株式会社アルバイトタイムス 外国人材採用支援部部長 竹下さん?カイさんへのインタビュー
Interview with Mr. Takeshita (General Manager, Foreign Talent Recruitment Support Department) and Mr. Kai from Arbeit-Times Co., Ltd.
Interview Date: January 12, 2021 (Monday)
We interviewed Mr. Takeshita, General Manager of the Foreign Talent Recruitment Support Department at Arbeit-Times Co., Ltd., and Mr. Kai from Myanmar. The company is connected with Chiba University through a project called the "Myanmar Human Resource Development Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Platform." We asked them about their company and about residence status (commonly called "visa") issues that international students face when working in Japan.
「株式会社アルバイトタイムス」の外国人材採用支援部について、どのような事業をされていますか？ What kind of business does the Foreign Talent Recruitment Support Department of Arbeit-Times do?
Mr. Takeshita:Our company operates job advertisement media, recruitment services, and daily life support services. In the Foreign Talent Recruitment Support Department, we currently focus mainly on supporting recruitment of people from Myanmar. Basically, we provide recruitment services. We introduce Myanmar job seekers who register with us to companies that want to hire them. Besides recruitment services, we also hold an event called the Myanmar Job Fair. At this event, job seekers (Myanmar talent) can talk directly with companies and then move on to the selection process. These two activities are our main services.
The Myanmar Job Fair usually has about 250 to 300 participants each time, and about 70% are international students. They are Myanmar students who graduated from universities in Myanmar and then studied at Japanese language schools, vocational schools, junior colleges, or universities in Japan before looking for jobs.
―「ミャンマー人材育成支援産学官連携ぷらっとフォーム」についても教えてください Please tell us about the "Myanmar Human Resource Development Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Platform."
Mr. Takeshita:This platform includes companies, universities, and government ministries such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economy. For example, companies that are expanding or planning to expand into Myanmar, or universities that want to increase the number of international students, take part in it. One activity is a study abroad fair held every year in Yangon. Another is the Myanmar Job Fair, which is held both in Japan for Myanmar students already living here and in Myanmar for people who want to work in Japan. We also regularly exchange information among industry, academia, and government.
―なるほど。国内外でイベントを開かれていて、その中でも就職に関することをアルバイトタイムスさんでは行っているんですね。 I see. You hold events both in Japan and overseas, and your company also provides job-related support at these events.
―今日はアルバイトタイムスの社員でミャンマー出身のカイさんにも来ていただいたのですが、カイさんはどのような経緯で御社に就職されたのでしょうか？ We also have Mr. Kai here today. Mr. Kai, how did you join this company?
Mr. Kai: I first studied at a junior college in Japan. After graduating, I entered an IT vocational school because at that time IT was said to be an easy field to find a job. However, while studying, I realized it was not suitable for me. So during job hunting, I looked for work related to international business or Myanmar. I found Arbeit-Times at an event I joined by chance. It matched what I wanted to do, and I liked the atmosphere, so I decided to join the company.
―どのようなお仕事をされていますか？ What kind of work do you do?
Mr. Kai:I mainly interview Myanmar people who want to work in Japan and give career advice to those already working in Japan who want to change jobs. I also support job seekers during job events. In addition, I hold seminars about the knowledge needed to work at Japanese companies. Outside of work, I also help run a volunteer group called MASBO for Myanmar people living in Japan.
―知識セミナーでは具体的にどのようなことをされていますか？ What do you teach in the seminars?
Mr. Kai:For students, I teach how to write resumes, how to prepare for interviews, how to create reasons for applying, and how to analyze industries. For people who want to change jobs, I explain possible career choices, especially for science and engineering fields.
Mr. Takeshita:Career choice is closely related to visa type. Most international students aim to obtain the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa, but we also explain that the "Specified Skilled Worker" visa is another option.
―「ビザ」も大きく関わっているんですね。「ビザ」にはどんな種類があるのでしょうか？ What types of visas are there?
