Job Discussion Forums

KnockoutNed · Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 87

I posted a few weeks ago about being unhappy with my current postion. Thanks to everyone who responded. The main reason I'm not happy is because I don't get along with my boss well and I've been averaging 38 lessons a week.

I was offered a new position today. It would require me to move to a small island, about an hour drive from where I'm currently working.

The salary is the same, but my hours would be cut down to about 20-25 a week. My apartment would be bigger, I would be given a car, I would have the abilty to take long weekends and if I wanted a week off I would just need to give them a few weeks notice. Also, I'd be teaching kids, which I prefer- right now I'm teaching adults

My only worries are

How my boss would react
Leaving my Japanese friends behind(only a few of them, but still)
Not sure about living on an island

I need to decide by Tuesday. Right now I'm 50-50.

Any thoughts?

seklarwia

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

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

I'd move to the island and see how it goes. If you're miserable now because of the number of contact hours and your boss, then this solves both of those problems.

KnockoutNed · Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 87

Thanks for the messages everyone

Glenski- I checked my contract today and it says I need to give 7 weeks notice. I won't be able to do that, so it will be more like 3-4 weeks. Not sure what kind of penalty I could face for not giving the full 7 weeks, the contract doesn't say. I'm willing to pay a fine though if it means a better job.

And yes, my main concern about living on an island is the isolation

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

Ned,
No, do not be willing to pay anything! By law they are obligated to give you only 30 days' notice or pay in lieu thereof. For a first-year contract, that's enough for you, too. By law they cannot fine/penalize you.

7 weeks is unreasonable. They can get a replacement just by opening the door. Be nice, polite, apologetic, etc., but do not offer to pay them anything!

KnockoutNed · Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 87

Was offered another position as well... but it's in Fukushima. It pays 300,000 though and I would be an ALT. They cover half of my rent as well. The main concern is obviously the radiation, and also the fact that I don't have a car (it was recommended by the school). The school is in Tanagura. My Japanese is extremely limited so it would be a great opportunity to learn more

Was I only offered this position because many people fear working near the reactor?

seklarwia · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:08 pm Post subject:

I would imagine that if they have offered you the position knowing that you don't have a car, that it is not vital for job.

But I wouldn't take that new position as it would put you little more than 50km from the plants.

Plus it is exactly your limited Japanese that will be putting you at more risk. Yes, normally it would be a great opportunity, but if you can't understand new warnings messages (especially those broadcast by those speaker cars) then you could find yourself in serious trouble especially if you are in a more rural setting where the lack of people in general means you might not notice that anything strange was happening (such as people evacuating).

Considering you would be playing russian roulettes with the power plants in meltdown on your doorstep, that pay is a joke for such a position.

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

Unless the school somehow thinks you have a car, it is unreasonable for them to ask you to purchase one for the job. Be sure they know you don't have one. They recommend having one, but you may be able to get by with a bike or scooter. Are they going to send you to more than one school, or will you have only one base?

KnockoutNed · Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 87

I would have only 1 school glenski.

Because my Japanese is so limited I would be worried about finding all the furnishings for my apartment (bed, refrigerator...internet, etc)

The job sounds great though and I would love to teach as an alt.

Startup costs would be quite high as well

seklarwia · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:41 am Post subject:

kxx1 · Joined: 18 Dec 2009 Posts: 3

The island gig would also be a good opportunity to learn Japanese (I learnt a lot of Chinese living on a island in south China). I also guess it would be further away from reactor #4, which could collapse. As for the ferry schedule, you can ask the school how long the ferry takes to make the trip. You said it was an hour drive from where you are now, so the ferry trip should be much less than taking a ferry to Ogasawara.[/quote]

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

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

Do I have this right? The school expects you to find and furnish everything in an apartment? Pretty unreasonable and not the norm. Think about it. Whether you have problems with the language or not, how are you supposed to move thousands of miles here, and then get all those things in order while you are starting a new job?

seklarwia is being a bit too simplistic in describing what needs to be done. Unfurnished apartments come with zero. No appliances, no furnishings, no light fixtures, nothing. Yes, you can buy it all and not all that difficultly, but to land here and have to do all that in the first 2 days in an unknown neighborhood is unreasonable and impractical.

I suppose they don't help with key money, either...

kxx1 · Joined: 18 Dec 2009 Posts: 3

Notice of quiting is based on civil court cases. In a yearly contract that has not been renewed then the contract can be quit by following the terms for quiting as wriitten in the contract. The employee can be sued for damages in court by the employer if the employee does not follow those written rules.