Job Discussion Forums

[Vash]

Hello!

First time caller, long time listener.

Background: I spent about eighteen months working for a small, private school in a rice village near Nagoya. I had a nice time, and even saved a bit of money.

Well, I've been on vacation for the last (ahem) year, my funds are starting to dry up, and I'm looking for work.

The sooner the better.

I remember really enjoying a visit to Osaka, so I'm thinking of giving it a whirl this go around.

My first job I set up before I left, however a friend of mine is encouraging me to go blind. He strongly cautions against locking myself into a full-time contract given the more lucrative part-time work available. As well, he argues, teaching jobs are a dime a dozen. While this seemed true a few years ago (one could flip open the paper and find, literally, hundreds of positions), neither one of us have been to Japan recently...so I'm a little wary.

How's the job market in Osaka?

Cheers!
Vash

(P.S. I'm your generic BA/TEFL/Canadian with big feet.)

(P.P.S. I am also considering Tokyo. I've heard rumors that the money can be most impressive.)

[cabbagehead]

What may impress you about the money in Tokyo is how fast it slips through your fingers compared to a rice village outside Nagoya.

There is work around for sure. Are you thinking of getting work on a tourist visa and doing stuff cash in hand as it were? What will you do for accommodation? You'll need a ton of cash to set yourself up in an apartment here if you do go blind and simply come here.

Maybe you know something I don't...

[Vash]

Maybe you know something I don't...

Well...I beat a Yakuza rep. five straight at Rock, Paper, Scissors. I won't divulge my secret on a public forum, but body language plays a significant role.

Sigh...I miss Japan.

I appreciate the thoughts, O Cruciferous One, nice to hear that Osaka hasn't changed much. Sadly, given my current funds, it looks like I'd better secure employment before I come.

Japan would be great, but I am also considering Taiwan.

Cheers!
Vash

[Glenski]

Vash,
What is your visa status? Being Canadian, you might be able to come on a working holiday visa (if you haven't already used it). Otherwise, you will have to get a work visa before you come here (and that means finding work from Canada first), or you will have to fly here on a tourist visa and job hunt for the 90 days that it lasts (don't tell customs this is your intention, or they will put you back on the plane).

Your friend's idea about lucrative PT work is sound, but you need the proper visa first. If you have already burned that WHV option, you are probably going to have to find a FT employer to sponsor a work visa before you can consider any PT work, because most PT work does not offer visa sponsorship.

[Vash]

Hey Glenski!

Yes, I suppose the work visa is one of the problems. It's too bad I didn't return to Japan two months ago, my work visa (and multiple entry permit) was still valid then.

I'm thirty-two years old, so I don't believe I'm still elligible for a work holiday visa. I think the cut off age is thirty. When I came to Japan before, my employer simply told me to come over for a holiday...and she'd take care of the visa problem.

Three or four visits to Nagoya sussed everything out.

My friend went through the same procedure, but the moment he received his work visa....he quit. Went to Nagoya, smooth talked his way to all sorts of part-time "Business" English contracts...and within a few months had a monthly income of over 5-600,000 Yen.

(Meanwhile, I, who remained faithfull to my contract, took home about a third of that.)

This is problematic. I would like to pursue the same type of contracts he had, but (as a matter of principle) I will not use a company simply to get a visa. I had hoped that while pursuing part-time contracts, I might be able to get some spnsorship...but that's unlikely, huh?

Looks like I'll lock myself into a contract before heading to Japan, and sussing out the work visa once I get there. Hey, it's not ideal...but I like Japan, and maybe I can still pick up the odd job on the side.

Thanks for the feedback.

Cheers!
Vash

(PS So anyone have any job leads in Osaka?)

(PPS Incidentally, if anyone is wondering, my friend hustled big time. While many were griping about their jobs, he was constantly seeking better environments to work in. He had little problem dropping whatever conflicted with a better deal, regardless of the consequences. Impressive, but too ruthless for this kid.)

[Gordon]

[Vash]

I think your friend will get his reward one day. They're the ones that make it tougher for the rest of us. Not surprisingly that so many Japanese don't trust us or take us at our word because they've met people like him.

So true.

That said, he had a different take on the scene. He informed me the average houshold income in Japan was close to 500,000 Yen per month. To earn half of that, for him, was unacceptable.

I'm still at odds with his approach, as I was so well treated in Japan...I could never use her as he did. But it's kind of funny, I remember going to a bar in Nagoya and meeting a few disgruntled foreigners. When I told them my salary, they all laughed and informed me I was underpaid and being taken advantage of. Maybe, but good students, low workload, and a rather spicy J-girl(friend) made the stay quite pleasant.

After rent and deductions, my take home was about 170,000 Yen, 80 hrs/month.

(Personally, I was quite happy to be paid $25/hr to play monopoly with my students...but maybe I lack vision.)

Cheers!
Vash

[Gordon]

Don't get yourself down about the pay. People will always make more money than you. People love to brag about their money without telling you the whole truth, the number of hours, time travelled, etc... Often they're full of B.S. too.

I make a fraction of what some of the senior Japanese teachers do, but it doesn't bother me, cuz their life is their job and most of them are going to die soon.

[canuck]

I would say it's really difficult right now just to come to Osaka and work part-time contracts and make 500,000 yen. The best bet would be to find a secure position during the day and make a little extra in the evening. There are positions in the evening available, and it's often hit or miss, but there are lots of people chasing the same thing.

You're not going to get a visa working part-time either, so you're a little hooped until you get someone to sponsor you.

[Vash]

Thanks canuck,

Yes, I've scaled back my current ambitions. If I can land a full-time gig with visa sponsorship, I'll be quite happy.

Later, I can begin filling in my spare time.

Cheers!
Vash

[canuck]

Vash,

That's the way to go. Remember, the bubble is long gone.