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cosimocubs
Joined: 04 May 2009
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 6:22 pm Post subject: coming to japan only to go somewhere else when i find out... |
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there is no work?
i have a ba in film and i'm 27. i love japanese culture and have done all my life
i haven't done a teaching course. i plan to come to japan with a working visa, i have 4 grand in the bank
if after a couple months i can't find a job teaching, then is it possible to me to get a visa to work in korea whilst i am in japan. i hear it's slightly easier to find work there
many thanks for any help
cosimo |
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PO1
Joined: 24 May 2010
Posts: 136
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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If you have absolutely no teaching experience or certifications you may find it pretty difficult to get a job in Japan. As has been said here umpteen times, the competition is pretty stiff. I wish you the best of luck however. I'm sure some veterans around here might have better advice. It just seems like your credentials don't really stand out from the average applicant. I'm not trying to discourage you, I'd just suggest doing more research before using your $4,000 to job search.
I'm noticing Korea just seems to be a second or third choice for people who really want to come to Japan. Go to Korea because you want to go to Korea. Not just because you can't get work in Japan.
That's what I'd say anyhow.
Last edited by PO1 on Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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| PO1 wrote: |
I'm noticing Korea just seems to be a second or third choice for people who really want to come to Japan. Go to Korea because you want to go to Korea. Not just because you can't get work in Japan.
That's what I'd say anyhow. |
Now, don't get me wrong -- I did five years in Korea and ultimately, I just couldn't take the xenophobia and double standards any longer, so I left. People can go on and on about xenophobia in Japan, and they're probably right, but I think it's widely agreed that things are worse in Korea from a xenophobia standpoint.
HOWEVER, if the OP is extremely interested in Japan and can't find a job in Japan, Korea is not a bad idea because:
1. He can easily replenish his depleted savings. It's possible to put $1,500 or more per month INTO THE BANK (i.e. after living expenses) in Korea if you really have your budgeting down. This will make the next "foray into Japan" much easier, financially.
2. Korea has tons of opportunities to study Japanese: many Japanese people, Zainichi Koreans, Japanese language exchange bars, and tons of Japanese hagwon.
3. There are direct ferries from Busan to Japan that are economical and good for weekend trips. Someone who lives in Busan could realistically spend eight days a month on Japanese soil and not break the bank.
4. Since these ferries connect Japan and Korea, it's an easy "escape hatch" if he runs out of money and needs a job pronto.
5. Korea has many Japanese historical sites. For example, there are Japanese-style castles in the southern part of the country.
Just thought I'd mention those things. I may not be a big fan of South Korea, but it's not the worst place in the world to be for a Japan enthusiast. My Japanese and knowledge of Japan greatly increased when I was living in Seoul, going to school with Japanese classmates, living with Japanese and Zainichi Koreans, etc. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: coming to japan only to go somewhere else when i find ou |
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| cosimocubs wrote: |
| i plan to come to japan with a working visa, |
Do you mean you plan to come with a WHV or that you plan to apply for a regular work visa before having a job over here?
Because the latter is impossible (you need and employer to sponsor your initial work visa) and the former isn't possible if you are American. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:42 pm Post subject: Re: coming to japan only to go somewhere else when i find ou |
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| cosimocubs wrote: |
| i haven't done a teaching course. i plan to come to japan with a working visa, |
As seklarwia wrote, did you mean working holiday visa?
| Quote: |
| if after a couple months i can't find a job teaching |
Just a piece of advice in the form of a question here. When exactly did you plan to come? Timing can be very important!
If you are eligible for a WHV, then you can probably find work more easily than people who need a work visa. That's mostly because you can take on part-time work, whereas newcomers who need a work visa cannot. |
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shostahoosier
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:08 am Post subject: |
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To the original poster, it is easier to find work in Korea but it has gotten much harder recently.
There is a good surplus of people wanting to work public school jobs...even in rural areas (that wasnt the case even 2 years ago).
