Job hunting
Common Japanese Job Sites and When to Use Them
Job hunting in Japan isn't about registering on one site and applying forever. Different stages (new-grad / mid-career / international-student-focused) call for different combinations of platforms.
Below is a go-to list organized by scenario. Registering on 2–3 sites per scenario is enough; piling on more just buries your inbox.
New grad (graduating bachelor's / master's)
- マイナビ（mynavi）The broadest new-grad platform; joint info sessions are mostly concentrated here.
- リクナビ（rikunabi）On par with mynavi, with a full lineup of entry points to major companies.
- OpenWorkUse it to check company reputation, real salaries, and overtime — not for applying.
- ワンキャリア（ONE CAREER）A platform for sharing passed entry sheets (ES) and interview experiences; handy when writing your ES.
International student / foreigner-focused
- GaijinPot JobsEnglish interface; leans toward foreign-affiliated firms, English-using roles, and lifestyle jobs.
- DaijobPlenty of bilingual (Japanese–English) roles; skews toward IT, finance, and marketing.
- ASIA to JAPANNew-grad offer support for students from across Asia; once you join, they arrange company info sessions for you.
- Career-TasuA comprehensive new-grad job-hunting platform for international students in Japan.
Mid-career (changing jobs after work experience)
- ビズリーチ（BizReach）A scout-style platform; concentrated in roles paying ¥6M+, with many foreign-affiliated and management positions.
- dodaA comprehensive mid-career platform; works for both agent-assisted and direct applications.
- GreenMid-career roles for IT / internet companies, with a relatively young vibe.
- LinkedInThe entry point for foreign-affiliated and international-team roles; adoption among Japanese firms is rising.
IT / engineering-focused
- paiza 転職Solve coding challenges to earn an S/A rank, which ties directly into companies' technical interviews.
- Forkwell JobsDeveloper-community-style hiring; good for showcasing your GitHub and personal technical output.
- FindyIt analyzes your GitHub contributions and scores you; aimed at engineers with some development experience.
References & sources
- リクルート 就職みらい研究所An authoritative research institute on new-grad market trends; useful for reading the yearly hiring rhythm.
- 厚生労働省 外国人雇用状況の届出The official source for statistics on foreign nationals working in Japan; helps you read hiring trends across industries.
This article is compiled from the author's personal experience and currently available public information; it is not a guarantee. If you find anything outdated or incorrect, your feedback is welcome.