Job Discussion Forums

B0RGNINE · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 48

Hi everyone,

I worked in Sapporo for three years (JET) and am returning to Japan after 5 years back home working on my masters.

I began applying to big chains like ECC and thinking about trying to move to someplace like Fukuoka when my ex-roomate and friend from Tokyo said, "You should just live in my apartment in Tokyo." I knew he went to university there, but come to find out, he lived in a two bedroom apartment his father bought for him to live in while studying at uni. I asked him who was living there now, and he said it's sitting empty (!?!?!?!) and so he's talked to his father, and his dad gave me the ok to rent it to me for about 5 man a month (!?!?!?! X 10). I'm going to write a letter to his dad to double check and make sure everything is kosher, but now that I have a cheap apartment, I don't want to continue applying to to chain schools when I don't know where I'll be working. I'm interested in minimizing daily commute time to work. Working at a place where I can walk/bicycle to in less than 30 minutes is my dream of dreams.

So, my question is this: I've only ever worked for JET in Japan, so since I don't know Tokyo, should I just quit trying to secure a job from here, pack my stuff, buy an air ticket, show up, and start hunting for jobs? Is this a realistic plan? What pitfalls might I experience? Is it reasonable for me to believe that I'll be able to get hired in the same area of my apartment? Any advice? Anyone living in the area have any ideas?

Thanks!

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Where exactly is the apartment? Is it in Akihabara?

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

B0RGNINE · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 48

According to my friend, Masaru, the apartment is in Akihabara. And his father does own it. We haven't hammered out the details yet, but I'm planning on writing a letter to his father to ask some specific questions. I've met his father three times here in Denver when he came to visit Masaru. He brought a tea cup to give to me. And then on his third visit, Masaru wasn't home, and it was really cold outside, so I served him some green tea in the cup he gave me and we made small talk in Japanese for about an hour. I didn't realize this, but according to Masaru, this REALLY put me in his good books. So he's taken a liking to me. Like I said, I don't know the details yet, so I don't know about a guarantor or if he expects key money, or what kind of deposit he wants, etc... I'm hoping to find out really quickly.

Good advice on finding out if the apartment is furnished or not. I know even crappy little couches and whatnot can be expensive. I do have the advantage of having lived in Japan for three years, so I do know how to live on the cheap and I know about 100 yen shops, chukoyas, and dumpster diving (50% of my furnishings in Sapporo came from the trash, but getting these things this way takes time and patience). I figure I can survive for much longer on less money than a newcomer could.

Glenski, where on the internet would you recommend looking? I was part of the JET gravy train, so I've never had any experience shopping for jobs online so any websites you could think of would be great.

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

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Trying to find a job in your area is a bit like winning the lottery... You might be lucky of course, but chances are slim.

One good thing about Akihabara is that it is fairly well connected with transport and quite central. There are three JR lines, the Hibiya subway line (which connects to Toyoko line) and the Tsukuba Express. So, even if you do have to travel to your job, you should be able to get there fairly easily.

B0RGNINE · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 48

Thanks for those links. I'll start looking right away.

I did make a big mistake. When he told me where it was, he mentioned otaku, so I misunderstood him to mean that his apartment was in the otaku part of Tokyo, when he actually meant Oota-ku. So no, it's not actually in Akihabara. Chalk that mistake up to my Japanese getting rusty over years of disuse and laziness. Anyway...

Anyone know anything about Oota?

I questioned Masaru a little more in depth today, and he said that I'm not expected to pay any kind of key money or a deposit of any kind at all either. Sounds like a pretty good opportunity, no?

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Ota ku is in the south part of Tokyo, bordering Kawasaki (I think).

Pretty much anywhere in Tokyo has good transport. The main train lines running through Ota ku are the JR Keihin Tohoku line (from Omiya in Saitama to Ofuna in Kanagawa) and the Keikyu line. The Keikyu line connects to the Asakusa subway line which in turn connects to the Keisei line so you can go directly from Narita to Yokosuka. Mind you, it would take a long time!

There are also Tokyu lines and the monorail.

It's great not having to pay any key money or deposit, especially when you're just starting up.

Experience has shown me though, that anything that is very cheap, is usually cheap for a reason ... It could be a long way from the station, or located on an inconvenient branch line.

It's great to have that lined up but you might want to move into something better once you can afford it... So, you should make sure with your friends that there will be no ill feelings if you decide to move out after a while.

B0RGNINE · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 48

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

B0RGNINE · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 48

My MA is in TESL/TEFL but it's an integrated teacher cert/master's program and rather than write a thesis, we're required to submit a comps portfolio which requires artifacts from both our coursework and from our professional teaching positions (I just finished working for a university IEP where I worked for 2 1/2 years). They allow 6 years total to finish the masters. Most people take about 4 to do it all, I slacked a bit and took a little longer.

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

B0RGNINE · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 48

Eventually, I'd like a uni job (doesn't have to be in Japan either). For the moment, I'll just take anything to get me out of here. I still have one more folder to turn in for my teacher's license which I hope to turn in within the next four weeks, which means I won't actually graduate until the fall. My advisor said that once I turn in this folder, she could write a letter for me that states that I have completed all requirements for my M.A. and that my graduation is pending. I have heard that most uni jobs require that you have your lambskin in your hand. I don't know how they'd feel about a letter. Anyways, I'm okay with an eikaiwa for now just to get me over there because, sadly, I'll still be making more money that way than I have been here working for a uni IEP.