Job Discussion Forums

PO1 · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 136

This is more of a question for those of you who have been in Japan for the long-term or those who plan on staying there for the long term. What would you say are the best long-term jobs to get for a foreigner living in Japan? I know it depends a lot on experience, education, etc. but just wondering what seems to work for those of you that have spousal visas or have kept a job in Japan longer than 5 years.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

A 'best' job depends on more than just experience and education, it also depends on your own personality.

I know people with k-12 qualifications (but no TESOL specific training) who have been teaching at a single school, doing more or less the same (fill in the blank, 'it's "communicative" because they are speaking!') types of lessons for over a decade. How do you do that? You get qualifications and work in a rural area where there are 1. very few options for the foreigner and 2. very little chance of the school being able to find someone else. But it is a dispatch job.

For a lot of people, that would be a BRUTAL existence, though.

I know others who have started their own bars or other businesses.

And there are people who learn Japanese to a very high level and work for Japanese companies doing all sorts of things.

You have to sort of market yourself and approach it the same as any other career- you understand the market, you understand where you fit in in that market, you work at various jobs trying to move yourself into the area where you want to be/ where you fit best. But the key is that you are working at it- (example for English teaching: you join JALT, you get a masters degree, you publish stuff, you give presentations, you work at varying levels - elementary, junio, senior, college etc. OR you try to get into leadership by becoming a DoS or something).

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

Sorry, but there is no "best job" for everyone. What is the "best job" in your home country? Same answer, practically.

As for Japan, are you talking about teaching or non-teaching work anyway? Can't even come close to answering the latter because everyone is different. As for teaching, some think tenured university work is best, others think international school jobs, some think owning your own school, etc.

I moved up the ladder as follows:
eikaiwa (work visa)
Left that because they wanted all teachers to go to PT.

PT private HS + PT private work (under spouse visa)
Good for a year (for me), but I needed something more stable with a family growing.

FT private HS (spouse visa)
Stayed 3 years more (standard contract, unable to get tenure)

FT university (changed to permanent resident status)
Have a secure position but am fortunate to get it.

What works for me won't work for you. What works for you won't work for me. You make your own breaks. Do what you want to do, get trained/educated for it, learn the market, network, etc.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Friends of mine who have been here longer (usually 8+ years), are mostly working in IT, law or finance at the offices of foreign companies in Tokyo, or Japanese companies where they need foreign staff. I have some friends who work at embassies. Others have their own English schools or other businesses, and some are photographers/dance teachers/gym instructors/yoga teachers.

My main line of work is also teaching yoga, and I do some proofreading on the side as well as a part time office job (mostly translating and answering the phone) at a small Japanese company. I've been here 12 years.

You can see that long term jobs are quite varied depending on your background and the opportunities that come up once you get here. Best jobs? Hard to say. I like teaching yoga, but it's not for everyone, particularly the unstable income aspect. I'm sure the people I know working in IT and finance think their jobs are the best for them, but I wouldn't like the hours they work at all, even though they are paid quite well. For some people teaching English is the best job out there, and it can be very rewarding if you are working for a good company/school.

Piri-Piri · Joined: 23 Mar 2010 Posts: 24 Location: Osaka

PO1 · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 136

When I said "best" I meant best for all of you. I wanted opinions, not some definitive answer. Thanks for the feedback.

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

well I am an a direct hire ALT and when I put what I earn per week in my own currency; its $1500 a week and my job has no limit (unlike JET)

mhard1 · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 54 Location: Japan

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

flyer I think is a New Zealander, and 6,000 NZD ( he said "in my own currency") is about 370,000 yen at the moment, not 520,000. Still great pay for an ALT.

Piri-Piri · Joined: 23 Mar 2010 Posts: 24 Location: Osaka

mhard1 · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 54 Location: Japan

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

kotoko · Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 109

37 man is a great wage but (I'm a JET right now, BTW.. we get 27 man a month I think) I could never be an ALT for more than a few years. I'm coming up to the end of my first year, have recontracted for next year, but after that I'm out of here. I want to be a teacher, not a white face to decorate the school with.

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

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

JET ALTs get 300,000 yen/month before deductions.
http://jetprogramme.org/e/faq/faq10rem.html
see Q 10.3