Job Discussion Forums

[Scruffy]

Ohayo-Sensei: Excellent resource. It's released every two weeks. The first time around I sent out only a handful of resumes with a rather dull cover letter. Nothing happened. Then I got smart. I wrote a jazzy, upbeat cover letter and blitzkreiged the schools. I got tons of responses and several job offers. That cover letter opened doors. I was even offered a job I wasn't qualified for.

Osaka: I placed NO restrictions on where I was willing to work. My goal was a solid job that pays on time and that buys me time while I acclimate to life in Japan and work on my qualifications. I'd say about 50% of the jobs I looked at required that I have a work visa. While people say it's often best to first move to Japan and then look for work once there, from what I'm seeing that doesn't always pay off.

Sex: Girl? Boy? I'm guessing you're a guy. Several schools told me that they were releived to finally have a female applicant. So I'd say that right now the odds are better if you're female. (Sex change, anyone?)

Attitude: No matter your qualifications (or sex), how are you 'presenting' yourself in your cover letter? Anal? Conceited? Bland?

Legwork: Break the rules, sweetheart. I don't care what others have to say about this, but if a job listing 'requires' that you email your application material, stop. Don't do it. Turn off your computer, put on your suit, grab your briefcase (or at least dust off your backpack) and hand-deliver your resume and cover letter. Walk the pavement every day. Always be prepared with a stack of Rs and CLs. Be assertive even if you're normally not. Compile a list of every school in Osaka, and make a visit. Just walk in the front door and tell them why you're there.

Gripes: X-nay the gripes-ay. Stop complaining. Welcome to life as a green gringo in Japan. No phone? No problem! Address this in your cover letter in a light and upbeat way, letting them know that you check your email regularly throughout the day and that you're only a short bus ride away. Or do the airport phone thing. Or the hotel lobby phone thing where ever it is you're staying.

Game Plan: That's what I'm talking about. Offense? Defense? Sidelines? Water boy? Get it together, and you'll get that job offer.

Cheers!

[ravel]

Thanks everyone for the advice,

I assumed that not having a phone was a serious handicap when I arrived, but then gave up on getting one as I went to every company I could find and they all insisted on an alien card. I have enough money to go the distance, it�s just　a matter of how much time and money I am willing to spend on working here. I will be getting a phone tomorrow and following up all on the previously resumes. Again thanks for all the good advice. From all who gave it, is it worth the effort to work here? Is it comparatively better here than Korea? I want to experience this country, but have to balance things here, have a good chunk of cash in savings, but I am not sure I want to spend it all finding this job. I am one of those odd creatures (so I've been told) who actually cares about teaching, I'm here because I have read and heard that it is better in that respect than Korea. If it's the same shit different pile, but less money I may as well be in Korea. Any thoughts people? Thanks in advance.

ravel

[furiousmilksheikali]

[Scruffy]

You can get a job on a dime in Korea. And some people manage to find a tolerable school that values teaching. But I left Korea after four miserable months ... and I was at one of the better hakwons. Generally people have better experiences at public schools there. Right now is the prime hiring season. They'll fly you there, give you an apartment that's furnished, and pay you well. You'll also have health insurance and a pension plan (50/50). But you'll need to speak to current and former teachers, ask difficult questions that people don't normally ask, and then pray that it's at least half as good as it sounds.

Keep in mind that loads of teachers don't finish their Korean contracts, and many of them end up teaching in Japan (like me!). But there are decent enough jobs there. Just don't jump at the first job offer. The new minimum salary is around 2.2 - 2.3 million won, and you're only paying for utilities and food. In Japan, the average salary is a bit less, and you're paying a ton more in outgoing expenses (apartment rental, car rental, utilities, furnishings, etc.). When all's said and done you might be able to save $500-$700 a month in Japan, but you'll have to budget carefully.

