Job Discussion Forums

TTwinTTurbo · Joined: 24 Aug 2012 Posts: 14

Hello,

I have a recruitment company that has schools all over Japan that has asked me to send my ORIGINAL degree. They say that they need this along with a few passport sized photos to process a visa for me. They said that if I didn't want to send my original degree that I could send originals of my university transcripts, which I am also hesitant to send as I only have the one original with me. I am uncomfortable sending this and just need some reassurance that this is normal. Have any teachers sent there originals over? If somehow my degree was lost in the mail, I would be screwed! By the way, I am currently residing in Thailand. I am teaching English here.

sabina · Joined: 11 Nov 2010 Posts: 75

Nope, that's NOT normal. Don't ever send anyone your original degree. I also applied from outside my home country, and all I sent in was an electronic copy of my degree. (No transcripts, either.)
They do need the passport sized photos. DO NOT send off your degree! You might not get it back!!!

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

I disagree with sabina.

It's perfectly normal. You can send your original degree parchment or a scanned image, whichever they prefer. If they want transcripts instead, be sure they clearly state you got the degree.

I don't understand why you are worried about having only one copy. You got the job, right? Transcripts are a necessity for job hunting anyway, so you should have more than one copy lying around. They aren't that expensive usually (certainly not compared to the income you will make). I took half a dozen with me to Japan.

If your degree is damaged or lost, it can easily be replaced at (usually) a small fee. I really wouldn't sweat it.

Like I said, you got the job, right? Processing paperwork for a visa is pretty standard.

Don't send original degrees if you are just applying for the job, of course. I had to tell a prestigious private uni here to stuff it, because if every uni asked for that during application submissions, I wouldn't be able to send more than one. They slapped their forehead, apologized and said transcripts plus a photocopy of the degree would suffice. Doh!

kah5217 · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki

A lot of universities offer the option to send a transcript directly to the employer, is that an option?

But before you send anything, make sure it has an exact date of degree on it. Both my degree and my transcript only had month/year, and I had to get an additional paper from uni.

TTwinTTurbo · Joined: 24 Aug 2012 Posts: 14

Thanks for the replies everyone. It is a little nerve racking sending my degree and it sounds like there is conflicting information on whether to do it or not. I am just worried because basically if it gets lost, I can't get a job because I'm halfway across the world.

That is my main fear. I know that if it were to get lost or something that it would take at least a month or two to get a new one. It takes forever to mail things to Thailand.

I am going to mention to the recruiter that if I send my degree over, that I will not be able to apply anywhere in the meantime, in case there is a problem in attaining a visa. I don't want to send either really. I found it a little strange that I could send either or. It was mentioned that I could send either my degree OR my transcripts.

It is probably perfectly normal, but it is one of those risks that I will have no control over once my degree is in the mail (if i send it that is). Any other input is welcome, it will help me to decide.

Also, I have a job in Japan now but I was thinking about Vietnam. Does anyone have any input on where I would be able to save the most money? I like Thailand alot but am unable to save more than about 300 or 400 dollars. I know there is a search function and have used it plenty of times, but would like to here recent experience.

Thanks alot!

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

TTwinTTurbo · Joined: 24 Aug 2012 Posts: 14

Hello,

Well my salary will be 250,000yen per month with 12-14 teaching hours per week. I drink moderately. I do go to the gym everyday. What is a membership cost? I wouldn't be traveling out of the country for the contract. maybe one time in the middle. I am not in a relationship, but definitelly know how that goes in terms of saving money, basically doesn't happen.

I am at work from 8 to 4:30. Is there a market for private lessons? I would definitely do some because they are much more gratifying to me because the students actually want to learn, and a 1x1 meeting is so much better, in my opinion.

Cody

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

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

TTwinTTurbo · Joined: 24 Aug 2012 Posts: 14

Thanks Luke.

Glenski, thanks as well for the information. I probably spend about 20,000 a month on drinking, but definitely am going to try to get that number down. It would be interesting to find out what a gym membership costs on average in a city outside of Tokyo.

I have one more question. What is the startup cost in Japan? I don't want flights to be added or key money, as these are already payed for. I just wanna know how much I should have until my first paycheck. I am pretty frugal and have heard people say they would only come with $5,000 dollars which I think is a little on the high side. I would like honest opinions. What is the bare minimum? I'm going to assume $5,000 is the most I would need so what would be the max so what would be a figure in the middle?

Oh, and lastly, I have about 1 and 1/2 years experience. Not much, but it's something.

Cody

Rob1209 · Joined: 15 Jan 2012 Posts: 36

Hi Cody,
A gym membership in my city is about 5-6000Yen per month. It's a big flashy gym in a very unflashy city, so this should only be a rough estimate, there are other options. I decided against it as I can easily work out at home/outside/in the park for free, and saving is a primary objective.

