Assalamualaikum wbt
It seems that I left my blog for quite a long time sampai berhabuk fuh fuh. As you can read the title up there, it sounds serious but for those who currently or will do job hunting, you have to read this. I'm not sure if some of you know about my condition because actually I was planning to further study to Master degree this year. Well, a lot of things happened, Allah knows the best for me so I end up doing job hunting in Japan. If you want to know more, please pm me.
In Japan, job hunting for university students start during 4th year for degree and 2nd year for master. Which means, the students will try to get a place in any companies in Japan before graduated and begin their job next year in April, a month after graduation ceremony which usually held in March every year. For my case, I started job hunting after graduated because of some circumstance that I don't want to mention here. InsyaAllah I will start job in April next year, which means 1 year late from my other friends.
A lot of people asked me about how I can extend my visa in Japan for job hunting because my visa students end in June. In Japan, there is a "Designated Activities Visa" or in Japanese Language 特定活動ビザ. I applied this visa via International Students Center in my university and I need to do an interview to get recommendation letter from university or 推薦 to get this visa. One more thing, I also need to write a report every month about my progress in job hunting and submit it to my university or otherwise, the university will take back the recommendation letter. Sounds 面倒くさい right? So my advice here, don't be like me and start job hunting before graduated. You can follow the link below to know more about 特定活動ビザ (in Japanese language)
For foreign students in Japan, there are many websites, agents that can help to find job in any companies in Japan.
For example:
1. ASEAN Career-> https://www.aseancareer.asia/
2. Japan Career-> http://www.japan-career.jp/en/
3. My Navi-> https://job.mynavi.jp/conts/2018/tok/p/8624/
4. Career Tasu-> https://job.career-tasu.jp/2018/features/foreign/student/
5. Rikunabi-> https://job.rikunabi.com/agent/kaigai/
6. Benesse-> https://doda-student.jp/lp/foreign.html
I think there are more but I used these websites to find job here in Japan.
Steps of Job Hunting in Japan
1. Company briefing（説明会）or （説明選考会）
After registered with websites above, you will get a lot of information about companies that are looking for fresh graduates. So, choose your ideal companies and register for company briefing. Why you need to register? Because I noticed that the company will prepare any important documents to be given during the company briefing based on the attendees that booked earlier. If you didn't book, it's quite troublesome for the company.
What is the difference between 説明会 and 説明選考会? In 説明会, you just listen to the staff explaining about the company, company's vision, company's profile etc. In 説明選考会, the flow is still same, but after the company briefing, you will need to do some kind of group discussion with other students and you will be judged based on your performance during group discussion. If you pass, you can go to the next step of interview. I have joined twice. I still remember that I need to do presentation on how to expand the company's potential, I also need to work together with other students to build a tower by using balloon and also got a mathematics task for example calculating the fastest route and time from A station to the company by using hints given by the staff etc.
2. Document selection（書類選考）
After joining 説明会,the company staff will remind you to register at company's website and fill in the entrysheet. For me, this is the hardest part. Why? You need to write an essay why you want to work in that company and why they should hire you. Let say you apply 20 different companies, so you need write 20 different essays. There are also another essays that you need to write like 学生時代に力を入れたこと, 当社でのキャリアプラン. Of course you have to write in Japanese language.
3. SPI Test
Steps of Job Hunting in Japan
1. Company briefing（説明会）or （説明選考会）
After registered with websites above, you will get a lot of information about companies that are looking for fresh graduates. So, choose your ideal companies and register for company briefing. Why you need to register? Because I noticed that the company will prepare any important documents to be given during the company briefing based on the attendees that booked earlier. If you didn't book, it's quite troublesome for the company.
