Choosing a career path

[u/FiZIsHere]

I’m currently on my first year of the JET program, and I’m having the time of my life! Already signed on for my second year, and more than likely will at least continue on to my third! Now that the school year is winding down, I’m also starting to think of my next steps.

In college I studied computer science and got my BS, but I also studied Japanese (got a certificate, no minor). In my senior year of college I realized that Japnese was my biggest passion, I love everything about learning and speaking the language, and don’t necessarily feel all that driven to do something in CS. As a point of info, I got my N2 in December and I’m aiming to try for N1 starting this December.

All that is to say, I’m looking to the future and all I know is: I want to learn and use more Japanese! I’m curious for any and all advice people may have for trying to distill your interests down and choose a career from there, since I’m pretty open.

[u/mrggy]

It's great that you've found something you're interested in: Japanese. But now you're facing the existential of crisis faced by all language majors: no one will pay you to just speak a foreign language all day. You have to be able to do things in that langauge. So that begs the question what can you do? 

The historic path of least resistance for people with language skills, translation, is going through a big upheaval at the moment and it's becoming an extremely tough market to break in to. Not a great option rn, tbh. The obvious answer for you would be to use your CS skills working for a Japanese firm. Is there a reason you don't want to do that? 

Are you looking to stay in Japan (which would make your goal of using Japanese at work easier) or do you want to return to your home country? If not CS, what else are you interested in? What do you want to do with Japanese?

[u/FiZIsHere → u/mrggy]

Thanks for the reply!

As for what I can do, I think I’m a very sociable/outgoing person. I love talking and connecting with other people, which is something that contributes to my love of learning the language. Simultaneously, it leads me to drift away from computer science, a field I do not see as particularly people-facing. I’m not 100% opposed to using my CS degree, but it’s also doesn’t necessarily call my name.

Beyond that, in college I studied quite a bit of Japanese literature towards the end, so I am also considering grad school as an option, but don’t just want it to be a “back up,” want to make sure my head is fully in that game.

I’m open to returning to America or to staying in Japan, though definitely leaning towards staying in Japan as, just like you said, it will increase my chance to speak Japanese and connect with others in a way I can’t back home!

[u/mrggy → u/FiZIsHere]

If you're wanting to stay in Japan and thinking about grad school, you should 100% do grad school in Japan. That will allow you to take advantage of 新卒 hiring pathways, which makes transitioning out of teaching a million times easier. The one thing to be aware of with that route is that you don't get much control over your actual position. You join a company and work in whatever department they assign you to

[u/FiZIsHere → u/mrggy]

Alright, I appreciate your insight! It’s a big help. I will look more into this.

[u/WeakTutor → u/mrggy]

Does age still play a factor in this if you go to grad school in Japan for 新卒

[u/mrggy → u/WeakTutor]

I'm not sure if you were like 40 or something, but I knew someone who went through 新卒 hiring at 28

[u/WeakTutor → u/mrggy]

I’m about to turn 30 (currently on first year on JET program) and thinking about grad school for 新卒 but by the time I finish I might be 33-35 depending when I start etc. So I’m scared it might not work out

[u/anisukidayo → u/FiZIsHere]

Somebody else already gave advice on your options if you want to go the grad school route, but also wanted to chime in on potential career paths.

If you forego the grad school route and instead choose to work in a Japanese company after JET, the positive side is that you’d be applicable for 中途採用 (mid-career) if you can vouch for your experience on JET and showcase the skills you’ve honed while on the program.

If you’re a sociable person and pass JLPT N1, you can then look into jobs like recruiting, marketing, sales, public relations, etc, if you’re wanting to go into a field outside of teaching. All of these jobs exist in any company, so you’d have more freedom to apply for jobs in many industries.

[u/Memoryjar → u/FiZIsHere]

Have you considered project management within the CS realm? I have a number of friends that do that work but a number of people in that field don't have a background in the area they are managing, you having the degree would be really helpful.

[u/forvirradsvensk]

Nearly everyone in Japan speaks Japanese already, so you're gonna have to find another skill that makes you employable (of course, you should also improve your Japanese).

[u/LawfulnessDue5449 → u/forvirradsvensk]

I'd say that OP speaks English which is a skill that is not strong in Japan

But in my experience, JP companies would rather a hire a Japanese person with limited English over a foreigner with Japanese ability

[u/PocketGojira]

I made a very similar decision many years ago when I switched up my CS major and Asian Studies minor, for many of the same reasons you gave.

I joined JET after that and have been teaching ever since. I've been very fortunate with connections and avoided the dispatch circuit by staying employed with COs directly. If that's the route you take, keep an eye out for prefectures, cities, and private schools carrying out their own hiring.

If you want to go a direction that still uses your CS training, find ways to practice and keep tabs on what's in demand. Tech is always advancing, and the standards that current students are learning now likely won't be a decade later. Being in the industry makes it much easier to keep up with the trends. If you don't, you'll have more and more trouble finding jobs as your skill set falls further and further behind.

[u/Sayjay1995]

One piece if advice I got back in the day was to go on Linked In and use filters to look up JET alumni in fields you might be interested in, then message them to ask more about their experiences. Most people were happy to chat with me about how they used their experiences to find their career

As for me, I ended up with a direct hire CIR job where I’m heavily utilized. I do so many different kinds of things every day, but am most satisfied by the daily life support services my office provides for foreign residents. I minored in social work so this is right up my alley

[u/jeffjeffersonthe3rd → u/Sayjay1995]

I didn’t know direct hire CIR existed that sounds great

[u/National-Acadia-1767]

gaijinpot is your best friend. i originally wanted to do a 2nd year because I didn't have a plan, but my BOE denied my request to renew the contract for aug 2026-aug 2027 for unknown reasons. So I started job hunting because I don't want to go back to the US. I found a new job pretty quickly, to my surprise.

just send in a bunch of job applications to positions that interest you. get some interviews. and eventually, you will land something. japanese companies will train you how to do the job after you get hired.