Job Discussion Forums

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

Obviously I'd rather be paid more but 205,000 isn't going to leave me begging on the street. Not sure I'll be saving much but then that wasn't my intention coming over here anyway.

60,000 is taken out of that for rent, which is inclusive of utilities and the internet that comes with the LeoPalace apartment. I cycle everywhere so transport costs aren't a problem. I got a cheap contract (White Plan) from Softbank with a free mobile phone. School lunches are 4,500 Yen a month. You can spend anything you like on dinner, but if you're really trying to save you can eat rice or 30 Yen ramen at home every night.

The most important thing is just having the money to get settled in before the first paycheck, by the time that comes in you should have a good idea of how you can keep costs down if that's what you're set on doing.

extradross · Joined: 23 Apr 2010 Posts: 81

I almost had the probable misfortune to work for Heart two+ years ago, back in the day when they used to supply the working visa before you arrive. Unfortunately I was maybe a part of their decision not to do this [process the visa] before arrival because of my 'failure' to appear at the training session in Mito.[You know the one where the trainees have to pay for their own accomodation in a hostel that apparently is owned by Heart!] They subsequently sent me a stern e-mail warning me that I wasn't to 'jump ship' on arrival as it were and go work somewhere else. They obviously view all potential members of their teaching staff with mistrust and suspicion because I had already informed them that I and the wife had been denied entrance which was true and could have been verified if they had contacted immigration. Moving on to the salary aspect of this thread-whatever happened to people coming to this country to work as teachers and earn/save money/live a decent lifestyle while they are here? Heart offered me 230.000 per month for a contract in Saitama-I thought it was a little low but when I hear of 205 thou being offered for the 'semi-full time position' and people accepting this cos they so desperately want to be in Japan.....how badly do these individuals want to be here and WHY!!??

PO1 · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 136

I actually was up to the interview stage with Heart, but I declined an interview because I thought I had a job with Gaba. I guess I need to start doing more research on schools! Very Happy

I think people are desperate to come to Japan because of their ideal, dream-version of it. So they take any wages they're offered because money maybe isn't that important to them. They'll ration or carefully save so they can live their dream. They just want the experience of living there more than some life-time, tenured position.

ssjup81 · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 5:07 pm Post subject:

razorhideki · Joined: 19 Jan 2010 Posts: 78

Why indeed? Why indeed are saps taking crap contracts?

See my little discussion with a (supposedly) experienced EFLer here:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=81066

ssjup81 · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject:

Hm, I was just thinking about how much I spend every month and here are my usual expenses, not counting tax...

Food: 20,000/month
Rent: 50,000/month
Utilities: 10,000/month

I still have about 37,000 I saved from May going into this month's pay, but spent some of that because of the doctor visits and the meds...think it's down to a little over 35,000.

I don't eat out much and just buy stuff and cook it myself (like I would if I were back home). I actually budgeted it so that I spend about the same amount I would back home (or something close to it).

I don't have a mobile phone so no bill with that. I don't really want one, but I may give in and get one. Have to do some research to see which place has the best deal. I don't have much need for a mobile (I didn't use one much back home either). I wouldn't mind a pay as you go type set up or a prepaid phone, where I would only use it in case of an emergency anyway. I have no need for all that other junk, like internet on the phone.

Anywho, the pay may not be ideal, but at least there's one thing I'm getting here that I just couldn't back home because I couldn't afford it, even with a job...medical care.

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

In one thread you guys will hammer home how very difficult it is to get a job teaching in Japan at the moment, in another you'll tell people not to take perfectly acceptable positions because the pay is too low. It's an employer's market at the moment, but so what? It happens.

I'm pleased Glenski pointed out that this advice is partly motivated by the more experienced teachers not wanting the overall salary levels to drop further, but as a new teacher that should be the last thing anyone considers.

The position is a low-paid, relatively undemanding starting point for teachers that have little experience. I saw it as a good way to get my foot in the door and will assess the situation at the end of the contract. It's worth pointing out that as you can secure employment before coming to Japan, you can save a little cash and a little stress (or possibly a whole lot of both) that you'd spend by arriving here and trying to find a job.

A guy arrived here last month as a replacement for someone that went home. He'd spent 5 months in Tokyo looking for work before having to go back to America, where he spent a month before accepting a position with Heart and flying back. There are plenty of others I know who were unable to find positions in other parts of Japan before ending up here.

I hope you can take a balanced view from this thread. Yes, the pay is low. But it might be a choice between low and nothing so take your pick; it is not lower than what you need to surivive, or enjoy yourself a bit. Just make sure you do plenty of research (some of which has kindly been done in this thread) as to what things are going to cost and what sort of lifestyle you want to lead.

seklarwia · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:14 am Post subject:

ssjup81 · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:55 am Post subject:

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

ssjup81 · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 9:59 am Post subject:

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

Sorry there's a lot for me to reply to but I'll try and keep it to the main points...

Sek, yes it isn't always that easy for someone to get hired from abroad. But the context of this thread is that someone has a job offer complete with location and is wondering whether to accept it. As you said, and as I mentioned earlier in the thread, it wouldn't be wise to consider this a 100% guarenteed job offer, and I certainly wouldn't just accept it and then sit back thinking my work is done.

As for moving costs etc, as I said I'll have to assess things at the end of the year. If I want to give myself more options then I will save accordingly. It's not really that difficult. If you have a long term plan then you have to make sacrifices along the way, it's not the end of the world. If I find myself with limited options due to lack of money, it will be because I didn't save and not because I couldn't possibly have saved.

Glenski, yes I was referring to the 205k a month, but it's not for a position in Tokyo. The poster mentioned the location on the previous page. I should definitely clarify that my position shouldn't be taken as a typical one, I wouldn't want anyone thinking that they'll also be close enough to their school to cycle, for example.

Okay, we will have to disagree about the wages being acceptable. They are unacceptable to you, who has lived in Japan a long time and seen them gradually get lower. To me they seem low but I have accepted them.

I don't really see how people can complain about low pay when they knew what the pay was when they signed the contract! Or rather, I can see why they might complain, it's human nature but they have only themselves to blame. If things don't work out the way I want as a result of a difference of around 30k a month, I will only have myself to blame.

And I spent a week or so eating ramen, the first paycheck was a partial one as I didn't work the whole of April ;> I can say that it wasn't that bad, and even just as a general money-saving exercise I might spend one or two of my evening meals a week that way.

razorhideki · Joined: 19 Jan 2010 Posts: 78

Glenski's last post should be made into a sticky.

It's a curious irony that Westerners(esp. newbies)who take on teaching jobs for crapola salaries are actually being SELFISH, for the reasons outlined very well by Glenski. A few others and myself have hammered at this theme for some time now. It matters not to the "I'm different & special/Money doesn't matter(yes it does, mate, in Japan!)/I just want to 'experience' wonderful Japan(sure you will, mate, on 180,000/mo. Rolling Eyes

)/To hell with the poor slobs who come after me.", etc., crowd.

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

I can appreciate the sentiment. But surely the problem stems from the government's lack of regulation over the industry and unscrupulous employers taking advantage wherever they can.

It seems to me as though you, Glenski and other experienced teachers have lost all hope that any positive widespread changes will be made, and instead choose to focus your frustrations on rookie teachers that really only have a responsibility to themselves.