Job Discussion Forums

cptundies · Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 9

Hello

My girlfriend and I have finsihed a years work in korea and are considering moving to Japan to carry on with teaching but we both need to have a weeks holiday in the middle of July to return back to England.

With the experience we have gained in Korea what are the chances of us landing a contract in Japan and being able to demand this time off?

Also does anyone have any advice on where or the likelhood of securing a couples job?

Thanks very much

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Demand? No way, Jose.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You want to come here next week and ask to take that time off when you start the job?

No way.

As for jobs for couples, please do a search. That has been answered a lot.

partialtone · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 137 Location: CA

Well I hate to sound like a spokesman for Nova, but after the 6th month probationary period working there you could take that kind of time off. (granted that would be your entire vacation time though)

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

In one week it will be the "middle of July". I doubt that you'd find a job that quickly so it won't even be an issue. Or are you talking about next year?

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

Towards the end of July it gets rather slow at eikawas because all of the kindergartens close..etc. But you would be guaranteed time off in august if you could wait that long. Our job is letting us go home from July 17 to August 28....but that is without pay. So if the job really needed you I am sure that they would think of a way for you to be able to go home at that time especially if you told them your situation...
Smile

Melissa

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

If you haven't already got a job lined up and applied for the COE which you'll need to pick up your visa, plan on not only being home for the middle of July but until around late August or early September.

I'm also coming from Korea, but I lived in Tokyo before, had contacts, and was offered a job in early May. Sent in my paperwork mid-May, took two months off to bum around Europe, and now I am back in Seoul STILL waiting for my COE.

If you want to do what I did, try to line up some interviews RIGHT NOW. Write impressive cover letters, and state in them that you'll be available for interviews...what? Next week? If they need you, they'll fit you in.

Then, pack all your gear up in Korea, and fly to Japan for the interviews. If all goes well, you'll be offered a position. Fly back to England and hang out and wait for your paperwork to be processed.

By the way, it's easy for teachers on here to jump in with the, "Your time in Korea means sweet f-all when looking for jobs in Japan." But, like, I am willing to bet a majority of the posters on here got jobs in Japan with zero teaching experience, ever.

A year is not a ton of experience, but the fact that it was in Korea instead of Japan CAN be used to your advantage if you play your cards right--especially if you've been working at a well-known and successful company here. School owners are always curious about what makes other schools prosper. And the Japanese know that living in Korea is not that easy--in fact, most of them probably think it is harder than it really is. You can use this to show how resilient you are, etc. Don't trash talk Korea, but you can subtley refer to challenges you've overcome. Unlike Koreans, Japanese are brilliant at picking up on subtleties.

PM me if you two want tips of things you might highlight in your resumes/coverletters.

And just be prepared for the whole process to take a looooong time. You may have to line up jobs from England, but that's okay, too.