You can ferry to Japan (Fukuoka) from Korea's second largest city Busan, but getting a job there is as difficult as Seoul because everyone wants to work on the beach.
If you're willing to compromise (i.e. rural teaching, shady hagwon) you will most likely get placed somewhere. Eikawa work (hagwon) is a little less ethical in Korea because your employer owns your visa, so you cant just up and leave if you dont like your workplace or if you find a better offer.
If I were you I would gather the documents needed for a Korean visa (do your research about East Asia ESL in general) just in case you do have to seek work outside of Japan. I hear China and Taiwan are interesting places too (you wont "bank" like Korea though). Dont even bother with Hong Kong.
Im not discouraging you, just letting you know that getting a job in Korea isnt the sure thing it used to be.
Good luck! |
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OneJoelFifty
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 463
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:58 am Post subject: |
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If I were you I'd take an introduction to TEFL course or something along those lines, so you know the very basics about teaching English. While it might not mean anything to employers, it should give you a little extra confidence in interviews. It would also mean that should you get a job that doesn't have a lot of guidance from the employer, you at least know a little about what you're supposed to do.
There's also always the chance that you'll hate teaching. |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:14 am Post subject: |
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| shostahoosier wrote: |
| I hear China and Taiwan are interesting places too (you wont "bank" like Korea though). Dont even bother with Hong Kong. |
As for "don't bother with Hong Kong," I agree, but add Taiwan to that list. Taiwan is similarly competitive to Japan right now. After leaving an extremely shady school, I had to interview at TWELVE places before finding a job that would both hire me and pay the bills. And I have a work visa, CELTA, and experience, so those factors put me ahead of where the OP would be if he attempted Taiwan as a backup to Japan. Taiwan is too risky for a guy who, at that point, has already failed to find work in Japan.
However, Korea and (especially) China are both safe bets, at least as far as finding SOME job. |
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Bread
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 318
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: coming to japan only to go somewhere else when i find ou |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
| cosimocubs wrote: |
| i plan to come to japan with a working visa, |
Do you mean you plan to come with a WHV or that you plan to apply for a regular work visa before having a job over here?
Because the latter is impossible (you need and employer to sponsor your initial work visa) and the former isn't possible if you are American. |
This person isn't American, they used British English (have done, whilst) in their post. I'm sure it's a working holiday visa, which should make things loads easier. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: coming to japan only to go somewhere else when i find ou |
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| Bread wrote: |
| This person isn't American, they used British English (have done, whilst) in their post. I'm sure it's a working holiday visa, which should make things loads easier. |
It is not as common as in British English and they often use the simple past instead, but Americans do use perfect tenses, too.
They also didn't feel the need to mention their nationality or what currency that 4 grand was in which is often (although admittedly not always) a sign of an American, so I thought it best to cover all the bases just to be safe.
And when the poster can't even get the name of the visa they intend to get correct, you have to wonder whether that was a simple mistake or whether this is yet another poster who is planning to get a visa without fully researching and understanding what is on offer to them and what the application process actually entails. |
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Bread
Joined: 24 May 2009
Posts: 318
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: coming to japan only to go somewhere else when i find ou |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
| Bread wrote: |
| This person isn't American, they used British English (have done, whilst) in their post. I'm sure it's a working holiday visa, which should make things loads easier. |
It is not as common as in British English and they often use the simple past instead, but Americans do use perfect tenses, too.
They also didn't feel the need to mention their nationality or what currency that 4 grand was in which is often (although admittedly not always) a sign of an American, so I thought it best to cover all the bases just to be safe.
And when the poster can't even get the name of the visa they intend to get correct, you have to wonder whether that was a simple mistake or whether this is yet another poster who is planning to get a visa without fully researching and understanding what is on offer to them and what the application process actually entails. |
You're right. I give people too much credit sometimes. But I've still never heard an American say "I have done all my life" before, though.
