Job Discussion Forums

[ilovefood]

[size=12]Hi, I'm hoping someone who has some experience with Westgate can help me out. I was offered a position with them for the spring session and the contract states that I have to leave Japan within 30 days of my contract ending. The thing is, I want to stay and travel around Japan for a few months after my contract.

Westgate is going to reimburse me my airfare once I arrive, and leaving 30 days after the contract is one of the conditions to getting my money back.

What can they do to me after the contract is up if they find out that I haven't left Japan?

Any help is appreciated.
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[Billy Chaka]

They would have no way of knowing unless somebody physically saw you, which would be highly unlikely. As long as your visa is OK, I would say go for it. However, one way they could find out is if you were ever to go back to work for them and they saw your passport. However, if you don't plan to work for them again in the future, everything should be fine.

[Siri]

This is not in regards to your question - but, I am also applying to Westgate for the spring and would love to be in touch. How long did your application process take, as I hope it could work out for March.

[ilovefood]

It takes about 3-5 weeks from the time you apply until they offer you a position. They're pretty quick.
However, once you're hired, Westgate will apply to the immigration office in Japan for your Certificate of Eligibility.
Once they get it, they mail it to you and you have to go your nearest Japanese Consulate/Embassy and apply for the visa. This all takes between 9-11 weeks.

March may be too soon.

I'm not starting until July. Are you teaching in the university program?

[bule_boy69]

you have to show them the ticket so they will see the date.

you can change it after you arrive in japan but if you went through their agent then the agent will find out and inform on you to Westgate.

Yeah i know..in theory you are the customer not the agent and this probably breaches some confidentiality law, but the airline will tell them.

As someone said..if you dont want to work for them again...well.....

Anyway....you will blow a stack of cash floating around japan for that long. i reckon 30 days is more than enough.

[tonyukohi]

Westgate doesn't check to make sure you left. They actually offered me a position to come back for a second term as well, but I turned them down. But no, you can't change your flight/get it reimbursed. However, considering I would've had to spend more money to purchase a flight back, it was worth letting my seat go empty. Granted, I had my own housing, which made it easier.

[Lhenderson]

Why would anyone be excited about the "3 months and yer out" Westgate scheme?? Is it that bad back home?

They previously had trouble getting warm bodies, but this year I've been told there's a line-up for this low paid, no benefit, temp work.

[ilovefood]

It's good for someone like me who has credentials and experience but is quite nervous about committing to a place half way around the world for a year.

If I like it, I'll stay and hopefully with my new contacts find a more desirable position. If not, I'll move on.

I don't think 275,000 YEN is exactly low paying.

[Lhenderson]

[kteacher]

[Glenski]

[Yawarakaijin]

I really don't understand why some people on here feel the need to continuously demean a certain section of employment. Let me add that I do not work for Westgate or any other of the other big dispatch agencies and I too dream of the day when direct hires are the norm but indulge me for a moment.

Let's take a look at the facts shall we. I just checked the numbers on XE.com and things at the moment are looking pretty good wouldn't you agree?

275,000 YEN -------> 3,795$ CDN
3,053$ US
4,669$ AUS
5,800$ NZ

Seriously, what is with the all the attitude that is flung around in regards to people who choose certain employment options. I seriously doubt that ANYONE back home would have an issue with someone pulling in the above mentioned salaries no matter what they chose to do, be it fixing toilets or working in a bank. Even factoring in the cost of living in Japan, I bet most responsible people could bank just as much money, if not more, than all their friends back home with "real" jobs.

It's been a while since I have been back home to Canada but I am pretty sure pulling home $3,795 CDN per month is above the average
wage.

If you were strictly speaking about 275,000 yen per month being the "minimum" Japanese wage I have some news for you my friend. I work for a large Japanese engineering firm and often hang out with the guys from work, office and factory workers alike. You would be shocked to hear how low some of their salaries are, and with a good deal of Japanese being haken (temp workers), that mystical Japanese bonus of 6 months salary per year is sadly now a fantasy for most young Japanese hitting the job market.

Allow me to go off on a little bit of a tangent for a moment, and this is no way aimed at any one particular poster. It I were pulling in $3,795 CDN a month in Canada and anyone intimated either a.) that I was wasting my life in my job. b.) that I was in a dead end industry. c.) questioning my ability to "properly" plan for my future or d.) that I was just being "lazy" not striving for something more, he would probably find himself on his ass pretty quickly.

And just for the record, it is, in my opinion, quite easy to pull in a substantial amount more than 275,000 yen per month wasting your life away in Japan.

[Glenski]

[Yawarakaijin]

Actually Glenski, I hate dispatch agencies just as much as you do. I was merely taking issue with what I felt to be one poster's belief that a working with one of these companies was akin to working at a McDonalds back home. Hell, I wouldnt mind working at a micky D's for 4,000$ a month. Providing I could sneak all the cheeseburgers I wanted.