Job Discussion Forums

[Matt_22]

I am on the cusp of signing a 6-month contract in Korea, with the hopes of saving enough money (I'm dirt poor right now) to make the teaching transition to Japan at the end of my term. How feasible is this?

Should I be sending out resumes months in advance to all sorts of employers all over Japan? Or should I just try to save enough money to move to Japan and find a job by hitting the streets? My contract in Korea will likely end in early June, and I've heard that's not the greatest time to be searching for a job. But will it be impossible?

By June I will be an experienced ESL teacher with a good TEFL cert and a 4-year bachelor's degree (and a minor in English). Will that be enough to get me a decent job in Japan that would allow me to save at least a couple hundred greenbacks per month? If anyone has any advice please let me know.

[Glenski]

[Matt_22]

I will have one year of experience working part-time in elementary schools back home (in America), as well as the six months of full-time EFL work in Korea.

My loan payments will be about $175/month. Will I be able to make enough in Japan to see the country over the course of a year as well as pay for a flight to grad school afterwards?

[Glenski]

Matt,
You are slightly more qualified than the average starting teacher here (who has practically zero experience or background in teaching). However, I think you may still find yourself getting little more than entry level work. Currently, that means one of 5 things:

1) eikaiwa (conversation schools)
2) JET Programme (or Earlham College) ALT in public schools
3) dispatch (outsourcing) agency ALT in public schools (mostly)
4) perhaps some business English dispatch jobs
5) Westgate Corporation (3-month university work, or 7-month kiddie work)

[#5 may not be true entry level, as they actually seem to require experience and a teaching related credential.]

Salaries can be ranked as follows:
#2(JET only) > #4 or #5 > #1 and Earlham > #3

On average figure you'll be paid 250,000 yen/month before taxes, and after spending half that on basic necessities, you'll have to figure out how far 125,000 yen will go. I see no reason why you can't pay off loans, enjoy yourself a bit here (#2 JET offers the best deal for time off), and afford a flight home.

Just remember, I said AVERAGE. These various opportunities differ in many ways, and figures on money will vary depending on lifestyle, location, as well as employer.

[markle]