Actually I'm American and the first time I ever encountered this grammatical construct was in Harry Potter when I was like 18 years old ("Did you bring a snack? No, but I should have done." or something like that). It was so jarring to me that I went and looked the grammar up on the internet to see if it was a typo or British English. |
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cosimocubs
Joined: 04 May 2009
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: coming to japan only to go somewhere else when i find ou |
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[quote="Glenski"]
| cosimocubs wrote: |
When exactly did you plan to come? Timing can be very important!
If you are eligible for a WHV, then you can probably find work more easily than people who need a work visa. That's mostly because you can take on part-time work, whereas newcomers who need a work visa cannot. |
hi glenski. i plan to arrive in september, with my working holiday visa already in place
when is the best time to come to japan to look for work? |
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cosimocubs
Joined: 04 May 2009
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| shostahoosier wrote: |
To the original poster, it is easier to find work in Korea but it has gotten much harder recently.
There is a good surplus of people wanting to work public school jobs...even in rural areas (that wasnt the case even 2 years ago).
You can ferry to Japan (Fukuoka) from Korea's second largest city Busan, but getting a job there is as difficult as Seoul because everyone wants to work on the beach.
If you're willing to compromise (i.e. rural teaching, shady hagwon) you will most likely get placed somewhere. Eikawa work (hagwon) is a little less ethical in Korea because your employer owns your visa, so you cant just up and leave if you dont like your workplace or if you find a better offer.
If I were you I would gather the documents needed for a Korean visa (do your research about East Asia ESL in general) just in case you do have to seek work outside of Japan. I hear China and Taiwan are interesting places too (you wont "bank" like Korea though). Dont even bother with Hong Kong.
Im not discouraging you, just letting you know that getting a job in Korea isnt the sure thing it used to be.
Good luck! |
thanks shosta. i am going to london tomorrow to sit in on a tefl course |
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cosimocubs
Joined: 04 May 2009
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Rooster_2006 wrote: |
| PO1 wrote: |
I'm noticing Korea just seems to be a second or third choice for people who really want to come to Japan. Go to Korea because you want to go to Korea. Not just because you can't get work in Japan.
That's what I'd say anyhow. |
Now, don't get me wrong -- I did five years in Korea and ultimately, I just couldn't take the xenophobia and double standards any longer, so I left. People can go on and on about xenophobia in Japan, and they're probably right, but I think it's widely agreed that things are worse in Korea from a xenophobia standpoint.
HOWEVER, if the OP is extremely interested in Japan and can't find a job in Japan, Korea is not a bad idea because:
1. He can easily replenish his depleted savings. It's possible to put $1,500 or more per month INTO THE BANK (i.e. after living expenses) in Korea if you really have your budgeting down. This will make the next "foray into Japan" much easier, financially.
2. Korea has tons of opportunities to study Japanese: many Japanese people, Zainichi Koreans, Japanese language exchange bars, and tons of Japanese hagwon.
3. There are direct ferries from Busan to Japan that are economical and good for weekend trips. Someone who lives in Busan could realistically spend eight days a month on Japanese soil and not break the bank.
4. Since these ferries connect Japan and Korea, it's an easy "escape hatch" if he runs out of money and needs a job pronto.
5. Korea has many Japanese historical sites. For example, there are Japanese-style castles in the southern part of the country.
Just thought I'd mention those things. I may not be a big fan of South Korea, but it's not the worst place in the world to be for a Japan enthusiast. My Japanese and knowledge of Japan greatly increased when I was living in Seoul, going to school with Japanese classmates, living with Japanese and Zainichi Koreans, etc. |
danke rooster |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: coming to japan only to go somewhere else when i find ou |
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| cosimocubs wrote: |
hi glenski. i plan to arrive in september, with my working holiday visa already in place |
Although you will have the advantage of having a WHV in hand, that is alittle late for ESL jobs most of which start Aug/Sept so the hiring is being done as we type... You're going to have to be really on the ball if you are going to get hired quickly.
Also, do you know if Korea has a major hiring periods? It would suck if you can't get a job a in Japan due to the timing, then went over to Korea only to face more of the same. |
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