FAQ - Working in Japan.

FAQ - Working in Japan.

I am in the Philippines. How can I find work in Japan?

Ans: One way of finding work in Japan is through the various recruitment agencies. But be careful though of illegal recruiters. These agencies match applicants to their pool of employers. If lucky, the agency could get you a contract and apply for your working visa. Most of the jobs offered by agencies, though, are entertainment-related.

Another way is to go to Japan on a tourist visa. Once in Japan, you can search for prospective employers and acquire a contract and COE (Certificate of Eligibility). Tourist visas allow foreigners up to 3-months stay in Japan but are not allowed to work. Once you acquire a contract, you can apply for a new visa (this time, Working Visa). IT, Engineering, Teaching, Nursing, Caregiving, Entertainment and other blue-collar jobs (Factory workers) are the common positions held by many Filipinos here in Japan.

Online applications are also viable options for finding employment in Japan. There are many websites advertising job openings (ex. englishtreejapan.com) for foreigners looking to move and work in Japan. Most of these jobs are English teaching-related.

Lastly, one could also search for a Japanese-run company in the Philippines. Most Japanese companies (mostly IT) usually have offices in Japan. They sometimes send Filipinos to Japan either on a business trip or to work at the company's Japan office.

I want to go to Japan on a tourist visa and try to search for prospective employers? How much will this cost me? How much is the average living cost per month in Japan?

The cost of living in Japan (esp in Tokyo) is higher compared to that in the Philippines. Below is the rough breakdown of the cost of living in Japan.

Round-trip plane fare (MLA-JPN-MLA): around P35K-P40K
Apartment Rental: P15K-P80K/Month (Depends on the area and type of apartment)
Daily Living Allowance: P800 (could be higher or lower)

In summary, the average monthly living cost in Japan is around 40K pesos or 100K yen.Some or most companies offer free transportation (subway train) to employees, thus cutting down expenses. In my case, our company subsidizes our apartment cost and reimburses our transportation expenses.

What is the average salary-expense ratio in Japan for foreigners (Filipinos)?

Starting salary range: 200K - 300K Yen (depends on the type of work).
Thats around 80K -130K pesos.

Average expense: 50K - 120K Yen (house, food, transpo). Thats around Pesos 20K -45K
Average savings: Pesos 40K-80K / Month (Taxes/etc. deducted)

Please note that these figures may not be accurate. Figures may vary depending on the area and the lifestyle.