A professor's main activities include delivering lectures on their main field of study. They may work at a university, industrial university, university of education, vocational college, or online university. In addition, they conduct research studies. Specifically, a professor's work consists of lecturing, researching, planning and adjusting curriculum, drafting teaching materials, setting exam questions, and thesis advising. There are two kinds of talents that a professor needs: One is the ability to deliver knowledge to students. Yet, a professor does not simply deliver knowledge but helps students expand the breadth and depth of their thinking by introducing problems and posing questions. Research begins with questioning, and questioning comes from one's imaginative power. The other talent required is an inquiring mind that can sustain and further develop research. In all fields of study ranging from natural science to humanities and social science, inquisitiveness, the power of concentration and an enterprising spirit to address the inquisitiveness are essential skills for professors. Becoming a professor requires an extensive amount of time and effort, research and experience, as well as intensive competition. While holding a Ph.D. suffices the eligibility for becoming a professor in most of the fields, some art fields require special research accomplishments. In general, you serve as an assistant professor and associate professor before becoming a professor. Professors who are affiliated with universities and fully devote their time to studies and lectures are called full-time professors while those who hold another job besides lecturing are called adjunct professors. Chief editor of a newspaper or a network writer who delivers lectures in journalism and communication department, or movie directors delivering lectures in related departments are major examples of adjunct professors. University hospitals have "outside professors," who are similar to adjunct professors in that they provide part-time services. Once employed by a university, professors generally work till their retirement age (65), but lately, a reemployment system is increasingly being adopted where they renew their contract every two or three years.

He/she teaches students and provides guidance in middle or high school in line with the educational curriculum. There are various subjects under the maritime and fisheries field which are divided as specified in the Regulations on Teacher Certification. For those wanting to teach in fisheries high school, he/she should major in fisheries education in university or complete a teaching course in fisheries department. To become a middle school teacher, he/she should either graduate from education department in university or in the case of other departments, complete a teaching course and then, acquire a 2nd class teaching license. Another way of becoming a middle school teacher when he/she graduates from a non-education department is to acquire a master's degree in education and to obtain the 2nd class teaching license. A middle school teacher could work in a state/public and private middle school, in which case, they must take the board exam for middle school teacher administered by the relevant city or provincial education office. The board exam for teachers are mostly held in November or December every year, and the exam consists of a written test, essay-writing, and interview. A teacher is someone who delivers knowledge to students at the same time as providing guidance. Both of these skills are essential for delivering a balanced education to students. For efficient delivery of knowledge, he/she needs ability to set study strategies and teaching skills. It is an ideal profession for those who like to communicate with others. Also, to show a good example to students and guide them, he/she needs leadership, sociability and guidance skills. A teacher should take responsibility for students' health and safety, coordinate others' opinions and lead them, and must take responsibility for consequences. A teacher is a very stable career. The stability of the job, in a fast-changing society like today, is rarely found in other fields of work. More middle and high school teachers are expected to be recruited to enhance the quality of education, but fierce competition is foreseen as many middle school licensed teachers are being produced.