I agree with Glenski's breakdown of costs - he's answered this question so many times he's probably got a document saved ready to cut and paste for it.

My salary is the 250,000Y per month standard, and I save 100,000 per month. I go out of my way to be frugal though, visiting supermarkets at 9.30pm to stock up the freezer with half-price meat, and I've virtually had to give up alcohol, save the odd beer from the konbini or a glass with my food when I eat out. Which thankfully, I'm still able to afford once a week, as well as a day trip around once a month.

It's worth noting though that the value of that 100,000Y has gone from �820 down to �685 in less than 6 months, and is continuing to decrease at an alarming rate. I know some Americans who have seen similar declines in the exchange rate too. It seems it could get a lot worse. So whether Japan will continue to be a great option for saving is anyone's guess, many think it won't be.

In terms of start up costs, it'll depend a lot on what you're having to fork out for initially. Are you getting a company-provided apartment with key money etc paid for? Will it be furnished?

For me, $5000 USD isn't the maximum, it's recommended even for those who don't need to search for apartments, move in and furnish the place. I spent a lot more than that initially, but a lot of that went into securing and furnishing our apartment, and I knew that I'd be staying for a few years so bought a sofa and kitchen dining table etc.

Having said that, with a job already in hand and an apartment taken care of by the company, I wouldn't try to dissuade someone from coming over with less. Most decent companies should give you a rough guide to how much money to bring to tide you over, and they're usually pretty spot on.

So if you're looking to save, figure it'll take the first 3 months to break even from those start-up costs, rising to 6 months if you have to secure and furnish your own apartment. Many single people at the company I work for claim to send back about 100,000Y each month, and with a decent quality of life (by their own standards).

As for private lessons, they can be super-easy to get, but also very fickle as Glenski said. My contract doesn't allow private lessons, and I've honoured that (although I know many that haven't), but I've lost count of the amount of people I've met in cafes, shops and restaurant who have asked me to teach them English for money.
As an example, I introduced three 60-somethings I met in a coffee shop to my girlfriend, and she now gives them a 2-hour lesson once a month for 7,500Yen in the coffee shop that one of them owns. I'm told that's cheap for English lessons. They also take her out for sushi afterwards and pick up the bill. So far none of them have missed a lesson or not paid, but I guess they're not the typical private students either.

Hope all this helps.

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

Rob1209 · Joined: 15 Jan 2012 Posts: 36

TTwinTTurbo · Joined: 24 Aug 2012 Posts: 14

Thank you so much for your detailed replies. It really helps me to figure out what my actual costs are going to be. I am one of many student loan burdened graduates so I am planning to pay these down (21k).

The company told me that every time I come in for a half day on Saturday's I get a full day paid vacation. It's nice to know I will be able to save up to 100,000 yen per month. I would be happy with 50,000 per month. I just found out it is only 7 teaching hours per week which is close to nothing, but apparently there is a lot of preparation that is involved in this private school. I also have to teach science once per week.

Apparently my apartment is 55k per month, but the first two months they will deduct 85k, so that the last month of the year is paid for. I'm paying 3 months in the timeframe of 2 months. The only downside to this job is that I am required to come in 1-2 saturdays a month (with no vacation time added). They are half days, but I guess they want me there to help the students with any questions they might have.

I do have a question based on the health insurance and tax. In my original contract it didn't list how much tax would be deducted, then he told me 10% and said that he is going to fix that and resend me a contract today. Is 10% pretty standard? He also said that at the end of the year we can file for a tax return and last year he got back around 200-250k? He told me to save every single receipt that I get and at the end of the year you can pay a tax broker about 5,000 yen to do your taxes. My last question is that on my contract there wasn't health insurance listed, but if I wanted to join it would be about 2,000 per month. This sound right?

Anyways, I really appreciate all of those cost breakdowns. They are very helpful to me.

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

Rob,
We're talking about setup costs, not what you can save after you start working. The OP doesn't have a job yet and wants to know a breakdown of what it will take to set up while he looks for work.

But, to answer you anyway, if one sends home 100,000 yen and has 25,000 left over after those basic needs, that could very easily be burned up. I guess it all depends on what people do, and that's why we both talked about being frugal. The problem is, so many people aren't frugal, and in a sense, it's easy to understand why. I mean, early on they will likely have the sense of awe about sightseeing, and some people are very social animals, or others gravitate towards that whether for girlfriends/boyfriends or because they are simply lonely. Activities associated with that will cost money, so 25,000 can disappear quickly.

Now, if one chooses to send home 100,000 just to avoid extravagant spending, that's a financial decision they have to make up front. Whatever amount one sends home before there's a chance to spend it is a sound idea. But, it's been my experience that more people than not don't think like that, which is the main reason I posted like I did.