Call centers are still a vital part of businesses today, as it allows customers to talk directly to someone when having interest in or issues with a service or product. While most outsourced call center hotspots are in places such as the Philippines and India, Japan also offers a comprehensive market for people who want to start a career as a call center operator!
First Published: 2023-06-23
Updated: 2024-04-12
Table of Contents
- Common Call Center Jobs in Japan
- International Call Center Companies in Japan
- Requirements to Work in a Call Center in Japan
- What jobs are there in Japan that do not require Japanese?
- Find a Job in Japan with WeXpats
Are you having any issues with job-hunting in Japan?
Common Call Center Jobs in Japan
Japan is known for its top-quality service, and the customer service provided through call centers is no exception.
There’s a variety of main tasks you will be responsible for if you work in a call center which depends solely on the industry and type of service or product the company provides. But it comes down to communicating directly with customers, whether to answer questions, help them through a process (such as signing up for or purchasing a service or product), resolving any issues they may have, etc. You may be in charge of inbound calls, or making outbound ones, depending on the company and division.
In Japan, most call-center jobs fall under the following categories:
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Retail-related - Customers call about services or products with questions or intention to order said service or product. The operator’s job is to answer questions to make them feel at ease about the service or product, assist in the purchasing process, suggest other products based on their needs, etc. Many products allow phone-orders, though things are rapidly switching to online-orders - but if there’s issues with online orders, dealing with such issues is often done by phone call.
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Infrastructure-related - These are calls related to services involving one’s daily life, such as electricity, gas and water, internet and phone, transportation (airlines and railways, etc.)
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Finance-related - These are calls to and about banks, insurance, credit cards, etc.
Another big industry to mention specifically is the tourism and hospitality industry. Both domestic and international travelers often call to make reservations, ask questions, and request a guided itinerary.
Writer's Pick
International Call Center Companies in Japan
There are so many call centers in Japan, both internal at a company and those that provide BPO (business process outsourcing) call centers. While we can’t list them all, here are just some of the companies that are either based in Japan or based overseas with a branch in Japan.
Transcosmos
Transcosmos is a company based in Japan that provides digital marketing, call center and various outsourcing services all over the world. They provide multilingual support in a variety of industries and are often mentioned when looking up call centers in Japan. Just within Japan, over 3000 companies rely on them for call center services.
※ Transcosmos
FPT Software
The FPT Software company is a world-renowned IT solutions company that offers competitive software products for managed services, embedded systems, and digital platforms in general. The company’s main headquarters is in Vietnam, and they have global BPO centers, including offices in Japan. Here, call center agents are expected to be knowledgeable about IT software solutions and be courteous to clients about their inquiries and concerns in a highly innovative environment.
※ FPT Software
TDCX
TDCX’s services include e-commerce, online content moderation, and revenue generation in a digital space among others. TDCX was established back in the mid 1990s supporting digital platforms for diverse clients all over Europe and Asia. Their BPO call center provides 24/7 service to anyone who has an inquiry or a question about any of the digital services they provide as well as full communication in English. Their Japan office is located in Yokohama.
※ TDCX
tele-net Corporation
tele-net Corporation provides a variety of services, including sales promotion, BPO, global expansion support, and of course the call center. Their main headquarters is in Japan, specifically in Tokyo, with branches in Osaka, Fukuoka, Tokushima, Nagano, and Mito. They also have offices in the United States and the Philippines, ensuring a well-rounded and diverse employee pool to cater to clients and customers with different backgrounds and cultures.
※ tele-net Corporation
TMJ Inc.
TMJ is another company in Japan that offers BPO, consulting, staffing and other services. With the wide array of services that they offer, TMJ is regarded highly in Japan! They’ve won several awards for their high-quality services, such as the "Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Award," for their e-learning services as well as the "Well-being CUSTOMER CENTER AWARD 2022".
※ TMJ Inc.
The companies above are just some of the call center providing companies in Japan, though it is worthy to note that there are many others that you can search for and apply to.
Requirements to Work in a Call Center in Japan
The two main call center positions are as follows:
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Operator: You are responsible for taking/making phone calls related to customers’ needs.
