Job Discussion Forums

im_not_a_violentdrunk · Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 59

Kionon and Glenski, Thanks again for answering my questions and providing me with a lot to think about through your dialogue with each other. Having read your posts and checked flights etc. I have come to the conclusion of having to options open to me ,again I would highly value your input in the worth of either.
1.) Having completed my Celta in Thailand, I fly straight over to Japan, staying in Leopalace or guest house accommodation whilst I attend interviews (having started my search for jobs now-and continuing to do so in Thailand).
2.) Complete my CELTA in Thailand and return to the UK-This is an option as return flights are cheaper than one-way and I also have a holiday (already paid for) booked for the 26thAugust-4thSeptember. Which I really would like to go to as I cancelled once the same time last year. I Would then fly out to Japan mid september-having once again applied for jobs from home (informing prospective employees of the date I will be available from to interview in Japan). I would apply for the WHV at home well in advance of travelling to Japan.
Again I have read countless posts on Visa questions so I'm sorry to have to ask you this again. I have had a hard time wrapping my head around what the recommended course of action is. With a British passport, am I eligible to stay in Japan for 6 months with a Visa issued on Arrival(assuming I am too late to be one of the people given a WHV-the foreign office website says that 1000 are issued per annum)? If so, I don't declare my intention to look for work and simply inform prospective employees that I require sponsorship (COE)? If IS ILLEGAL TO LOOK FOR WORK ON A TEMPORARY VISITOR LANDING PERMIT. DO NOT TELL IMMIGRATION YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WORK.
Then will schools not be perturbed by the fact that I am present in Japan for interviews yet still asking for sponsorship? (Just a reminder that I have a BA and MA-as I have read that this becomes relavent at the sponsorship stage) Thanks again Smile

G Cthulhu · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 3:37 pm Post subject:

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

im_not_a_violentdrunk,
If you come directly to Japan after Thailand, you will be in a better position to find a job simply because you will physically be here, and many ads state that they prefer to have applicants in Japan. There are simply more opportunities to shoot for if you are in Japan.

If you feel you cannot afford to job hunt while in Japan for ~3 months, stay in the UK, but you will have fewer employers to search from.

The WHV will let you work PT jobs, which you can start immediately, and you can do any sort of work, not just teaching, so you have the potential of some income while you job hunt and get used to the country and surroundings. You also don't need employer sponsorship. Down side is that you will be taxed 20% and not all employers for teaching jobs will be willing to take you on.

IMO, don't worry over job hunting on a tourist status. Many do it.

Coming in September will be lukewarm for job hunting, IMO. There is a minor blip in hiring for October starts. After October, things thin out fairly fast.

im_not_a_violentdrunk · Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 59

Hi Glenski, thanks for the advice. So in your opinion, as August itself is not an optimal time for securing a job, travelling over in september will be incrementally worse? Having said that september will be lukewarm, will August be much better? I know it may seem like I don't have my priorities in order, but the holiday I mentioned is already booked and paid for, hence (if the month difference between August-September) isn't too great I really would like to go on that Holiday. Confused

I will be able to finance myself for 3months whilst staying in Japan hunting for jobs (if I arrive either at the start of August or the start of September). Again thanks for your time, I'm awaiting a reply from my application for the Celta course and things are really starting to get moving for me now, so I'm getting quite excited!
(With the information you have given me about visa's, it's then not really worth my while visiting the Japanese embassy in London to ask them?-I can just fly over and get the tourist Visa issued upon arrival?) Cheers, hope your working week is going ok, we've got tropical weather over here in England (30 Celsius-Tropical for England anyway!)

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I'd say come immediately after Obon and work hard to secure interviews. You will have only 6 weeks before October start dates to get a visa in line.

You could come at the start of August and have only a week to do any serious hunting before Obon is upon you, but maybe you'd rather use that first week rather than lose any time at all. Either way, keep in mind that it may take 2-8 weeks to get a work visa issued, and that you should contact potential employers in advance of landing here.

im_not_a_violentdrunk · Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 59

Hi Glenski, You can't just waltz into an embassy and ask for a work visa. You have to be hired first. Maybe I don't understand what you meant here What I meant , I live 40 minutes away from London (where the Japanese Embassy is), so I could have quite easily gone in to ask questions related to visas etc. as you don't need to make an appointment to speak to them. You've cleared it up for me though, so there's no need for me to do that now.
I'd say come immediately after Obon and work hard to secure interviews. You will have only 6 weeks before October start
From what I could understand from google, Obon is around the 15th of August.
So if you were in my shoes you would write off that holiday and go straight over to Japan?

