Job Discussion Forums

nomadder · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 9:50 pm Post subject: The Beginning of the End?

I just saw a job ad for Japan offering only 230,000 yen per month. I thought 250,000 was the minimum. Wow-are things getting worse? Anyone know if there is a legal minimum? What's next?

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

could be advertising the after-tax pay or could be offering other compensation in lieu of the cash?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

It is true that some jobs advertise below 250 000 these days. But I'd never take one. 250 000 translates into happiness (at least for Canadians, Austrailians, New Zelanders and a few others) but in Japan, in the grand scheme of things, it really isn't all that much money to run a household on (ie pay rent, taxes, utilities, etc).

Does immigration still have that requirement? I had heard that it had been changed.

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

The new "standard" seems to be 230,000 a month. Usually the company will reimburse for travel expenses, of course that is often a break-even situation (unless you use a bicyle for commuting purposes and are still awarded the transportation benefit). If I were negogiating with a company offering 230,000, I'd ask for a larger contract completion bonus (which is tax-free).

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

If I was negotiating with a company offering 230k, I'd tell them to up it or find another sucker. Of course, I'd flower my words up a bit.

bshabu · Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 200 Location: Kumagaya

230,000 plus an apartment is nice. That equals at least 270,000yen for a 40,000 yen apartment. There maybe extra perks that are never given with the major companies.

kiracle · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 65 Location: Gifu, Japan

I took a job that pays 238,000 a month and immigration gave me a work visa so the limit must be at least that low. At first I was hesistant, but insurance is only 3,000 a month, my rent is only 25,000 and I didn't have to pay any rent or phone or anything until I got a decent paycheck, also the support is pretty good, so I took it. Don't have any regrets yet.

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Some good points here: if they throw in perks - especially subsidized housing - then you could end up saving more anyway. Kiracle has 213 000 left after rent, and I had 203 000 left after rent. Location will be a big factor in determining costs as well. The other side of the coin is that the larger centers seem to have more available part time work.

In the end make yourself happy, I suppose.

But read the fine print. I've seen a job or two that tries to slip their employees low wages (I was offered one such job over the phone.)

Avoid THEM.

This gets linked to a lot, but what the hey:

http://www.ohayosensei.com/

Tons of jobs, nearly all with salry offers printed.

einsenundnullen · Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 76

A post or two in this thread mention negotiating a contract. Who has
done this, and with how much success? 250,000 seems like the standard,
seems like a nice round number, and also seems to be a fair rate. True,
as some people have pointed out, there may be other things that allow
more take home pay when everything is paid up, but of the less-than-250k
jobs, how many have perks like that?

Thanks,
Chris

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

negotiating depends hugely on the size of the outfit you work for I would say. The smaller the better. I was pretty much able to create my job description including salary and benefits and because they knew that if I could do this I would stay and commit to them, I have given them some high quality stuff over the last five years. If you can negotiate, I would suggest you are onto a winner IF you have some guarantee that they keep their part of the bargain.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

In the past, I have always negotiated for better terms and/or money. However, when I tried to do that with my current university job, they were quite offended and told me it was non-negotiable. My salary, I was told, was set by a committee who came up with the amount based on my education, experience and age. After comparing salaries with my colleagues, I really know it was my age that was the major factor. It was one of the few times I wish I was old. Wink

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Congratulations on securing the new job PaulH. I hope things work out well.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Thanks, its been a long, hard, fight but persistence finally pays off in the end. (It also helps to know people too)