One year of job hunting. 91 applications. Unlimited rejection and 1 offer.

Anyway, I got a job. I’m tired, a bit empty, and very happy it’s over. Rooting for y’all!

Ps:New graduate route!

I used to work in the US on a work visa after graduating with a Bachelor's from a reputable university there, as a 3D artist doing work for an extremely high profile game, among other titles. Through personal circumstances, after my visa ended I moved back to Asia to be closer to my family and worked in an adjacent industry, contemporary art, for several years. I was introduced to a similar position in a foreign company in Tokyo and took the opportunity for change. Now that the company has plans to go under, mostly in part due to changes in foreign business policies, my (技人国) visa is at risk.

I'm in my late 20s, and I've only been here for just under 2 years, and I know I don't have to stay in Japan, but I've made so many new relationships and found great connections with people here, I can't help but want to fight to keep them.

I came here with no Japanese, and almost never required it for my job, but I studied independently and took the JLPT N2 earlier this July, a missed it by a point. I took the Business Japanese Proficiency Test as well, and just barely missed the mark for 400+ (immigration acknowledges this as an N2 equivalent). I've already signed up for N2 in December, and plan to retake the Business Japanese Proficiency Test again once I am officially past the 3 months wait period. I am completely fluent in English, I consider it my native tongue, and also hold high language proficiency in two other languages.

I've never stopped applying for jobs since I got down here, and have ramped it up significantly recently. Having sent out about 200+ applications, I've only gotten 2 interviews. On my first interview, when asked for which position I was applying for, the interviewers looked at each other and said, "Oh, that was an open position we had?", and at that moment I just crumbled a little inside, and continued to entertain them for the rest of the 1 hour interview.

On my second interview, very recently, I got a preliminary offer with about 2 months of mandatory unpaid training, which I just started, but nothing has been signed yet. The position is an entry level IT position with no experience required, with an advertised a 220k base monthly. There seems to be a good chance for career growth, though I'm still continuing to look for jobs.

I considered going the student visa route and enrolling in a Japanese language academy to really drill in my Japanese proficiency to help find work, but after advising with 7 different schools, who told me that they did not support the work visa to student visa route, I decided against it. On top of stricter laws and actions being taken against foreigners here, getting a work visa again after being a student is not a guarantee, and is a huge time sink.

I came here with a plan, to eventually find a 外資系 with decent pay relevant to my past background, all the while building up my Japanese asap to open as many opportunities as I could as a fallback, and I was so confident in it as I could see myself making progress. But now, between being constantly ghosted and offers with being paid in peanuts, I can't help but begin to feel so worthless. I feel like I'm failing myself and everyone around me.

I'm not looking for a pity party, I just felt like I needed to word vomit to get some weight off my chest. If you read this far, thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Follow-up to the Tsukuba notice I shared earlier as u/AmbassadorOfAloha. I run Japan Source Signal and am not the employer.

If you are considering the April 2027 ALT intake, start preparing your application now. The city lists Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm JST as the deadline, but warns that recruitment may close early if there are many applicants. This is a possibility, not an announcement that it is already full.

Both the online application with supporting documents and the video must be submitted. The video combines a Japanese self-introduction and an English presentation about your home country for elementary pupils. The city sends the video-upload link after the online application, so allow time for both steps.

Check the complete eligibility requirements before applying, including Japanese ability, ALT experience, a Japanese driving licence and access to a private car.

Our saved reading page links to the official city notice and application route: https://japansourcesignal.com/jobs/tsukuba-alt-recruitment/

Official notice checked October 19. Our saved reading page retains its original check date; this reminder does not mean all listing details have been newly verified.

I've been applying for about a year after moving back to the US (was stationed there and final contract was in California) and I was offered an interview with a PR company. The recruiter has told me that two executive officers are wanting to conduct the interview, and asked me for a list of times I am available. I am conversational Japanese (just above basic to be fair) and the listing doesn't have a requirement for fluency. I have my jikoshoukai prepared and ready.

What tips can you give me? They sponsor visa, and it would be a permanent position. Is this a good sign? I'm genuinely asking, really want to have job stability after my military career.

hi!

i'm an mbbs graduate from south asia. are there any non-clinical job options in japan for medicine graduates without license for clinical practice in japan and if there are, what are the requirements and my chances of securing them?

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some career advice, especially from foreigners or people with similar experiences working in Japan.

I recently graduated from university and am currently working in Japan. I’m a Japanese citizen, but I didn’t really grow up here, so my Japanese is probably around N3 level or so?

To be honest, based on my experience with my current job, I don’t think I want to continue working in a fully Japanese work environment. The language barrier is something i can bear, but the working hours and physical exhaustion are also taking a toll on me. The overtime is honestly hell. I work in a restaurant as 社員.

I’m not really sure what kind of career would suit me yet, but I’m confident that I can learn whatever the job requires as long as I’m given the opportunity.
For those of you working in Japan, especially foreigners or people who weren’t fluent in Japanese when they started working here, what jobs are you currently doing? How are the working conditions, and would you recommend your job to someone in my situation?
I’m open to exploring different fields. I just want to find something sustainable where I can make a living without constantly feeling exhausted from work.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!