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greenbean
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 6:40 am Post subject: Is this doable? |
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So I have done quite a bit of surfing, searching and reading and I'm getting an idea for what I might like to do and what I could handle, but I want some advice on whether what I'm thinking about is feasible given my circumstances:
1. BA in History, JD (from top 10 law school), MAEd, teaching license, 4 years exp. in Korea, 2 with kids (nursery-high), 2 at unis. Exp teaching AP & TOEFL prep. Also business exp. Female N. American, early 30s but usually mistaken as looking younger.
2. May have a place to live; definitely want to be in that area (Yokohama/Yokosuka) even if I need to find housing.
3. Will be in Japan in Sept (don't need to work then & have somewhere to stay), would want to start working mid-Nov/early Dec.
I don't really have a preference for what I teach, I can enjoy anything from kindy to uni if the working conditions are right. My biggest hang-up is getting taken advantage of. Some of the workload/hours vs. pay seems to be a bit much. Although, I may just be a bit spoiled because I had worked my way up to the higher end jobs in Korea that had low hours and lots of paid vacation. Still, I'm just looking for a regular work day without too many classes. I recognize that may have to start over coming to Japan, but am hoping I might not have to go with the very worst conditions.
How feasible is it to get someone to sponsor a visa for part time conditions? I think the ideal would be part-time business English, but I would be perfectly happy to teach kindy 3 or 4 hours a day if it got me a visa. I'm still energetic enough to handle the kids, but more than a few hours a day is just too mind numbing for me.
If I work part-time/hourly will I be forced to pay national health insurance? I actually have my own health insurance that is good internationally (ie it will reimburse my costs, even abroad).
Also, what are the rules on privates. From what I'm reading, it looks like on the side gigs are legal. Is that true?
If I can get my cover letter and resume translated into Japanese, how hard will it be to look for jobs in the area I'd like to be in if I don't speak Japanese. (Could probably provide a Japanese speaker for people to email.)
Thanks for any assistance you can give me. BTW, I don't need to hear about how flooded the job market is or similar things. I'm looking for real constructive advice. Thanks again. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| 3. Will be in Japan in Sept (don't need to work then & have somewhere to stay), would want to start working mid-Nov/early Dec. |
Hardly anything is available then. Reconsider your start date.
International schools usually start in the fall, but that's Sept./Aug. so you'd better get hustling on any ads right now! You may have already missed that hiring window.
As for other places, there is a small surge in entry level work for Oct. start dates.
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| I can enjoy anything from kindy to uni if the working conditions are right. |
What do you consider "right"? It's a buyer's market now, so you will probably have very little say in the matter. Probably 20-200 other applicants in line.
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| My biggest hang-up is getting taken advantage of. Some of the workload/hours vs. pay seems to be a bit much. |
What do you want in hours, workload, and pay? What do you consider "not many classes"? Again, you are in very little position to negotiate these days.
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| How feasible is it to get someone to sponsor a visa for part time conditions? |
Zero.
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| If I work part-time/hourly will I be forced to pay national health insurance? I actually have my own health insurance that is good internationally (ie it will reimburse my costs, even abroad). |
Non sequitur, as you cannot get hired PT on a work visa your first year. And, beginning 2010, there may very well be a law which states that visa renewal will be dependent on having national health insurance, not a private type.
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| Also, what are the rules on privates. From what I'm reading, it looks like on the side gigs are legal. Is that true? |
Every employer will have his own "rules". Some forbid it, others don't care. As long as your private life doesn't interfere with your main job, be discrete about it and do what you like.
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| If I can get my cover letter and resume translated into Japanese, how hard will it be to look for jobs in the area I'd like to be in if I don't speak Japanese. (Could probably provide a Japanese speaker for people to email.) |
Japanese resume & cover letter is not needed. English will suffice. If you are not fluent in the language anyway, why bother? Besides, you are being hired to teach English and not use Japanese in the classroom. Using Japanese is usually prohibited, although it will be useful in daily life situations.
