Job Discussion Forums

gigisehr · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 17

Hi everyone. I was wondering if any of you could help me out with this dilemma.....

I'm moving to Tokyo with my fiance in December. For various complicated legal reasons, if we get married I won't be able to work, so that is not an option for getting a visa. So, I've been trying to make contact with some schools who would sponsor my visa....

The thing is, I'm kind of limited in what kind of jobs I can accept. I already have housing set up in Tokyo through my boyfriend's job, so I need to work somewhere I can commute to from there. I understand this would be easiest with one of the big four, but.....My boyfriend will be working normal business hours, so I would prefer not to work on the weekends or too late at night. I was working evenings up til now, and even with no commute time (15min walk) it still sucked to have basically the opposite schedule.

I've made contact with some other schools that can sponsor visas, but they all seem to be in Kanagawa, Chiba or Saitama. Being an ALT seems like the best option, but I'm not sure I would be very competitive in this field since I haven't worked in Japan before (although I do have experience teaching kids).

So....should I take a job outside of Japan if they sponsor my visa, even if I have to commute an hour and work evenings? Or should I just wait til I get to Tokyo? Or should I take the job for the visa and then just ditch the company? Wouldn't that look bad when I'm looking for a new job? (Sorry if this sounds a bit desperate Embarassed

)

I understand I have to be flexible, of course. Luckily I won't have to worry too much about set up costs since my boyfriends job takes care of most of it, and I have some savings. But obviously I can't just expect to show up in Japan and get my dream job.....

FYI, I have a B.A., TEFL cert. and some teaching experience.

Thanks!

Venti · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: Kanto, Japan

There's nothing wrong with interviewing with companies that recruit in your area/country. GEOS, AEON, NOVA, and ECC all hire from outside Japan. Explain your situation at the interviews and see if you can't be accomodated. There's a good chance you can be placed within one hour of Tokyo if you apply at the right time.

Get the ball rolling now; the hiring and visa processes take some time.

Good luck.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

I think you should come here and then look for a job, because you already have a place to stay. You can be here 90 days as a tourist. That should be more then enough time, and let you compare your options and find the right job for you.

emypie · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:35 am Post subject:

You'd be surprised how lenient some schools can be with visas. I have a friend who came here while her visa was being processed and worked her first month at an eikaiwa on a tourist visa. I am sure if you come here you could easily find a teaching job and then get the visa sorted out.

yamanote senbei · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 435

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Best bet is to try both avenues suggested to you - try to get hired in country by an eikaiwa, some of which can offer you part time/day positions, or just come here with all your documents on a tourist visa for 90 days and figure out what you need to do.

Taking a job, working on a tourist visa is ill advised. I'm with Yamanote sembei on that one - it's really dangerous for you.