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oubeijin
Joined: 03 Nov 2010
Posts: 12
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 Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:29 am Post subject: Leaving JET... |
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So it's been a good experience with JET. I've learned a lot, earned a lot, but my time is up. I am still considering working in Japan. I think moving to a larger city would be best, due to the vast amount of work available.
I know I won't be making the big money anymore. However, I wasn't one of those people that squandered their time on JET, while teaching I earned a TESOL certificate, I also achieved Level 2 on the JLPT, so my Japanese is not too bad. Apart from that, I wouldn't say I have any extra-ordinary skills that set me apart. With that in mind, I feel I should stick to English teaching. Would I be a bottom-rung Eikaiwa grade worker? Is it possible to get something better? how about a direct hire ALT job? Is it impossible to get anything decent with anything less than an MA in TESOL? or, is the market here just too saturated? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:06 am Post subject: |
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What you get depends on how you market yourself and when you decide to be available.
Yes, ALT work is still open. Salary and other benefits are lower than with JET.
Yes, direct hire is an option, but you will likely have to know someone, like a Japanese teacher to put in a good word for you with the BOE. Private JHS or HS work is also open, and that is not ALT in many cases, but finding the work is the trick.
Yes, there are other options like junior college, but competition is steep.
And, yes, you can always do eikaiwa.
You'll have to change your visa to Humanities if you get something other than ALT work, but that's straightforward.
What do you call "decent"? You've been here long enough to know the market, I presume. "Decent" is relative. Get something and supplement on the side if it's money you want. |
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oubeijin
Joined: 03 Nov 2010
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, this isn't really news for me. I'm expecting to have to sell myself pretty hard to get something good. Luckily, I still have until the end of July to do that. I guess decent for me, would be within what JET salary. Looking on Gaijinpot, and there are job postings for �280,000, which I guess wouldn't be too bad. Is there any former JETs on here that stayed in Japan afterwards? How much was the change you experienced? I only got trollish answers when I asked this on other forums *ahem* BigDaikon, so hopefully some professionals on here would be willing to share some insight. |
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Inflames
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not a JET but I know several who stayed in Japan.
Basically, considering the requirements, JET is the best job one can easily get in Japan.
ALT work will be quite easy for you to get - any average ALT place would love someone with experience and Japanese skills. Getting that (Interac always seems to be hiring around Kanto) and business lessons at night (don't bother with eikaiwa unless you must - the business people will act much more professionally and the pay will be better) would be a reasonable start.
Keep studying Japanese (N2 isn't much) and, if you want to keep teaching, start on a Master's degree. |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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| I guess JET requirements have changed over the decades. When I was on the program(me) from 1990-3, three years was the max, 35 was the oldest AND you had to agree to LEAVE Japan upon the end of your contract! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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| oubeijin wrote: |
| Luckily, I still have until the end of July to do that. |
Bear in mind if you don't already know this, there aren't that many jobs which start in June or July, certainly as an ALT.
| Quote: |
| I guess decent for me, would be within what JET salary. Looking on Gaijinpot, and there are job postings for �280,000, which I guess wouldn't be too bad. |
Salary is one thing, but I assume you will be continuing your health insurance, so that 280K will be before deductions. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I guess decent for me, would be within what JET salary. Looking on Gaijinpot, and there are job postings for �280,000, which I guess wouldn't be too bad. |
Salary is one thing, but I assume you will be continuing your health insurance, so that 280K will be before deductions. |
Very important point that Glenski brings up:
We had an ex-JET who started doing an ALT job with RCS. Amongst other things, his wages were being eaten up by his health insurance and pension payments because he was no longer was getting Shakai Hoken. So he was having to pay 100% of the costs according to his previous year's JET earning despite earning considerably less; he simply couldn't afford to live and was eventually forced to move on.
So you should be extra careful about taking on any positions not offering SH. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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| oubeijin wrote: |
| Is there any former JETs on here that stayed in Japan afterwards? How much was the change you experienced? I only got trollish answers when I asked this on other forums *ahem* BigDaikon, so hopefully some professionals on here would be willing to share some insight. |
If only the trolls replied then you weren't asking the right questions. 
A good number of JETs stay on. A lot of those stick with what they know and go the ALT or whatever route, but quite a number branch out and leverage things into other areas. I know people that have gone from JET to working at the likes of Mitsubishi (marketing), Sony (in house localization), various publishing houses, Toshiba (HR and marketing), Goldman Sachs (trading and HR), Citi (investment banking), etc.