Mr. Takeshita:The so-called "work visa" is officially called "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services." There are also permanent residence visas, spouse visas, business management visas, medical visas, and others. However, most international students aim for the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa. This visa has two main restrictions. First, the job must be related to what the person studied in their home country or in Japan. Second, it cannot be simple labor. For example, if someone studied economics in both their home country and Japan, they can only work in a job related to economics. Simple labor includes on-site factory or construction work. If someone wants to do that type of work, they need the "Specified Skilled Worker" visa. However, this visa allows work for only five years. So many students prefer the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa, which allows longer stay and use of their academic knowledge.
In the "Engineer" category, IT engineers are the most common. In the "Humanities/International Services" category, overseas sales and interpreting are common. Before 2019, hotel and restaurant jobs could often use this visa, but after 2019, these jobs were moved to the "Specified Skilled Worker" category. Because the "Specified Skilled Worker" visa allows only five years, many students still want the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa. However, these jobs are popular and competitive. Also, due to COVID-19, hiring in hotels and restaurants has decreased, making it even harder for students to find jobs.
Some students re-enter another vocational school to keep a student visa, but this costs money and requires courage, so not everyone can do it.
In short, visa type and job category strongly affect employment rates for international students. Mr. Kai talks with students about their past education and current studies, and then we search for jobs based on what visa they can obtain.
―ビザのことについて全然知らなかったのでとても勉強になりました。 I didn’t know anything about visas, so I learned a lot.
―御社に相談に来る留学生はどのような職種に就くことが多いのでしょうか？
What jobs do students who consult your company usually get?
Mr. Takeshita:Many are vocational school students with knowledge in IT or tourism. About 30-40% hope for IT jobs. Others look for jobs in hotels, restaurants, tourism, or office work. Many who are actually hired work as IT or construction engineers. Humanities students who are very capable may get sales or interpreter jobs. However, many students cannot find jobs, so some change to the "Specified Skilled Worker" visa and apply for hotel, restaurant, or nursing care jobs, which have more openings.
―御社ではミャンマー人材を探している会社を見つけたり、営業したりするとのことでしたが、これはどのような業種が多いのでしょうか？ What industries are most common among companies looking for Myanmar talent?
Mr. Takeshita:Recently, IT is the most common. We also received a job request for accounting work at a company with branches in Asia. The job required not only accounting skills but also communication with overseas offices. Companies planning overseas expansion often have such needs.
―企業側は留学生を採用するときにどんなことを懸念しているのでしょうか？ What concerns do companies have when hiring international students?
Mr. Takeshita:Besides Japanese ability, companies worry about whether the person will quit soon. They want to know if the person can work long term. Japanese ability can improve over time, but it is very important for students to clearly explain their career plan and their reason for applying. We can advise them, but if they do not truly believe in their own reason, interviewers will notice.
―将来のキャリアや志望動機についてのお話は日本人学生にも言えることかもしれないですね。 What you said about future careers and reasons for applying may also apply to Japanese students.
―最後に、今、留学生の日本での就職に関して一番課題だと感じていることは何ですか？
What is the biggest challenge for international students’ employment in Japan now?
Mr. Takeshita:There are two main challenges. First, because of COVID-19, job openings for new graduates have greatly decreased. Finding companies with open positions is very difficult. Second, we need to help students understand that "Specified Skilled Worker" is also one option. Many students strongly want the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa and find it hard to change their thinking. If they cannot find a job, they may have to return home. We try to help them understand all possible options.
Mr. Kai:I agree. Myanmar students need to think more deeply about what they want to do in the future. Instead of just thinking "I want to work in Japan," they should think about what they have studied and why they want to work in Japan.
〈協力してくださった会社〉 about the Company That Cooperated
株式会社アルバイトタイムス 外国人材採用支援室 Arbeit-Times Co., Ltd., Foreign Talent Recruitment Support Department
Click here for the website
〈関連HP〉 Related Website
ミャンマー人材育成支援産学官連携ぷらっとフォーム Myanmar Human Resource Development Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Platform
Click here for the website