Job Discussion Forums

Omeo · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 245

Did neither one of you read the whole question? Did you both just stop reading half way through? No, I'm not going to find a job sitting at a bar, but what does that have to do with what I asked? I believe I asked about my chances of failing even if I spend every waking moment looking for a job. See the difference?

ripslyme · Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 481 Location: Japan

konyoku · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:54 am Post subject:

Omeo · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 245

Why? Not many jobs in Nagoya?

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

Omeo,
There are no guarantees in life, right? You should know that. If you really want to be in Japan, just keep trying. You might have to knock on 101 doors before getting a positive response. Nobody here can (or should) tell you that you'll be just fine or that your endeavours will be all for nothing. It's difficult to give even a probabilistic answer to your question since what counts most is who you are on the inside. Nobody here knows much about that, though.

Good luck

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Jobs are more available in the surrounding areas around Nagoya than Nagoya proper per se.

As far as your chances, there's insufficient information to calculate that. When you come will certainly be a significant factor. Also the type of conditions you are willing to work in/with as well.

Omeo · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 245

South: Again, I don't expect anyone to give me precise odds; just an opinion.

Bearcat:
I was thinking of coming over the summer. I'm pretty open as far as the conditions go; as long as they pay me enough to have an apartment and not starve.

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Summer (after may) is the second worst time to come to Japan to look for a job.

Right now is the peak season for jobs (as the business and school years run April to March unlike the West).

May and the ealiest part of June are the sloppy seconds time frame: In other words, the jobs that couldn't get filled by April, ones that had to be created at the last minute due to student enrollment/demand (not as common in recent years), the ones people quit due to poor conditions, and the ones that someone was fired from for not being what they expected.

June to the End of September thus is the first slow/dead hiring pocket. The only exception to this would be positions vacated by teachers after the summer "vacation period" in the middle of August. Some of those though are due to people pulling runners during the summer break (going home for the vacation and not coming back).

Part time jobs though see a slight (very slight) increase in demand during the summer. This is due to companies that cater to corporate clients, community centers, and as well overflows at conversation schools that can't justify hiring another full time teacher for only one class etc.

Some hiring goes on for readiness in october (halfway point in the aforementioned year system). Also more PT jobs for the same reason.

November on then is the deadest hiring time until the following spring hiring season kicks in.

Perhaps I've missed it but what are your qualifications for being attractive to being hired by companies? That also will be a considerable factor.

But if you plan to come in the summer, you're looking at trying to get a job during a period when less than 10% of jobs for teaching are available for the year. 90% are done in the Spring with the other 10% spread out over the year per what I've already said.

There's a recipe if you will for increasing your chances of getting hired and the less ingredients you have for that recipe, the less your chances. Thus I said insufficient info.

Omeo · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 245

My qualifications are my Bachelors degree, the fact that I've done some informal tutoring for non-native English speakers , and the fact that I've lived in South Korea for a year and three months.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject:

Omeo · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 245

No. I don't know if you were right and they ditched me over the homeless story or if it was something else. Technically, they say they'll notify you within two to three weeks, but it seems like most of the people who got the job heard from them in less time than that. Besides, I talked to my boss the other day and she said they haven't contacted her for a reference. Here we are a week later and they haven't spoken to her. I can't help taking that as a bad sign. That's why I'm working on an alternate plan now.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject:

Gypsy Rose Kim · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 151

I take it you have posted more info on other threads, so sorry if my advice doesn't make sense. Here's what I'd do, if I were in the situation I think you're in.

Stay at your job in Korea until you've got something lined up. I really don't think it's going to be THAT much easier to find a job once you're in Japan if you've never lived there and don't have any contacts to hit up. You can give your notice here when you get an offer, because it'll take a couple months to process your visa, anyway.

I fly back and forth from Korea and Japan all the time to visit friends. It is cheap and easy and not far at all. You should be able to get a flight for around 300,000 won. If you've been smart in Korea, you can certainly afford this. And even if it seems expensive, it's nothing compared to how quickly your money will drain away if you're stuck not working for a while in Japan.

Send out resumes from here, and if you are contacted for interviews, schedule them all close together and fly there for a few days. Most schools are open on weekends, and if they are really interested, they'll see you then.

I flew to Tokyo for an interview last month. I left Gimpo at eight in the morning and returned the same evening. I wouldn't really recommend this, as I wasn't in top shape for my interview, but if you've got the nerves for it, it's possible. I didn't get the job, but that's a separate issue and I knew as soon as I walked in there that I didn't fit in (it was a university, and I'm a rather corporate type).

The important thing to learn from my story is that this was a job that TONS of people wanted (there were hundreds of applicants from within Japan) and the job posting CLEARLY stated that they were only interested in those already living in Japan. My experience matched what they wanted, I am not really that far away, I was willing to fly there and give it a shot, so they asked me to come in even though I'm in Seoul.

You CAN apply for jobs which are seeking applicants within Japan from Korea. You CAN'T apply for the ones that want you to have a valid visa, but you wouldn't be able to do that from your friends' sofa, either.

Just be patient. I know you've worked hard for the money you've saved in Korea. Don't waste it because you're in a hurry.

Omeo · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 245

I'm not in Korea. I lived there a while when I was in the Army, but right now I'm back in America.

It turns out my friend lives in Toyota City, btw. She also says she has a friend who owns a language school who'd like me to come work for him. I can't recall the name of the school off the top of my head, though.