Translation guide
In Japanese, 'job hunting' is most commonly expressed as 就職活動 (shuushoku katsudou), often abbreviated to 就活 (shuukatsu). This refers specifically to the structured process of searching for full-time employment, particularly among students and new graduates. For general job searching, other terms like 仕事探し (shigoto sagashi) are used.
The formal, often year-long process of attending career fairs, submitting applications, and interviewing for full-time positions at companies, typically as a student.
Abbreviation of 就職活動. Extremely common in everyday conversation and media. Refers to the entire job-hunting process for students and new graduates.
就活が大変だ。
Job hunting is tough.
就活を始める時期です。
It's time to start job hunting.
A student engaged in job hunting. Often used in news and articles.
多くの就活生が合同説明会に参加した。
Many job-hunting students attended the joint career fair.
Looking for a job in a broad sense, including part-time, freelance, or career changes.
Literally 'job searching'. A general, everyday term for looking for any kind of work.
仕事探しは順調ですか？
Is your job hunting going well?
インターネットで仕事探しをしている。
I'm job hunting on the internet.
Similar to 仕事探し but slightly more formal or literary. Often used in writing.
Searching for a new job while already employed or with work experience, often called 'career change' in English.
Specifically refers to job hunting for a career change. Very common among working professionals.
転職活動を始めようと思っています。
I'm thinking of starting job hunting for a career change.
転職活動は大変ですが、頑張ります。
Job hunting for a career change is tough, but I'll do my best.
Abbreviation of 転職活動. Casual and trendy, often used in media or among younger professionals.
転活サイトに登録した。
I registered on a career change job hunting site.
就活 (shuukatsu) is specifically for students or new graduates entering the workforce. 仕事探し (shigoto sagashi) is a broad term for looking for any job, including part-time work. 転職活動 (tenshoku katsudou) is for people already employed who are seeking a new job (career change). Using the wrong term can cause confusion.
大学生は就活をしている。
University students are job hunting.
フリーターは仕事探しをしている。
Freeters are looking for jobs.
会社員は転職活動をしている。
Office workers are job hunting for a career change.
就活 implies a serious, full-time career path. For part-time or casual work, use 仕事探し or バイト探し (baito sagashi). Saying 就活 for a part-time job sounds odd.
バイト探しをしている。
I'm looking for a part-time job.
The full, formal term. Used in official contexts, resumes, and formal writing.
就職活動の状況を教えてください。
Please tell me about your job hunting status.
職探しに苦労している。
I'm struggling with job hunting.
Formal term for job-seeking activities, often used in official documents or by employment agencies.
求職活動の記録を提出してください。
Please submit a record of your job hunting activities.