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Supervisor: You mainly manage the operators in your call center, providing support when necessary.
Other basic skills include the ability to stay calm under pressure, be attentive and maintain a helpful attitude, be able to pinpoint main issues and provide the applicable solutions, etc.
Language Requirements
Is a certain level of Japanese required to work at a call center in Japan? Most of the time, yes. After all, many of the services and products are for the general public in Japan. However, there are exceptions, so it’s important to check the basic requisites when applying!
Some call centers or call center operators are responsible for multilingual support - so while being bilingual in English (or another foreign language) and Japanese makes it easier to find a job, some may only require basic Japanese - or perhaps none at all.
Check below for a list of other English-speaking or minimal-Japanese jobs you can check out.
Visa Requirements
As with any job, working in Japan as a foreign national requires a valid work permit. Many people who work at call centers are students who want to work part-time, as it’s easy to arrange shifts.
If you are a student, it’s necessary to obtain permission to work, which is detailed here. If you are a dependent, you will also have to apply for a work permit.
If you are not a student, then it’s necessary to obtain a work visa if you don’t already have one. The hiring company should provide you with the necessary documents to apply for a work visa. For a full-time position, the visa would most likely be a “Engineer/Specialist in humanities/International services” visa.
Note that call center companies will most likely not hire people who are living overseas to come work in Japan and will focus on hiring people already living in Japan. However, there may be exceptions, especially for more management type positions.
Expected Salary Range
Depending on the call center you will be employed in, the expected salary range (call center operators in the service or retail industries, customer service or help desk contact centers, online shops customer support, and others) in Japan will vary greatly. Roughly speaking, based on taking a glance at openings ons various job sites, the average annual salary is around 3 to 5 million Japanese yen for a mid-career full-time employee at an established company. The pay per hour for part-time ranges from 1000 to around 1400 yen for most positions, depending on the company and industry.
What jobs are there in Japan that do not require Japanese?
If you are looking for a job where you can speak English, or speak minimal Japanese, there are plenty of such jobs. For example,
English Jobs
- English Teaching
- Eikaiwa (English Conversation School)
- Hotel Front Desk Reception
- Tourist Guide and Reception
Minimal Conversation Jobs / Labour Focused Jobs
- Caregiver
- Construction
- Factory & Manufacturing
- Nursing
- Restaurant Staff (cooking, waiting staff)
- Warehouse & Logistics
and more.
Did you know you can find jobs in Japan based on Japanese level on WeXpats Jobs?
Find a Job in Japan with WeXpats
WeXpats operates a service for foreign nationals who want to work in Japan. There are jobs in a variety of industries including customer service, marketing and sales. There are 2 services available on WeXpats - WeXpats Agent for full time jobs and WeXpats Jobs for part time jobs.
Looking for a Full Time Position? Leave it to WeXpats Agent!
WeXpats Agent is a career support service that specialises in employment for foreign nationals living in Japan.
Recruitment agencies in Japan are a service where dedicated career advisors will assist you with your job hunt for free. In addition to introducing open positions, we also provide support to help you create your Japanese resume and practice for interviews. Worried about job hunting in Japanese? We are here for you.
Features of WeXpats Agent
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We have many job openings that are a good fit for foreign nationals to work in, such as translation, interpretation, inbound, etc. jobs that make use of your language skills, as well as engineering etc. jobs that do not require Japanese skills.
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Our career advisors support and help you prepare your resume and practice job interviews with you. Clearly communicate your strengths to the hiring company.
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We will handle communication with companies on your behalf, such as arranging interview dates and negotiating conditions. And thereby reducing your stress and time spent.
Finding a Part Time Job? Browse on WeXpats Jobs!
WeXpats Jobs is a part time job site for foreign nationals living in Japan. You can search for jobs in 11 languages (English, Vietnamese, Korean, Indonesian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Burmese, Thai, Spanish, Portuguese), including Japanese. Find jobs that suit you by specifying your Japanese language level, occupation, location, and etc.
※ You can register from outside Japan, but only those living in Japan can apply for jobs.
