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GomiGirl wrote:Sounds like you are all sorted. What actually is the advice you are wanting? About a job?
My girlfriend is Japanese, so I have the opportunity of living at her place until I find a job
Working as an ALT is no problem for me. I'm 99% sure that I will enjoy teaching, and I already got experience working with elementary school kids.
Ikemen-of-d00m wrote:I'm just wondering about complications in general.
* How long do you think it will take before I find a job?
* Is the transition from tourist visa to work visa a hard one? If yes, how can I prepare myself?
* Do you know any good websites for job-searchers?
* Should I open a bank account in a Japanese bank as soon as I arrive?
Just try to imagine that you have my background and "skills". What is the first and most important things you would do?
tegi wrote:Not sure how long a job search might take, but I would plan for several months minimum. Prior to our moving here, my J-husband had to fly over for interviews in person. The whole process took several months from first interview to actually starting employment.
I have no idea about the visa situation, but having a job lined up that will sponsor you and provide housing is probably best. Would you stay in Japan even if you break up with your gf? It is no fun to be looking for a new place to stay when you are working FT Japanese hours.
As you know the area where you wish to live, it might be good to look for a reputable headhunter in that area. Have you any experience working in any particular field? That would be helpful. If not, a headhunter might not work out too well.
The amount of money you have saved is a good start, but we blew through that much in a short time getting a place and new life set up on a string - however there are 3 in our family.
AssKissinger wrote:Does she live with her folks?
What country are you from? And what part of Japan is your girlfriend's pad in? What are you gonna do if yall break up before you find a job?
I always said I recommend finding work before you go. Pounding the pavement trying to find shit can be extremely discouraging not to mention expensive as shit.
AssKissinger wrote:How old is she and have met her parents before?
Ikemen-of-d00m wrote:I will off course contribute with money and housework. Being a freeloader is the last thing I want to be.
It's probably gonna be tough, but I've seen people with the same set of qualifications(or less) as me get jobs pretty "easily", so I definitely think it's worth a shot. After all, I will not be happy with saying goodbye to Japan now. It's too soon for me.
But yeah, if I'm getting nowhere I'll leave.
Yokohammer wrote:I really wish you the best of luck with this.
But don't forget that it's less about qualifications than being in the right place at the right time, and who you know (and who likes you). You could have qualifications up the wazoo and still get nowhere if you don't meet the right people. Network, network, network ...
Yokohammer wrote:I really wish you the best of luck with this.
But don't forget that it's less about qualifications than being in the right place at the right time, and who you know (and who likes you). You could have qualifications up the wazoo and still get nowhere if you don't meet the right people. Network, network, network ...
AssKissinger wrote:...being Scandinavian isn't going to help at all.
maraboutslim wrote:What if he's blonde?
I always figured qualifications for teaching English in Japan went like this:
1) Blonde hair, blue eyed "native" speaker
2) Blonde hair, blue eyed non-native speaker
Mulboyne wrote: I can't tell you how much easier it is to find work in Japan when you already have a job and, more specifically, a business card.
Mulboyne wrote:Living with your girlfriend's folks probably sounds to you like a good way to conserve your cash and buy yourself more time to settle down. It may not work that way. Perhaps I'm projecting based on my own behaviour, but that may prove to be quite limiting. How generous are you hosts going to be if you stumble home drunk a few times? What if you miss a few family meals because something comes up? I can picture the mother getting antsy when she's prepared something special and you call in to say someone wants to meet you for a drink, to talk about a job.
You will need to have your own place as soon as possible. The best way to ensure you are on track for that is to find work before you go, or at least have a firm plan when you arrive like lining up some job interviews for your first week, so you can hit the ground running. You'll be surprised by how quickly time flies after you've arrived so you can't afford to spend two or three weeks getting the lie of the land. Not only will you be using your cash but the novelty value of having you in the house will wear off quickly.
If you are going for the family home route, make sure you take a lot of presents to give to everyone. Perhaps also something the family can share with their neighbours. If something goes down well, get some more sent out from Norway. If you do start to wear out your welcome, you'll find gestures like that will help maintain a lot of goodwill.
Mulboyne wrote:Most overseas companies have their Japan operations in Tokyo so living in the west of Japan isn't necessarily going to give you a rich choice of jobs. You also say "central Kansai" rather than Osaka. If you don't have easy access to that city then job hunting options will be further reduced. If Kansai is where you plan on staying then I think finding a job beforehand is an even greater priority.
Christoff wrote:Bring a healthy dose of anti depressants.
Russell wrote:I think the Norwegian school in Kobe closed a couple of years ago, but there still may be a need by Norwegian families for a native-Norwegian speaker willing to teach their kids. This will probably be freelance, but it may be worthwhile to try to find a position in an International school, where these kids go on regular days.
You may wish to call a Norwegian consulate in the Kansai-area (I think they have one in Kobe and one in Fukuoka), and ask them to introduce you to some contact persons related to some Norwegian teaching programs. This may also get you the right connections for an International school.
Good luck!
Ikemen-of-d00m wrote:I'm already working part-time at an elementary school
McTojo wrote:Well...Japan is for the Japanese. As long as you understand that you should have no problem. Why come here. You can't find a job at home? And why did your husband marry you? He should've married a Japanese.
Coligny wrote:Batman saved Gotham city but forgot to clean Catwoman litter so she revenge-pucked hairballs all over the seat of the Batmobile causing Alfred to resign. After that I totally woke up shouting and covered in cold sweat...
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