Job Discussion Forums

[orinlouis]

Any hope for me? About to finish an MA, don't want to spend a year applying to JET, considering just buying a plane ticket and going. Bad idea with less than two grand (USD)? Probably. But can I do it (land a job and continue to survive)?
TIA



PS: Read the FAQ, and sure this Q's been answered before. Maybe if so, someone could direct me to the right place? Although some personalized assistance is always nice...

[Akakage]

Once you have your MA, why don't you apply for jobs online at sites like
gaijinpot.com? This way you might be able to nail down a job before you come and lessen some of that economic burden.

[southofreality]

If you're talking about $2000 before you buy the plane ticket, it's absolutely a bad idea to come without a job. Even if you were to get off the plane with $2000 in hand, it might be pretty dicey; but I'm sort of conservative.

Do you know someone you can stay with in the area where you would be looking for work?

Get your application in with AEON, ECC, Interac,... wherever. A lot of new teachers have recently started work with these companies, but a certain percentage will be returning home within a few months for various reasons (homesickness, better job opportunities back home, you name the reason). If you're in the hopper at one of these companies, and they become desperate to fill a position, you could be Johnny-on-the-spot and snatch up one of the unexpected vacancies.

If you come without a job, $2000 is a bit low if you have no place to stay and don't have a clear plan of attack for applying for jobs, IMO.

[orinlouis]

sound advice, i'm sure.
still, i am a bit crazy...

was suggesting pre-plane ticket.

do not know anyone, but am very open to couchsurfing.com.

not conservative; used to living frugally, day-to-day.

i'll apply to all of those companies. if i pound the pavement, how likely am i to score a job and be in japan in the next couple months? and would i still need $2,000? of course, $10,000 would be fine, but imagine i could survive off near nothing, no? surely someone does. not the best idea, but maybe not the worst?

how much would a CELTA help as far as salary/job placement?

thanks for your time,
o

[seanmcginty]

You'd be pretty insane to go with less than $2,000 and no job lined up.

Problems:

A) Most employers won't hire you if you are just on a tourist visa;
B) its not easy to get buy in Japan on the cheap.

It also doesn't make much sense given that loads of schools (GEOS, AEON, etc) will hire you and get you a visa and accomodation from outside of Japan.

[orinlouis]

i see, i see.

okay, well how bout the celta? and how about timelines? how soon could this happen?

if i somehow raise enough for the celta, i'll be flat at zero (or worse) afterward. no money to arrive out there with. if i skip the celta, i could just try to get out there sooner, n have a smidgen of cash (less than 2g's, but at least with a job). whatcha think? thanks!

i want to teach english abroad for maybe 3 years tops. then back to school for phd or jd. does it make sense for me to bother w/celta? maybe...?

[Glenski]

[benshi]

There are actually quite a few small schools that interview and hire from outside Japan, if you do your research. Try ohayosensei. . .

Have to agree that coming with no job lined up and less than 2000USD is insane and pointless. Even if you lucked out and found a job when you stepped off the plan you couldn't work legally until you have a work visa, which would take a month or so to process. And, if you have to travel for interviews your money will evaporate. Livin' ain't cheap here. . .

You have an MA. That puts you a cut above a good percentage of the bottom-feeders who are angling for the jobs. Be sensible; find work before you come.

[dove]

You wrote $2000 PRE-plane ticket....so that means you have to use some of that $2000 to buy a ticket? Could you use a credit card? I don't want to encourage credit card debt, but if you are determined to come over with such a small amount of money, you will be in a much more secure position with access to a credit card.

Think of all the expenses that job-hunting entails--calling the schools, taking the trains to the interviews just to name a few. That adds up in a city like Tokyo. But if you were willing to couch-surf while job-hunting, you MIGHT be able to survive. I personally would find it very difficult and stressful. But when you couch-surf you often have to get out of the apartment during the day while your host is at work--that would force you to really pound the pavement. I guess it depends on how much you really want to come to Japan, how adventurous you are, how confident you are.... Good luck to you whatever you choose.

[orinlouis]

wow--thank you all very much. super-helpful. okay, so i'm convinced. i'll stay here n get a job there.

some of you seem to favor "small schools." assuming this is vs. the chains? what's the difference? i can imagine the diff btwn, say my neighborhood drugstore and costco...while i'd like to say i favor the mom n pop, better service does come from costco (although yes, less personal...so what?).

k, new question: some are telling me to work in taiwan, where the living's cheaper. would i really be able to save more there (pay off more student loans)? probably rather go to japan, as it seems there are more opportunities for pretty much everything. thoughts?

ooo, also: how can i make the most money (if it wasn't obvious this is about half of my goal). gotta pay those killer loans!

thx again,
orin

[Glenski]

How can I make the most money?

1. live frugally
2. take on extra work

As for specifics on #1, see my old thread with the keyword "cheapskates".
As for specifics on #2, there are plenty of opportunities, but get here with a job first, get settled, and then shop around. No sense in burning out.

[orinlouis]

[seanmcginty]

[Glenski]

[Glenski]