Hi guys,
I'm trying to figure out realistic 'career' options at the moment w.r.t. working in Japan and I'd be grateful for any input.
I'm 25 and from the UK, with a 4-year Master's (UK) degree in Chemistry and I should have completed a materials chemistry PhD at the end of 2011.
I've decided I don't want to continue doing research (which rules out the JSPS fellowships) and am looking at job options both science and non-science related that I could apply my current skills to.
I already have short-term experience of living and working in Japan - in 2007 I did a lab assistant internship for a year as part of my first degree, living in Osaka and Ibaraki for 6 months each.
Since then I have done a bit of paid and unpaid proofreading of scientific and healthcare documents on the side, which I enjoy a lot and wouldn't mind making into a full time job if there's work out there.
Unfortunately I have never been fluent and these days my Japanese is conversational at best so I know I won't be breezing up to a company and asking for a technical position anytime soon.
I'm lucky to have some money saved and when my PhD ends I'll have the option go out to Japan for a long holiday. Would it be a good idea to apply for a Working Holiday Visa? Reading the criteria it looks like they ask for a CV, will they get suspicious of someone that has previously had work in Japan (on "designated activities") asking for a WHV?
My goal wouldn't be to actually to go out there immediately looking for work, more to travel/enjoy myself after finishing the PhD, improve my Japanese, and decide if moving out to Japan medium/long-term is what I want to do.
I guess my main questions are: Are there any other jobs I might be able to look into? Is a WHV and staying for 3-12 months with no concrete career plan a good idea? Should I just stay at home, get a professional/technical job in the UK and start working towards N2 on my own?