Job Discussion Forums

[Conor_Ire]

I met my girlfriend from Japan in Australia and we spent 1 year together there , my visa ran out so i had to return home recently. I promised i would travel to Japan in feb/march next year and try to secure an english teaching job.I have no degree , i'm studying for a diploma in psychology but i doubt that will do! I can get a working holiday visa for japan and i have my girlfriend there so i won't be alone walking around Tokyo. But is there any hope of getting any teaching job for me??

[Glenski]

The "no degree, no chance" question comes up about 10-20 times a year on these forums.

Bottom lines:

Work visas for teaching require either a bachelor's degree (or equivalent), or at least 3 years of full-time work experience.

Certain nationalities are eligible for working holiday visas, which require no degree and no employer to sponsor. Read about the requirements here.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html
If you are Australian, then you can renew the WHV twice for a total of 18 months. Other nationalities can do it for a total of only 12 months.

The WHV lets you work at almost any job. Yes, that includes teaching. Employers will vary, though. Don't expect all of them to say yes. Many still require a degree.

Other ways you can come without a degree include student visa, cultural visa, and (gulp!) spouse visa. Read about them here.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
SV and CV only allow part-time work (yes, teaching is ok) with special permission. Even with a spouse visa, there is no guarantee that employers will hire you. That visa just makes you eligible for any kind of work. Employers still have their own requirements.

You're planning to come at a good time of year. That is the peak hiring season for teachers. Plan ahead to contact employers before you arrive.