Job Discussion Forums

meridian · Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 14

Hi,

I am just finishing a year on the JET program. It's been a great year where I was paid too much (considering what I did) - and I felt I was quite pampered.

I want to work in Japan again, (Tokyo, or maybe Sendai) but not right away. I'd also like to have a more involved job- as you probably know, many of us JET's are more "cultural ambassadors" than teachers or even teacher assistants. I intend to travel to some other counties, go home, and maybe get my CELTA before coming back. I'd like to do some more affective, actual teaching, if I return. But I won't have the "residing in Japan" advantage when looking for jobs, that I would have if I was willing to start work now. I'm not sure about the visa issues either (JET gave me a 3 year visa, but I am confused yet about whether or not it expires when I leave, or if it is still valid and would save paperwork for my next employer, thus being an advantage?)

Is there anything people might suggest I do, while I am still in Japan, (leaving in a few weeks) to improve my prospects for finding a job, as much as a year or a year and a half from now? Or will I be limited to NOVA/GEOS/AEON, etc.?

I was also thinking that, I could try to get hired with Westgate on the short contract (3 months) and look for another job while working for them, once I am in Japan. I guess I may also have the option of just arriving, and staying with a friend while I look for jobs.

And finally- since I live in Alaska, which is a bit out of the way-- do westgate/ nova/ etc, make you do a live interview? Because this would be a big expense for me, as all flights out of alaska are expensive!

If anyone has some advice/ experience relating to this matter I'd appreciate it! Sorry if it has been given already- I've been searching around the posts but haven't found exactly what I was looking for.
thanks!

Celeste · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 3:33 am Post subject:

Try Altia. They seem to be a pretty reputable company. They are providers of ALTs , but they seem to focus on quality of education more than most companies do, and they are not opposed to hiring former JETs.

nakanoalien2 · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Nakano, Japan

Are you sure you are ready to leave?

You have a visa, some experience. You might think about just going home for a couple of months and coming back. You've got the visa and I don't think that would raise red flags at immigration.

The first year or so back in America will be a period of readjustment. After that, you'll start settling in. You also might get an unrelated job and start building experience in that company or school. You then turnaround and come back to Japan and adjust again, including the new job. And...Japan won't be the same experience the second time around. That's good and bad (first kiss type of experience).

I've done this. Overall, I have no regrets but here's a list of what was difficult for me:

-not being able to relate to the small town I grew up in
-getting the opportunity to come back to JP
-not starting relationships because I didn't plan to stay in the US
-looking for jobs in the US and feeling I was really special as someone that has lived abroad, only to find out that conversational Japanese and international teaching exp. wasn't a really big selling point (not that it hurts) to most companies

And once back in Japan (after a 2 yr absence):

-felt like I was an "old hand" but realized I had only just begun understanding Japan
-felt I had to prove I was not a newcomer
-could not regenerate the first time excitement of being in Japan
-all my friends had either already moved back to their countries or did so within my first year of being back

Good luck. Don't decide lightly.

Speed · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Shikoku Land

Hey Meridian,

The visa you got under the Jet Program is good for one year. If you had renewed your Jet contract, they would have renewed your visa again for another year. The JET Program has the capacity to renew your yearly visa three times, but they don't give you a "three year visa". So once your JET contract expires (end of July?), so does your visa.

If your look for a job in Japan in the future:

Many of the job openings that I found on www.ohayosensei.com, www.jobsinjapan.com and the Japan Times Monday edition, most of them require that I be in Japan for a chance at an interview. If you leave Japan, your best chance at scoring a job back in Japan is to stay at a friends place, like you mentioned, and hunt from there. That way you can narrow your job search to the type of job want (kids, adults, business english etc.) and the location that you want to be in.

I ended up landing a job from CA at one of the "Big 4" English conversation schools (ECC, Aeon, Geos, and Nova) that have recruiting offices overseas (and yes they do make you do a live interview). Almost any legitimate school requires a live interview since they are putting up money and taking a risk in sponsoring you.

CELTA is recommended. You'll probably get an eikawa gig without one but it will definitely help you with the skills you need to teach English. Also a few employers (not all and not the big 4) in Japan these days are looking for that on your resume. You can get a CELTA in your home country or while you're in Japan. Costs apx. $2000 US dollars and takes about a couple of months (intensive).

Well I hope this helps and good luck.

Celeste · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 10:14 pm Post subject:

I am a JET and they gave me a 3 year visa. In fact they made a special point of having me make sure that it waas stamped correctly at Narita airport when I arrived. Are 3 year visas a new thing for JET?

Speed · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Shikoku Land

When you were hired on as a JET, you were granted a "work visa" which allows you to enter Japan for the purpose of working (for JET I believe it's the Kyoiku visa - Instructor). The Kyoiku visa stamped in your passport allows you to receive the "Status of Residence/Duration of Stay" stamp by the immigration officer at the airport. You're not allowed to stay in the country past the "until_____" date unless you have an extension.

I received my Kyoiku visa back in '96 it was stamped good for one year (therefore allowing me to enter as a worker not a tourist). My "Status of Residence/Duration of Stay" was also stamped good for one year, which I had to renew every year.

Check your passport and you should see the "visa" stamp and your "Status of Residence/Duration of Stay" stamp inside. If you leave Japan and come back, for example a couple years later, you'll need to reapply for a visa to re-enter the country to work. If you stay in Japan, you won't need to reapply for a visa but you will have to update which category of work you will fall under.

Note- If you work for an eikawa company, your working visa category changes to Jinbunchishiki/Kokusaigyomu - Specialist in Humanities.

This was my experience and how it was explained to me. Make sure to check with your BOE or CLAIR since I don't want to give you any misdirected info. Good luck.

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

NOVA requires a live interview I believe. Westgate will do phone interviews to whereever you are from Shizuoka.

Generasian X · Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 50

The NEW JETs (2001 and beyond) are given 3 year visas...

meridian · Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 14

Thanks for all your replies!
but Im still confused-

As Speed mentioned, does the 3 year visa (which I got in 2002) need to be renewed by my employer (and therefore it expires when I leave that employer?)

Or- since other people said things changed in 2001 - is it still good?
Also, if the visa WAS still good, would I not also need a "re-entry permit"? (I had a multi-re-entry permit but I believe it expires after a year too. But maybe I dont even need it.)

If there is a job that says, "proper visa required", am I eligible?

Well, I hope I am not creating much ado about nothing. I am also going to just ask my supervisor tomorrow and Ill post after I get his answer.
Thanks!