Job Discussion Forums

[Mahik]

I'm currently living in Osaka and trying to explore my options.

I have friends here who swear by Part-time work. It gives them a greater say over their schedules, a higher hourly wage (mostly), greater security (other jobs to fall back on should one dismiss).

On the other hand, this contradicts everything I was raised believing about work and (on paper at least) full-time work seems to have multiple advantages. Paid leave, paid national holidays, Insurance, etc.

I'm young and in good health. What's important to me is higher pay and a more flexible schedule.

Can anyone chime in with the pros and cons of full-time work vs. multiple part-time work?

Thanks.

[Glenski]

full-time
Likely to get copayments into health insurance/pension.

part-time
Expect to make all the payments for health insurance/pension.

Things like time off would depend on just what sort of jobs you have PT or FT. Work in a private HS, for example, and you would have a good possibility of paid time off whether you are FT or PT.

PTers don't have to attend staff meetings usually, but they end up traveling all over creation for their string of jobs. They may also have to create more lesson plans.

I wouldn't say that either job has more security than the other. Depends on the situation. If one is starting out, you can't get visa sponsorship or self-sponsorship for your visa if you are living solely on PT work. You can do it after a year with a work visa, though.

Down side of PT work could be the fact that you'll have to do your own taxes.

[Apsara]

I have a part time schedule which includes English teaching, proofreading, test grading and yoga teaching. I definitely earn more than I did as a fulltime eikaiwa teacher, but I do have to "run all over creation"- literally from one end of Tokyo to the other in fact, but luckily usually not on the same day. I would rather not go to the same place to work every day in any case, I prefer a bit of variety.

I am lucky enough to get paid holidays (a few) and paid transportation for the part-time job I do 2 days a week, but for the others I have to take unpaid holidays and pay my own transport. I then claim this back at tax time.

Basically I enjoy the flexible schedule and the time off during the week (although I do have to work a few hours on the weekend, which may not be for everyone), and I work considerably fewer hours than I would with just one full time job.

Doing your own taxes isn't as difficult as you might think- I save all my receipts for work-related expenses and then add them up at the end of the year. Once the tax office has sent me the forms I just take my expenses total, the tax certificates my jobs have provided me with and the forms to the nearby tax office and they do the calculations and ill in the forms for me - it takes about half an hour or so usually, even at busy times.

2 months later I get a decent-sized tax rebate- I have no problems with that at all!

[dove]

I'm doing the part-time thing. Yes, I am commuting all over the greater Tokyo area. But I use my train time to study, read, meditate, write in my journal, etc. I like just going in for a couple of hours, doing my thing, and then getting the hell out (no meetings, no sales, no expectations to attend parties). I have most afternoons free because I mainly teach in the mornings and evenings.

This works for me. I am a morning person so I don't mind getting up early to teach the before-work lessons. Mainly, I like doing everything myself. It's my apartment, my self-sponsored visa, my life. Yes, it's sometimes a hassle to always be searching for the next part-time job (contracts are usually 6 months). But part-time work always seems to be available.

[dove]

I forgot to mention that my employers pay all my transportation costs. It's a good thing because my commuting runs over 30,000yen per month.

[markle]

Can I also point out that the above people are single and childless, nothing wrong with that but the main reason I ain't doing it.

[Apsara]

Actually I'm married, but you're right that I don't have children. Are you so sure that all the other posters are single as well? Seems quite a leap...

[mimimimi]

I have multiple part-time teaching jobs and make a decent salary. I work strictly Monday to Friday and never on holidays. I only have one extended commute by train/bus a week, otherwise I drive which is great because I'm reimbursed per kilometer at a rate which more than compensates the cost of gas with enough remaining to pay for the annual car tax and insurance costs. I really enjoy the variety and chaos of my schedule, and for me it's fairly secure. If a contract ends, I have several more to fall back on. I'm constantly turning down work, so it has never been a problem to keep busy. Full-time work in my living area is limited so part-time has been the way to go.

[gaijinalways]

I'm also part-time, married, and have a cat. I currently have 3 uni jobs, and teach at 1 language school. Yes, I miss having a full time job with my pension getting co-contributions as well as getting copayments on my insurance premiums.

But I don't miss going to meetings nor do I have to stick around during university vacations unless I want to (may be doing that this summer, but we'll see). But sometimes I miss having an office (besides the one I have at home) and having little input into department decisions. And my schedule does fluctuate a bit, as the number of part-time uni classes I get changes from academic year to year.

I'm fortunate in that most of my classes are in Tokyo now, so that cuts down on the travel time, which can make days very long.

So which is better, I guess it depends. Depends on your circumstances and the school where you work, and what you really want.

[Brooks]

for people who don't work full-time:
how do you do it?
how much do you save?
are you able to go back to your home country every year?

My contract ends in March, and can't be renewed. My wife wants to live in Osaka but I can't find full-time work there. Can I make it doing two or more part-time jobs?
I would prefer to just have one job. I like having a desk and money for books every year. I get health insurance through my job, and my school matches my pension contribution.

It seems that no matter what, I will take a pay cut next year.

[Apsara]

Over time I have built up a part-time schedule that suits me. Some of my proofreading work is on a temp basis, just a few times a year when required by that company, another job is regular, two days a week. I found my jobs through word of mouth and through a recruitment agency.

I save around �100,000 to �150,000 a month, depending on the month (some of my work is seasonal) and my expenses that month. I travel overseas two or three times a year- this year I spent 10 days in China, 9 days in Bali and will go to visit family in Australia for Christmas.

If I have a drop in the hours of one of my jobs for any reason in a particular month, I am able to request more hours at another job to pick up the slack so my income doesn't vary too much.

I don't always go home to NZ every year because my family has scattered to the four winds in the last few years and most of them are no longer in the city I grew up in.

[Glenski]

Nice setup, Aspara.

Keywords from your post....

"over time"

[azarashi sushi]

You sound like you have a nice set up Apsara.

I agree with Glenski though, key words being "over time".

It's good if you have no time pressure or financial pressure... You can pick and choose as you like and take your time to set up a nice schedule. I think it would be different if you have more pressure to find something fast.

I haven't really seriously done the "part time" thing as such although I do work part time in two schools. The few times that I have considered it and looked, it always seemed many jobs had over-lapping times or they were at opposite sides of town, so the time taken to get there wouldn't allow me to get there on time.

[Apsara]

"Over time" (not "overtime" thankfully! ) very much an important point there. For a couple of years I was completely freelance and my income went up and down a lot- obviously not the kind of situation you would want to be in if you were supporting a family. I have a bit more stability now but it has taken a while to reach this point.

[Mahik]

The wonderful thing about experience, is that you can teach it so it's not as hard for those coming after you.

With the pros and cons weighed, any advice about pursuing multiple part-time jobs would be appreciated (what would you have told yourself when you started, knowing what you know now?).