Job Discussion Forums

chaz47 · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 157

Hi, I'm over in the ROK and am considering changing jobs after May 1st. What is the market looking like in Japan lately?

steki47 · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka

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

You're asking about the market here in the biggest hiring period of the year. Yes, there is a crisis that may offset the usual trend, but please tell us that you have at least done your share of checking the usual boards first. Nobody here has a crystal ball. Harsh-sounding or not, it's the truth.

MOD EDIT

ironclad80 · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 53

ghostrider · Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 147

I imagine a bit better, but the peak hiring time was January through the end of March. If extra jobs pop up now, they'll be last minute and impossible to predict how many of those there will be nor what type of jobs they are. The closer to Fukushima and the natural disaster you get, where the jobs still exist, I think the better your chances. I imagine the further west and south you go, the lower. It's just as likely those bailing Kanto, or north of it, are going to look for work in Osaka, Fukuoka or Okinawa and the number of English jobs in those cities is already far lower even before all of this happened.

For your own personal safety, ironclad80's Japanese friends are probably correct. Kanto is not in the clear yet, major aftershocks continue. It's a bit of a risky time to be heading over there. Perhaps in a month or two the situation will be resolved, but it's harder to find work between April and July. The next best chance is late July through early September. Of course if you get hired by a big eikaiwa from outside Japan, anytime is fine to apply.

seklarwia · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:54 pm Post subject:

With Interac there must have been a few people leave and likely more no-shows and defers amongst the new arrivals because we just received an email saying that the bonus for refferals has almost doubled.
I think that this trend is probably common across the board with employers right now with the situation appearing less than rosy.

So for the moment, there are likely more opportunities up for grabs.

But I don't know how long this situation will last for...

... From an employment point of view, you would probably be better off getting in sooner rather than later. Because if the current crisis subsides in a few months, many of the employers currently with a long list of people who deferred are likely going to have more than enough people (if not too many) to fill any positions opening up for the small summer intake.

... From a safety point of view, you do need to consider whether the people staying away for now are justified in their decision or over reacting. And if you chose to come through a large school/company, you need to remember that you may have little choice in where you are placed and that could end up pretty close to the potential danger area.

If you think people are overreacting or that the risk is small enough in comparison to the gains, then try to come soon whilst there are jobs available.

If you think that it is a good idea to stay away for a while, then wait. You'll probably have a difficult time getting employed by then, but if you are in this frame of mind you'll only have a miserable time out here since you'll be constantly worrying.