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Dude Love Japan
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Posts: 111
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 Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:14 am Post subject: possible to show up in Aug/Sept and get a Tokyo ALT job? |
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| I'd still like to work in Tokyo big time but I'd really like to have evenings free for martial arts. Should I show up in Aug/Sept and look for a job or should I wait until March when the school year starts and get a public school job? Jobs are all but impossible to get from overseas and I can't be there in person until late August. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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Dude,
You or someone like you has posted the same question on more than one forum and keep getting the same answers. I wouldn't get my hopes up of finding entry level work that gives you nights off, unless it is ALT work.
Go with ALT work if you can find it, but IMO most of the agencies operate illegally, and don't have a great reputation.
August will be down time for most ALT agencies because that's when public schools are on break (and many/most ALTs either get paid zilch or about 60% of regular wages, while their agencies collect full pay). Plus, Obon holiday will take up a week in August. Come at the end of August or sometime in September if you want to get a jump on the minor spurt in jobs starting in October. No promises.
A bigger peak is in March for the April starts.
Are you qualified for a work visa? Can you wait until March? What are your goals? |
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Khyron
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 291
Location: Tokyo Metro City
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Go with ALT work if you can find it, but IMO most of the agencies operate illegally, and don't have a great reputation. |
To be fair, so do most eikaiwa.
| Quote: |
| August will be down time for most ALT agencies because that's when public schools are on break (and many/most ALTs either get paid zilch or about 60% of regular wages, while their agencies collect full pay). Plus, Obon holiday will take up a week in August. Come at the end of August or sometime in September if you want to get a jump on the minor spurt in jobs starting in October. No promises. |
What is this "minor spurt" in October? I know there's a spurt of jobs starting in September, but those jobs are hiring right now... many/most have already filled their positions.
"Dude Love" is asking these questions, sounding like he's in a hurry to get here, while the minor spurt of ALT jobs opening for September have already been filling their positions.
Mr. Love, why not worry about getting a job and visa FIRST before worrying about which days you'll enroll in aikido class? There are a ton of dojos here open at various times, and all of them charge money that you won't have unless you've secured that job and visa. Where are your priorities? Apply now, and schedule interviews for when you can be here. Apply to everything you see on this site, gaijinpot, ohayosensei, etc., and set up that some interviews. People like me are talking all the good jobs that you haven't gotten on top of yet. Mix and match if you need to. Your visa will allow it. |
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Dude Love Japan
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Posts: 111
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject: answer |
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Must I return to my home country to get a visa? Can I start work under the table while my visa situation gets sorted out? I have a degree and am from Canada, so I believe I'm qualified for a visa. I guess I can wait until the school year properly starts in March but I really want to get away from Korea and go to Tokyo but I'd infinetely rather work at a public school than language institute.
I can teach English nearly anywhere. I want to work in Tokyo to practice aikido at a particular school that has a particular course Wed and Sat nights. Better still would be to have evenings off altogether.
Thanks to everyone for your replies |
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Dude Love Japan
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Posts: 111
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject: one more short q |
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| If I want to start as an ALT in Tokyo in March when should I show up and look for work? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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Dude,
You don't have to go back home to get a visa. It's one way, of course, and a few employers hire from abroad by visiting a few native English speaking countries (not all). You deal with them on their terms, recruiting schedules, and locations, but at least you can stay in the comfort of your home country while the visa is being processed and you can save the setup expenses needed if you come here first.
If you do come here first, you should budget your finances to tide you over for 2-3 months (US$4000-5000) until you get the first paycheck. I've posted a lot on this topic with average figures.
The "spurt" in October start dates comes from people who managed to get 6-month contracts in April. If ALTs have already hired by now, thanks for the heads up, but I've seen the number of ads increase slightly around September for October hires. Perhaps things have changed in the last couple of years.
| Quote: |
Glenski wrote:
Go with ALT work if you can find it, but IMO most of the agencies operate illegally, and don't have a great reputation.
Khyron replied: To be fair, so do most eikaiwa. |
I presume you mean most eikaiwas don't have a great reputation, but they still operate legally, right? Have not heard otherwise in the 10 years I've been here. If you know otherwise, what do you know?
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| I want to work in Tokyo to practice aikido at a particular school that has a particular course Wed and Sat nights. Better still would be to have evenings off altogether. |
I believe I and others here and elsewhere have already told you that this is not realistic (every evening off) unless you get ALT work.
As for starting in March, you've been told that the academic year starts in April. March is a time when exams are finished (very early that month, if not even in February), so there is usually no need for an ALT on the payroll in March. Come late February or early March (unless someone else with lots of experience in ALT work can explain otherwise). The market is flooded, so you will have lots of competition. |
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Dude Love Japan
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Posts: 111
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:58 pm Post subject: reply |
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| Thanks for writing. Come in March to start an ALT job in April? I thought it took 3 months to process a work visa. |
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ripslyme
Joined: 29 Jan 2005
Posts: 481
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:23 am Post subject: Re: reply |
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| Dude Love Japan wrote: |
| Thanks for writing. Come in March to start an ALT job in April? I thought it took 3 months to process a work visa. |
That's what these forums are for - to dispel these kinds of misconceptions. 
My Certificate of Eligibility took 1 month to process. Once my school received the CoE and sent it to me, it took the Japanese Embassy in my home country 4 days to process the actual work visa. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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| It can take 2-8 weeks to get the work visa. During that time you can still legally work (although immigration staff won't come out and say that). |
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Dude Love Japan
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Posts: 111
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: reply |
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| Thanks so much for your help. I didn't realize the visa processing process was so fast or that I was allowed to work in the meantime. With a BA in English, CELTA, years of Korean experience and being a Caucasian Canadian, how long should it take for me to find work? And must I return to Canada to get my visa? Thanks again. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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Glenski answered that one above.
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Dude,
You don't have to go back home to get a visa |
You used to have to leave Japan, most people went to Korea. Now you don't have to leave the country, it can be processed by Immigration here. |
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