| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Tre
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 24
Location: Tokyo
|
 Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 12:43 pm Post subject: Urgent advice needed. |
 |
|
I have been planning for almost a year now to move out to Japan and find a job teaching English in Tokyo. I have just completed a degree in Computing here in the UK and feel that now is the best time to find employment in Japan.
I have a few questions about my plans so far:
I am hoping to leave for Japan in mid February about four weeks time). I have a Japanese girlfriend of four years so I do not need to worry about accommodation out there while I am job hunting. I also have a mobile phone already so I wont need to get that either. Taking this into account how much money should I take with me?
My girlfriend lives near the Ogikubo station so I need to find a job in Tokyo and will want my own apartment after finding employment in either Ogikubo, Nishi-Ogikubo or Kichi-joji. Will this be hard to arrange?
I am applying for a 1 year working holiday visa before I leave so that I do not need to worry about the 90 day limit. Is this a good idea? I understand that I can�t work full time on thais so will I be able to upgrade it to a working visa if I get a job offer? Is this easy?
I have no experience in English teaching at all and I come from a computer science background with a years experience in the IT industry � will this make it hard or impossible to get a job?
I have a resume tailored to a job in IT, its two pages long. How can I make a winning CV when I have no experience in the ELT field? What can I write other than qualifications that they will be interested in??? 
Should I start applying a week or so before I leave or just start when I arrive there?
Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated - I am quite scared about this. I hope it all works out. I have been to Japan 4 times now on holiday so I know how to get about in Japan.
Please tell me if you think I have no hope of getting a job because or my lack of experience. Am I wasting my time? 
Many thanks
Tre |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Celeste
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 814
Location: Fukuoka City, Japan
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 1:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I am hoping to leave for Japan in mid February about four weeks time). I have a Japanese girlfriend of four years so I do not need to worry about accommodation out there while I am job hunting. I also have a mobile phone already so I wont need to get that either. Taking this into account how much money should I take with me? |
I would still come with 200 000 - 400 000 yen. you will want to be able to rent your own place and you will have to eat and transport yourself about prior to your first paycheque. (And remeber that the first paycheque could take several weeks to get to you)
| Quote: |
| I am applying for a 1 year working holiday visa before I leave so that I do not need to worry about the 90 day limit. Is this a good idea? I understand that I can�t work full time on thais so will I be able to upgrade it to a working visa if I get a job offer? Is this easy? |
Working holiday visas are good for a start, but you will want to change it to an ordinary working visa. I believe that you should be able to change it over in Japan, but I have heard of some immigration officers still forcing people to leave the country to do this.
| Quote: |
| I have a resume tailored to a job in IT, its two pages long. How can I make a winning CV when I have no experience in the ELT field? What can I write other than qualifications that they will be interested in??? |
Umm. Yeah, tough one. Not to worry too much though. You are not the first inexperienced person in this field. However, when my husband got his first EFL job he also had no qualifications orexperience, but the interviewer was quite interested in the fact that he had worked in radio before. Likewise, my first boss was interested in the fact that I had studied opera for many years. I know, it's a bit "soft" but use anything that you think will be a draw. Have you ever done any tutoring in any subject? Have you worked with children before? Do you have experience public speaking? any of this will make good resume fodder.
| Quote: |
| Should I start applying a week or so before I leave or just start when I arrive there? |
The sooner the better. Then you can tell the potential employers your expected arrival date in Japan and offer to be available for an interview.
| Quote: |
| Please tell me if you think I have no hope of getting a job because or my lack of experience. Am I wasting my time? |
Oh please! You are certainly no less experienced than half of the people who apply for jobs teaching English in Japan. You will find something. THen once you have a little experience, you can go for the better jobs. You will find something. Don't worry. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chinagirl
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 235
Location: United States
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 3:41 pm Post subject: IT |
|
|
| Why not look for an IT position when you get to Tokyo? I remember seeing ads in the Japan Times for computer folks, especially those with Japanese language skills. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
viddy
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 50
Location: London, England
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi, I too have just finished a Computer Science degree and am (hopefully!) heading over to Japan.
