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

Colin Y.
10/13/2013 05:34:41 pm

Those are really surprising numbers. First, the fact that only about half of high school graduates move on to college and also how 90% of college graduates have a job within a month! One thing that would be interesting to know is what high school students with jobs do with their paychecks. Do they give it to parents, use it themselves or save it for college?

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Avery Billings
10/14/2013 04:48:33 pm

I believe that high school and college students save a majority of their pay from their part-time jobs to pay for college, but I do not know if they give any of there first part-time job back.

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Nicole
10/15/2013 12:41:21 pm

I was also surprised by those numbers! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of those kinds of employment rates, especially not in the U.S were the job market looks so bleak. Makes me want to go job hunting in Japan when I graduate.

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Russell Fauss
10/15/2013 04:42:06 am

Good work. Focusing on ritual elements here, I agree that the first paycheck can be symbolic. Can you explain how the meishi (business card) is also so? Regarding myths, what are some stories about applying for and getting one's first job? As for ritual, I would guess that the interview process is highly ritualized, and perhaps training as well.

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Adrienne Higashida
10/15/2013 01:39:05 pm

I thought this was interesting. I never realized that a lot of Japanese started getting jobs from the age of 16. What kind of part time jobs to they usually get?

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Toshinori
10/15/2013 04:42:36 pm

I was surprised, too. Before I read this blog, the job hunting sounded very hard, but after i read this, it sounds like not easier, but not that hard. Thank you for your blog.

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Yume Mafune
10/16/2013 02:55:48 pm

I was surprised that over 90% of Japanese who guraduate college get a first job within months of graduation. In the case of U.S, what is the percentage of people who can get first job after guraduate college?

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