Popular places to work during working holidays vary greatly depending on the country, time, and individual language ability and skills, but the following occupations are generally mentioned.
Relatively easy jobs to get even if you are not confident in your language skills
Japanese restaurant staff:
Waiting staff, kitchen hands (dishwashing, preparing ingredients, etc.)
Advantages: It is easy to get hired even if your language skills are beginner-level, so it is recommended for those who have just arrived in Japan or are not confident in their language skills. Many of these jobs are run by Japanese people, so there tends to be less cultural stress.
Disadvantages: There are few opportunities to use the local language, so it may be difficult to improve your language skills. The hourly wage tends to be lower than in local stores.
Souvenir shop clerk:
Demand is high in areas with many Japanese tourists.
Advantages: Since customer service is mainly in Japanese, language ability is not often an issue.
Disadvantages: The hourly wage tends to be low.
Farm jobs (agriculture, dairy farming, fruit picking, etc.):
Especially popular in agricultural countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
Advantages: It is easy to get hired even without experience, and if you are confident in your physical strength, you may be able to earn a high salary (especially if you are paid by the client). It may also be a condition for extending your stay.
Disadvantages: Physical strength is required, and it depends on the season and weather. It is often a live-in job, and you often have to move away from urban areas.
Cleaning staff (hotels, offices, etc.):
Demand is high at hotels and backpacker hostels.
Advantages: Language skills are often not required. If you work efficiently, you may be able to earn a high salary.
Disadvantages: It involves a lot of manual labor, and physical strength is required.
Babysitter, au pair/demi pair (live-in helper, housekeeper):
Especially popular in Canada and Australia.
Advantages: You can save on housing costs, so you can keep your living expenses down. You can live as a member of the family and experience the local culture in depth.
Disadvantages: Roles and rules vary depending on the household, so you need to check carefully in advance. You need to like working with children.
Jobs where language skills and specialized skills are advantageous
Local (locally run) restaurant/cafe staff:
Hall staff, barista, kitchen staff, etc.
Advantages: Many opportunities to communicate with local people, leading to improved language skills. Hourly wages tend to be higher than at Japanese restaurants. Baristas in particular are popular as specialized skills.
Disadvantages: A certain level of language skills (intermediate or above) is required.
Hotel staff (front desk, housekeeping, etc.):
Demand is high in resort areas.
Advantages: Gain experience in the hospitality industry. Many opportunities to use English.
Disadvantages: Language skills and customer service skills are required.
Tour guides and tourism-related jobs:
Tour guides for Japanese tourists, staff at local tourist facilities, etc.
Advantages: Use Japanese and the local language. Become familiar with tourist information.
Disadvantages: Language skills, communication skills, and local knowledge are required.
Office work (administration, reception, etc.):
There are opportunities at Japanese companies and, if you have sufficient language skills, at local companies.
Advantages: You can gain specialized skills and experience. You can expect a relatively stable income.
Disadvantages: High language skills, PC skills, and business experience are often required. Competition is also high.
Professional jobs (nurses, childcare workers, IT engineers, hairdressers, chefs, etc.):
If you have qualifications or experience in Japan, you can use those skills to work locally.
Advantages: You can expect a high hourly wage. It may lead to career advancement.
Disadvantages: You may need to obtain qualifications locally, or you may need high language skills and specialized knowledge.
How to choose popular employment destinations and tips for finding a job
Clearly define your purpose: The job you should choose will change depending on your purpose for working holiday, such as improving your language skills, saving money, or career advancement.
Choose a job that matches your language skills and skills: It is a good idea to start with a job that you can work comfortably and then aim to step up once your language skills have improved.
Thoroughly gather information:
Local job sites (Gumtree, Craigslist, Kijiji, etc.)
Japanese information sites and free papers (Nichigo Press, Cheers, etc.)
Local Japanese language and language school bulletin boards
SNS (Facebook groups, etc.)
Recommendations from friends and acquaintances
Walk-in applications (especially at cafes and restaurants)
Create a resume and cover letter:
Make it in line with the local style and actively highlight your skills and experience.
It is also effective to use job help from language schools.
Be proactive: In addition to applying for jobs, it is important to visit stores in person and join the local community to expand your network.
Be flexible: Don’t get hung up on your ideal job from the start, but it is also important to find a job first and stabilize the foundation of your life.
A working holiday is not just about finding a part-time job, but also a valuable opportunity to experience different cultures and discover a new you. The experience you gain through work will also be a great learning experience.