Have you considered going with one of the Big 4 schools (this is what I'm doing)? They require little or no TEFL training or experience. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 8:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Why not look for an IT position when you get to Tokyo? I remember seeing ads in the Japan Times for computer folks, especially those with Japanese language skills. |
Most IT jobs require nearly perfect fluency in Japanese. Exceptions are with non-Japanese companies. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 8:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Your mobile phone from the UK will not work in Japan.
Take US$4000-5000 with you. Setup for an apartment of your own will run 2-5 times equivalent of a month's rent. Don't count on staying with your girlfriend all the time, either. She could easily kick you out.
| Quote: |
| I have a resume tailored to a job in IT, its two pages long. How can I make a winning CV when I have no experience in the ELT field? What can I write other than qualifications that they will be interested in??? |
Take out all details of your computer experience. That is, list the jobs, but don't describe them very much. That experience will not be needed for a teaching job, and many reviewers (Japanese or otherwise) will not understand the lingo anyway. Write me a private message, or send me an email if you want specific advice. Too much to say here without seeing your resume.
[email protected]
| Quote: |
| I have no experience in English teaching at all and I come from a computer science background with a years experience in the IT industry � will this make it hard or impossible to get a job? |
Somewhat hard, but not impossible. Depends on what your resume and cover letters look like, and how you interview. As Celeste wrote, many people teach without experience or degrees in education. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:30 am Post subject: IT in Tokyo |
|
|
| There are lots of IT jobs available, as long as you speak the language of the company that your aiming for - could be German, Japanese, French or English. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
unchi pants
Joined: 20 Dec 2003
Posts: 64
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Tre,
You'll be fine... You're coming at a good time. But don't restrict your job search to those areas, because your chances of finding something there are pretty slim. You are well located though in Ogikubo (an express stop on the Chuo line) ... It's only 10 minutes to Shinjuku and there you have access to many train lines.
I would keep on VERY GOOD TERMS with your girlfriend... at least for a while. A shoebox size apartment in Ogikubo or Kichijoji will easily set you back 80 000 yen per month. And count on 6 months rent up front (2 months deposit, 2 months key money, 1 month agent's fee, 1 month rent in advance)
Good luck |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
avahanian
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 123
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 7:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenski wrote: |
Take US$4000-5000 with you. Setup for an apartment of your own will run 2-5 times equivalent of a month's rent. Don't count on staying with your girlfriend all the time, either. She could easily kick you out. |
haha, this is classic Glenski!
Must you always look at the absolute worst scenario?
It seems optimism is out of fashion 
But seriously, you're right....you can never have enough money, I found this out when I went to Spain.
There will always be more expenses than you figured in the beginning....something always comes up! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 1:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Must you always look at the absolute worst scenario? |
I don't look at it. I provide it. Don't you think it's fair to do so? Wouldn't you like to know that end of the spectrum so you could plan properly?
I don't paint falsely rosy pictures of life here. Some do. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tre
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 24
Location: Tokyo
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 4:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The other problem is that I do not know much about English teaching at all so I was wondering how much they will expect me to know? I am a native English speaker with a degree but that really is all I can offer them untill I have training of some kind. Will they ask me about English teaching in the interview? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 12:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
Tre,
They may. ECC has a written test dealing with grammar and teaching terminology.
In a face to face interview, they may also ask you about your general teaching strategy, perhaps in a given situation. Since your resume will not show any experience in teaching, it would likely be very general. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 2:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tre wrote: |
| The other problem is that I do not know much about English teaching at all so I was wondering how much they will expect me to know? Will they ask me about English teaching in the interview? |
This is a classic sign of the times? God-forbid an employer should actually be asking questions about English teaching in an interview for a teaching job...
what the heck  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
grimmer
Joined: 14 Oct 2003
Posts: 9
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 4:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenski - grow up fruitcake. Poeple other than your (important) self have worthwhile opinions. You`ve become frightfully dull of late. Get with the beat. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:15 am Post subject: What the heck!?!?!? |
|
|
Tre said
| Quote: |
| The other problem is that I do not know much about English teaching at all so I was wondering how much they will expect me to know? I am a native English speaker with a degree but that really is all I can offer them untill I have training of some kind. Will they ask me about English teaching in the interview? |
Dude! Forget about teaching in Japan.
Why the heck, if you know nothing about the field, do you want to teach English? Go find yourself a job in the IT industry. Even here in Japan. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
