When job hunting many suggest having certificates. But which one is good and even why should we have certificates to begin with? DON'T WORRY! In this article we will explain and give you tips on how to do job hunting; as well as some helpful tips to live in Japan. Be a Jimoto-min aka jimomin, a local with us!　

Introduction 

Why do we need certificates or qualifications? Undoubtedly, one of the main reasons is, it helps in getting a good job with a decent salary. If you are thinking of changing your job, having a certificate will also increase the chances of getting hired for a higher position. 

In Japan, Japanese language certificates such as the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test or JLPT measure the Japanese proficiency and this test is taken by the majority of non-native Japanese speakers. Alongside the Japanese test there are several tests which will come in handy. 

Types of Certificates 

-TOEIC

TOEIC has a Listening and Reading Test and the test score ranking is as below. 

In Japan, if you want to look for a job position which uses English, having certificates such as TOEIC or TOEFL will come in handy; if you are not from a native English speaking country, it is advised to have the certificates. In Japan, compared to TOEFL and IELTS, TOEIC is relatively cheaper to do.  

-Miscrosoft Office Specialist (MOS) (マイクロソフト オフィス スペシャリスト)

In recent times, having a MOS certificate has become a requirement and is very useful in all industries and job positions; teaching the tools used in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access and Outlook. Another advantage is that the result is given on the same day you give the test so you can write the result swiftly in the entry sheet once you have completed the test.

-Secretary Certification (秘書検定)

Regardless of whether they actually want to work as a secretary or not, students take this test to understand the business world. For international students, it can also be helpful as it teaches the basics of communication and business manners which can help in understanding the Japanese Business Culture.  

-Driver’s Licence (自動車免許)

This is one of the basic certificates/qualifications taken regardless of their college major or target job industry. You can get your licence rather cheaply and quickly at driving camps compared to going to a driving school; some are even in English. Furthermore, like other certificates, there are many student discount plans available for university students. 

Merits 

Unquestionably, having a certificate will increase the chance of being hired for the job position you are applying for. Not only that, it can also help you in getting you a promotion or a pay raise. 

Some companies have study groups (勉強会) where employees study together and exchange and/or update their knowledge. In addition, some companies also help in attaining certificates (資格免除) as one of their welfare benefit. This means they provide fully or partly subsidise the examination fees or the tuition fees.  

Alongside your career growth, there will also be personal growth as it will deepen your knowledge about a specific topic and also learn about Japanese culture and society. 

Summary

Having a Japanese Certificate like JLPT or JLPT N3 and above will come in handy when you are looking for a job in Japan. Even if the company’s language is English, it is still recommended as you might need to speak to the clients in Japanese. Alongside the Japanese certificates, others certificates will also come in handy both when you are looking for a job as a freshly graduate student or as a when changing your career. 

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