Depending on what your degree is in, you might be surprised what you can get into in Japan. This is not the time to think small. Look around and apply for stuff. There's far more interesting things than playing the language monkey game for another 10+ years.
Good luck! |
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oubeijin
Joined: 03 Nov 2010
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 5:29 am Post subject: |
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[quote="seklarwia"][quote="Glenski"]
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We had an ex-JET who started doing an ALT job with RCS. Amongst other things, his wages were being eaten up by his health insurance and pension payments because he was no longer was getting Shakai Hoken. So he was having to pay 100% of the costs according to his previous year's JET earning despite earning considerably less; he simply couldn't afford to live and was eventually forced to move on.
So you should be extra careful about taking on any positions not offering SH. |
I was definitely not aware of this. That is really good to know. Especially if I am to be living in a big city with increased travel, accommodation and food costs. I've looked at a few company websites, but nothing has come up. Seeing how I'm in the country, it's hard for me to go to company offices and inquire. I also don't believe in cold-calling places is an effective method (in a who-knows-who society like Japan). I've looked at most of the main webpages for jobs in Japan, and I'm thinking of attending a few job fairs to see whats out there. But are there other places I should consider? I hate to say it, but JET has made me a bit complacent. Thank you for all your advice so far. |
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Inflames
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:27 am Post subject: |
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| oubeijin wrote: |
| I've looked at most of the main webpages for jobs in Japan, and I'm thinking of attending a few job fairs to see whats out there. |
Without N1 (or J1 on the BJT, or 650 or so on the J-test) or a good degree (or several years of experience back home) your ability to get a job outside of teaching English is quite limited.
I'd recommend looking at Japanese job sites to see what they have to offer, if you feel your Japanese is good enough. Some translation companies will be willing to give you a trial with N2 so that's something worth trying as well. |
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oubeijin
Joined: 03 Nov 2010
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:13 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Without N1 (or J1 on the BJT, or 650 or so on the J-test) or a good degree (or several years of experience back home) your ability to get a job outside of teaching English is quite limited. |
First off, I heard that the BJT is no longer offered, so it's a bit late for that. However, is it really that difficult to get (non-English-teaching jobs) without N1 on the JLPT? Or is that just what the market demands now?
So company websites are good, any other suggestions that I may be missing? |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Inflames wrote: |
| oubeijin wrote: |
| I've looked at most of the main webpages for jobs in Japan, and I'm thinking of attending a few job fairs to see whats out there. |
Without N1 (or J1 on the BJT, or 650 or so on the J-test) or a good degree (or several years of experience back home) your ability to get a job outside of teaching English is quite limited.
I'd recommend looking at Japanese job sites to see what they have to offer, if you feel your Japanese is good enough. Some translation companies will be willing to give you a trial with N2 so that's something worth trying as well. |
I thought the N2 was good enough to work for a lot of companies? Is that not true? |
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Inflames
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| rxk22 wrote: |
I thought the N2 was good enough to work for a lot of companies? Is that not true? |
Not true at all - one would need a lot of help/simplification to get by in an office. Overall, N1 doesn't mean much either. It's a pretty bad test as well - the results don't correlate with how much Japanese one understands, nor what level of Japanese one can produce.
BJT is still offered. It previously was administered by JETRO and now is administered by the Kanji Kentei people.
If someone wants to take a Japanese test, I recommend J-test. I've taken it and it's not easy but I felt it actually was a challenge. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Inflames wrote: |
Without N1 (or J1 on the BJT, or 650 or so on the J-test) or a good degree (or several years of experience back home) your ability to get a job outside of teaching English is quite limited.
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My experience is quite different. It's all in who you know and how well you can manage a job search. Japan is a big economy and you'd be surprised what you can wind up doing if you think outside the EFL box. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Inflames wrote: |
| rxk22 wrote: |
I thought the N2 was good enough to work for a lot of companies? Is that not true? |
Not true at all - one would need a lot of help/simplification to get by in an office.
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I disagree. In context, the person at N2 level should also have, by that point, a good functional command of Japanese. In my experience it's a good *indicator* and most people that have reached that level while in Japan are perfectly able to function in a Japanese work environment. |
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