Job Discussion Forums

[TokyoLiz]

Brooks, I've found that in Tokyo, a handshake is often appreciated by those who deal with foreigners. I've often begun to bow to a superior (work situations and others) only to be surprised by a hand extended and a big smile.

But sure, in deep Shikoku, it's a bow, no question about that. And you practically need a manual to know the correct way to do お辞儀, the Japanese bow.

Have other people had the same slight shock of going to bow, and the Japanese host/superior shakes your hand? Even my martial arts teacher shakes hands.

[Sweetsee]

Thanks for that Liz, very nice posting as usual.
In my case, the contact person was a foreigner--that's why I decided to ask if I could swing by in person, that and the school was located very close to my own. Needless to say it was handshakes all the way around and I am so happy that I decided to email him. You just never know.
And it sure doesn't hurt to have the head of the English department of a major university as a tennis partner. I might also mention that they invited me to play in a tournament with players from six local universities, where I met people from another university I interviewed with and now I have played tennis at both universities I applied to.
Enjoy,
s

[David W]

I dunno if I agree that cold calling doesn't work as a general rule. If you have a visa in hand it'll work sometimes but in the OP's case he might be sol as he has no visa.

[cornishmuppet]

The guy I knew who got a visa from a school he was just doing part time work for wasn't new in Japan. It was his second or third visa, I think. He'd been working in an eikawa before, quit, and had just done a visa run to Vietnam. He was working on a tourist visa (technically illegal I know, before you all jump on it). All I know, which isn't much, is that my mate told the school's owner (who was not Japanese) he needed a visa and the guy sponsered him. Maybe he did it on the premise that my mate would do more classes if required, I don't know.

If the rules are different depending on whether its your first visa or not, then this is probably useless info. I was under the impression it wouldn't make any odds, but there you go. I don't know the ins and outs of visa sponsership, sorry.

[fruitcake]

can anyone offer up the names of the universities in Osaka?

Cheers!

[canuck]