Meagan CP#7

Last week, I hung-out again with Nishimura-san at our favorite place, Starbucks.  As usual, we ordered ice coffee and talked about different cultural subjects.  That day we discussed the aspect of employment in Japan and America.  In fact, Nishimura-san knows Yuka and Koichi, a cute Japanese couple studying at FSU. Yuka-san has just returned to Japan for work and that was how we got on the subject in the first place.  I expressed my concern on the level of difficulty in acquiring a job overseas, especially in Japan as it is a small nation with many collegiate graduates (at the top of their class) and each securing a lifetime contract with the few major companies in Japan.  Nishimura-san educated me by explaining that the work force is indeed competitive and you want to have the best resume or network as possible to find a comfortable and well-paying job.  However, that is the main tactic for Japanese.  For foreigners, it would require a secure work visa (which I learned previously from our TEFL course) and solid Japanese skills in addition to a humble resume and the required experience (degree or professional) .  The most common trades for us are teaching English, au pair, or liaisons for international companies, but if I were to have strong Japanese skills and a good referral, I could apply and work in an average Japanese company with few problems.  I expected the process to be tedious and difficult, as working internationally requires several steps and processes, but I was simultaneously excited to hear there was a chance to work in other industries along with teaching (in case I found a passion for something else).  As for the American aspect, I explained that most companies and organizations are open to any candidates as long as they met the following requirements: strong referrals or network (especially within the company), complete fluency in English (it can be exceptional in areas such as IT or trade/labor jobs), and the appropriate experience (via work, degrees, certficates, etc.). Nishimura-san loves sports, so I gave him a list of the major sport companies the nation.  Since he already has his bachelors under his belt, finding work shouldn't be difficult at all after completing CIES and his masters degree. Plus, he has already completed his visa and will re-apply for his US work visa after he is done with school. Both of us plan to be employed by the age of 25 in either a company or program (internship, instructing).  I hope that it will come soon for us!