International students, as April arrives, you might be experiencing new environments and new experiences. Whether you're transitioning from a regional Japanese language school to a major city like Tokyo, many of you may be searching for new part-time jobs. Here are three recommended part-time jobs for international students that allow you to start after classes, helping you improve your Japanese quickly and aiding in your job searches in the future.
Convenience Store (Combini)
Working at a convenience store may initially seem challenging. Although you will learn a lot from manuals and training, the job entails more than just operating the cash register. You will need to address various customer requests, handle ticket issuance (for example, when using a Lawson machine to issue a movie ticket, the cashier scans the barcode on the receipt to generate the formal ticket), deal with stamps and postal services, and even manage luggage pickups. Some convenience stores automate payment processes, where scanning items is all that's required.
Tips:
- Engage with customers actively to improve your Japanese.
- Learn about recommended and new products to discuss with customers during less busy hours.
Izakaya (Japanese Pub)
Izakayas offer various positions and operations. In terms of improving Japanese language skills, let's focus on the hall (customer service) position.
Some izakayas use handwritten orders, while others use terminals such as phones or iPads for verbal orders or even allow customers to input orders directly into a tablet at their table.
Tips:
- Choose a customer service role based on difficulty level.
- Selecting an izakaya where customers input orders directly via terminals can be less challenging initially.
Supermarket Cashier
Supermarkets offer a range of jobs, including cashiering. If you've been working in other supermarket departments like produce, meat, or deli, trying the cashier role could be beneficial.
Tips:
- It could be beneficial for you to have the role of not-automated cashier, like counting Japanese coins or paper money by hand, to learn kanji letters or how to count them.
- Engage with regular customers during less busy hours to improve your Japanese and build relationships.
How was that? The required Japanese proficiency for customer service jobs is often around JLPT N3 level.
Whether you're aiming for N3 this year or have already passed, consider these customer service jobs to enhance your skills!
