Job Discussion Forums

nomadder · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:04 am Post subject: Landing in Japan Without a Job

Thinking of doing it. What are the stories out there? How much money did you spend waiting and how long did it take? I'm thinking of the Kanto area but interested to hear other stories. Did anyone give up?

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

The three most important questions I can think of are...

1. What are your qualifications and nationality?

2. When are you planning on coming?

3. What sort of teaching are you considering getting into?

Without a job in hand, you should figure that even in the prime hiring time, you may not get a job for 1-2 months. That means bringing enough money to support yourself for THREE months because you may not get paid for a month after you get hired. People usually recommend US$4000-5000, and if you want a breakdown for this, let me know.

Did anyone ever give up? Yes. Some cannot find work within the 90-day tourist stay, so they go home.

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Let's qualify the conditions for it being easy to get work then.

TO be easy:

1. Be over 21 and under 35 years of age
2. Have a Bachelor's degree from an English speaking country.
3. Be caucasian
4. Be searching for a job that STARTS around April... hunting could commence as early as November of the previous year.
5. Be willing to teach kids and even thrive on it.
6. Be also willing to teach adults.
7. Be able to dress conservatively without rebellion and to have conservative grooming habits (guys not having long hair, beards as examples).
8. Be willing to work in any city, in any prefecture in Japan.
9. Be willing to work for pay scales ranging from 170,000 yen to 250,000 yen and no more for a full time entry-level position.
10. Be willing to find and pay for housing for yourself OR accept all conditions of the housing you would be given by the company.
11. Be willing to pay for your own airfare here.
12. Be somewhere between plain and comely in appearance.
13. Be able to speak clear, understandable English of a standard dialect from your country.
14. Be female (preferably)
15. Be able to get along with others well and adapt to new situations quckly and without a fuss.
16. Not be a high maintenance type of person in every sense of the meaning.
17. Know what the company/schools you are applying for want in an employee and be able to match that perfectly or as close to it as possible.
18. Be in the right place at the right time with the right things to say and do.
19. Know someone who can help get you the job.
20. Be from a country that offers working holiday visas.
21. Have a spouse that is Japanese and get a spouse visa.
22. Have enough money to live off of for approximately 3 months in Japan(this should include money for potential rent, food, transportation, and food). 400,000 to 600,000 yen should suffice.
23. Be both physically and mentally in decent shape. Bi polar disorder folks need not apply.
24. Speak enough Japanese to order at McDonald's but no more. Less is ok but no more.
25. Do NOT have a background in Education, Linguistics or TESOL. Masters degree holders need not apply
26. Have a background in Entertainment, drama, music etc
27. Have no problems riding trains, buses or bicycles.
28. Not bringing pets, friends, person you're dating, same-sex partner, or non-Japanese spouses over with you.
29. Knowing at least 8 parts of speech.
30. Knowing what "genki"means and knowing when to be genki and when to not be.. or able to be genki all the time.

If you can meet 95% of these conditions, you will find it easy to get a job.

The less you can meet, lower your % chance by 3-5%.

Once you get to about 50%, you can pretty much throw in the towel. This isn't to say you couldn't get a job, though. Someone could/would hire you but most likely the type of work and conditions would be what others would not be willing to take.

nomadder · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 9:35 pm Post subject:

So there is no one who has ever gotten a job after arriving. Interesting. Must be a myth. Confused

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

FWIW, one of my colleagues did that about 8 or 9 years ago. I'm sure there are still people who do the same today.

Don't rely on just one discussion board in the middle of summer vacation. Wait a while and try others. Besides, most of your questions were directed at what it's like trying to get a job, not who got them in the manner you intend to take.

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Sherri · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:08 pm Post subject:

I did it, but I didn't reply at first because it was in 1991. It was a different situation then. There were a lot more fulltime jobs which offered sponsorship for a start and I found a job very quickly--within a week. I had interviews set up before I came and I used the Japan Times to set up more. I already had EFL and ESL experience, had an RSA cert, an MA (in another subject). I decided to come over without a job because I wanted freedom-- to pick and choose my workplace. I wanted to SEE the school for myself and talk to the people face to face. I also wanted my own place. I did not want to live in an apartment provided by the school.

Don't know if this helped but I did do it!
Sherri

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Come over and look for a job.

wintersweet · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:30 pm Post subject:

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

Sigh.

I repeat, for nomadder and EVERYONE else who has not already provided this information.

The three most important questions I can think of are...

1. What are your qualifications and nationality?

2. When are you planning on coming?

3. What sort of teaching are you considering getting into?

Help us help you.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

My friend came 5 weeks ago. Took him 2 weeks to find a job, basic 260,000 yen a month, teaching 28 lessons a week, 50 minutes long, Monday through Friday. He has a working holiday visa, two year college diploma. He's staying a year and then going back when his working holiday expires. Of course it's possible.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Possible Yes. Legal? (28 lessons a week on a WHV?).

Stosskraft · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 252 Location: Japan

nomadder · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 2:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks Stosskraft. I may be able to set something up before coming but if not I'll PM you. Looks like you arrived at the best time-before the April start that many schools have. It seems it may be risky at any other time of year these days.

skirmish · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 81

I came here in March, got a job within a month and a place to live. It can be done, although it is a stressfull and expensive experience.