1.
job hunting; job search activities
The process of seeking employment, especially the structured job-hunting season undertaken by university students in Japan. Often abbreviated to 就活 (しゅうかつ).
Usage
In Japan, 就職活動 refers to the highly structured job-search process that university students go through, typically starting in their third year. It involves attending company information sessions, submitting entry sheets, and going through multiple rounds of interviews.
Forms
Almost always shortened to 就活 in casual speech and even in news reports. The full form 就職活動 appears in formal or written contexts.
Common collocations
- 就職活動を始める (start job hunting)
- 就職活動に励む (work hard at job hunting)
- 就職活動が終わる (finish job hunting)
- 就職活動で忙しい (busy with job hunting)
Cultural note
Japanese university students typically wear identical black "recruit suits" (リクルートスーツ) during 就職活動. The uniformity is part of the expected etiquette.