Thanks for your thoughts and I am seriously considering them. I am however leaning towards taking the holiday and heading out at the start of september. I'm thinking that I'll do what I can in getting in contact with schools both whilst I'm in Thailand and then when I get back to the UK. I can let them know when I'm heading out to Japan and make myself available for Skype interviews, should that be an option.
By the way, as I haven't specified, is your advice geared towards me applying directly to Eikaiwa's or to work as an ALT posted through an agency (interac.etc?) Worst comes to worse, I could always try working in Thailand for a while until a better hiring period occurs in Japan (which would be in the new year after that september period I assume?)

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

im_not_a_violentdrunk · Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 59

Argh, This is gonna be such a hard decision to make! Will somebody else please come on and tell me what I want to hear? haha Razz

Unless you are on a working holiday visa, you will also have to deal with waiting for a work visa to be processed.
This was the information I took from the Japanese Uk embassy website(http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/visa/working-holiday.html)
Those wishing to apply for a Working Holiday Visa are required to submit, along with a valid UK passport, one copy each of the following documents to the appropriate consular missions of the Government of Japan in the United Kingdom. Statements made in these documents must be true and accurate.
1. Valid UK passport (British Citizen)
2. One completed visa application form
3. One passport-sized photograph approx. 35mm x 45mm (taken within the last 6 months)
4. A personal history, resume or curriculum vitae typed on A4 paper
5. A proposed itinerary for the whole stay in Japan (up to 12 months), including details of prearranged employment, if any
6. A written reason for applying for a Working Holiday Visa typed on A4 paper
7. Either ￡2,500 in cleared funds (last 3 months bank statements must be shown)
Or ￡1,500 and a return or onward journey ticket or a receipt for such.
(Traveller's cheques, credit cards and overdrafts are not acceptable as evidence of sufficient funds)
(In the case of a married couple applying for two visas, the minimum amounts are ￡4,500 and ￡2,500 respectively.)
In some cases, additional documents may be required.
So If I apply for one of these now and am successful, I wouldn't need sponsorship for a job in Japan? For 5+6 Do you think I could put that my intentions are to find work in an Eikaiwa? Or does it mean I can start working at a school whilst awaiting the work visa? That could be perfect for my situation? Thanks Glenski

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Re: Working Holiday Visa

im_not_a_violentdrunk · Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 59

Will somebody else please come on and tell me what I want to hear? haha
Thanks for obliging Glenski! I'm going to hunt around for somebody to speak to who has received a WHV before, so that I can rack their brains. I'll draw up a plan of Japanese cultural sites. I've already started studying Japanese, so I'll try to learn the Japanese names of these places as well. I'm determined to be able to ask for food,drink and directions when I land. I've had to do, the point and look pleadingly combo before, I hope to not need that when I get there. Arigato gozaimasu Smile

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

im_not_a_violentdrunk · Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 59

Hi Vince, thanks for answering my questions;Not as long as you keep your post-TEFL goals in mind and look for opportunities to gain experience toward those goals. It's a compromise between your short-term desires and long-term goals. The question is, how much compromise can your long-term goals withstand. Yea, I've given this a lot of consideration. In my situation, my circumstances have prevented me from gaining any real work experience and I've genuinely exhausted all of my avenues over here. To be honest, I'm just gonna give it my best shot and take it from there when I get back to the U.K. If nothing else, I can't be worse off than I am now, plus I'm excited about doing it and looking forward to it as well. Smile

I started to not enjoy it, but some of that had to do with my inability to pursue advancement. I can appreciate what you're saying here and I imagine I would have similar reservations should I look to pursue a career as an EFL teacher. As it stands, for me this isn't a grave concern at this moment.
Thanks for your honesty and point of view, it's much appreciated.
Do you mind me asking where you were taught in Japan and a couple of pros and cons of the area, if you have the time. Cheers

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

Kionon · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:05 am Post subject:

I dislike Tokyo, and Kanto in general. I'm one of the ones Vince mentions as finding Tokyo too busy and hectic. In general I feel that way about most Japanese cities. Nice places to visit, but I'd rather live in a place with a population <100K people. Also, I don't think I ever would have gotten to my intermediate Japanese level in Tokyo.

Cool Teacher