resources management

- performing mediation functions in the course of resolving labor disputes in accordance with the provisions of the Law "On Resolution of Individual Labor Disputes"

- advising on pension issues and handling related complaints and claims

- solving other issues related to the application of labor legislation

Today Japan is a country that is especially attractive for those who want to work in a highly developed country and receive decent wages for this.

The fact is that in Japan (in one of the few countries) it is possible in just a month, being a good specialist in the field in demand here, to earn an amount that is quite comparable to the annual earnings in such European countries as Germany or France.

How to find a job in Japan

To do this is both simple and difficult. It is difficult because a good knowledge of the language is always required from applicants. Many people know that learning Japanese is not easy. Surely everyone traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun is interested in the question of how to work in Japan.

State government programs, which are primarily designed to find labor force abroad, greatly simplify the search for the necessary work. So, if you have mastered a difficult Japanese language, you can use the special government program JET, which will help specialists with knowledge of the language find employment in Japan. Before embarking on an active job search, try to learn more about the country in which you are going to live and work.

Work mentality

To understand how the Japanese work, you must know that they adhere strictly to centuries of tradition. It is very important for Japanese employers to understand whether you can bring more value by working as a "cog" in a large work collective, and not individually.

We want to warn you right away that a person who preaches the motto "my house is on the edge" has practically no chance of success. Any Japanese respects an ordinary engineer in a large corporation much more than the son of a billionaire. This is due to the genetically determined benevolence of the Japanese towards people working for large companies. Moreover, the Japanese do not believe in making money easy.

Work days

The working day in Japan begins with an unusual "ritual of the beginning of the day" for us. This is an original greeting from bosses and colleagues, chanting along with a team of inspiring statements and slogans. Only then can you start working.

Usually the Japanese work much more than their Western counterparts. Even if the company is officially open from nine in the morning until six in the evening, no one will be surprised by employees who arrive at the service at least half an hour earlier. After the end of the working day, people often stay for two to three hours, and note that own initiative.

Every Japanese worker acts as one of the links in a large and strong chain. For him, the most important thing is to act in such a way that the task that was assigned to the entire working group is completed as efficiently as possible and in less time. For the same reason, the Japanese rarely use their entire vacation. Appreciating the dedication of their employees, the management of many companies takes a short week New Year, in spring and summer, thus giving people a little rest.

The national working day lasts ten hours on average, and, accordingly, the working week in Japan is sixty hours.

Sign language

Successful work in Japan largely depends on knowledge of sign language. Sometimes, in terms of its importance, it significantly exceeds the one to which we are accustomed. Without knowing this language, you are unlikely to achieve any significant success.

Without mastering the basics of the culture of this country, you are doomed to failure. The Japanese will either just disapprove or even be hostile towards you. This will make you go through many unpleasant moments.

If you will take part in business meetings, then you need to know how they are held in the Land of the Rising Sun. For example, the Japanese exchange their business cards even before the handshake and bow. All negotiations begin with middle managers. The height of tactlessness will be your desire to settle any issues with your superiors, bypassing the manager.

In any Japanese enterprise, all relationships are based on the principle of hierarchy. Therefore, you need to know how to work in Japan. More
adult employees always have a higher status, men are valued more than women. If you need to write a letter or some kind of request for work, you should contact a colleague of equal status to you.

Business conversations should take place in an atmosphere of trust, friendliness, harmony. Before starting such a conversation, you need to talk about general topics for seven to ten minutes to establish contact.

The Japanese often use sophisticated forms of refusal. Instead of saying no, the Japanese will most likely say, "It will be very difficult to do this."

Work and living

There are usually more vacancies in big cities than in the periphery. But life in a large city has its drawbacks. The labor market is usually overcrowded, and therefore the tariff rates are much lower. For example, if in Tokyo an English teacher earns an average of $ 30 an hour, somewhere in the suburbs - $ 40 an hour. Plus, living in a big city takes most of your earnings. However, there are advantages: you can get a richer experience of national cultural life.

What specialists are needed in Japan

The greatest demand in the country is enjoyed by workers of the following categories:

English and Russian language teachers;

Financiers and bankers;

Programmers;

Mechanical Engineers;

Designers.

Who can work in Japan

There are twenty seven types of statuses in the country for foreign citizens, in seventeen of them it is possible to work, provided that the necessary papers from the Russian and Japanese sides are correctly drawn up. The period of stay in the country may vary, but should not exceed five years (except for diplomats, whose stay is registered for the entire period of activity). The status is issued for fifteen days, three months, six months, a year, three years, five years.

How to work in Japan

For many job seekers, this question is extremely relevant. Legal work in Japan is impossible without a work visa. This document is very important for a foreign worker. Japanese law is very strict, so the process of finding a suitable vacancy is also burdened by the fact that, according to the law, a company that wants to hire you must automatically act as a guarantor in obtaining a work visa.

Is it possible to find work for non-professionals

Yes, it is possible. If you have at least an intermediate level of knowledge of the Japanese language, you can try to find a job caring for the sick or the elderly. As you know, this country has the longest life expectancy, and many people in old age need help.

Writing a resume

Work in Japan for men is most often provided in the field computer technology or medicine. When choosing the right vacancy, it is very important to write a resume correctly and competently.

The Japanese are respectful of any work, and they are very careful about the selection of employees. When writing a resume, try to emphasize efficiency, desire to work in a team (provided that this is true).

In addition, you need to be very polite and respectful to address your future employer and under no circumstances be interested in wages - in Japan it is considered bad form. Today we tried to tell you about how to work in Japan, what kind of specialists are in demand in this country, what are the requirements for them. We hope that this information will be useful to you.

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