Hi!
I'm probably going to be the kind of person everyone here hates, so I apologize. I'm going to be as honest with myself as possible: and that includes recognizing that this is a pipe dream that requires tons of investment that doesn't come with any guarantees. No, I do not think Japan is some magical dream land where everything will come true and it will fix my life and stars will align and all that, I just like to try and plan in advance – if nothing comes of any of this, then so be it, my life was destined for elsewhere!
Obviously, I will need to speak Japanese. But at the same time, there are other skills I would like to try and work on at the same time.
I'd like to know from people who have had success finding, building, maintaining work and connections in Japan what their general advice is for someone who is effectively looking to cater the next steps of their life to being the best possible candidate for myself.
I have a bachelor's degree, but I've failed in my industry (art, happens) and do not plan on pursuing anything in that career field due to my inability to meet standards and expectations for that field. I like to think I'm educated, and I'm planning on going back to school eventually to study for something, I just don't know what. I don't have any particular goals, desires, or drives anymore, and I know that is NOT good for anything, which is why I'm trying to find my footing of which path to even begin to take.
I've looked into standard positions for foreigners interested in coming to Japan (Tourism/Hospitality, English Teaching, Agriculture, etc.) but have seen a lot regarding how most of those positions are considered 'temporary' jobs that you either move on from quickly or stagnate in for the rest of your career. I remember reading about some kind of oceanic ship maintenance (welding and such I believe?), which looked interesting, but I just don't know how to get into it. I know it would also be much easier if I were to get a job with an American company that would then transfer me to an office in Japan, but if I'm being completely honest, I have minimal skilled experience outside of standard administrative assistant tech literacy and at least consider myself starting at the same baseline of finding work in the US as I would in Japan (outside of language and the like, obviously).
I'm rambling and I apologize a lot. I guess I'm just looking for advice, help, suggestions of job market/industry trends in Japan that someone who doesn't live there won't be aware of, etc. I'd like to set myself up for the potential of a future that is different from mine, but don't know where to begin beyond "learn the language" and "have a desirable skillset". It's a pipedream, I know, but I'd like to at least be humored!
by ImportantMongoose701