Getting a job has functions, and features of a symbol, myth, and
ritual. In the United States, most of teenagers get a part-time job in high
school. After they graduate high school, or college, they get a full time job.
It is difficult for them to get a job because there are a lot of competitions. They write own cover letter, or resume showing themselves. During university, they do the internship, and volunteers. It helps them to get a job greatly. The first pay check has big meaning and symbolic meaning. It indicates they can earn money themselves. Most of them take a picture of their first pay check because it is evidence of the productive member of the society. Most of people go to the workshop when they find a job. Then they hear the story which is about jobs like how to relate the economy. Also, they hear the story from people who experienced it. It is truth, and concrete story; therefore, they refer to that story. Consequently, getting a job has a symbol, and myths.   
      A rite of passage will happen after they graduate high school. At that time, they separate from school (it may separate from family too), and they will learn jobs to get it. Their idea and feeling may change. When they get a job, they have to introduce a new place, and people, but everybody will not occur at the same age. In addition, from the article “Get a job, and that’s not so easy”, the teenager employment’s rate is not high, so it depends on the person when he/she gets a job. The process of the getting jobs is different in each person. It doesn’t have a special order. When they find a job, they can feel a sense of liminality and communitas among people who also find a job. However, getting ajob doesn’t have schema, strict order, and symbolic activities, so getting a job is a ritualization.

 
Bibliography
 
Avery Billings
 
Get a job, and That’s Not So Easy
 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2012-12-06/youth-issues/coming-of-age-in-ar-get-a-job-and-thats-not-so-easy/a29628-1
 
The Importance of Male Rites of Passage
 http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/11/09/coming-of-age-the-importance-of-male-rites-of-passage/

Getting your first job is a major rite of passage in Japan. Most Japanese get part time jobs (arubaito) during either high school or college at the ages of 16-18.  But most don’t apply to full time jobs (shigoto) after finishing their education careers. So it is seen as a Rite of Passage.

In Japan nearly half of high school graduates choose to continue their educational careers by going to university. Of which nearly three quarters of college students graduate from university. So most Japanese young adults get their first job after college graduation. Of which over 90% of them have a job within months of graduation. For those who do not start or complete higher education, they begin the job search immediately and while there are fewer option, it stills holds a high employment rate.  But while it is possible to get a job at 16, 18 is a more normal age to get one for most jobs in shops, conveniences stores, and restaurants need employees to be 18 or older to sell cigarettes and alcohol.

Also in Japan, most Japanese University graduates have a job in about a month after graduation. The reason being starting in the fall or second semester of junior year, Japanese students begin crafting documents, comparable to our resumes and cover letters, and going through the hiring process throughout Senior year. During the hiring process you give your documents to a document judge and then you begin the interview process. Most college graduates are hired right out the door and being work as soon after. This is full of myths being told as you are prepare and go through the process of getting hired.

The most important symbol is the first paycheck. It signifies your independence from your family and school. In response of this moment you send a portion back to your parents to show them thanks for the help in getting to where you are today. Another important symbol is a business card (meishi) which is a common portion of introductions in the Japanese Business world.

The three stages of this rite of passage are the Separation Stage which is leaving and separating yourself from your college/high school and also your family. Then your transition is through the job search process. From interviews and documents to being hired. And finally you are aggregated to your new job and reaggregated into your society in your new role. It is also more of a ritualizations for it has no set of rules and is unique for each person.

Interview with Sakaki, Hiroto

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/05/18/business/employment-rate-for-college-grads-hits-93-9/#.UlthxI6pUfc