Job Discussion Forums

tyboogie · Joined: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 13 Location: texas

hello,

I'm considering coming out to japan on 3 month visa and looking for a teaching job. I do not have any ESL certification, but i do have a BA,and some charm.

I realize the market is saturated and competition is high, so my main question is:
should I stay local to the Tokyo area (most opportunies are here correct?) in my job search, or Is there enough opportunities in Kobe and Osaka?

Id prefer to go down to kansai to look for a job, but i dont have a realistic view of the number of opportunities down there. Ill probably go scope it out, unless everyone warns me otherwise.

also, id prefer to work for a private eikaiwa over a public school ALT position. Although, i may not have a choice, based on opportunities. Im just not looking forward to dealing with rude/disruptive teenagers, but i understand its part of the deal as an ALT.

i have about 6-7 grand saved up for this leap, and im minimalistic with my needs.

ty

RKH_1986 · Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 13

I'm acttually curious as to how this approach would work as well. I have also just graduated with a Bachelor's degree (history), and I've just recently completed a TESL course.

I'm still at home in Canada, and working on sending out as many resumes as I can to different eikaiwas and contracting organizations as I can, and hoping for the best.

That said, if I can't find anything in Japan over the next few months I'll expand my search into say Korea.

Anyway, still I'm interested in how your approach of going there and searching person fairs.

I understand this does work sometimes, but I'm curious as to what the pros and cons of this tactic is. I mean obviously if a vacancy opens up you can jump on it quickly, but I guess, if you can't find anything, you might be up a river without a paddle.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

tyboogie · Joined: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 13 Location: texas

RKH: for sure its a gamble, although from what ive researched nowhere near as difficult as getting a gig in western europe where being in the european union and being certified is a must. Someone else posted a comment in another thread, it may have been chris; "its not if you can get a job, its if you can get a good job". I will be trying to keep my expectations low..

CHRIS: yea man, for sure, I will try to bring my patience cap, that's great advice, thanks. and ill just shoot for Kansai, at least in my first month-month and a half.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

robertokun · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 199

Sounds like a good plan. Hit up Kansai Time Out and some classifieds and maybe you can rent a room in someones apt for a couple of months. Work visas are no problem to get while you're here, although there used to be a lot of debate about whether you could get them in country and how long it would take a few years ago. If a school wants to hire you, you can get the COE in your passport within a month, so if you find something within the first six weeks, it's no problem. You bring up some good points about ALT'ing vs. Eikaiwa, too. A lot of people on here seem to hate on eikaiwa, but it's good for what it's worth. Just use that charm and be insistent on how much you like working with children. Ganbatte yo.

tyboogie · Joined: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 13 Location: texas

roberto: yea, that was my plan.. find a room for rent, or possibly a room in a gaijin house.

thanks yall

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

Pros of coming to Japan to job hunt:
1. Some employers require that you be here to apply. Shows commitment.

2. Gives you the chance to get acquainted with some local surroundings and how a few things work (like building addresses, which are not numbered sequentially, and like public transportation)

3. Allows you more networking possibilities (some people report that guesthouse accommodations are good for finding people who are willing to share job hunting leads).

4. Less down time (to pack up your apartment and things back home). If you are on a working holiday visa, you can start work immediately, too.

5. You simply have more opportunities to choose from. Most employers don't have the money to hire from abroad.

6. You can actually see the job location and building instead of rely on pictures or a written description. Also, you can get more out of the face to face interview instead of relying on Skype or a rare phone interview.

7. Coming early will give you something of a chance to get used to reading/writing/speaking/hearing Japanese.

Cons of job hunting in Japan
1. Costly. Be prepared to have US$4000-5000 to support yourself from time of landing to first paycheck.

2. Some employers don't sponsor visas.

3. You may have to travel far from your home base to interview. That's not cheap, either.

4. You have to find housing. Temporarily, a guesthouse is good, but if you prefer an apartment, you usually need an employer to serve as guarantor first. Plus, you may find a job where you'd have to move.

5. Adjusting to the environment may seem adventurous and romantic at first, but if you have little command of the language or customs, it could prove daunting, especially if this is one of the first times you have lived away from your home country.

6. The way streets and buildings are labeled is very strange and disorganized. You may have a lot of trouble locating the interview site, especially if you can't read Japanese.
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Some of the posters on this thread have not said when they plan to be here. How about telling us, so you can avoid coming at a bad time?

InTheKnow · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Posts: 20 Location: greater Japan

InTheKnow · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Posts: 20 Location: greater Japan

tyboogie · Joined: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 13 Location: texas

intheknow: so if MOST companies wont sponsor a visa, what advice would you give to me? a hopeful without a visa...

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

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

tyboogie · Joined: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 13 Location: texas

ok so some people are saying "ganbatte, make it happen"
and others are saying "dont bother, you wont get sponsored"

its good to get diff viewpoints i guess. i dont want to go over there naive to the reality, but i dont want to give up out of fear either.

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

Ok, I just did a bit of research. Downloaded the latest Ohayo Sensei newsletter and looked at all of the FT jobs, current issue and those from the previous one that are still outstanding.

45 sponsor or renew visas
9 come right out and say "proper visa required", so they probably don't.
18 don't say anything about visas sponsorship (and many list FT and PT jobs, so they probably didn't know how to write this in the ad)

"Most" do indeed sponsor visas.