Job Discussion Forums

[johncanada24]

I recently found out that if you do not have a BA you are automatically canned to a flexi scheduale which entitles you to around 160,000 yen per month. Obviously you can not survive on this plus save money so I am wondering how easy is it to pick up extra hours at Nova OR to pick up students for private tutoring?


Can I honestly depend on enough work out there to support myself ?

[canuck]

Your best bet would be to work part-time evenings at NOVA and get something during the day. It's possible to earn as much or more than full-timers if you don't mind the split schedule.

NOVA used to offer Monday to Friday, 5pm to 9pm for around 180,000 yen. I don't if that's still the available. I had a friend how did that, got himself some work during the day and did fine.

Just do the year, enjoy yourself and quit your "めそめそすること" that you don't have a degree and the world is against you.

[johncanada24]

[canuck]

[philjapan]

Hey JohnCanada24,

Out of curiousity did you apply with a WHV? Did you have any post secondary education?

I'm getting the run around from NOVA..

[seastarr]

I dont know how many current Nova teachers post on the board but it would be worth asking them about OT stats in their area. When I lived in Kyushu last year, there was loads of OT..most of the flexi teachers worked as much as they wanted. A note about private students...they are out there, but most of them are quite picky. When I picked up my students, they were only interested in female teachers from North America. I assume you are Canadian, but this is just an example. Some are looking for teachers from the UK, ect...Private students also require quite a level of comittment. You have to plan, sometimes purchase materials and be prepared to have them cancel on you, sometimes with very short notice. They aren't so easy to find either, you need to know people who are leaving and willing to give them to you. I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but I was very careful who I passed mine on to. I really cared about my students and I didnt want them to resent me for leaving them with someone unreliable. I was in Japan 6 months before I was asked to teach private students. If you are counting on this income, I wouldnt. Better to see if you can survive on the flexi salary and treat anything extra as an added bonus. I have heard with the WHV, you are going to pay 20% tax as well, which is a big chunk out of your salary, so factor this in too. If you are in an area with very little OT, you are going to have to live quite frugally.

[24601]

Depends where you are. At MM you could do it easy as they "allow" you up to 50 lessons extra a month and there's plenty more available. (note, 5 lessons is 4 hours, so that's 10 extra hours a week, not exactly slave labour).

I know nothing about branch. That is a beast I want no part of.

[LoTan]

flexi and sponsored workers only make about 60,000yen difference max per month. so if u need to tap into ur own savings for the year... ain't too bad i guess.

plus sponsored workers end up saving money sometimes... lets say.. 30,000 yen... so with that said ... u'll need about another 300,000 yen to match them to survive per month.

i say.. find a cute japanese girlfriend who owns her own apartment and move in with her. ^__^ that'll save u a lot of money monthly from nova rent!! ^___^ haha!

[Glenski]

LoTan wrote:

[LoTan]