Personally I feel that Japan better suits my personality. There are problems where ever you go, but I feel that Japan is worth hanging in there and trying to make it work. I just couldn't afford it the first time around, which is why I opted for Korea. If you value teaching, I really get the impression that you'll have a greater sense of job satisfaction in Japan (at least better odds of it). I admire your courage to look for work while in Japan and encourage you to keep looking and don't give up yet. But perhaps you ought to consider some other towns?

(Regardless of where you end up, it'll be important to have friends. I didn't have any in Korea, and that made my frustrating job even more difficult and isolating.)

If things just aren't working out for you in Japan, though, I encourage you to consider public schools in Korea. Teachers in public schools there are generally happier and having much better experiences than hakwon teachers. Also, they're paid on time and don't seem to have many problems with being cheated or taken advantage of. You'll experience culture shock after having spent some time in Japan, but generally public schools are very clean and the students more respectful than at hakwons. The pay at a public school can be lower, depending on the location, but you'll still be saving more than you would in Japan.

Hang in there with Japan. Even if you end up at a big four, I think your experience will be much better there than at a Korean hakwon. But if you start getting worried, rest assured that you'll easily find work in a Korean public school. There's a recruiter that specializes in public school contracts. I can't think of their name right now, but they've had great feedback from their teachers. If you're interested, PM me and I'll look them up.

You have options, and every day you're making effort to find work. Soon you'll have a job. Exciting!

Cheers!

[Glenski]

[Sweetsee]

Not having a phone is a big problem, anytime you leave something blank here you are asking for trouble. Most employers wouldn't even respond to someone with no phone number, just too many applicants. That, and not having a phone means not having a place and that means backpacking. No one wants to hire backpackers full-time.
1. phone
2. place
3. job

[canuck]

[Sweetsee]

Along the same lines, there is nothing wrong with emailing the contact person and asking if you can hand-deliver your application documents. I did this at a nearby university and while I didn't get the job, I did get a new tennis partner and now play regularly with faculty members there. There is more than one way to skin a cat around here!

Good luck,
s

[Scruffy]

The "horrible" advice is coming from personal experience (Eastern Europe, Central America, Korea), as well as that of my dentist who taught in Japan for three years (dentists are fond of talking), and my ex-boyfriend who lived there for five years, and my friend's daughter who has been teaching in Thailand for two years and landed some impressive magazine internships while there. And it's also coming from several experiences of people I know who managed to get their foot in the doors of otherwise unpenetrable/unaccessible corporations and internships. Good, honest effort and a smile can make a difference, and at the very least it can bring new people (and new tennis partners!) into your life.

[Sweetsee]

Very true Scruffy, very true. While we depend on technology to shorten the distance between ourselves and prospective employers, there is no substitute for a smile and a handshake.
Nice post.
Enjoy,
s

[canuck]

[TokyoLiz]

Oh dear, I'm afraid to say that I agree with Canuck. Again.

He's right - you are better off spending your money on a phone, sitting on the internet and making contacts before you leave the house. Transportation is prohibitively expensive, and walk-ins are not done in Japan.

It's worth putting up your name at an international center as there is likely a lot of traffic. But don't get your hopes up. You'll probably get mostly students looking for a conversation teacher one hour a week.

Sweetsee suggested emailing ahead to say you'll deliver docs by hand. This is probably the best way to go about contacting people, even cold calling/mailing. You'll save yourself a lot of train fare, lost time wandering and wondering where the schools are, and trying to cope with front desk staff who may not speak English (I'm assuming the OP is not a Japanese speaker yet).

[canuck]

[TokyoLiz]

Well, if we can overlook your (at times) caustic delivery we see that you actually know what you're talking about

Scruffy may have found those tactics work in many countries, but Japan's another cultural kettle of fish altogether.

Weigh the advice you get carefully - noobs and those who haven't been here yet, or cranky old timers like Canuck and me.

What does cross cultures are the qualities that were stated before - smile, handshake and honesty. Your good native manners count when you're dealing with people who are equally well mannered and honest.

[Brooks]

handshakes in Japan? You mean bowing.