What is the difference between 説明会 and 説明選考会? In 説明会, you just listen to the staff explaining about the company, company's vision, company's profile etc. In 説明選考会, the flow is still same, but after the company briefing, you will need to do some kind of group discussion with other students and you will be judged based on your performance during group discussion. If you pass, you can go to the next step of interview. I have joined twice. I still remember that I need to do presentation on how to expand the company's potential, I also need to work together with other students to build a tower by using balloon and also got a mathematics task for example calculating the fastest route and time from A station to the company by using hints given by the staff etc.
2. Document selection（書類選考）
After joining 説明会,the company staff will remind you to register at company's website and fill in the entrysheet. For me, this is the hardest part. Why? You need to write an essay why you want to work in that company and why they should hire you. Let say you apply 20 different companies, so you need write 20 different essays. There are also another essays that you need to write like 学生時代に力を入れたこと, 当社でのキャリアプラン. Of course you have to write in Japanese language.
3. SPI Test
Next step, even though it is job hunting, you still need to study and take exams especially if you wish to get hired by big companies in Japan. Exams that students usually take during job hunting is called as SPI test. SPI test is kind of test that will test your Japanese language of course and mathematics solutions like statistics and probabilities. My advice is don't take SPI test for granted and study well. Why? I tell you later. You can find SPI test books in any book stores in Japan or just practice via website. For 派遣会社 or employment company, usually there will be two types of exams, SPI test and 技術試験 (technical test, I'm not sure if it is called as technical test in English). For example, if you are mechanical engineering student, then the company will test you with basic knowledge in mechanical engineering.
1. Study Pro-> http://saisokuspi.com/
I used these websites to study for SPI test and very helpful.
So now, you know what and how to study for SPI test. So, when and where you will take this test. Some companies especially big companies, you need to take test provided by the company itself. For other companies, you need to register and book your ideal examination date at Test Center, then the results will be sent automatically to the companies that you apply. You can click at the link below.
http://arorua.net/viva/docs/ae_s0141.jsp
Done with job hunting websites, done with SPI test, then last but not least, resume and interview. About resume, you can just google 履歴書の書き方 or pm me and I will email you my resume for reference. Resume in Japan is absolutely difference with Malaysia. No fancy font, no colorful, just plain resume with personal details and 4[cm] x 3[cm] picture. For interview, it depends on company. I have been for interview with small company and the interviewer was usually 1 person only. For big companies, the interviewers were around 4 people even though it was just first interview or 1次面接 because in Japan, usually the interview will be done twice before you get the offer letter. There is also company that carried out 6-8 levels of interview. And I only passed at 3rd level.
Honestly speaking, job hunting in Japan quite difficult for me. Up until now, I have been to countless 説明会 or company briefing, I think more that 20 companies. I failed in total 12 companies, 7 companies I failed at SPI test while others at first interview or 1次面接.
So, I pray all the best for those who are still doing job hunting or 就活 in Japan. All I can say is Allah knows the best and His blessings are everywhere on this earth. If you can't find it here in Japan, don't give up because Allah will give the best at other places. May Allah ease everything you do.
Done with job hunting websites, done with SPI test, then last but not least, resume and interview. About resume, you can just google 履歴書の書き方 or pm me and I will email you my resume for reference. Resume in Japan is absolutely difference with Malaysia. No fancy font, no colorful, just plain resume with personal details and 4[cm] x 3[cm] picture. For interview, it depends on company. I have been for interview with small company and the interviewer was usually 1 person only. For big companies, the interviewers were around 4 people even though it was just first interview or 1次面接 because in Japan, usually the interview will be done twice before you get the offer letter. There is also company that carried out 6-8 levels of interview. And I only passed at 3rd level.
Honestly speaking, job hunting in Japan quite difficult for me. Up until now, I have been to countless 説明会 or company briefing, I think more that 20 companies. I failed in total 12 companies, 7 companies I failed at SPI test while others at first interview or 1次面接.
So, I pray all the best for those who are still doing job hunting or 就活 in Japan. All I can say is Allah knows the best and His blessings are everywhere on this earth. If you can't find it here in Japan, don't give up because Allah will give the best at other places. May Allah ease everything you do.
