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kittycat
Joined: 21 May 2006
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject: in debt-love working in japan-how to make Y400,000+ a month? |
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anyone out there who adores living/working in japan but due to a shamefully naughty attitude towards saving money now desperately needs to start earning more than 400,000 yen a month to get out of debt?? if so you'll empathise with me!
although currently working here in the uk, i've been an efl teacher in japan for 2 years and plan to return to japan (tokyo) later this summer. i've a full degree, am working towards finishing a distance learning diploma in tefla and have over 7 years professional efl/esol teaching experience...however...i've also been modeling in fashion (not the glamour sort!) for years part time also and have always have lots of dosh to splash around and have fun with - i'm embarrassed to admit i've not saved and the idea that one day it would run out was pushed to the back of my mind. now at 28 i don't feel i can go on with this silly lifestyle and need to grow up - my sell by date in the fashion world is zooming closer and i'm determined not to run from my debts!
please do tut and frown and say what a foolish girl but please don't assume i'm a total airhead - my primary love is teaching and i've an inordinate amount of training under my belt alongside an ambition to move into teacher training in the future. i just need to get on the right path to achieving this goal but allow me to make immediate 'big' cash ... would holding down a couple of part-time jobs be best? university jobs? private lessons???
i truly can't abide teaching kids, can't speak japanese (only low level converational stuff picked up in bars and taxi journeys) and i don't as yet hold a drivers licence.
i'm a sincerely hard grafter and idealy need work around tokyo as that is where i'll be based again with regards to my accomodation and city life preferences.
any snippets of advice would be so so greatfully received!
thank you!
cat x |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
i've a full degree, am working towards finishing a distance learning diploma in tefla and have over 7 years professional efl/esol teaching experience
i just need to get on the right path to achieving this goal but allow me to make immediate 'big' cash ... would holding down a couple of part-time jobs be best? university jobs? private lessons???
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I hate to burst your bubble, but unless you have a master's degree and some experience teaching here, you are very likely not going to get a university teaching position (full-time, that is). In fact, since you haven't described any previous work in Japan as a teacher, I'm going to assume you haven't taught here, and that means a lot to employers, to the extent that you are really eligible only for entry level work -- eikaiwas (conversation schools) or ALT jobs (through dispatch agencies [shudder!!] or the JET program).
Most jobs here will bring in 250,000 yen/month (JET pays 300,000), and salaries are falling. Look at sidjameson's thread on a rough estimated timeline of how much teachers can make here, and you'll see that it'll take you a couple of years MINIMUM to get up to the 400,000 yen/month salary.
Some factors that you must consider:
1. Entry level work pays practically the same, no matter who the employer is, and there is virtually no room for negotiation.
2. The country is full of teacher wannabes, so there is always a boatload of people applying for the same positions, and many of those people are already here with a visa that permits work immediately.
3. You will need a sponsor (employer) for your work visa. If you want to start faster, perhaps a working holiday visa will get you in a classroom sooner, but it is only good for 2 six-month stints, and then you will have to leave Japan or find an employer to sponsor a work visa for you.
4. Most eikaiwa work runs from noon to 9pm. That leaves little time to job hunt, but you will have to squeeze it in if you want to change. It also leaves little time to do private lessons or PT work, but it can be done. You will have virtually no life other than teaching, though. I know a couple of people (and know OF a few more) that claim to make much more than 400,000 per month, but their visas are secure (a No. 1 priority), and they hustle, hustle, hustle to take on as many PT jobs as they can in bigger cities to work 6-7 days a week.
5. Taking on private lessons has become somewhat easier in recent years with the advent of sites such as www.findateacher.com , but private lessons are notoriously fickle, and they'll drop you like a rock with no notice. Plus, it will take time to build up a clientele. You need to know what you are getting into. I have a bit more info if you want to know.
