Job Discussion Forums

SandyG20 · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 208

I have been applying to jobs in Japan from the USA.

Most jobs want people to already be in Japan - they don't provide a work visa.

Many want a good knowledge of Japanese - I don't have that.

Many have age restrictions for teachers - I am older.

I do have a BS in education and a teaching license however - so I hope that helps in this job market.

I keep looking on Gaijinpot and on Dave's - and I do not qualify for many jobs despite my education.

Where are good places to apply in my case?

I do not have the funds to do in person interviews - so am looking at phone interviews only at this point in time.

BobbyBan · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 201

You could try here:

http://www.ohayosensei.com/current.html

The jobs featured in this edition aren't particularly well-paying though.

Keep looking on Gaijinpot, though as there are usually a number of jobs that don't require Japanese.

GIR · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 64

All your other difficulties aside, your biggest obstacle is applying from out of country. This limits you to only a few options. Primarily JET, AEON, ECC, NOVA, and GEOS. You've missed this year's application date for JET, and I think several of the others aren't hiring right now. But even if they are, I believe they require in-person interviews in various American/Canadian cities.

Applying domestically has always been a huge advantage, but this is particularly true in the current economy. If you are really serious about finding a job here, you may just have to take a chance and fly over.

seklarwia · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject:

But if you do not have the funds to interview in person, do you really have the funds to support yourself for the first 2 months before your first pay cheque? You're also going to have to pay some horrendous housing set up costs. Even in Leopalace, they may ask you to cover the rent up until your first cheque as well as some other fees (I had to pay Y200,000, which seemed the bottom end of intial costs, in comparison to some of the others).

Some of the ALTs who arrived with me came with either limited funds or just got screwed in the exchange, and they are suffering tremendously right now.

If you can't get in with JET or get a job through a dream-like employer who can supply you with housing with minimal set up costs then you are going to need some serious cash reserves.

BobbyBan · Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 201

zorro (5!) · Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 9

And Westgate. Have a look at their website. I can't remember them having age restrictions. In fact they didn't. There were two early to mid 50s at one of the Unis I was at.

They don't require any Japanese either. And they'll fly you over, sort out your visa, set you up in a place to live and make you feel looked after. You won't need a huge start up budget either. I think I took the equivalent of $500.

One drawback. They won't need teachers to start until September now.

Good luck.

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

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

babar6789 · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 69 Location: Japan

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

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

Sandy,
You're going to find that most employers in Japan will not recruit from abroad or even do a phone interview. My advice to you is this.

1. Come here with US$4000-5000 in hand at the right time of year. Unfortunately, March is best.

2. Keep trying where you are.

3. Look into international schools. See the FAQ sticky for more info on job fairs for them.

In any case, the economy in Japan is just as bad as in the USA, so don't expect much.