Degree problem!

Hi everybody. I am Dano, 22 year old boy living in Belgium. I am half Italian and half Spanish. Well, my problem is.. This year I went to Japan, to visit a friend of mine. While I was there I met a lovely Japanese girl, and we felt in love. She want us to live together, for me that's more then ok. But I do not have any degrees! I never had the chance to finish my High school. Is it now possible for me to find a decent job in Japan (Tokyo) without any degree? I am hardworking and smart. I can communicate in six languages, but not a single degree. I hope someone can help me with my question. Thank you.

I remember you asked this question a few days ago but I can't find where it is.

By living with her do you mean marry her? If that is the case you can get a spouse visa and work without much restriction.

However, having a degree or certifications in fields increase your chances much more in finding a good job.

If employers see that you didn't finish high school or not have much experience in anything much, they're less likely to hire you.

If you can speak six languages you sound pretty bright, here's a question, why not go and get a degree? I don't see anything really holding you back from going out to school and getting some certifications at least in something?

Yes indeed, I have posted this message before. But did not find it either. So I posted it again. Well, I have also heard, marriage makes it al easier, like you said. But that is an issue I should talk about with her I guess. I don't have time to study now.. although that is what I was thinking also. I have a certain certification that proofs I've been to High school (but did not finish it) so it's worth nothing. My cv is kinda allright. But that isn't also enough. I think my next step is plannig a few month trip and look for possible jobs. Where can I apply for jobs? And how does it work. I do not have any experience with this. And for example, let's say me and girlfriend wanna get married. I immediatly apply for a spouse Visa. Will I get instant permission or wil I be valuated first? Thank you.

a simple advice: don't plan too much, at least before marriage, as you future in Japan depends on what she will decide. maybe she will ask you to wait a little more, lets say few years :), where your plans will be then?

I don't understand you have time to get up and move across to another country, and have time to go to another country to research jobs, but you have no time to go to school and get some certifications or degrees? In the United States we have something called the (GED) General Education Diploma, it is for people who did not finish high school when they were younger, but they can go to school and get a degree certifying that they have completed somesort of secondary schooling. Does Belgium not have this or something similar?

Anycase you saidyou haven't decided on Marriage yet, well if you aren't married and do not have a spouse visa then there' isn't much you can do to begin with. You'll need a college degree for a work visa then.

If you did get married you can get a spouse visa, and work on a spouse visa without much restrictions, but the visa process does take a while so it isn't instant.

Like mentioned above, I would take it one step at a time, if you haven't even married yet, then I would look into finishing school or getting some college/university courses in while you have time.

Dano,

I think my next step is plannig a few month trip and look for possible jobs. Where can I apply for jobs? And how does it work.

To be honest, I think you would be wasting your time. If you don't have a visa (e.g. spouse visa) that allows you to work or the necessary qualifications for an employer to sponsor you for a working visa, then I don't think any employers would be interested in talking to you.

Yeah your going to need a degree and/or that spouse visa period.
Looking for jobs without such would be a waste of your time.

Not having a degree from university is one thing but not even having a high school diploma in Japan would make things very, very hard unless you plan to get a spousal visa and become stay at home dad. Japanese people have higher educational degrees compared to other countries like the US, for example. I wouldn't recommend you coming to Japan without a university degree but I suppose if you are actually serious about wanting to live in Japan then certainly getting some education is hardly a burden?

Now I'm confused, are Certifications (certificates) allowed??

Will they count as a good opportunity for a business to Sponsor anyone?? And do you need 10 years work experience within the field you have the certifications??

I thought it was only degrees!?!?!?!?!

If they are allowed I�fm laughing, hehehe, but I better not get my hopes up to soon

No they aren't allowed for a work visa.

I was speaking into the matter that even if he got married and had a spouse visa (which allows him to work), having the extra certifications would put him in a higher standard in finding a job.

Now if he didnt' get married then I suggest getting his bachelors degree so he can get a work visa.

Oh thanks I guessed as much, thanks for the reply anyway, cheers

Wow I did not expect this was such a big issue that not having a High school degree could make things so much harder! Belgium for example is also a very strict country with a good economy etc. But people with no degree can always find a job as a worker or in a bar, cafe, restaurent. The most people in Belgium who don't have a degree can also specialise theirselfs, like going to eveningschool while they work. So they can get specialised certifications. I takes a few years though. But on the otherhand you are working. Is this only hard for foreingers to find a decent job in japan without a degree or also for Japanese people?

Two points:

First, Japanese people are able to find some job in places such as bar, cafe, or restaurent, but people generally think those job are not "decent." Young people or students are okay, but you cannot live with such jobs for life.

Second, as higher education is heavily subsidised in Japan, virtually all Japanese people graduate high school and a large part of them have college degree. So degree works as signaling device for potential employers: not having one implies really big risk. You need to provide some other outstanding benefits to compensate for it.

Sure, there are jobs in convenience stores, restaurants, supermarkets etc but the only foreigners I have ever seen doing these jobs are Koreans and Chinese with native speaker level Japanese.

You might however be able to find work with one of the foreign-run/ owned bars or restaurants somewhere in one of the large cities.

What people are saying here is that your work options are extremely limited, but not zero.