Job Discussion Forums

pjhendrick · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 7

Does anyone have experience finding work for as a couple? My wife and I are currently applying for the JET Program, but assuming we both get accepted, they make no guarantees to place couples together. Has anyone had experience with JET as a couple? Obviously if they place us in different cities, at least one of us will have to turn down the offer. If at least one of us gets a job and the city is big enough (might be a problem since JET is supposed to be rural), the other could try to find work on a dependent visa, right?

My wife has a BA in English already, I'll have my BA in English mid-April, and we both have TESOL certifications. Since we'll miss the main hiring season for the year I'm sure finding work in the same city will be that much harder. Is it even realistic to find anything before August/September if neither of us has a job?

Any other advice for finding two jobs in the same city would be appreciated. I've heard AEON in particular only provides single occupancy housing, so any extra information like that would be appreciated as well.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

pjhendrick · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 7

We'd like to come ASAP, but my graduation date is April 17th. I'll have a letter of completion, but no diploma for 6-8 weeks after that. I'm assuming that's too late for me to start in the April season. Based on a post of yours on gaijinpot, it looks like the letter of completion and sealed transcripts might be enough? Is it possible to start work before my official graduation date if I'm finished with my classes?

Maybe my wife could start in April and I could find a job when we're over there. If I go from a dependent visa to sponsored visa would I have to leave the country or anything?

Thanks so much for the help.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

IMO, coming "ASAP" is not a good idea.

1. You should plan things out instead of leaping into the fray and hoping for the best.

2. From this month to late January is the slowest hiring time.

Yes, sealed transcripts and a letter from your uni attesting to your graduation is often taken in place of showing the actual parchment, but if your graduation date isn't until mid April, then the degree itself won't be granted until at least then, right? That will be a problem for immigration.

floozabel · Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Ichikawa, Japan

I work for Shane in Chiba and they take on couples all the time when they're hiring. They place you in the same district, give you a bigger appartment than individuals and give you two days off together. We have found them very accomodating.

Only problem is that they are currently not hiring until the start of next year!

ShioriEigoKyoushi · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Japan

kimsmith · Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Brighton

I know of several couples (some married, some not) working at American Language School in Chiba - check their website for recruiting details. They seem to hire throughout the year.

jerkytheturkey · Joined: 09 May 2009 Posts: 38

Me and my partner were both accepted by Aeon back in July. Luckily we were placed at schools 25 minutes from each other although in the interviews we said we would be willing to live up to an hour away. We wanted an area near to a big city and were placed in Kanagawa near Tokyo.

Your correct in assuming that Aeon will only allow single occupancy, they have made this quite clear. Since we were hired by Aeon things have changed, the last time I spoke to my recruiter (last week) she mentioned that Aeon are no longer hiring or willing to take couples. I think this is because many couples do not complete their contracts, she was pretty vague on the reasons why.

I hope this helps.

Hot-Carl · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 63

pjhendrick · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 7

I guess "ASAP" was a bit misleading. Realistically April is the soonest I would expect to arrive.

If my wife were to get a job starting in April before coming, and I started looking for a job starting mid-April or later, how long could I expect to wait to find a job in a large city? Is 1-2 months realistic during that season? I think if it would take 3+ months we'd be better off both securing jobs beforehand and working in the US in the meantime.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

pjhendrick · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 7

To go from a Dependent visa to an Instructor visa, would I have to leave the country? Also, I've read that some people have arrived as a tourist and received sponsored work visas without leaving the country. Are they both just case-by-case or do the majority have to re-enter the country?

From what I understand, with a Dependent visa and the "Certificate to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted" you can work 28 hours a week or less. I'm sure I would want to work more than that, but if I were to work 28 contract hours a week for a year, would that have any effect on getting an Instructor visa later?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

pjhendrick · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 7

Thanks Glenski, that's great news! Thanks so much for all the help.

pjhendrick · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 7

As sort of a follow up to all of this, I think we're planning on having my wife get a job starting March/April and I'll come on a DV, then look for work in country.

Are there any cities or regions in particular that would be any easier for me to find a job in country? We're going to try to avoid Tokyo because of the cost and lots of people searching for jobs there, and rural areas that might not have enough jobs. Okaka and Nagoya seem like they might be good, just on the basis of being large cities. Do mid sized cities have many left over April/May jobs?

Edit: To work while on a Dependent Visa, do you apply for the exception to work at the same time you apply for the visa itself, or is the exception to work added later?