Thinking about working for a Japanese company? if you speak Japanese and live in the UK, you might be wondering what to expect: langauge use, work culture, or even chances to work in Japan.
Here are some of the most common questions we hear, that can help you feel more informed and confident in your next step.
1. What level of Japanese is required to find a job?
For roles that require Japanese langauge skills, employers often look for candidates with JLPT N1 or N2 certification. Note: For roles at Japanese companies that do not require Japanese, even basic conversational skills may be viewed positively, especially if the candidate shows genuine interest in Japan and its culture.
2. How much Japanese is used in the workplace?
This depends on the company and position. Even within Japanese companies, some use English as the official internal language, while other operate entirely in Japanese.
3. Are there opportunties to work in Japan?
It depends on the company, role, and level. In some cases, there may be opportunities to travel to Japan for training or business trips. Certain positions may even offer expatriate assignments.
4. Are there job openings based in Japan?
Since most positions handled by JAC UK are for local hires in the UK or Europe, we generally do not handle Japan-based roles.
5. Is the reporting line to Japan? Is the manager Japanese?
This varies by company and department. While some roles report to headquarters in Japan or have a manager based there, in most cases, the reporting structure is handled locally or within Europe.
6. Is the company culture more Japanese or localised?
It varies. Practices often associated with Japanese work culture such as long working hours or unpaid overtime are very rare. However, for roles requiring Japanese, expectations may align more closely with Japanese business standards, including formal etiquette and communication.
7. Will the interview be in Japanese or English?
It depends on the company and the position. For Japanese-speaking roles, poart of the interview may be conducted in Japanese.
8. How many Japanese employees are in the office?
This differs by company. Some offices have a majority of Japanese employees, while others may have none.
9. Do you handle jobs that do not require Japanese?
Yes. While it dependss on the industry and role, we also handle positions that do not require Japanese.
For example, some IT roles or those requiring local legal and regulatory knowledge may not demand Japanese language skills.