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flower85
Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Posts: 3
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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:46 am Post subject: Working short term to fund travels |
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Hiya,
I was just wondering if anybody could help, i've looked on all the forums but not found what im looking for exactly.
Basically my situation is, i'm going travelling in august of next year and am currently doing my TEFL course. I was hoping to work in Japan around the beggining of 2010 for 4-6 months teaching. Looking at the visa situation ive found that its best to have a employer lined up to get a working visa, however i will be travelling India and S.E Asia before hand so I dont know how realistic this is. Obviously ideally i'd like to have a job lined up before i travel but can you get a job this far in advance? Also, because i only want to work for 4-6 months I dont want to take the JET route and have seen a lot of jobs require a years contract. Is there a lot of work for short term contracts? Or if worst came to worst, what are the consequences of leaving a job early that you are contracted to?
Thanks for your help |
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Glenski

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject: Re: Working short term to fund travels |
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flower85 wrote: |
Hiya,
I was just wondering if anybody could help, i've looked on all the forums but not found what im looking for exactly.
Basically my situation is, i'm going travelling in august of next year and am currently doing my TEFL course. I was hoping to work in Japan around the beggining of 2010 for 4-6 months teaching. |
You will barely break even on setup costs with that short a time frame, and 99.9% of contracts are for a whole year.
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Looking at the visa situation ive found that its best to have a employer lined up to get a working visa, |
No, not "best". It is required.
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Obviously ideally i'd like to have a job lined up before i travel but can you get a job this far in advance? |
VERY unlikely to zero chance.
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Or if worst came to worst, what are the consequences of leaving a job early that you are contracted to? |
Several negative ones.
1. Students who just got to know you will be sorely disappointed.
2. Staff will feel the same way.
3. Management will mark another notch on the pole that says foreigners are unreliable. The image sticks on those of us who are still here.
4. You lose any end-of-contract bonus which might have paid for your airfare here.
5. The management may decide to create future contracts loaded with legalese and clauses up the wazzoo. Your replacements will not be amused.
6. The management may decide to lower wages for future teachers just because they are "all unreliable" as the next. This lessens the market for all of us who live here.
Positive ones?
1. Nobody will fine or penalize you. They might TRY, but it's against the law.
2. If you put into the pension fund, you can get most of it back.
Look, you're going to the trouble of getting a TEFL certificate. Why work just a few months with it? |
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flower85
Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Posts: 3
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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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I dont have time to work for any longer than that this time around, and was just hoping Japan would be an option but obviously it's not really so maybe I will teach in Japan on a seperate occasion.
Thanks for your help |
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parrothead

Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 342 Location: Japan
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:05 am Post subject: |
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I think WESTGATE is probably your most likely option for landing a short-term teaching job. Contracts are for 3-5 months.
Look here: www.westgate.co.jp |
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Glenski

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:30 am Post subject: |
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parrothead,
I would have recommended Westgate, too, but even they don't offer positions for 2010 just yet! Unrealistic for any employer, actually. |
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Hoser

Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:18 am Post subject: |
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I also recommend Westgate, simply because they usually have 4 or 8 month contracts I believe. |
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flower85
Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Posts: 3
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:42 am Post subject: |
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Glenski, obviously im not looking to be employed now for work in 2010, I know that will not happen, im just trying to get an idea of how things work and what the chances are of getting work in my situation.
Thanks everyone for all your help, Westgate looks good and alot more suitable. |
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