6. Knowing the language won't be necessary for teaching,but it will help immensely in daily life (obviously) and in securing other work sometimes. Over here, your native English speaking nationality works for you a lot, but equally so do contacts.
7. You don't want to teach kiddies? That will limit you, as some eikaiwas have their teachers teaching adults AND kids (separately, of course).
Advice:
Scour the online ads and The Japan Times (Monday edition) if you can get it.
Map out which places seem reasonable to you.
Decide whether you are going to come here to look for work, or if you are going to stick to the very few employers who come to the UK to recruit.
If you plan to come here, have US$4000 to support yourself for 2 months, maybe more, before you land a job.
Learn as much Japanese as you can, before and after you arrive.
Come at a time when people are hiring. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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I hate to burst your bubble, but unless you have a master's degree and some experience teaching here, you are very likely not going to get a university teaching position (full-time, that is). [/quote]
Speaking as an insider unless she has a sponsored work visa, regular work in a conversation school (with a sponsor), contacts and connections and previous college teaching experience it will even be hard to break into part time work at a university. There are only two sites I know of that advertise in English and the competition for positions is STIFF. the minimum is a Masters and previous experience. Jobs requiring a BA are rare and pay eikaiwa wages. Many jobs are also being outsourced to private companies like ECC.
| Quote: |
| Most jobs here will bring in 250,000 yen/month (JET pays 300,000), and salaries are falling. Look at sidjameson's thread on a rough estimated timeline of how much teachers can make here, and you'll see that it'll take you a couple of years MINIMUM to get up to the 400,000 yen/month salary. |
You might make over 300.000 yen a month at NOVA in Tokyo with overtime and cost of living allowances. Your rent and travel costs will be higher and your travelling times longer, up to an hour each way on crowded trains. Do you want to be crossing Tokyo five days a week and spending half your life on trains? You can teach privates and company classes but it will been working 12 hour days, and dont think sitting chatting in NOVA for 8 hours at a stretch is not physically tiring, and then having to work another 2-3 hours on top of it.
Private lessons I have found students want to study for nothing, they quit and cancel on a dime and you are continually hustling for students. Not only that you have no secretary to field your calls so you have to hunt for students, negotiate times prices and lessons in Japanese. Also find a place to teach them and make sure they dont cancel on you at the last minute. Sometimes its more trouble than its worth.
Japan is not a 'get-rich-quick' kind of place but rather get-rich, slow. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: in debt-love working in japan-how to make Y400,000+ a mo |
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| kittycat wrote: |
however...i've also been modeling in fashion (not the glamour sort!) for years part time also and have always have lots of dosh to splash around and have fun with - i'm embarrassed to admit i've not saved and the idea that one day it would run out was pushed to the back of my mind. now at 28 i don't feel i can go on with this silly lifestyle and need to grow up - my sell by date in the fashion world is zooming closer and i'm determined not to run from my debts!
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Post a picture of yourself. Let us see if you're the model type? 
So, you want to roll into Japan, make 400,000 yen because you need to and haven't saved anything up until this time in your life. You have experience and think you can rack up some money modeling on the side.
As the others have said, you're going to have an upward battle. If you're as good looking as you think you are, my suggestion is to get a day job teaching in Tokyo and hostess at night. You'll make your 400,000.
You've missed the prime hiring time, you're not in the country now, you don't have the qualifications to set yourself apart from the majority here, you don't have any Japanese ability...the list goes on and on. You would be able to eventually make your 400,000, with contacts and careful job selection, probably working a few jobs, 6 days a week. |
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kittycat
Joined: 21 May 2006
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 12:53 am Post subject: i have a plan - and it's not of the hostess bar type! |
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thank you glenski and paulh for your swift and helpful response - and thank you also to canuck for taking the time to reply but my goodness, a hostess bar would eat me alive! no disrespect to hostesses - i've met a few and sure, they've all been smart and sassy but rough also! and listen, i'm really not that sort of model!only pranced around in clothes for glossy fashion magazines and walked up and down to loud music - big deal - certainly don't think i'm gods gift ok!! lol! i just want to continue professionally teaching efl but return to japan as that is where i've adored teaching the most (not titillate greasy men with a drink and wink - thats strictly saved for weekends after work only!lol!)
