Jobs Simply

What jobs are available for Americans other than teaching English in Japan?

I've read most posts asking questions about jobs and everyone replied saying to teach English. Well, If I am fluent in Japanese what other jobs could possibly be available for me there?

Public Comments

1. Lots of American companies in Japan. Most foreigners teaching English are American men just looking for sex with teens. It doesn't pay all that well and the reputation sucks. Lots of jobs available for a bilingual American. Unlike American companies who send representatives to Asia without any knowledge of the language or culture, most Asian companies prefer to send natives of that country who is familiar with the American/European culture.
2. best bets are IT and financials. depending on your university degree and japanese level you may be able to find a job in your field.
3. If you speak Japanese, you can do a lot of stuff. You need to have a skill or experience in something, though.
4. You can work as an engineer, there's huge demand on technical jobs. Also, you can work in any company's international department. There' s a site, www.daijob.com, on which you can try your luck at these fields.
5. I've known people who got hired out of college from the USA to work for Merrill Lynch and other big financial services companies, although of course you need the appropriate skills or degree. Bloomberg News hires people for work in their Japan news bureau, and then a number of companies have positions that foreigners can fill - HOWEVER, these jobs usually are not advertised. From attending a number of seminars and talking to ex-pats, it seems to work like this: Company A has Jack doing work in overseas sales. Jack gets a better job, tells company he's leaving. Company says "Argh we can't be bothered to try and hire another native English speaker! Jack, do you know someone who is good for this job?" Jack gives the name of a buddy of his who is looking for a job, company hires Jack's friend. It's been recommended by programs like JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching Program) that you move to a big city (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, etc) afterwards if you want to stay in Japan, and do things like make friends with other foreigners in jobs you're interested in, join up with things like American Chamber of Commerce or other organizations that have some younger businesspeople and tight circles, or find out where the young foreign salarymen hang out and go there specifically to meet and befriend them.