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.

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:

Career Connect for International Students

  • 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.

External job hunting information (municipalities, consortiums, and others)

External job hunting information (private-sector organizations, and others)

ServicesIntended for
Asia LinkInternational Students, Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals
CFNBilingual Talent
Connect JobInternational Students, Japanese and Overseas University Students, Global Talent, Bilingual Talent
GlobalLeaderInternational Students, Overseas University Students, Local Students in Overseas Universities
Job Tree JapanInternational Students
JPort MatchYoung International Talent
RYUKATSUInternational Students, Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals, Career Support Staff
WA・SA・BiInternational Students

Internship information

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.