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spicytuna (Offline)
JF Old Timer
 
Posts: 667
Join Date: Dec 2008
12-29-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by godwine View Post
Many have suggested jobs like construction, store clerk etc. You have to put yourself in the shoes of the employer, with job like these, what is the benefit for them to hire a foreigner instead local Japanese?
It really amazes me how some people are willing to move to another country where they're putting themselves at an obvious disadvantage.

I have some Japanese Canadian friends with university degrees and excellent Japanese skills (for a Canadian) who are currently living in Japan. Most of them moved to Japan shortly after graduation and they've pretty much integrated themselves into Japanese society as they work regular salary-jobs where they hardly use any English.

Fifteen years later, their Japanese still isn't at a native level and they're still working junior to medium level positions! Not to mention their 90 minute commutes, 50hr weeks, lack of financial stability, etc. Needless to say, most of them are regretting their career choices but they also realize that the skills they've learned are not exactly useful back in N.America as well.

Talk about bad planning! If they had at least taken some time to make themselves a little more marketable, ie. emphasize their ability to speak English rather than Japanese in Japan, perhaps they'd be living a better life...
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