Job Discussion Forums

[Ravenkid]

hi i was wondering if anyone could give me some advice about couples working in japan.

my partner and i are both qualified to teach english in japan. when i look at the jobs available that welcome couples i am extremely intrested, however both myself and my partner are male.

what are the realistic chances of an agency taking us on as a homosexual couple?

any advice would be great, thanks in advance.

[Glenski]

For one thing, you are both going to have to get separate work visas. You are not entitled to the dependent visa.

I don't think anyone here has that much fuss over gay couples, but you will probably raise a few eyebrows if you advertise yourselves about that.

I think you should have written the subject line to take being a gay couple into account.

[JimDunlop2]

The short answer:

The issue of couples coming to Japan has been frequently discussed on this forum.

The issue of homosexuals working in Japan has also been well discussed on this forum.

The issue of gay couples coming to Japan to work has likewise been discussed here.

I would recommend to do a "search" for some of those old threads -- they are definitely still around.

Good luck.

[Ravenkid]

thanks for the advice i have changed the topic.

my search yields few results pertaining to men.

the search i found that was the most on topic delt specificly with women. i think that an imployer would react differently to a male couple as opposed to a female couple.

if i am searching incorectly please let me know, i am still quite new to the forums.

thanks.

[Apsara]

My feeling is that you would not find it easy to get any of the jobs advertised for couples. I knew a gay couple (male) teaching at the same eikaiwa chain, different schools, and living together in their own apartment, but they kept it very low-key.

You are better off applying to one of the bigger companies for work in the same general area and finding your own apartment together

[Glenski]

Anyone wishing to come as a couple has already set limits on themselves. The main questions that come up include...

1. Do you want to work for the same company?
2. Do you want to work for the same branch office?
3. Are both of you eligible for a work visa?
4. Are you married?

Add to these issues (and many people have certainly replied in various permutations!!) the fact that some couples are gay, and you complicate things even more. Does this mean getting hired is impossible? No, but one should consider how the above questions are going to be answered, too, and in the case of gay couples, I would think that knowing how to "advertise" their gay status (or keep it neutrally low key) is important.

[Big John Stud]

Apsara wrote:

My feeling is that you would not find it easy to get any of the jobs advertised for couples. I knew a gay couple (male) teaching at the same eikaiwa chain, different schools, and living together in their own apartment, but they kept it very low-key. You are better off applying to one of the bigger companies for work in the same general area and finding your own apartment together

I also knew a gay colleague, he was Japanese, and still kept his sexuality very low keyed. I doubt you and your partner will get hired as a couple. Most couple advertisements are for a man and a woman.
Like someone else wrote on a post, why would you want to work for the same company anyhow? You the saying, don't put all your eggs in one basket? If the company turns out bad, at least you or your partner will have an income while the other looks for a new job.

[earthmonkey]