Job Discussion Forums

[markle]

[GreenEyes]

I'm jumping in where I don't really belong, but here's my 10 yen:

Personality matters, as does how you present yourself. The demand for English lessons and conversation practice is probably going to increase over the years. Regardless of what's happening in the economy, this demand will remain intact. If you are good at growing and working your contacts, are persistent and diligent, and somewhat creative, you can create a decent existence for yourself in Japan. Think . . . Japanese housewives (they love studying English and are faithful to their study partners and teachers) and corporate students. Private lessons and small groups. On-site contract-based work at Japanese companies. Even if you don't speak Japanese, you can make this happen. It just all goes back to personality, drive and patience. And also age.

Most of the teachers I met in Japan struck me as being unpolished world travelers, meaning they were engaging and (usually) friendly, but lacked that extra edge and mannerism that draws business to them. I attributed this to their young age. They were also overly casual in their dress and tended to (however unintentional) interact with the Japanese culture in a way that was somewhat abrasive and disrespectful.

I am absolutely convinced that there exists a strong market in Japan for the right individuals. But you need to be very honest about what you're bringing to the table. For many people it takes years of overseas and life experience to cultivate the kind of charm and polish that I'm talking about. (This ties into my age reference.) And for others they do their research, set their goals, don't give up, and cultivate their contacts. They also humble themselves and gladly accept entry-level teaching positions, choosing to view them as stepping stones for future opportunities and as a way to "buy time" while learning the language and familiarizing themselves with the culture.

You have to start somewhere, and chances are . . . it's not going to be where you want to be in terms of teaching ambitions. But it will be in Japan. I did a ton of worrying before I moved overseas, understandably. But in hindsight I have to say that often the best thing you can do is bite the bullet, pre-arrange a job, buy your ticket, and go.

Worries about the economy? But also love partying (like so many foreigners do) and throwing money at beer and eating out? Budget yourself. Trust me, one day you're in your twenties and BLINK! the next you're pushing 40 and older and have nothing to your name. Five hundred yen here, another five hundred there . . . the beginning of a savings account. Save those 500 yen coins. They aren't gold in color for nothing! Worried about your financial future? Start your own retirement fund independent of your company. There are some good ones out there that remain stable even when the economy tanks. A minimum $50 investment per month over a twenty-year period can save your financial future.

We are so locked into minute by micro-minute living that we tend to forget how it all stacks together and moves forward with us throughout our lives.

You can, quite literally, create yourself, no matter where you are or what you're doing.

GreenEyes

[Glenski]