Position: Apparel Store Staff Member
Pay: Negotiable 1,000Y p/h (120,000Y p/m)
Hours: 30h p/w
Duties:
Pay: Negotiable 1,000Y p/h (120,000Y p/m)
Hours: 30h p/w
Duties:
- Opening and closing the store + Register (with help)
- Stock take
- Customer service (Floor + Register)
- Folding and returning clothes
- English language support
Pros
1. I was able to use Japanese in an Authentic setting for more than 40 hours every week. This environment made me into a sponge, absorbing language and reinforcing connections in my brain.
2. I learned a lot about the Japanese working culture and how important manners are to maintaining customer relations.
3. I was pushed to use Keigo which vastly improved my abilities. Also this enabled to see the Japanese way of thinking more clearly.
4. Through extra work related activities I learned the value of being friends outside of the workplace to build teamwork inside the workplace.
5. No pre-work preparation.
Cons
1. As part of the service sector I had to work on all of the “Big Days” and festivals.
2. Being pushed in the deep end with no one to talk about my problems with I developed culture shock.
3. These positions are usually not available to Non Japanese.
4. These positions are usually not available to WHV’s.
5. Boring and repetitive tasks.
1. I was able to use Japanese in an Authentic setting for more than 40 hours every week. This environment made me into a sponge, absorbing language and reinforcing connections in my brain.
2. I learned a lot about the Japanese working culture and how important manners are to maintaining customer relations.
3. I was pushed to use Keigo which vastly improved my abilities. Also this enabled to see the Japanese way of thinking more clearly.
4. Through extra work related activities I learned the value of being friends outside of the workplace to build teamwork inside the workplace.
5. No pre-work preparation.
Cons
1. As part of the service sector I had to work on all of the “Big Days” and festivals.
2. Being pushed in the deep end with no one to talk about my problems with I developed culture shock.
3. These positions are usually not available to Non Japanese.
4. These positions are usually not available to WHV’s.
5. Boring and repetitive tasks.
The search
On the 15th of March I arrived excitedly in Fukuoka! Unlike most people, I arrived in this new country with nothing! No plans for housing and no prearranged jobs, just the clothes on my back and $2500 AUD in my bank account. Housing was difficult to arrange however I ended up finding a Japanese unit to stay at a reasonable price through a contact. This contact also helped me set up gas, electricity, mobile and Internet.
My next task was to find my first Job in Japan. I edited my Japanese resume, took a photo at the local photo booth (700Y) and planned my attack. My strategy I named “Shotgun/ Guerrilla”; Go for everything and anything that was low skilled and easy to get. I searched far and wide for places: Work magazines, Internet advertisements, Job agencies and Face to face resume dispersal.
Reply Success Rate
Work magazines = 0
This required reading a lot of Kanji for the advertisement then talking on the phone in Japanese which lead to my downfall. People didn't want an employee who couldn't communicate well.
Internet advertisements = 4
This was my highest success rate of any of my methods, however the replies that I received were for English language advertisements and teaching positions only. Hence, requiring an instructor/ humanities visa, for which a University degree was required
Job agencies = 1
The one and only reply I received was the one!
Face to face resume dispersal = 1
This method I found the most demoralising. This was mainly because of the responses I received due to the fact that I was a foreigner. Hesitation on their part to speak, listen and respond to my questions translated into an awkward tension putting my language abilities off. Some managers were rude “No were not looking for employees now” with a poster advertising jobs on the front of the store. Some were racist like a manager from Saizeriya, who asked me whether I had JLPT1 Certification and when I responded “No” he said “Oh, I’m sorry, because of the language demands of our business we do not accept anyone under this level”. This was obviously a lie to disguise the fact that he did not want foreign employees.
Conclusion
For the majority of positions I applied for there was two major draw backs:
1. I was on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) which seemed foreign and risky to Japanese employers who saw it as temporary and having difficult tax requirements.
