Job Discussion Forums

[MayaOtaku]

I apologize in advance if this post has been done before, or if someone takes offense to it. If so, I give the moderators permission to delete it, but I'm reallyreallyreally hoping someone can be kind enough to help me a bit...

So, in a nutshell, I REALLY want to go to Japan after I graduate (which will be in about a year, June 2014)

Here's what I will have:

- A 4 year degree from a good school
- A lot of volunteer experience, mostly coaching kids
- A few really good references, both personal and employers
- Taking a TESOL program at nights this year
- Might be able to certify at the lowest Japanese language level (maybe)
- Have visited Japan twice before, might be three by then
- Coordinator & English tutor for a tutoring service run through our school, many ESL kids
- LOVE anime and manga, have seen almost every series.


So, is this enough to make me competitive for something like ECC or Aeon or Interac? If not, what areas should I brush up on? Neither English nor Japanese has words that describe just how badly I want to go live there...

I'd be eternally grateful for any assistance or advice people can provide, positive or negative.

And, if people think I have a shot at this, I'm happy to stick around and contribute to the forums over this year ^_^

Maya

[timothypfox]

ok i'll try my hand at making a first comment here.

Maya, I would say with a 4 year degree, a supervised TESOL certificate (with an actual teacher observing you), good references, work with kids, and demonstrated interest in Japan (japanese language and pop culture), you might be a great fit for the JET program.

I know its hard to do, but why not apply to them as well? It's the best entry level job out there to get into Japan, and I've heard people say one of the best experiences for first time work. It's the kind of work that could network you into other teaching work when you are done your 3 or 5 years of JET.

Worst case, I'm sure with perseverance, the other jobs you describe would work well. Maybe just consider doing some volunteer tutoring on campus to foreign students. It would give you actual ESL teaching to put on your resume before you apply for jobs.

[Pitarou]

Sounds excellent. If you can write a reasonable resume and you don't come across as too weird at an interview, I'm sure you'll do fine. If you don't mind being put out in the sticks (it'll probably do wonders for your language skills) the JET programme should be your first choice. Better pay, better work, better hours, better chances to experience authentic Japanese culture, and more sociable hours than at a chain English conversation school.

But go easy on the anime thing, okay? If they ask you about it at the interview, say "Yes, I enjoy anime. My big brother used to have quite a collection, and he sometimes let me watch it." and then steer the conversation back towards how you want to develop your English-teaching career.

[Libertas-MMXIII]

[Pitarou]

[Libertas-MMXIII]

[RustyShackleford]

Definitely try for JET unless for some reason you must be in Japan ASAP. Better pay, work conditions and, if you're lucky, you'll even be within train distance of Tokyo. You're more than qualified for it. In any case, you should have no trouble finding work in Japan.

Don't play up your love of anime and manga until you arrive. If they ask great but don't make it your focus. Speaking as a fellow dyed-in-the-wool otaku here.

[Inflames]

[MayaOtaku]

Wow, thank you everyone for the advice and encouragement

Yeah, maybe I should de-emphasize the anime aspect a bit... I just have always had the dream of being able to watch anime in its native country... I even want to live in certain cities because my favorite anime characters live there. BUT I have backup stories for why I'll request them... like Nishinomiya, not so I can look for Haruhi and Kyon, but because I like the Hanshin Tigers and other stuff about the region... or Kamakura, not to see where the bloody battles from Elfen Lied happened, but because of its Buddhist and political history.

I'm definitely applying to JET, and would take it in a heartbeat if I got in, but I'm also being realistic that I may have to go with my second or third choices. Frankly, I'd be willing to live in a box and eat stale ramen if it meant I could live there. But I'm not advertising that fact

I'll definitely keep hanging around these forums, thank you again to everyone for their kindness ^_^

Maya

[rxk22]

Seriously tone the a time stuff down. You at this level are coming across like a weirdo.

BTW I am sure that Japan is not the place you think it is

[Libertas-MMXIII]

Don't forget to add "avid J-Pop lover" and "proficient with chopsticks" in your resume's qualifications section.

[rtm]

[rxk22]

[kah5217]

Keep in mind that to the kids, Mickey and Perry Platypus are just as anime as Luffy and Keroro. My kids actually want to talk more about super heroes and sports than what Japanese tv shows I've seen. A lot of the boys want to know about Milla Jovovich too.

[Sublime]

Would it be an advantage to mention Cosplay?