I have a PhD and looking to get into industry (ux research). My field is not wide-spread at japanese universities, so the idea was to try my luck at getting industry jobs instead. After some experience in Japan as a guest researcher and self-study I got myself up to around N2 – but it feels like that hasn’t helped me much this far. What’s also working against me is that while a PhD position is a normal independent research job in my country (seen as work experience), the perception in Japan seems to be that I am basically a complete fresher, despite tons of applied research and management experience.
Had some interviews with Japanese companies that sponsor visas, but lost against japanese applicants (was told due to japanese ability, which I guess is fair at around N2). Now in my homecountry I could get a job no issue, but I feel like not wanting to give up just yet. My spouse is Japanese, so the option is there to go get a spouse visa, then work something else while getting my Japanese sorted out.
I guess the question is, how do japanese speaking candidates do against native japanese candidates? If I realistically get to ‘business level japanese’ in about a year, will I still miss out against completely bilingual people or natives?
I guess my fear is that the risk I am taking is too big and I will irretrievably destroy any career I could have had at home. I don’t aspire to be top of my income bracket – just to continue doing something in the area of expertise for at least comfortably liveable income.
by Kaito24