Job Discussion Forums

[Rakuten]

I think it is admirable what you are doing- that is putting yourself out there and documenting your experiences trying to get back to Japan through teaching English. In addition to being a good resource of information for other prospective job-seekers in Japan.

That being said, I also think that you may need a better reason to go to Japan and work 30-40+ hour weeks/5 days a week teaching English than "I just wanna get back to Japan because I like it there, don't care about teaching English much- and am just using that as a means to get to Japan".

Also, if you are truly interested in getting back to Japan through teaching ESL, you may need to be more flexible than just "Tokyo or bust" and be more flexible about arrival dates. The job market seem pretty saturated with people wanting to go to Japan, with relatively the same qualifications/experience, and without the location and date requirements. Saying "I only want to be in Tokyo" makes the employer think you have some other vendetta for going to Tokyo/Japan that is outside the company/work, therefore not making it your main priority and not making you as attractive as an applicant.

I say these things because I too know what you are going though. I am a recent college graduate, who studied abroad in Japan and wanted to go back. I also have been through the very long, arduous and stressful job search of looking for jobs in Japan overseas. So, I understand the difficulties, but I also am very interested in teaching English, getting better at Japanese and I had no preferences for location or time/date of arrival in Japan.

I had interviews with: Amity, ECC, Aeon and the James English School. And, I got a job offer from one of them. If you have any questions about the interviews with any of the above companies, send me a PM.

[TokyoLiz]

Rakuten and Okonomiyaki brought up some valid reasons not to come to Japan without solid preparation and goals.

The dispatch ALT positions pay a pittance as the dispatch companies skim more and more off the employees by cutting corners, often disregarding the labour laws.

Unless you have Japanese language skills at the JLPT 2 level, a post-grad TESOL degree or diploma, and teaching experience, you are stuck in a dead-end job.

Even if you have those skills, teaching isn't for everyone. A friend who has JLPT 2, a TESOL MA, years of experience, and an international school job left the profession because the career wasn't the right fit.

The IT and banking professionals that made it here didn't have the Japanese language skills to start with. All of them studied around the clock to pass the JETRO language test and the JLPT.

I can't emphasize enough that JET is the best way to go. Until it is scrapped, or replaced by more rational programs with a different candidate profile, it is the best support and salary, and suitable for those who want to get involved in Japanese cultural pursuits, started in education, or open doors for career here.

When I was a JET, I studied Aikido and tea ceremony, traveled nearly every weekend, had four mentor teachers to learn from, participated in volunteer service in the prefecture, and served as translator/interpreter/tour guide for the City when they had guests. I arrived with basic Japanese and in a year's time, was conversant and had basic literacy.

The dispatch ALT and eikaiwa jobs don't allow for these kinds of opportunities. You're too busy working, and you're just another foreign kid in a suit.

[Shimokitazawa]

Good post, Liz. I never participated in JET and, like many, do not agree with their policies. However, it makes sense to try and get into their program, especially if one envisions a life in Japan post-JET program.

[gaijinalways]

To Shanana,

You seem to have had experiences which have 'lit your fire' for Japan; six years of study of the language, and a year studying abroad in Japan.

I agree with Rakuten that you should widen your choices about location. I also have to wonder about why your timing for arrival is so rigid, even though GABA when they interviewed you said they needed you to come earlier.

That being said, you are making good efforts to find a job prior to coming to Japan, so good luck with that.

To genesis315,

You are in an interesting situation. I'm surprised you want to leave your current post, to possibly take a job where you'll be lucky to be making about a third of what you make now.

Why you might choose any place in Japan over other places is a bit beyond me, but we all have our reasons for going places. You might wish to really contemplate why you'd choose Japan over any other specific place.

Of course you mention that your work hours are excessive. Would you mind being specific about that, how many hours do you work a week on average? This would give us a better idea of what kind of income you're giving up for working equivalent hours.

Staying in a job you don't like is not easy, but there must be some aspects of your job (and Qatar) that you like. Best to keep saving up money and perhaps prepare for coming to Japan (or some other place more suitable than Qatar).

[genesis315]

gaijinalways,

I have averaged about 100 hours a week since January. I will not say I am actually 'working' at all times, but need to be in the office and available at a moments notice even during the slow periods of the day.

There are some things that I like here, the mostly tax free pay for starters. Their is also a wide variety of food available, I sorta enjoy the hot weather for workouts as well. Some of the parks are kinda nice.

I still have a lot of places I would like to visit, but so far Japan has been the most appealing for probably 100 or more reasons.

I definitely have saved more than enough money to come to Japan. While working here it is easy to keep thinking 'oh, just two more weeks', which then turns into two more months, etc etc.

[TokyoLiz]

Shmokitazawa said

[ghostrider]

If you're making six figures, I'd just fly over to Japan whenever you have vacations. At the same time, you can start the lengthy JET application process which takes about a year from start to finish, or 2 years if you don't make it the first time.

I imagine you could also save quite a bit from your current salary and live comfortably off your savings with some low paying eikaiwa or ALT job near Tokyo. However, it's a dead end until you learn Japanese well and have the right qualifications for a career job here, or do as TokyoLiz did. If you get stuck in eikaiwa or ALT indefinitely, I don't think the positives of living here can overcome the feeling of being stuck in an unstable bottom level position, doing repetitive mind numbing work, seeing friends and coworkers constantly come and go.

[genesis315]

Thanks ghostrider I find that information insightful.


I definitely would not want to make a half-hearted affair out of the whole thing. I would want to learn the language and put in sufficient effort to expand my horizons.

[TokyoLiz]