Job Discussion Forums

seoulmon · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 13

HI!

I hope I can rely on some of you kids for some straight advise...

I plan on making the leap to Japan (from Korea-3 years in a Big Name Small Minded school Wink

)

I am looking to:
1. Work part time 4 hours a day and study Japanese
2. Start work in Jun/Jul
2. Tell the employer I plan to do JET so I'll need a need a break for a few days in FEB to do an interview. Plus I'll need to finsih when JET begins.

What do you think of this plan? Will employers buy it? is this something other people have done? I have been mostly looking at the big four schools. They seem to be the most flexible. .

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject:

First, I don't have any kids, and even if I did they'd be giving you advice, not advise. Laughing

It's been a while since I was on JET, but I believe you have to be available for interviews in your home country, so it won't simply be a matter of taking an afternoon off from the eikaiwa classes you intend to be teaching from this June or July (if they offer you just a part-time schedule in exchange for sponsoring your work visa).

Are you really intending to leave Japan and go home for an interview (if you are called for one) at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country? I can't imagine any employer would look favourably upon you taking off extended periods of time, especially if it is to look for other jobs...

If yours is a serious post, I think you've got to think things through carefully (regarding the exact timing of the steps you intend to take), and if JET is your main goal, you had best keep quiet about that when interviewing and make sure you can give as much notice as possible when you need to take your "holiday" (which it may not be possible to give the employer if the invitation arrives at your family's home address only a week or so prior to the interview; then, there would be plane tickets/seats to obtain at short notice, never a certainty for specific dates in a country as populated as Japan is).

If JET doesn't work out this time round, bear in mind that they don't like people to have spent substantial periods in Japan for the five or so years prior to applying (at least, that's what I seem to recall).

There is another exchange programme called TEIJ (do a search for that), similar to JET but based in prefectures mainly only around Tokyo; and there are also quite a few companies that have contracts similar to JET (to work in public schools...except that they may have less perks and involve more travelling etc).

BTW TEIJ only interviews in the US (in Richmond).

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

Problems I see--

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

I agree with everything written above, and here's more. How do you plan to support yourself on just 4 hours of work per day?

On top of that, if you are lucky (VERY lucky) to have any of this happen, your interview for JET would definitely be in your home country in February, acceptance would be in April/May, and the job itself wouldn't start until August. So, if you got this extraordinarily rare job for 4 hours / week in June or July, you would have to break the contract to start with JET.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:25 pm Post subject:

Ooh, let's not forget the orientations in the home country and stuff that JET requires (a day or two of presentations, perhaps a little study of basic Japanese etc) - you'd need to leave Japan for that too, and would more than likely be expected to fly back with a large-ish contingent of fellow JETs to the 3-day induction ceremonies and meetings in Tokyo...anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves a little here! And if you can make it to Japan under your own steam and get a job, maybe you don't really need JET anyway (it's nice to work in public schools and possibly become a minor "figure" (celebrity?!) in the local community, have contact with fellow JETs etc, plus the job has a lot of perks, but it isn't the only way to see and enjoy Japan).

Celeste · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:14 pm Post subject:

I do have one friend who got on the JET programme and was working in Japan at the time, but she did have to leave Japan and go to her home country for the interview. One other thing- with all of the time that you have lived in Korea, you may have to go home to your country immediatley so as to meet the requirement of time spent in your home country (I think it is something like no more than 3 of the last 10 years outside of your home country). If you have a lot of savings and want to study Japanese, then you might consider coming here on a student visa and finding work to supplement your savings while you study. A part time job won't qualify you for a work visa.

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

pnksweater · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I'd skip looking for a part time job outside the country and focus instead on finding a good school. On a student visa or a pre-college student visa (that's what you'll get if you study at a language school) you can apply to work part time. No company will sponser your visa if you're only working part time. There are occasionally part time jobs that pay rediculous amounts of money... since the pay is good enough to prove that you can support yourself with the wages these employers (about as common as unicorns) can sponser your visa.

Working part time in Japan can actually be more profitable (per hour) than receiving a full time salary. The hourly wage is better and the jobs are often nicer as well (no meetings, etc.) The only trouble is patching together enough hours each week to pay your bills. Remember, Japan is not a cheap country. The only people who don't faint when I tell then how much I pay in rent live in New York City.

seoulmon · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 13

Thanks for the great advise!

I guess I was getting too greedy asking for 4 hours. And I guess I wasn't thinking when I wanted to tell a prespective employer about my intentions. (note to self: Don't be so HONEST, OK?)

About supporting myself, I'll be OK. I've saved up a nest egg here in Korea. Plus I plan to live outside TOY where it's cheaper. Plus, I only need dew drops and grasshopper feelers to get by, so I'll do OK.

I really like the idea of studying J, arriving w/a Student VISA and finding a PT job.

Thanks again guys, I owe you one.

space · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 44 Location: japan

Student Visa... Is there such a thing?

I thought there were only working, working holiday, or tourist.

If such a thing as a student visa exists, wouldn't it only be possible if you were doing an exchange program with a university you already attend?

Well, anyway, if you have good feelers Wink

then it would be possible to find work within a visitors visa's 90 days... that's a whole other can of worms though, isn't it?

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