Hi everyone,
I'm a 23m from Spain. I'm currently doing a Master's in Agronomic Engineering, and I also hold a Bachelor's in Agricultural and Food Engineering. I’ve passed the JLPT N2 and I’m now preparing for the N1.
I’m really interested in going to Japan, either to do a PhD through the MEXT scholarship (I checked with the Embassy, and I’m eligible), or to work in something related to agriculture, farming, or the food industry.
I have a few questions and would love to hear your thoughts:
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Do Japanese companies value a PhD when hiring? Or is it mainly useful for academic careers? Does getting a PhD through the MEXT program give you any kind of recognition when job hunting or applying for academic positions in Japan? In my country, a PhD is pretty much just for academia, and even then, finding a stable job is tough. I’ve heard Japanese academia is competitive too, but I’d like to know if a PhD has value outside of it.
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Is it realistic for a foreigner to apply for jobs on Japanese websites aimed at Japanese nationals? I saw a job offer website called Agro Navi (あぐりナビ) that's focused on agriculture-related jobs, but it seems to be targeted at Japanese nationals. Has anyone here had any luck applying through sites like this?
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Would this visa strategy be viable? I was thinking of going to Japan on a Working Holiday Visa, applying for jobs, and if I get a company to sponsor me, work there, then leave Japan to switch to a Working Visa and then return (for Spanish citizens, we can’t change a Working Holiday Visa while in Japan), if I weren't going for the scholarship path.
Also, I noticed that on job sites aimed at foreigners (like Craigslist or Gaijinpot), there are hardly any listings in agriculture that require a degree. Most jobs seem to be in civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering, or in agricultural labor. I do have some background in general engineering, but I’m not specialized in those fields. Some job requirements mention a “science or engineering degree", so I might technically qualify, but that wouldn’t be my ideal path. And working as a laborer probably isn’t a great fit for me either.
Thanks a lot for reading all of this! I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences you can share 🙏🇯🇵
by drifo123