Job Discussion Forums

[siggywiggywald]

Hi,

Here's the deal: I am starting a job with Aeon in March and I have signed a contract saying that I will not take any other jobs. That being said, I was wondering if anyone had ever taken another job after signing the contract? If so, did anything happen? My thought is, that with Japanese culture being so non-confrontational, maybe no one would say anything if they found out and it wouldn't be an issue. On the other hand, maybe they would just fire me and blame it on something else. Or, maybe, I'm totally diluted and they would have no qualms about firing me in a straight forward way.

I think it would be really fun to do a voice over (that is if anyone thought my voice was appropriate for one) and I'd really like to seek out an opportunity to do that, but I don't want to cause a bunch of hell just for a kick and some extra money.

Anyway, what do you think?

[JimDunlop2]

Uh, What's a voiceover? Is this some sort of job that you'd be getting paid to do outside of your Aeon duties?

As a general answer, I can tell you that it's probably best to stay away from moonlighting doing jobs that your type of work visa doesn't permit you to do. What you are proposing sounds like something that would fall in under an "entertainer" work visa.. But I may be wrong... I suppose it stems back to my original question.

Aeon aside, if you get caught working illegally (i.e. without a proper visa for what you are doing) The Japanese gov't just got really strict about it and the fines are very high.... and the result is deportation and a 5-year ban from returning. It's not really a matter of Japanese people being non-confrontational. In additional, large Eikaiwas aren't just Japanese people... Again, I may be wrong, but I would assume there are enough foreigners at the lower (and even higher) management level that getting caught in a breech of contract may result in someone taking action.

Most English teachers (I'd say) -- IF they want to make some extra money on the side, do things like tutor privately, or edit, proofread or translate (given their Japanese is good enough). Outside the scope of that, (and EVEN what I just listed, except for tutoring) are very sought-after jobs, hence are very rare and require a high level of Japanese. The lowest level I've ever heard of anyone being able to work in editing/proofreading is ni-kyu (Japanese Proficiency Level 2). Level 1 is the norm.

Glenski would probably be the best source for an answer regarding the possiblilty of obtaining non-English-teaching work in Japan.

[guest of Japan]

I've done voice overs for the radio as well as a weekly English lesson on air. I was lucky in that a former student was a big name DJ where I was living. Another teacher I worked with did it first, and I replaced him when he went back home.

I was paid cash for my services about once a month. It was quite lucrative, but it is not dependable income.

It's actually pretty difficult to get caught doing this, since radio stations are very adept at managing there books. You'd just fall under a publicity expense.

If you do get the opportunity consider yourself lucky.

[spidey]

As a side note...

Employers DO NOT have the right to tell you what to do outside of work. Part-time jobs included.

S

[siggywiggywald]

Thanks for all the advice. If I do find something I think I'll probably go for it and keep it quiet. It would give me an entirely different look at Japanese culture and it would make for a good short story or blog entry.

[GreenDestiny]

[PAULH]

[krista_22]

But is teaching privately or tutoring in addition to your regular full-time contract job illegal??? For some reason I thought that I have read that before...?

[PAULH]

[krista_22]

Thanks for that reply. I was looking into Korea not too long ago so I must have mixed it up. Thanks for clarifying!