i've worked in japanese eikaiwas for 2 years in japan - geos (uurgghh) for a year then in a privately owned british school based in nagoya (wonderful - lots of business english and exam classes for professionals). i've otherwise been working full-time teaching esol in british adult education whereupon i've hit senior teacher status and have recently become a qualified dyslexia awareness co-ordinator in basic skills as well as becoming an oral examiner for the cambridge and ocn esol qualifications. so...i guess i've felt confident that my experience/skills would boost my chances of getting some higher paying teaching opportunities in japan but i think i've got to bite the bullet and embrace a get rich slow not quick way of proceeding.
so i've applied to do a westgate 3 month university program stint sep-dec - got a phone interview in a few days - that should not only get me a year visa but also get me to japan where i can then in earnest try and sort out further employment before the 3 months are up. and i know i know all about westgate and the problems with it but i'd like to think i'm made of sterner stuff than get freaked out over just 3 months of it! (i'm touching wood, crossing fingers, toes, you name it typing this!lol!).
so now i need to really start trawling through job listings and opportunities on the web and see what i could do seeing as i don't have a masters, only ba degree...so please do feel free to either offer up some links to good job search sites/schools or even mail back and say pull up your socks, you're not thinking this through with maturity/sense this is a stupid idea!
thanks again! xxx |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 1:05 am Post subject: |
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A decent ALT position will pay you 300,000 a month, as will a second year with most eikaiwas if you include housing allowances, insurances and travel expenses. Just pick up four or five part-time privates a week and you should be able to scrape 400,000.
Alternatively do horrendous amounts of overtime at Berlitz. |
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Willy_In_Japan
Joined: 20 Jul 2004
Posts: 329
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 1:14 am Post subject: |
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| 20 privates plus an ALT gig should be possible to do 400,000 a month. |
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earthmonkey
Joined: 18 Feb 2005
Posts: 188
Location: Meguro-Ku Tokyo
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 1:29 am Post subject: Re: i have a plan - and it's not of the hostess bar type! |
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| kittycat wrote: |
so i've applied to do a westgate 3 month university program stint sep-dec - got a phone interview in a few days - that should not only get me a year visa but also get me to japan where i can then in earnest try and sort out further employment before the 3 months are up. and i know i know all about westgate and the problems with it but i'd like to think i'm made of sterner stuff than get freaked out over just 3 months of it! (i'm touching wood, crossing fingers, toes, you name it typing this!lol!).
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Good luck Kitty. I think Westgate is a good idea to get your foot back in the door and get your visa. I've read more than once now on this forum that new Westgate teachers are getting 3 year Instructor visas. This is hard for me to believe. But, if it's true, it's a great deal for you. A three year visa gives you a lot of freedom. I'm working independently now, but never could have done it if I hadn't had a couple of years left on my visa when I quit my eikaiwa company.
I agree an disagree about private students. Yes, I've encountered many who have one or two lessons and then disappear or cancel every other week. Having said that, private students are a signifigant part of my income now. It takes time to weed out the dead wood and find the good ones who don't cancel. After a while, you'll be able to determine who will be a good one. I've been here for about 4.5 years, the last two of which have been quite good. It does take time.
