Job Discussion Forums

rawlings · Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Posts: 19

Thank you glenski and co. for pulling this thread away from the trenches. Attacking other posters here isn't really going to accomplish anything...

So, here is my update. First of all, I think you are right, Glenski, that I am limiting myself by only searching in Osaka. I am going to be a little more open to jobs outside of Kansai, even if I do really like it here. The only problem this presents is the expense of traveling around for interviews - that bullet train is freakin expensive. Will all potential employers require a personal interview? Any tips for getting around more cheaply?

That being said, I have had a little more luck within Osaka. I had my first interview yesterday, at a really cool school, and it went really well. Although the interviewer DID remark that I am very young (she was pretty young herself), she seemed to appreciate the variety of experience I've had, and she asked me to come back next week for a demonstration lesson. I was very chipper, dressed in a nice black suit with short, neat hair. I only mention this because the 2 other interviewers I saw seemed a little stiff, and were dressed a little surprisingly for an interview. So, even though I KNOW there are a lot of other interviewers applying for this one job, it made me feel a little more positive about the whole job scene in general. This place also said (like many other schools I've seen, but haven't gotten back to me) that they sponsor visas, they just wanted an employee who would be here for a long time; I told them I would be here for at least 2 years, and was planning on learning to read and write japanese (all true).

So, where there's a will, there's a way, it would seem. Like the other poster mentioned, I'm waiting for the next wave of jobs to be announced, and then sending out resumes like crazy. I will check out some more of these links, as well.

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

anthonyteo · Joined: 19 Mar 2010 Posts: 10

Hi all,

I need your advice again.

Ok, I'm planning to go Tokyo this July. And after I've checked out the links Glenski has provided, I realize most schools are now hiring for April. I'm thus thinking that maybe I should really start browsing in June and perhaps send uninvited mails asking for an interview then - given that it's probably harder for schools to decide if they need staff 3 or 4 months down the road. What do you think? And Tokyo is a good starting point, right?

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

anthonyteo · Joined: 19 Mar 2010 Posts: 10

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

First of all, don't apply to any jobs that aren't being advertised. Shotgunning resumes to employers blindly without seeing any ads is just not a productive use of time, money, and energy.

Second, I meant that you should look for ads and apply to them at least 2-4 months before you plan to be here. Give yourself some leeway to prepare your household affairs. If you see an ad for a job starting in April, that would not be a good thing to apply to right now, for example.

anthonyteo · Joined: 19 Mar 2010 Posts: 10

I think I'm facing a common problem most face when they decide to go to Japan to look for a job.

LIMITED FINANCES
While I say I'm coming to Japan to look for a job, there's lots of uncertainties: I am not a rich man who can afford to job search for more than 3 months and naturally would like to secure a few interviews before arriving, and hopefully get an offer within a month. And the last thing I need is to finally muster up the courage and finances to fly to Japan, then run of cash before finding a job, and crawl back home empty-handed.

JOB SEARCH FROM OVERSEAS
On the other hand, browsing websites from overseas is disheartening or overwhelming: everyday I open up new job postings or search the usual suspects (Eslcafe, Gaijinpot, Mrtefl, etc) I see largely positions that require immediate filling or those that require the candidate to be currently residing in Japan. In the occasional event that they don't (and I'm discounting overseas hiring for now, assuming that I need to go down Japan for an interview), I have a hard time deciding what to do: do I send them my CV saying I'm interested but can only be there for an interview in 3 months' time, if they are still hiring then? Do I keep them in view and wait till, say, one month before I'm leaving to send them my CV and arrange for an interview a month later? By which time, then, as Glenski says, they may no longer be advertising and my unsolicited mail is probably going to be ineffective. And as I've never worked overseas, I can't imagine why a company that put up an ad looking for a teacher now would interview me A MONTH LATER, then WAIT FOR ANOTHER 2 TO 3 MONTHS until I'm actually able to work lawfully. I can start searching only a month before my planned arrival, but I can't help feeling that I may be missing out on opportunities in between.

I hope I'm not sounding pessimistic or like I'm whining here, but as a pragmatic person, these issues naturally come to mind, and I'm sure there are lots of people out there with the same doubts as I do. I told myself that I mustn't worry too much, coz' they will set me back, but when I see an article (it's on Gaijinpot) that says, for example, that there may be 50 candidates vying for one job, the picture of myself crawling back defeated comes up.

Does anyone else have any past relevant experience to share? (Apart from rawling, of course - I'm waiting for his latest posts) Coz' while I see many sporadic posts here on job hunting in Japan, the overall picture is fragmented and vague. I'm dead set on going to Japan, and I'm taking all the measures necessary to offset my fears/worries, but any stories from experienced teachers will definitely help - if not to alleviate my fears, then at least to encourage people like me, by demonstrating that it's not that hard, that it can be done.

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

anthonyteo · Joined: 19 Mar 2010 Posts: 10

Once again, thank you Glenski for your practical but insightful advice.

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

Excellent advice. Maybe this should be "stickied?"

Now knowing what I want and prefer, I'm going to cancel my Interac interview and focus on preparing for the 2011 JET application process.

Also, how did you manage to save up enough money to support you for 2 months? I'm jealous.

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

rawlings · Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Posts: 19

mhard1 · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 54 Location: Japan

alright anthonyteo before you mentioned something of a guide would be nice and if you check the page 1 of 2 to this post you will see I did just that.

My experience:

came in from Korea after a busted job opportunity there. Had about 180,000 yen (or about 1800 dollars). Did the process exactly as I outlined it to you while I was crashing at a friends place in Japan. I had about a little less than a 2 month time frame to land a job or go home. I landed a job in Kanagawa.

That job also turned south and I once again found myself scrambling for work. This time I had about 1-2 months, and again around 200,000 yen to stretch. Found a job in about 1.5 months, using the method I outlined in page 1 of 2.

Sure Glenski states that shotgunning is bad. Sure I agree he is more wise in his approach, and his advice is definitely better for finding a better job.

I guess it is just different strokes for different folks.