Job Discussion Forums

[BigPoppa]

Have used the search engine and looked through the last several pages of the forum.

1) I've heard about "English cafes" that pay people just to chat with customers. Are they still around? What do they pay? What is the work like?

2) I'm in my late 30's, but most of my hair is gray (with a babyface that looks late 20's). I've heard that the Japanese prefer younger ESL teachers. Should I dye my hair to help my job prospects?

3) I know that schools start on April 1st, but I can't get in-country until a few days later. Is that still a good time to look for a job? Am I correct to assume that it is too late to arrange a job from home and get a work visa before I go ? (I would like to go in April), and paper-shufflers aren't known for working quickly)

4) I would like to live in a larger city. Do they all have Gaijin houses with single rooms? Or is that mainly a Tokyo thing? (I don't need my own apartment, nor would I like to pay several months' key money; I do need my own room to sleep in).

5) I owe my university a lot of money (went back to school as an adult). Because of this, they won't send anyone a copy of my transcript. I do have one copy and my diploma. Am I screwed? Will they want the school to send a transcript for the work visa?

6) I really like working with kids, but have never taught a classroom subject (7 years experience coaching from ages 5-9). Is there any reason I shouldn't want to teach ESL to children?

Thank you

[canuck]

[BigPoppa]

Wow

I think you hit all my questions. Thanks.



Early April is a bad time to come? Crap.
I thought it might be a good time, with schools scrambling to staff classes that were over-subscribed.

[Glenski]

1) I've heard about "English cafes" that pay people just to chat with customers. Are they still around? What do they pay? What is the work like?
Dunno. Never saw one, never heard of one.

2) I'm in my late 30's, but most of my hair is gray (with a babyface that looks late 20's). I've heard that the Japanese prefer younger ESL teachers. Should I dye my hair to help my job prospects?
It's up to you. I'm much older than you and work with people just as gray as you. The key word is "work". Show whatever image you like.

3) I know that schools start on April 1st, but I can't get in-country until a few days later. Is that still a good time to look for a job? Am I correct to assume that it is too late to arrange a job from home and get a work visa before I go ? (I would like to go in April), and paper-shufflers aren't known for working quickly)
It's not too late right now, this moment in February. Some places will interview on the phone. Some places will have an emergency where the teacher bails out at the last moment, leaving the school stranded. Some schools start a few days INTO April, not right on April 1st. It will be tight, though. You are going to have to hit the ground running.

4) I would like to live in a larger city. Do they all have Gaijin houses with single rooms? Or is that mainly a Tokyo thing? (I don't need my own apartment, nor would I like to pay several months' key money; I do need my own room to sleep in).
I don't know. Search around the cities you figure you want to work in.

5) I owe my university a lot of money (went back to school as an adult). Because of this, they won't send anyone a copy of my transcript. I do have one copy and my diploma. Am I screwed? Will they want the school to send a transcript for the work visa?
Your diploma (degree is the American word for it) is usually all you need.

6) I really like working with kids, but have never taught a classroom subject (7 years experience coaching from ages 5-9). Is there any reason I shouldn't want to teach ESL to children?
That is entirely up to you and your personality. I wouldn't touch that type of teaching, but I'm much older than you. You're going to need lots of energy, that's for sure.

[sethness]

I disagree with Canuck on a few points.

B) Japan is very age-ist. Dying your hair is a good idea....especially since haircoloring is common even amongst the young people in Japan, so even obvious haircolor won't mark you as old. Grey hair can make you look older than you really are-- beards and moustaches will do that, too.

B) I've gotten by just fine for the last 6 years, just using a XEROX of my old University degree. No transcript, no original document to show to people. It's worked fine for both employers and the government folks. (I'm on my 4th visa renewal.)

As for renting a single room in a Gaijin house... I looked into that (in Nagoya), and found that the single room was about 2/3 the price of a whole apartment. Bleh--that's for the birds. Also, in teh "gaijin ghetto" apartment building (in Nagoya), the management was exxxxcellent at catering to foreigners, but the rooms were small, noisy, and badly located (next to noisy trains). If I were you, and you really prefer to keep the costs down and live communally with others, I'd cruise around looking for a chance to live in a JAPANESE FAMILY's home-- they'll be glad of the chance to practice Japanese, and their help in bridging cultural barriers is worth its weight in gold. Try posting an ad in the local international center, local newspaper, or local Internet BBS (not necesarily the English ones-- go for Japanese, too.)

As for teaching kids-- go for it. Many foreign teachers dread working with kids, but for the life of me I can't understand why. This is a definite high point in your resume, so definitely mention it in job interviews.

[Eva Pilot]

Working with children really depends on the individual.

I work with children and I love it, but there are people who just aren't made to be around kids all the time.

[BigPoppa]

Thank you for your responses.

Frankly, I get along better with kids then with grownups. I just tend to be very patient with children, but not so mujch with adults.



Would like more input on applying for jobs in early April, please.

My plan right now:
1) Arrive Tokyo on tourist visa
2) Get cellphone with Tokyo number
3) Find room I can rent by week
4) Email resume with cell # to any jobs that look promising
5) Get food posioing and miss all interviews
6) Run out of money
7) Have remains shipped to next of kin

[scorchio]

You should count on the process of getting a cell phone taking much longer than you would expect. Many phone companies will need you to produce a document from the ward office showing your address, so you'll need to have an address first.
Does anyone know if the ward office will accept a temporary address for the initial alien registration card application?
Or can anyone suggest a phone store in Tokyo that doesn't require this document? I've heard some will let you by with a passport and a credit card - but that's not my experience.

[rampo]

Look, what kind of cell phone nazi retailers are you guys patronizing? I got mine on my first full day here. They asked for ID- I gave them my passport. An address- I gave them my hostel address.

[Glenski]

[BigPoppa]

Is getting a Japanese cellphone really that hard? Don't they have prepaid ones like my Virgin Mobile one in the US?

[Gordon]

[canuck]

[scorchio]

I'm with Softbank (vodafone). Most of the people in my training group had the same, if not more, difficulty getting a phone (not prepaid). That said, I have heard stories of no trouble at all! So it's a bit hit and miss - just don't be surprised if it takes a while is all I'm saying.

[Gordon]