Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Thanks to everyone who has posted info on Korean recruiters. Could anyone refer me to a link with Japanese ones? I'd like to keep my options open, and for whatever reason my application to the Dave's Japan board hasn't been approved after a week.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[mithridates]

As far as I know, they don't exist. I've never heard about them, anyway.

[mithridates]

I should explain further: Japanese cities have this magical mystical place in each city called an "International Centre", including the smaller cities of about 200000 or so. They each have their own bulletin board where schools can put up ads. They can even put up ads that say PART TIME and for some reason nobody gets busted - why? Because teachers own their own visa. And Japanese cities generally have free language classes on the weekends, the JLPT is a big deal and everybody wants to take it; people who are lifers there have been there for quite some time and they will take most of the part-time work in the area.
Japan also has much larger chains than we do here, and they make trips abroad to hire teachers. They'll go through a few Canadian or American cities in one fell swoop, picking up a few dozen teachers on the way. These companies are run from the head office down like a Starbucks, whereas the Korean hagwons are run as a chain where anyone with enough cash can purchase one.
So what's the point of a recruiter? Not much. We could get rid of most of them in Korea as well if the law were changed, IMO.

[Travelingirl68]

Hey Yu - I had the same problem with accessing the Korean boards for 2 weeks - PM Mr. Kalgashi for help...

[thaitom]

Westgate has a good program in Japan.

http://www.westgate.co.jp/

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Thanks for the tips.

[Donghae]

Whilst not saying it's wrong that teachers in Japan "own their own visa", I'd advise a little bit of caution with this idea. There are aspects of Japanese immigration that are easier than the equivalent in Korea for those from English-speaking countries and some that are not.

I DO agree that the equivalent of the E2 malarkey in Korea is often a lot easier in Japan but the above "own their own visa" bit is something I've heard a lot and often leads to people having the idea that you get ANY job in Japan to get the visa, then quit and play the field. Some people do get away with doing that but it is very often not that simple at all.

It's good that your visa won't be cancelled (at least I've never heard of this happening) if you quit the company that sponsored you for it (although many schools will tell you that this will happen) and you won't have to make the visa run for a new job that a lot of folk make from Korea to Japan and back. However, make no mistake about it, Japanese Immigration do NOT like people taking liberties, as they see it, with their visa. If you change jobs mid-visa you'll need a bit of paperwork from your previous employer (which they may not give you) when you renew your visa and they'll take a lot more time over processing it. Immigration also get pretty peeved with employers who take on people who quit early: I once heard a case where they asked for all kinds of financial details from the new employer, who subsequently did a bizarre about turn and withdrew the contract to the guy applying for the visa, who was then stuck in limbo and ended up going home for good.

Japan had started giving out 3 year visas about 5 years ago. However, if you've changed jobs mid-contract they wouldn't renew it for 3 until they thought you were trustworthy enough. There was a period a couple of years ago where they were even giving 3 year visas to some new arrivals but most newbies I meet now only got 1 year - I suspect because too many people "abused" the 3 year ones they were getting.


BTW, mithridates, just wanted to add a bit of background to the visa part, wasn't intending to nitpick and I think you above advice re Japan is good.