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yousofi
Joined: 20 Apr 2010
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 1:00 pm Post subject: Arriving in Tokyo without a job |
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Hey everyone,
I am planning to arrive in Tokyo without a job in late August. I have accommodation sorted but was wondering what the likelihood of finding a Job in Tokyo would be for someone with my credentials.
I have a 2.1 degree in English and Philosophy from Leeds University. I have a 125 hour online TEFL certificate and little to no teaching experience. I am also a native English speaker. I am very flexible with the kind of work and the location (can be anywhere in Japan really).
What is the chance of landing a job within a few months? Not necessarily in TEFLing but just something to pay for food and travel.
Thanks in advance! |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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Considering your educational background, I'd be philosophical about my chances...
NCTBA |
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Shimokitazawa
Joined: 16 Aug 2009
Posts: 458
Location: Saigon, Vietnam
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Arriving in Tokyo without a job |
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| yousofi wrote: |
Hey everyone,
I am planning to arrive in Tokyo without a job in late August. I have accommodation sorted but was wondering what the likelihood of finding a Job in Tokyo would be for someone with my credentials.
I have a 2.1 degree in English and Philosophy from Leeds University. I have a 125 hour online TEFL certificate and little to no teaching experience. I am also a native English speaker. I am very flexible with the kind of work and the location (can be anywhere in Japan really).
What is the chance of landing a job within a few months? Not necessarily in TEFLing but just something to pay for food and travel.
Thanks in advance! |
Good. Get into Kinkos or a print shop to print up your resumes. Walk around Shinjuku or Shibuya and go in and talk to people. That's what I and a few of my friends did and we all got jobs. I actually turned down a couple of schools after I decided on one. There are jobs out there, but they might not be where you want to live or not near your gaijin house / apartment. Tokyo is a huge place with lots of potential for different kinds of teaching - corporate EFL classes, part-time high school classes, eikaiwas, etc.
and of course keep your eye open on the different websites that advertise EFL jobs.
"I have a 2.1 degree"
- but what is a "2.1" degree? |
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rascalking
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Bring money to last you at least 3 months (I'd say at least 500k yen), as you won't see your first paycheck until the end of the following month from when you started. Apply like crazy, take something you think you can manage for at least a year (it doesn't look good if you bail right after you get your visa). Considering your credentials, you'll have no problem getting a 250k a month job. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Arriving in Tokyo without a job |
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| Shimokitazawa wrote: |
"I have a 2.1 degree"
- but what is a "2.1" degree? |
Our honour degrees have classification based on the average of our unit scores through out our study.
1 = first (highest classification)
2.1 = upper second
2.2 = lower second
3 = third (lowest classification for honours)
In my uni, you needed to keep an average score of at least 87.5% to get a first, at least 75% to get a 2.1, at least 62.5 for a 2.2 and at least a minimum pass (50%) in all units to get a third.
Occasionally people get ordinary degrees which have no classification, but they are not very common in the UK these days. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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Come on a working holiday visa. You won't need a sponsor for it, and you can start work immediately in almost any kind of job, FT or PT.
At the end of August, some employers may be looking to hire for an October start date.
You are minimally qualified, as are about 95% of other newcomers, so plan ahead and be very aware that the competition is fierce here. Make resumes and cover letters customized to each employer. Dress well (yeah, even in hot and humid Tokyo in August!). |
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yousofi
Joined: 20 Apr 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you very much for all the quick and helpful responses.
To be honest, I'm not really there to 'save money', just to survive really lol.
I'm a little confused because I am aware of the fierce competition, i.e. what Never Ceased To Be Amazed has said. But then the optimistic words of rascalking and Shimokitazawa make me think that it may be possible. However, I don't speak Japanese (but am more than willing to learn).
I just wish there was a simple answer lol  |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 12:26 am Post subject: |
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| yousofi wrote: |
| I'm a little confused because I am aware of the fierce competition, i.e. what Never Ceased To Be Amazed has said. But then the optimistic words of rascalking and Shimokitazawa make me think that it may be possible. |
That's because it is possible, but do not assume it will be easy or that it will turn out for you as it has for others.
Competition is extremely fierce these days, but if you have enough determination, put in enough effort and plan a head, dress well, interview well and have enough resources (you need money to make money here) then it is entirely possible.
Assuming you are young enough and were not an international student at Leeds, coming over with a WHV, as Glenski said, will help you to no end. |
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