Job Discussion Forums

[jamo22]

So I have only been working in Japan for 3 weeks now, but I'm unhappy at
the school im with. To be honest, they haven't treated me badly, but I just don't like the atmosphere and my situation-mainly the location. It wasn't what I was expecting. I also have to pay a general deposit of 60 000yen, which I'm not sure is legal?

What is your advise with regard to giving my 30 days notice? Is there anything they can do to revoke my visa or complain to immigration? I feel bad, but really i'm depressed in this job, and I am pretty sure the situation wont improve.

Thanks

[yamanote senbei]

[Mr_Monkey]

I would advise you to give it some time, personally.

I understand that that's not what you want to hear, but if you're new to teaching and/or new to Japan, it's a big change.

Relationships take time to develop. Professional relationships are no different in that regard. What is it about the atmosphere of the school that is so bad?

The visa is yours, but you will need an income - I don't believe you will qualify for unemployment insurance (I might be wrong, though - I'm sure others can correct me if I am) as you are leaving of your own accord. You won't be able to self-sponsor until the second year, so you will need to find an employer willing to sponsor your visa, so I wouldn't hand in my notice until I had secured another job. This may prove difficult as the employer is going to want to know why you are looking for another position so soon, and will be wary of hiring someone they might believe to be a midnight-runner. If you intend to stay in Japan, I would suggest that you are going to be looking for work for some time anyway.

[jamo22]

Thanks,

Yes I want to look for a job in a city, not a town like im currently in. Basically I want to have a friend support network, something that is impossible in the town i live in. How does visa sponsorship work exactly? I was under the impression that once you had the visa, that was all that was needed.

The deposit is for bills that might arrive after I leave, and damage to the apartment.

[Mr_Monkey]

I believe that is the case with the visa, but how do you plan to eat if you're not working? If you;re in a company apartment, how much do you have saved for when you move in to your own? I was referring to the practicalities of life really.

How far are you from a major city (like a million people or so?) What part of the country are you in, if you don't mind me asking?

[Glenski]

This sounds like culture shock is setting in fairly hard. Please try to put things in perspective. You agreed to work here, and the employer is only concerned with that. They took a risk in hiring you from abroad, but in these days of high competition, you won out. Give them a longer chance.

You want a friends network? What's the situation at work? That is, how about your coworkers? Also, are you hoping to have a gaijin friends bubble? Think about how that will affect your integration into Japanese culture. Think about how it will affect your personal schedule to study more Japanese language. Friends are great when you relocate, but they take time to make, and the best shot you may have in the beginning is coworkers (Japanese or foreigners).

[OneJoelFifty]

Man up!

Friends will take time, and Japanese ones can be hard to make. Without knowing more about your area it's hard to suggest what you might be able to do. Is there any kind of community centre where you live? Are there any groups on Facebook with members from your prefecture? Do you have a hobby that might be being practiced in a group setting somewhere nearby?

As Glenski said, it's culture shock. You need to give 100% at work and hope that things improve, and they definitely can. Leaving without having another job lined up is not a good move. Is your company a one-off or do they have other locations around Japan?