Looking to earn some extra yen during your stay in Japan? One popular option for foreign students and new migrants is getting an arubaito (アルバイト), otherwise known as a part-time job. Arubaito contractual gigs are highly sought-after positions that not only pad your wallet, but also immerse you in Japanese culture in a way regular sightseeing can’t.
And trust me… the exposure to locals and their customs through these part-time jobs is invaluable as well. Plus, you’ll likely make some new Japanese friends out of the experience!
Intrigued about picking up an arubaito position while visiting the Land of the Rising Sun? You’re in the right place. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from the various roles available to tips for impressing your Japanese boss! I’ll also share here some useful phrases in the Japanese language to truly help you out!
Table of Contents
What Is Arubaito In Japan?
So you keep hearing the term arubaito (アルバイト) thrown around about part-time work in Japan. What exactly does it mean? Well, arubaito actually comes from the German word “arbeit,” meaning work.
You see, in Japan, there are a few categories of employees. First, you have your full-time workers who enjoy official employee benefits like paid vacation and bonuses. Then there are part-timers who work regular hours and may receive some basic company perks.
But arubaito is something different. These are casually contracted, temporary employees who get paid by the hour. No benefits, no strings attached. Just show up, work your shift, collect your wages, and be on your merry way!
The arubaito schedule is flexbile and varies from week to week. I experienced this firsthand back in 2022 after moving to Japan as a language exchange teacher. Since my work hours were irregular, I ended up taking on a few arubaito in the form of English tutorial sessions to supplement my income.
After finishing my regular job, I would meet with my students at a cram school to go over English grammar and conversation. For me, it fits so conveniently into my lifestyle as a foreigner and teacher here.
Another thing about this is that you can literally take on any job! One week, I might tutor English, and the next, help out picking fruits before the summer festival. It keeps things lively and interesting, that’s for sure! And it gave me a chance to sample various occupations and immerse myself in the Japanese work culture.
How To Find Arubaito Positions
So you wanna land an arubaito gig, eh? When job hunting for an arubaito position in Japan, there are three key factors to consider first:
- Visa Requirements
- Language Proficiency
- Field
Having the proper paperwork, language skills, and matching your experience to the role are essential for scoring sweet arubaito work. In this section, I’ll break down exactly what immigration demands regarding your visa status if you want to take on part-time employment as a foreigner. After all, not all visas allow it!
Finally, we’ll explore popular fields for arubaito positions so you can narrow your search and land interviews in your specialty. Teaching English is a common one!
Visa Requirements
Before you hand over your resume to the nearest Japanese convenience store or schedule an interview, remember that getting your paperwork in order is a must. Fortunately, Japan offers a few specialized visas that permit arubaito employment if specified conditions are met. Let’s explore some top contenders:
- Working Holiday Visa: This little beauty is for young people looking to travel AND work in Japan over a 1-2 year period. Lots of flexibility!
- Student Visa: My personal fave! As long as you grab a permit from the immigration bureau, you can clock up to 28 paid hours per week with a student visa. Scheduling bliss!
- Specified Skills Visa: For those with expertise in industries where Japan desperately needs more workers. It can be a fast-track to land an arubaito in your specialty!
There are even visas for engineering, academia, and international services that may allow part-time gigs. The key is double-checking if additional paperwork is required by immigration to make that arubaito job legal.
Language Proficiency
I won’t sugarcoat it – for the best arubaito opportunities, you’ll likely need somewhat strong Japanese skills. We’re talking memorizing those kanji and cramming in vocabulary. It’ll pay off big time when you wow future employers!
However, it also depends on the job type. For example, if you want to tutor English, you can get by without much Japanese ability. But for roles like restaurant service, hospitality, or retail, stronger language abilities are definitely an asset.
For Japanese-heavy positions, I recommend aiming for JLPT N2 proficiency at bare minimum. It may take some grueling study hours and practice conversations to get there! For even more competitive gigs, N1 or higher is key.
But here’s a tip – even if your Japanese is shaky at first, really ace that job interview with meticulous manners and enthusiasm. Impress them with confidence, politeness, and eagerness to immerse yourself in the culture. You’d be surprised how far that can get you over fluent speakers with attitude!
Field
You’ve sorted your visa and polished your language skills for landing that perfect arubaito gig. Now it’s time to narrow your search by field and specialty! This helps you zero in on the best openings that match your existing talents and interests.
Certain industries actively recruit foreign arubaito workers to meet high demand. English language instruction is probably the most common! Got great conversation chops with the Japanese people? Put them to use tutoring eager students one-on-one or in cram schools.
The service sector is also hungry for part-timers with an outgoing attitude. Chat up customers at izakaya pubs, dish out ramen with a smile, or charm sightseers as a tour guide!
Care to go more corporate? Keep an eye out for clerical or office admin gigs at Japanese startups and small businesses. Your fluent writing or organization skills may prove invaluable!
Don’t forget that niche seasonal positions always pop up, too. Ski lodges and winter resorts offer winter arubaito, while summer beach shops and festivals want extra staff when tourism spikes.
Banking Situation
You put in the hours and amazed everyone with your stellar arubaito performance! Now, how do you actually collect that sweet payment you earned?
Well, my friend, most legitimate companies require setting up a Japanese bank account for wages to be deposited into. Makes things easy for payroll! This means heading to your local bank as soon as you secure that arubaito gig.
But what if you pick up quick cash side work at a summer festival or filling in at a restaurant for a night? In those cases, your fleeting arubaito boss may pay out in cold hard yen! Just be sure to request a proper receipt as proof of payment.
Easy Japanese Phrases For Finding A Job In Japanese
Speaking Japanese is key to landing a sweet arubaito gig. And in interviews, you gotta wow ’em with the right lingo! While your grammar doesn’t have to be flawless, nailing some key phrases indicates you’re committed to fitting into the Japanese work environment.
Here are some of the easiest phrases that’ll surely encourage them to accept foreigners like you!
| English | Japanese Script | Japanese Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have any part-time work? | パートの仕事はありませんか？ | Paato no shigoto wa arimasen ka? |
| I have experience doing (type of work). | ____の経験があります。 | ____ no keiken ga arimasu. |
| How much is the hourly wage? | 時給はいくらですか？ | Houryu wa ikura desuka? |
| I can work from ____ to ____. | ____から____まで働けます。 | ____ kara ____ made hatarakeremasu. |
| Will ____ (time) at ____ (place) work? | 新しい__時に____でよろしいでしょうか？ | Atarashii __-ji ni ____ de yoroshii deshou ka? |
| I’m very eager to start working! | 急がなくてはいけません！ | Isoganakute wa ikemasen! |
Improve Your Japanese Level Today!
You made it through Arubaito Hunting 101 and are ready to ace those interviews! But what if you need to brush up on more Japanese phrases and vocabulary before tackling your exciting new gig?
That’s where my favorite app, Ling, comes in clutch! The Ling app offers bite-sized Japanese lessons to build your real-world language skills from anywhere. Its fun, accessible activities and modules fit seamlessly into an on-the-go lifestyle.
Plus, Ling lets you create vocabulary lists and flashcards customized to your unique needs. Going for a restaurant arubaito position? Add key phrases like “Can you take this order?” or “How would you like this cooked?” to practice. Trying out as an English tutor? Build a study set with “Today we will read this passage” or “Please repeat after me.”
Give Ling a try today!
