Science graduate...

[selou]

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?

[Iraira]

Apply for the JSPS thing. It will give you two years, well-paid, a lot of hands to shake, meishis to exchange, etc. It's much easier to get into a science-related field/company when you are 1) working in the field, 2) still knowledgeable in the field, etc. Straying from what you know well for "just a year or so" easily can extend to 3-99 years, and you end up fucking yourself that way.
I did the JSPS thing back in 1999-2001. It's well funded and it helped make me the heathen I am today. Stay with the research (either in the home country or try with the JSPS) until you can eject into something better (better is in the eye of the beholder, but you get the point).

[FG Lurker]

Nothing new to add but I'll second what Iraira said: Do the JSPS. It will help you improve your Japanese in your field and will give you chances to meet people you'd likely never meet otherwise. Contacts are incredibly important here -- one could even say they are everything and it wouldn't be (much of) an overstatement.

[selou]

Thanks for the replies, guys. A lot of people say to me and friends at the same stage as me that we shouldn't do postdocs if we want to move into other areas. I wouldn't want to start a postdoc in the UK, I shouldn't do one abroad.
If I had enjoyed my work and done well so far I would jump at the chance to do JSPS, it's what I originally had planned to apply for. I really haven't and that's why I'm at a bit of a loss and feel like I need a break. Though as you said, Iraira, the risk is drifting for ages.
However, I've got a little while to decide so I could always take a look for researchers I could contact in time for the May 2012 application.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Thanks for the replies, guys. A lot of people say to me and friends at the same stage as me that we shouldn't do postdocs if we want to move into other areas. I wouldn't want to start a postdoc in the UK, I shouldn't do one abroad.
If I had enjoyed my work and done well so far I would jump at the chance to do JSPS, it's what I originally had planned to apply for. I really haven't and that's why I'm at a bit of a loss and feel like I need a break. Though as you said, Iraira, the risk is drifting for ages.
However, I've got a little while to decide so I could always take a look for researchers I could contact in time for the May 2012 application.

One thing I would add, and this is advice I would give anyone who is not sure whether or not they want to do a particular program or job, is go ahead and apply to the JSPS. You can always choose not to join after being accepted if something better comes along in the meantime. As my father once said, "Never reject an offer till you get it."

[FG Lurker]

One thing I would add, and this is advice I would give anyone who is not sure whether or not they want to do a particular program or job, is go ahead and apply to the JSPS. You can always choose not to join after being accepted if something better comes along in the meantime. As my father once said, "Never reject an offer till you get it."

Damn good advice.