This is probably one of the biggest reasons people take the exam if they’re already living in Japan. Having those JLPT passes under your belt, especially the highest two levels (N2 and N1), affords you professional opportunities that not everyone will have. I’m not saying that an N1 guarantees you a job, but I am saying being able to prove your Japanese proficiency with one of these tests is a great way to get your foot in the door at some Japanese companies—maybe even your whole leg.

Whether it’s a translation job, doing a part-time gig at your local 7-Eleven, or landing a gig in that big Japanese firm, your JLPT becomes a bit of a bargaining chip for you. Once you reach that level of Japanese you also have a great opportunity (speaking from a business major’s perspective) to bridge language barriers at major companies. I’ve seen job ads for really big companies like Google, Sony, Amazon and more that are looking for bilingual foreigners they can hire right here in Japan. If that’s your thing, it’s a great opportunity.

QUESTION: If you were to pass JLPT N1 tomorrow, what would you do next?

This is one of the reasons that can be grossly overlooked for those of you wanting to stay in Japan long-term. Did you know there's an actual point-based system for “preferential immigration treatment” of foreign nationals here in Japan? Highly skilled foreign professionals (which would definitely include English teachers) in this point system get ticks in their favor when applying for longer or even permanent visas here.

Guess what works in your favor if you have it? N1 certification.

And of course, studying hard can be to your benefit when you really start to like Japan, and you and her (or you and him) decide to take your relationship to the next level… living together.

QUESTION: How long do you want to stay in Japan?