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Useful Information for Job Search
If you are considering finding a job in Japan
Start your job hunting early!!
- Normally, job hunting starts at least a year before graduation.
- On average, people spend 8.9 months on job hunting.
- If you plan to do an internship, start preparing as soon as you reach your third year or M1.
Yearly schedule for job hunting in Japan
* Foreign companies and venture companies often start even earlier, so be sure to check their websites!
The flow of job hunting in Japan
Job-hunting seminars on CLE
You can find job hunting information for international students such as online seminars and alumni job talks in English on CLE.
- CLE course title: c-2022-0037 Career Support for International Students
- OB/OG career talks 2021 (3/14/2021) presentation slides: "Job Hunting in Japan: Opportunities & Challenges"
Join our LinkedIn group for job hunting information
If you would like to receive information on free job-hunting events for international students organized by UOsaka and other public organizations and consortiums, such as company information sessions and free career seminars, please create a LinkedIn account and send a request to join our LinkedIn group below:
* LinkedIn is a globally recognized business-focused social networking service. It is widely used by professionals around the world as an essential tool for job hunting, information gathering, and building business networks. More and more global and foreign companies in Japan are also using it to share job postings and introduce their companies.
To learn Japanese
In Japan, your job hunting may be significantly influenced by your Japanese language proficiency, as many Japanese companies require N1, N2, or J1 level qualification.
- The Center of International Education and Exchange (CIEE) offers various Japanese language programs.
- Visit "OU Japanese Language Plaza" for recources availalbe at Osaka University.
- Nihongo Table (interact with local people, held by volunteers)
- List of other recources where you can learn Japanese.
External job hunting information
- Career Support Network for International Students in Japan (Japanese only)
*How to join the network (Japanese only): 留学生就職支援ネットワーク利用方法ダウンロード - Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) "Job Hunting Guide for International Students (2025 ver.)"
Internship information
- OU Internship Guidebook (Japanese only)
- OU Career Support Web internship information (change to your language from the top-right corner)
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan Internship Program (internship in small and medium-sized businesses）
- Collaborative Education for Next-Generation INnovators & Exploration of knowledge intersections (use "Translate" function from the top-right corner)（C-ENGINE）(internship for future researchers)
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (Japanese only) (internships of international cooperation)
- Osaka Employment Service Center for Foreigners internships (Japanese only)
- Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners internships (Japanese only)
Designated Activities visa for job hunting
- If you need to stay in Japan to engage in job hunting after graduation, you must switch your current visa to the "Designated Activities" visa specifically for job hunting (choose to your language at the bottom-left corner).
- Please also refer to this page on how to switch your visa status.
- Additionally, the Support Office provides consultations regarding visa-related issues.
Points-based Preferential Immigration Treatment for Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals
Under the points-based system, foreign nationals recognized as “Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals” will be given preferential immigration treatment.
- More information on the website of Japan Immigration Services Agency (change to your language at the bottom-left corner).
- Point Calculation Chart (Japanese)
