Job Discussion Forums

[rich45]

Hi all,

My first post here, so be gentle! I've been lurking for the last few weeks, reading as much about teaching in Japan as possible. I'll start with a bit about my situation...

I'm a 24 year old English Language graduate from England, currently at the tail end of my WHV in New Zealand. However, as great as this country is, all I can think about is going to Japan...

I've met so many Japanese people here, and spent a lot of time researching in the library and on the internet. Basically, I plan on returning to the UK next month and putting my head down and working for a good 6 months to pay off the debts, and save up with the intention of going to Japan in September.

My original plan was to go to New Zealand for a year before 'settling down' into a teaching career back home. However, I consider myself far too young to do this and see Japan as a good place to gain some experience and do some travelling. I know some people might reply and say that working for Nova or whoever isn't teaching, but it's a start...

Anyway, I have been thinking about my 'gameplan' as it were, and this is where the confusion has set in a little bit. There are lots of other threads about my concerns, but it would be nice to get some information for my own specific situation.

The way I see it, I have 3 options:

1) Apply for jobs in England and more than likely end up working for one of the Big 4.

2) Travel to Japan on a Tourist Visa and look for work once I get there, although I'm aware that this is more risky and I'll need to save quite a lot of money beforehand. Least likely option to be honest.

3) Travel to Japan on a Working Holiday Visa and look for work. At the moment, this seems to be my most favourable option (though others may disagree?) as I would have the option of other work in the meantime, whether it be pot washing or whatever. I read some interesting posts yesterday by 'ronin' and others which suggested that you can work full time on the WHV, it can be 'upgraded' to a Working Visa once you find the job, and there are WHV offices (in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka) to help you on your way.

As an aside, my ideal location would be somewhere in the Kansai area (maybe Osaka) as I have a few friends in the region who I've met in NZ, and it would be great to have that support (and friendship of course) in the early stages.

I think I've waffled enough for now, but thanks for reading and I look forward to reading any responses.

Thanks,

Rich

[6810]

use the search function on this site

or do the same at gaijinpot.com to find this topic covered in full. In duplicate.

[rich45]

[rich45]

Anyone?

I was also wondering about the prospects of staying in a hostel for a period of time when I arrive (presuming I take option c above). A quick search on google has found them to be very cheap in my opinion, and having stayed in them for the last 12 months in NZ, I don't mind that at all.

Am I being realistic here? Is it feasible to come over on a WHV and spend a month or two looking for work whilst staying in a hostel? Surely it won't be that hard to find work if I don't need a sponsor AND I have a degree...

Thanks,

Rich

[Glenski]

Can you get a WHV for Japan after using it for New Zealand?
I think you have to apply for it from your home country, so if it IS possible to get one for Japan, you'll have to return to the UK to apply.

You don't have to live in a hostel. You can rent SOME places without an employer to serve a guarantor (do a search on a thread I started on that), and you could also just live in a gaijin house.

[Apsara]

Glenski, the WHVs for different countries are unrelated to each other as far as I know, I did a working holiday in Japan followed by one in England, and I have a lot of friends who have done working holidays in both Japan and Canada. You get one in each country you are eligible for, as long as you meet all the requirements.

OP, my working holiday experience 10 years ago was this:

First 3 months working at a ski resort in Nagano, food and accommodation included with the job, also free skiing and ski hire. I was recruited for this by an agency in Auckland.

Then 9 months working part time (evening Mon-Fri shift and occasional overtime) for Nova, plus some privates in the mornings as I picked them up.

I earned about 180,000 yen a week after tax, and I've seen people on this board tell potential WHVers this is impossible to live on, but at the time I was fresh out of university, used to living on a very tight budget, and was paying only about 30,000yen in rent as I was living in a guest house room with my boyfriend. I wouldn't like to live on that amount any more, but I saved enough at the time to spend 6 months in Spain studying Spanish before going to the UK.

If you come on a tourist visa and find a job you will be able to work full time and earn more- I'm assuming you're eligible.

You've only really given us an outline of what you want to do, and haven't asked any specific questions, so that's about all I can tell you at the moment.

[rich45]

Thanks for the replies...very helpful!

Glenski - Yeah from what I gather, it should be easy enough to get the WHV for Japan if I go down that route. I think they issue 400 to British citizens each year (from April to March) so as long as I apply reasonably early, it should be a formality. And I am going back home (28th Feb) to work for at least 6 months to pay off my minor debts and consequently save up for Japan.

Apsara - It's only an outline because it's still all ideas in my head at the moment, but your reply helped a lot. From reading on the forum (and I've done a lot of that!) I was under the impression that I could come over on a WHV and change to a Working Visa when I find a long term job. So in effect it's just like coming over on a Tourist Visa except that I'll immediately be able to support myself by doing a) other jobs or b) part time teaching work.

Hope my rambling makes sense.

My plan of action seems to change daily to be honest!

At the moment, I'm erring towards applying for the big eikaiwas in the next couple of months with the intention of starting in September, but I'm safe in the knowledge that should that go wrong for whatever reason, I can always fly over next January/February (prime hiring time) armed with a WHV.

(deep breath)

Sound good?

[Apsara]

Hi, when I was working for Nova I remember a Canadian guy changed to a Working Visa from his WHV- when his WHV expired. Probably you can change earlier than that, go to the Immigration Office and apply for a change of status, if they say no to a mid-visa change then it's only 6 months before you'll be able to do it anyway.

Best bet is to apply from the Uk as you say you're going to do- good luck with the interviews!