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| BTW, I don't need to hear about how flooded the job market is or similar things. I'm looking for real constructive advice. |
Sorry, but you do need to hear it, as I pointed out above. Another reason is that depending on your employer, your other experience may not even be taken into account because it was not in Japan. |
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cvmurrieta
Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Sendai, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 2:01 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Quote: |
| BTW, I don't need to hear about how flooded the job market is or similar things. I'm looking for real constructive advice. |
Sorry, but you do need to hear it, as I pointed out above. Another reason is that depending on your employer, your other experience may not even be taken into account because it was not in Japan. |
Some of them may not even take into account your Japan experience if you are not from the same area. I have come across employers who have questioned my desire to move from Sendai and whether I can work with a majority Japanese office at a BoE (my resume includes that I am a translator with the Miyagi Prefectural Government. I am thinking of replacing that title with my division name). For ALT positions, some won't even consider you if you have never worked as one.
Buyers' market it is......flooded even for people who have spent a long time here. |
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greenbean
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| cvmurrieta wrote: |
| Glenski wrote: |
| Quote: |
| BTW, I don't need to hear about how flooded the job market is or similar things. I'm looking for real constructive advice. |
Sorry, but you do need to hear it, as I pointed out above. Another reason is that depending on your employer, your other experience may not even be taken into account because it was not in Japan. |
Some of them may not even take into account your Japan experience if you are not from the same area. I have come across employers who have questioned my desire to move from Sendai and whether I can work with a majority Japanese office at a BoE (my resume includes that I am a translator with the Miyagi Prefectural Government. I am thinking of replacing that title with my division name). For ALT positions, some won't even consider you if you have never worked as one.
Buyers' market it is......flooded even for people who have spent a long time here. |
cvmurrieta:
Letting me know experience outside Japan may not be considered is useful. So thanks for that info.
Glenski,
Also some useful info. But, I disagree that you need to tell me the market is flooded and other similar comments... I am very literate... I can read well... It is well posted everywhere that the market is flooded... I comprehended what that means... What I was looking for was more specific advice, some of which you did provide...
What I can't understand is why all you folks on the Japan board feel the need to be so negative. A simple 'no, that won't work' is great, but most of the posts I've read here written to those new to Japan seem to be derogatory. It makes me wonder if everyone is so negative just to keep people away.
I'm coming to Japan, whether I have work or not. Personally, sitting around doing nothing all day isn't my idea of a good time. Hence my desire to find a job. But, I don't have to have one which is why I'm not interested in something that will burn me out or run me into the ground. |
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cvmurrieta
Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 209
Location: Sendai, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:23 am Post subject: |
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| greenbean wrote: |
| cvmurrieta wrote: |
| Glenski wrote: |
| Quote: |
| BTW, I don't need to hear about how flooded the job market is or similar things. I'm looking for real constructive advice. |
Sorry, but you do need to hear it, as I pointed out above. Another reason is that depending on your employer, your other experience may not even be taken into account because it was not in Japan. |
Some of them may not even take into account your Japan experience if you are not from the same area. I have come across employers who have questioned my desire to move from Sendai and whether I can work with a majority Japanese office at a BoE (my resume includes that I am a translator with the Miyagi Prefectural Government. I am thinking of replacing that title with my division name). For ALT positions, some won't even consider you if you have never worked as one.
Buyers' market it is......flooded even for people who have spent a long time here. |
cvmurrieta:
Letting me know experience outside Japan may not be considered is useful. So thanks for that info.
Glenski,
Also some useful info. But, I disagree that you need to tell me the market is flooded and other similar comments... I am very literate... I can read well... It is well posted everywhere that the market is flooded... What I was looking for was more specific advice, some of which you did provide...
What I can't understand is why all you folks on the Japan board feel the need to be so negative. A simple 'no, that won't work' is great, but most of the posts I've read here written to those new to Japan seem to be derogatory. It makes me wonder if everyone is so negative just to keep people away. |
Well, thanks for giving me credit even if I didn't actually say that (Glenski said that experience outside Japan may not be taken into account; I said that even if you have Japan experience, it may or may not be considered based on regional preference).
As for some of the negativity, I think most of it can be attributed to a really depressed market. I was in Japan when there was a recession in the mid-to-late 90s. But to me it didn't feel like there was a recession because at the time the Big 4 were ALWAYS hiring. If a native speaker couldn't find a job, there was always NOVA to fall back on. Nowadays places like AEON and ECC have pulled back in their hiring. NOVA as it was 10 years ago no longer exists. I will say I have been surprised at some of the attitudes employers have taken toward me even though I have six years of teaching experience in Japan.
I think most on here would welcome you if you came. I think they just don't want you to set yourself up for disappointment, that's all. |
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