Job Discussion Forums

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

How bad do some of the long-timers think things are going to get here? I mean I'm sure there is some lag time but the economic crisis is going to start to bite soon, if it hasn't already.

Also anyone looking to come here might want to reappraise the idea.

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

Back in 1995 when it hit this low, it took about 4 years to come back up over 100. Shrug. Who can say?

Bigger question should be, how many PMs are we going to get before that happens (and who is the next one)? Smile

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

I was always amazed that young graduates came to Japan to save money anyway.

But now , the exchange rate surely has buggered up any notion of saving totally.

136Yen=1 GBP

I cannot think of any one word to describe that. The closest would be "comedy"

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject:

The exchange rate cuts both ways. Think it through.

Just think how much a 22 year old will now need to come to set up in Japan. Much harder now and people might not want to bother.

What would be the point of setting out on a savings exercise given the price of the airfaire, key money, deposits, future rent and cost of living before first pay cheque. It was pretty bad already before all this economic destruction.

As for jobs, unemployment rates in Japan were rising ominiously last time I checked.
Less pocket money= less hobbey money = less English, one would imagine.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Edited because I didn't read the whole thread properly...

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

The number of 'part-time' postions is increasing (although what it actually means is just that the number of contat hours is reduced by maybe two a week but the job pays only about a third of what it did the year before- so it's well below the level needed to actually live in this country, and it's actually pretty close to what you'd get someplace like Thailand or China for about the same job).

Eventually, I think what will probably happen is that long timers will become more and more bitter and/or leave the country, and that a lot of young people will show up (and then leave either before or after the end of thier one year contract) after being told that 180,000Y a month is a great salary in Japan.　After a while only people who do basically no research at all before packing up to move to Japan will show up. Then the salaries will start creeping up ever so slowly as the demand for native English speakers outpaces the number of people willing to come.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

two teachers I work with are bailing. They will leave in January.
One will move to Hawaii and another will move to Australia to get certified.
Really, there are some people with good jobs but it seems that teachers are being divided into haves and have-nots.
I will lose my job. I am 38 but it is like I am considered too old. In other words schools just want teachers to be as young as possible so they can pay them less.

phoenixstorm · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 24

So are you guys saying that showing up in march fresh faced and eager to job hunt will most likely result in doors slamming in faces?

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

March is late.
What kind of work are you looking for?

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

it is true at my school.
My school says that they want to save money.
When people are hired, pay is determined by the experience they have, when they got their degree, and their age.
The longer one stays at the school, the higher the pay is.

You are up in Hokkaido, but down in Tokyo it is getting grim.
Teachers at my school can stay for 5 years then they will be cut.

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

JL · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 241 Location: Las Vegas, NV USA

Brooks,
May I ask what school you work for? I notice you're located in the Machida / Yokohama area, which is about where I had last lived when in Japan. I had been considering Yokohama for when I return. I'm 43, myself. Can't do anything about my age. I dunno, maybe I should start thinking about playing down my prior experience?? (Only half joking...)
Thanks. Any info. would be appreciated.