Good luck! |
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voodoochild
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:12 am Post subject: |
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| If you want to make some decent dosh (cash) then I would suggest the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Oman etc etc... its the only place where that sort of money can be made.... Japan is not the place to earn big money anymore. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:17 am Post subject: |
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| voodoochild wrote: |
| If you want to make some decent dosh (cash) then I would suggest the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Oman etc etc... its the only place where that sort of money can be made.... Japan is not the place to earn big money anymore. |
I wouldnt want to be a woman working in Saudi Arabia. Women are not allowed to drive, vote or appear in public without a male escort. Alcohol is forbidden. Countries like Arab Emirates, Dubai and Kuwait are where the jobs are but most places there seem to want people with at least a Masters degree. |
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theoldman
Joined: 01 Nov 2003
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Ifyou want to make 400,000+ then you should ask yourself how many hours you are willing to work. It is quite possible to do it in somewhere like Tokyo or Osaka. However, you will take some time building up to this level.
A good ALT position (high school) will pay about 280K. for about 15-20 hours work.
Working two hours each night Mon-Thurs teaching something like business or conversation (not private) will pay about 130K.
This way your weekends are still free for MORE teaching or of course having fun.
Once again, it comes down to how hard you are willing to work. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 6:06 am Post subject: |
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Nice post TOM. I was going to say the same thing.
Back in the day it was high school until three, catch a nap and eikaiwa until nine-forty or something, five days a week.
No shortage of work for those who want it. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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| A decent ALT position will pay you 300,000 a month, as will a second year with most eikaiwas if you include housing allowances, insurances and travel expenses. |
I haven't worked eikaiwa in a few years, but I know that wages are falling, not rising. I have not heard of any eikaiwa that gives raises other than a couple of the Big Four. |
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X-MAN
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:09 am Post subject: |
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kittycat:
You shouldn't listen to the Glenskis and Paul Hs of the world. They are one of a kind. They have accomplished limited things but try to show how difficult the world of teaching in Japan really is. Neither of them live in Tokyo or anywhere near Tokyo. Tokyo happens to be the largest city in the world and there are a zillion opportunities to every one that there is in Hokkaido (yes, even the largest city of Sapporo). And the same goes for Kyoto. While they may be respectable places to live, they have nowhere near the opportunities that Tokyo has. [Just a side note on living conditions -- in Sapporo you have to deal with a lot of snow and harsh winters while Kyoto has murderously hot summers].
There are a huge number of decent teaching positions in Tokyo / Yokohama. Rent costs have decreased in the past few years. If you are willing to live in a small apartment, you could easily find a little hole in the wall in central Tokyo for about 80,000 (often much less). If you can stand the daily commute, you could live in the 'burbs for half that and save a lot more. (YES, 40,000/month in the 'burbs, sometimes a bit less) Actually, that's not a bad option.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is get a company like Nova to hire and sponsor you. Then, you'll have your visa and you can quit before you start -- and go freelance. Is it a nice thing to do? Well, that isn't the issue. The system is set up in a way to make it possible so why not take advantage of it? Getting a second visa after that is quite simple if you have reasonable income to show (self-sponsorship). Earning 400,000/month in Tokyo is easy enough for any moron with a degree (or phony one) who wants to work reasonably hard. If you have skills as a teacher and actually enjoy what you do, it'll be a sinch, and you'll have a great time doing it.
Those guys are blowing hot air... They have been giving so much false information for so long the scare people away from coming to Japan. Unbelievable....... |
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newyorkbunny
Joined: 18 Jun 2005
Posts: 75
Location: Tottori
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: i have a plan - and it's not of the hostess bar type! |
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[quote="earthmonkey"]
| kittycat wrote: |
Good luck Kitty. I think Westgate is a good idea to get your foot back in the door and get your visa. I've read more than once now on this forum that new Westgate teachers are getting 3 year Instructor visas. This is hard for me to believe. But, if it's true, it's a great deal for you. A three year visa gives you a lot of freedom. I'm working independently now, but never could have done it if I hadn't had a couple of years left on my visa when I quit my eikaiwa company.
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It most certainly is a three year visa but it is a "professor visa" which is not a normal working visa. I do not know that this means for those wanting to stay beyond the length of their contract but I have been told by the Company that if I want to stay in Japan longer than my actual contract, I will need to change my visa status. |
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