2. I had no University Degree.
This was a negative loop cycle as the WHV deterred employees and I could not fix my visas without University Certification.
What I learned
1. WHV’s are not good for finding regular jobs in Japan.
2. A University Degree compliments the WHV.
3. Contacts are the most important resource to have in Japan.
My next task was to find my first Job in Japan. I edited my Japanese resume, took a photo at the local photo booth (700Y) and planned my attack. My strategy I named “Shotgun/ Guerrilla”; Go for everything and anything that was low skilled and easy to get. I searched far and wide for places: Work magazines, Internet advertisements, Job agencies and Face to face resume dispersal.
Reply Success Rate
Work magazines = 0
This required reading a lot of Kanji for the advertisement then talking on the phone in Japanese which lead to my downfall. People didn't want an employee who couldn't communicate well.
Internet advertisements = 4
This was my highest success rate of any of my methods, however the replies that I received were for English language advertisements and teaching positions only. Hence, requiring an instructor/ humanities visa, for which a University degree was required
Job agencies = 1
The one and only reply I received was the one!
Face to face resume dispersal = 1
This method I found the most demoralising. This was mainly because of the responses I received due to the fact that I was a foreigner. Hesitation on their part to speak, listen and respond to my questions translated into an awkward tension putting my language abilities off. Some managers were rude “No were not looking for employees now” with a poster advertising jobs on the front of the store. Some were racist like a manager from Saizeriya, who asked me whether I had JLPT1 Certification and when I responded “No” he said “Oh, I’m sorry, because of the language demands of our business we do not accept anyone under this level”. This was obviously a lie to disguise the fact that he did not want foreign employees.
Conclusion
For the majority of positions I applied for there was two major draw backs:
1. I was on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) which seemed foreign and risky to Japanese employers who saw it as temporary and having difficult tax requirements.
2. I had no University Degree.
This was a negative loop cycle as the WHV deterred employees and I could not fix my visas without University Certification.
What I learned
1. WHV’s are not good for finding regular jobs in Japan.
2. A University Degree compliments the WHV.
3. Contacts are the most important resource to have in Japan.
The Job
Working in a clothing store in Japan is almost the same as in Australia with a few major differences.
The first is restrictions on every action that you do within your working hours. Your manners and how “hard working” you are perceived to be is very important in Japan. Good manners when speaking are the difference between a sale and an unhappy customer. Also anything NON job related is not tolerated and will mean scolding from your manager.
No-No’s
1. Putting your hands in your pockets
2. Crossing your arms
3. Yawning
4. Leaning on anything
5. Making any noise except speaking to customers or staff
The second difference is the tolerance of mistakes in Japan. In Australia if you make a mistake, it is a problem, however it is generally seen as part of the learning process and will be forgotten the next day. In Japan however, every mistake is seen as bad for the business and you will be told off for it. Managers will remember what they have talked to you about which means if you are told off again it means the first time you “weren't listening”.
Thirdly, there are many out of work parties and events where staff members gather. This is seen as very positive in Japan as it creates a tighter team at work. Often these events were paid for by the boss.
The first is restrictions on every action that you do within your working hours. Your manners and how “hard working” you are perceived to be is very important in Japan. Good manners when speaking are the difference between a sale and an unhappy customer. Also anything NON job related is not tolerated and will mean scolding from your manager.
No-No’s
1. Putting your hands in your pockets
2. Crossing your arms
3. Yawning
4. Leaning on anything
5. Making any noise except speaking to customers or staff
The second difference is the tolerance of mistakes in Japan. In Australia if you make a mistake, it is a problem, however it is generally seen as part of the learning process and will be forgotten the next day. In Japan however, every mistake is seen as bad for the business and you will be told off for it. Managers will remember what they have talked to you about which means if you are told off again it means the first time you “weren't listening”.
Thirdly, there are many out of work parties and events where staff members gather. This is seen as very positive in Japan as it creates a tighter team at work. Often these events were paid for by the boss.