Japanese university students reveal the part-time jobs they’d most like to have

The top ten results show which companies appeal most to young students.

For many young people in Japan, going to university means moving away from family, relocating to a new area, and setting up a new life, which comes with the added responsibility of having to fork out money for textbooks, bills, and other miscellaneous expenses.

To cope with the financial burden, many students seek out part-time employment, known as “arubaito” or simply “baito” in Japanese. Naturally, when you’re juggling full-time study with part-time work, the ideal situation would be to find employment with a dream company that makes working a breeze.

With that in mind, the Connecting Work Styles Research Institute conducted a survey, where they asked 1,000 university students to identify the company they most wanted to seek out part-time employment with. Let’s take a look at the top 10 results below

10. Uniqlo

Working at a clothing store is often a popular choice among young people, especially when you’re at an age where a lot of your money goes towards adding fashionable threads to your wardrobe. With locations all around the country, Uniqlo is known for its reasonable prices, modern stores, and relaxed atmosphere, all points which appeal to university students looking for part-time employment.

9. Aeon

Many young people in Japan will have fond memories of hanging out at Aeon shopping malls in their hometowns with friends and family. While a part-time job here would feel more like going on a shopping trip rather than putting your nose to the grindstone, the more likely reason for this entry is the fact that a university in Gifu recently offered students the chance to earn credits while working part-time in paid internships at Aeon.

8. Family Mart

Japan’s top three convenience store chains appear on the list, with Family Mart ranking just behind the other two. We’re not sure why it comes in at third place, though. We’d want to work there specifically for their iconic door jingle.

7. Muji

Muji, formally known as Mujirushi Ryouhin, which translates as “no-logo goods” in English, is a chain of retail stores in Japan which sells everything from stationery to furniture. It’s another one-stop store that comes in handy for university students looking to shop and work in the one place.

6. 7-Eleven

7-Eleven comes in second on the list of convenience store chains that students would choose to work in part-time. Perhaps it misses out on first place because they heard about the staff member who worked there with a bag on his head.

5. Lawson

Coming in as the convenience store of choice for part-time job seekers at university is Lawson. There are many reasons to love Lawson: they’re environmentally conscious, they offer cancer screenings, and there’s even a chance you might bump into a family of ducks if you work there.

4. McDonald’s

From Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to Andy Card, the Chief of Staff under George W. Bush, plenty of successful people got their start at McDonald’s. In Japan, the global juggernaut is just as popular with young people looking to earn some cash, especially when they have so many cute Happy Meal toys and Japan-exclusive seasonal items on the menu.

3. Universal Studios Japan

Spend your days at a theme park and get paid for it at the same time? The popularity of this entry, at number three on the list, is a no-brainer.

2. Tokyo Disney Resort

The only thing that could beat a paid job at Universal Studios in Osaka is a job at Tokyo Disney Resort, where you get to enjoy the privilege of experiencing the park behind-the-scenes. The only trouble with working at a place like this is getting so carried away with the dream that you forget to pay attention to your studies.

1. Starbucks

At number one on the list of places that university students most want to work part-time is Starbucks. With its hip vibe and beautiful locations, the global coffeehouse chain is insanely popular in Japan, and a chance to work in that environment, while getting to enjoy their many limited-edition Frappuccino and drinkware releases, would be dream come true for many university students.

So there you have it, the top 10 places that appeal to uni students looking for part-time work in Japan. According to the company that conducted the survey, the results indicate a shift away from the usual priorities of time, salary, and location to a focus on work, environment and companions as markers of a desirable job. When you’re studying and working at the same time, how you spend your working hours and who you spend them with is definitely an important factor.

Featured image: Pakutaso, Pakutaso
Insert images: Wikpedia (Kirakirameister), Wikipedia/Corpse Reviver

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