[Report] October 24, 2026 (Sat): We held the second Life and Work Information Exchange on changing jobs in Japan!

At the Life and Work Information Exchange, Otonari-san (Japanese volunteers) draw on their own experiences to address questions and concerns that foreign residents have about daily life and the workplace in Japan.
The second session"How to Navigate Job Chnages in Japan"was the theme of the event!

This session's speaker was an Otonari-san (Japanese volunteer) who has worked for both Japanese and foreign companies and changed jobs several times.
In addition to their work as an Otonari-san, they are actively involved in other volunteer activities, including serving as a tour guide.

Drawing on their own experience changing jobs, the speaker shared three key points about setting priorities and gathering information when considering a job change.

In the first discussion particular, the speaker emphasized the important of claryfying the purpose of changing jobs. Should it be a better pay, career or skill development, good relationships, a better way of working, or something else...
The key,is to clearly identify what kind of “rewards” you want to gain from changing jobs in order to live a life you find fulfilling.
Rewards include not only “tangible rewards” such as salary, but also “intangible rewards” such as trust, appreciation, and connections.
The speaker shared that volunteering on weekends is also an “emotional reward” for them, and I thought it was a wonderful way of life.

In the second half, participants had time to exchange information.
It was a valuable discussion filled with concrete examples from participants who had firsthand experience finding or changing jobs. They shared the job search tools they actually use and discussed the importance of thoroughly researching prospective employers and tailoring their resumes and application forms to each company.

Everyone had different priorities when choosing a job, including workplace relationships, work-life balance, and a preference for stability or performance-based rewards.
As the speaker mentioned, to live a life we find fulfilling, it's important to be clear about the “rewards” we value before embarking on a job search.

Participants shared comments such as:
“The discussion about tools for changing jobs and the importance of self-assessment was helpful.”
“It made me think again about what matters most to me when changing jobs.”
We were delighted to receive feedback like this and to hear that the session helped participants take their next steps.

Thank you to the Otonari-san who spoke at the event and to everyone who participated!

We’re also planning a third session, so stay tuned!