What are your biggest struggles with job hunting in Japan? (Interviews, CV/Resume rejections, lack of company reviews, etc.)
HI everyone,
I'm currently looking into the realities of job hunting in Japan for international professionals and English speakers. We all know the classic advice ("just get N2/N1"), but I want to know about the actual, specific bottlenecks you face during the process.
If you are currently job hunting or have successfully navigated the process recently, what has been the most frustrating part for you?
For example:
• The Application / Screening Stage: Getting constantly ghosted or rejected at the CV/ Resume/ES (Entry Sheet) stage without knowing why.
• Interviews: Dealing with rigid corporate interview styles, vague questions, or unrealistic expectati regarding language/cultural fit.
• Information Scarcity: The absolute nightmare of finding honest corporate reviews (since sites like OpenWork/vorkers are mostly in Japanese, and Glassdoor has limited data on Japanese firms).
• Recruiters: Mixed experiences with Japanese vs. international recruitment agencies.
Whether you're applying from overseas or already living here, l'd love to hear your raw experiences, rants, or any specific "I wish I knew this before" moments.
Thank you in advance for sharing your stories!