Job Discussion Forums

[GWUstudent]

I am considering a move back to Japan after I finish my MA next December. I know I have plenty of time to plan, but I'm wondering how early I could start looking for teaching jobs in Japan? ^ months before my planned departure? Earlier?

Also, I would love to find a position where I could teach English as well as work as a study abroad coordinator or cross-cultural trainer. I don't know if such positions even exist. I don't speak any Japanese. However, I imagine that there are private schools that coordinate study abroad programs for their students, or maybe even public schools?

Thanks:)

[Glenski]

I used to work for a private high school. They had a committee of Japanese teachers and foreign teachers on it to deal with exchange students and the international club. If you don't know Japanese, you're going to find it somewhat difficult getting through such meetings. A coordinator doesn't work alone in such things.

Timeline for getting a job? What sort of English job are you looking for? Most openings begin in April, so backtrack from there. Will you come here to look for work, or look for work from your home country? If it's the latter, as I assume from what you've written, you must consider that getting a work visa takes time, too.

OPTION 1:
1) Look for jobs. Choose the one(s) that interest you.
2) Decide on when you want to come here, based on their deadlines for applications and start dates. Arrange airfare for that.
3) Contact those employers with a resume and cover letter, telling them when you plan to be in Japan for interviews.
4) Get on the plane and do it. Have US$4000 in your pocket to support yourself for a couple of months.
5) If you get hired, you can apply for a work visa in Japan, get a "pending" stamp in your passport and work on that until the final stamp arrives.

OPTION 2:
1) Look for jobs that interview in your home country. Choose the one(s) that interest you.
2) Arrange interviews with those companies based on their recruiting schedules.
3) If you get hired, you will probably have 2-3 months to wait while your visa gets processed. Get your affairs at home in order (storage, dumping your apartment, etc.).
4) Get on the plane and do it. Have money in your pocket to support yourself in case of emergency.

[taikibansei]