3 jobs that are easy for foreigners and international students to work part-time

In order for foreign nationals and students to work part-time in Japan, they need one of the following visas in addition to their status of residence: “College Student,” “Designated Activities,” or “Family Visa.

Foreigners and foreign students with these three statuses of residence can obtain “permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted under the status of residence” and work part-time.

However, no matter how well the system is set up, it is meaningless if you are not hired.
Therefore, in this issue, we will introduce three jobs that are easy for foreign residents and students to get part-time jobs!

1. Part-time job at a convenience store

Source: https://japanlifesupport.com/work/convenience_store.html

There are more than 50,000 convenience stores in Japan.
Most convenience stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and some stores employ as many as 20 staff members and as few as 10.

Most stores always have two or three staff members serving customers, displaying merchandise, and cleaning the store. In fact, an increasing number of stores are now actively hiring foreigners and foreign students to work in their stores.

The reason for this is Japanese culture.

Japan has long had a tradition of relatives gathering together to eat together and reminisce during the New Year (from January 1 to around 3 every year) and Obon (from August 10 to around 15).
However, convenience stores must keep their stores open during both New Year’s and Obon.
That does not mean that a single store manager can work 24 hours a day.

Therefore, foreigners and foreign students from countries that do not have the culture of gathering relatives for New Year’s are very much valued.
Since there is no culture or custom of returning to one’s home country, many foreigners and foreign students have plenty of time during New Year’s and Obon, and the store has the advantage of having them work when Japanese people are not able to work their shifts.

Also, stores want their staff to work during New Year’s and Obon even if they have to raise the hourly wage rate, so foreigners and foreign students can receive higher wages in a shorter time.

In the past, when foreigners and foreign students worked in convenience stores, there was a language barrier and many troubles such as wrong change, but recently there is less language exchange, and with the advent of self-checkout and cashless systems, there is less exchange of money and fewer troubles.

If you are interested, please visit a nearby convenience store and ask if they are looking for part-time workers.

　2. part-time work in a warehouse

Source: https://www.yolo-japan.com/ja/work/company/2272

In Japan, mail order stores such as Amazon and Rakuten have become a large market and one lifeline for both the young and the elderly to buy inexpensive goods.

However, there is a chronic shortage of staff to transport and sort goods in warehouses, as the population is aging and young people are choosing easier jobs.

Although the recent development of robots and machines has made the work itself much easier than in the past, the shortage of labor has not been resolved.

In such a situation, we are looking for foreign nationals who are confident in their physical strength and foreign students who are good at detailed sorting work to join our team. This job requires physical strength and perseverance, but if you are confident in your abilities, please refer to this page.

3. Part-time work in the restaurant industry

Source: https://a-g-h.net/?s&type_num1=189

Although it is not well known, the food and beverage industry is also attracting foreign and international students for part-time work.
Warehouse work is valued by foreigners and foreign students who are confident in their physical strength and patient, but in fact, the food and beverage industry is now said to be paying even more per hour than that.

Major restaurants entrust foreigners and foreign students with many types of jobs, such as kitchen and hall staff, cleaning inside and outside of the restaurant, and in some cases, some are even assigned to lead the staff.

If you can find such a restaurant, you may find a job that pays more per hour than convenience store or warehouse work.

Since this job involves handling food, cleanliness and some communication skills are required, but it is a good job for those who can work diligently.

■ Summary

Ladies and gentlemen, how was your experience?
In this issue, we have introduced jobs that are easy for foreigners and foreign students to work part-time.

Some companies still do not actively hire foreigners and foreign students because they are concerned about the language barrier, but there are many jobs that are actively recruiting due to changes in Japanese society.

There are some jobs that we could not introduce this time, so please take a look for yourself.
I am sure you will find a job that suits you and an enjoyable life in Japan awaits you.