Job Discussion Forums

chirp · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 148

OK - I am in need of some insight. I have two job offers, very different from each other and I can't decide. I am hoping that someone will write something illuminating that will make the decision easier for me. I will be moving far enough from my current home and have some additional personal factors that will make a new support network necessary.

Job A: great people, I know I will make many friends, very social atmosphere. The job itself is not all that challenging except to maintain the genki factor.

Job B: considerably more yen than A. Much quieter bunch of people, not a social atmosphere. The job is more challenging - planning and teaching classes on my own.

Would you pick the money or the people and why? I wish I could have it both ways... Sad

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

It might depend on how much more money and where the jobs are. You can always make friends at other places as well.

chirp · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 148

Both jobs are roughly in the same location. I would be happy with either location.

The pay difference is 800,000 annually.

I'm not afraid that I can't make friends. It's just that I will be dealing with the end of a relationship as I start the new job. A warm and fuzzy place would be nice...

johanne · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 189

If I were in Japan to enjoy the experience and meet interesting people I would take the first job. If I were thinking of teaching as perhaps a long term career I would take the second job and try and find out where the people from the first job socialize and then crash their get togethers Smile

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

I would choose A, in the end it is the atmosphere that will help you to stay for your whole contract...if you go for more money you may end up back home sooner than you would like...

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

Job B. Challenge yourself and spend the extra yen to go and spend more time meeting more people. In Japan, people leave all the time, so the great atmosphere at Job A could easily change with new people coming and going.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:55 pm Post subject: Re: Job A or B?

bornslippy1981 · Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 271

Job B.

I left my last job for the same pay (although I get 6 more weeks of paid holiday, so it ends up being more).

I have one foreign co-worker now. He's married, and we've never hung out after work. It really challenged me to make new friends, which I have done. I have a lot of planning involved with my classes, which makes the job better than reading from a script, as was the case at my previous job.

Good co-workers can help your time here, but then you end up working and spending time with the same people. I think that was what uni was for, and you're older than that, and it's time to branch out and join organizations with like-minded individuals. Whatever your interests are - sports, writing, music, dance, etc. There's something out there for everybody.

c-way · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 226 Location: Kyoto, Japan

Why ask us to make a very important decision in your life. Why not instead ask yourself...

-Are you a person who has a strong need for association? A strong need for reward?

-Do you need a 'warm fuzzy' environment to feel comfortable at your job or do you need a 'warm fuzzy' paycheck to feel comfortable at your job?

-Are you the kind of person who will stick out your contract regardless of your work situation or are you more likely to leave a job early if you are unhappy?

-Do you prefer more autonomy at your work place or do you prefer a structured environment where your responsibilities and objectives are clearly outlined for you?

Only you have the answer to your question. Asking us is like flipping a coin.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

What c-way said. Smile

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

The annual difference amounts to a monthly difference of 67,000 yen/month. That still doesn't tell us how much you will make annually or monthly. Tell us.

You're not worried about not making friends, so by that virtue alone, take the job that pays more. You'll make friends in any case. Why not do that and make more money?

chirp · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 148

Thanks everyone!

I have accepted Job B (and not because it got the most votes in case you were wondering...). I want to be more challenged at work and I think Job A would bore me eventually (if not immediately). As for friends, once I feel a little more like myself again, I will get to work on that! Wink

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

That's what I would have said!
Good for you Chirp.

Enjoy,
s

Neongene · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 51

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Perhaps you could pass along the info for Job A to Sweetsee... Wink