Hello everyone,
I wanted to share my experience with job hunting in Japan, in the hope that it might be helpful to others and prevent them from ending up in a similar situation.
I’m originally from Germany (half Black), currently 27 years old. I studied Political Science in Germany and came to Japan 3.5 years ago as an exchange student at the age of 23. Since last year, I have been pursuing a Master’s degree in International Relations at Waseda University. During my time in Japan, I completed more than five internships, including positions at large German companies in Tokyo, and I also obtained JLPT N1.
Coming from a Western background, I strongly believed that having a Master’s degree, internship experience, and language skills would be key to finding a job. However, I gradually realized that Japan’s 新卒採用 (fresh graduate hiring) system is fundamentally different from what many of us are used to in Europe or the US.In Japan, prior work experience is often not valued as strongly as expected, native-level Japanese is almost a prerequisite since you compete directly with Japanese candidates, and age also plays a significant role. I was aware that finding a job would be more difficult as a foreigner, but I believed that studying at a prestigious university and gaining relevant experience would open doors—especially at international or foreign-affiliated companies.
The reality turned out to be very different. I was rejected by nearly every company I applied to, including some where I had previously interned. In total, I applied to over 100 companies. While I did receive interview invitations and made it past document screening several times, I was usually rejected after the first or second round. Over time, this experience became extremely discouraging and honestly had a negative impact on how I experienced life in Japan.After reflecting on this process, I think several factors worked against me:
- My Japanese, while strong, is not native-level.
- I applied at the age of 26, which is considered “old” in the 新卒 system.
- I am a foreigner (and visibly so), and while I don’t want to reduce everything to race, it may still have played a role.
Some people suggest applying to international companies, but even there, you are often competing with highly qualified bilingual Japanese candidates—something I also observed firsthand during my internships.
At this point, I feel quite stuck, and honestly, sometimes even hopeless. Still, I wanted to share this experience not to complain, but to warn and inform others who are considering a similar path. The Japanese job market—especially the fresh graduate system—is very different from Western systems, and it can be particularly challenging for foreigners, even those with strong academic backgrounds and experience.
If I could give advice to others, it would be this:start job hunting early, build strong connections, and understand the hiring system as deeply as possible before committing to this path. Don’t assume that degrees or internships alone will compensate for structural differences in the system.
I hope this helps someone make a more informed decision than I did.Thank you for reading.
by LocalLand4883