Japan noob needs advice on a working holiday

[Kuuni]

I'm studying Japanese at 2nd year level and there's a good chance I might not get to go on the exchange program 2007. If I dont get in, well I want to go to Japan anyway, but I'm pretty sure the only way to do it is by working.
I can get a job from here working a skifield in Hiroshima for 6 weeks (Crap pay but free accommodation, skiing and cheap food) which would be a good way to enter the country and get my speaking on the way to being useful.
BUT what I really want to know is: How hard would it be to find a job, accommodation etc to survive for six months/a year?
I have no real experience in anything (being just shy of 19 years old) all I can say is that I speak English better than most people my age (thats not saying a whole lot I guess)
So yeah, how hard is it to find a job/jobs I could survive on.
Thanks

[Ptyx]

How is your japanese ?
If your japanese is ok you should be able to find an arubaito type job fairly easily here. Arubaito is part-time and students jobs(waiter, human dishwasher, coffee engineer etc...). There are always a ton of those available at any time. The pay is cheap, it goes from 600 to 900yens/hour depending on the job. If you cumulate those you should be able to make a correct wage. You won't get rich but you'll be able to survive.
The good thing is that you already have a six weeks job planned you can use this time to befriend people and find arubaito jobs around where you are.
The other thing is teaching english in private lessons. The common rate is 3000y/hour. So yes, it pays better that the arubaito stuff but it can be hard to have enough students to be able to live off it.
If you mix the two, all the better.
After that you can try and get hired at a one of the big english schools. There are big chains of english schools here, Aeon, Nova, Gabba, Berlitz etc..
The problem is they will require you to have at least a bachelor degree.

The key here is don't be shy. During your first six weeks gig you're likely to meet all kinds of people. Tell them you're looking for a job and when asked what kind of job say that you can do anything.
If you find a job available you should apply for it even if you think you're not qualified. You'll have time to worry once you're hired.
Japan will eat your money very fast so you really can't affford to be here without a job.
Now the other thing is you should come here with some cash ready (around 3000$), i know it's required for working-holiday holders to have a minimum amount of money in your account or a flight ticket to home,so you should have that already.
If you plan to rent a place they will ask you a lot of money upfront (up to 6 months rent in advance), that's why the cash comes in handy.
There are other places, called gaijin houses, that won't ask for money upfront but usually the rent is higher.
Hope that helps.

[aljones15]

on the english teaching front

ohayosensei.com

is generally the best shot for temp and sudden openings.
as for needing a B.A. realistically people will employ you anyway.

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A

[spyder]

on the english teaching front

ohayosensei.com

is generally the best shot for temp and sudden openings.
as for needing a B.A. realistically people will employ you anyway.

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A

Not if you are requiring them to sponsor you. Japanese law/immigration requires a BA to be able to issue a working visa. (I think it is a Humanitarians visa or something similar.)

[GomiGirl]

What is your nationality?

Get used to that question but it is important when looking at a working holiday visa. This is the best visa for somebody like you. You are not tied into a company and you can travel and work for anybody you like - except in a bar.

Come with at least a job - crap job even - as they will help you find your feet and then you can do what you like. Pimp out yourself to whoever will hire you. Am not sure if the golf courses are back in the money but golf caddy used to be an amazing way to make cash with an easy job that involved carrying old salarymans clubs all day.. practice your japanese on them and earn tips and presents!!

Ski resorts are also great...

[Kuuni]

Cool, thanks for the advice. I'm from New Zealand so getting a WHV is quite easy I think. My Japanese is kinda slow at the moment. I don't think it would take to long to become ok though because I have some knowledge - just no real experience speaking it. Which is why I want to go in the first place :P
Any idea about the rents and situation at gaijin houses? Are they boarding places or more like flats?

[Ptyx]

In Tokyo a 15-18 square meters place will cost you between 50 000 and 70 000 yens in average areas.
Hiroshima should be cheaper of course.
Gaijin houses are in general composed of individual rooms with shared kitchen and bathrooms. Rent for those are around 80 000 yens, it's more expensive because you don't have to pay bills for the internet, electricity, gas and so on, they also won't ask you for key money which is normaly two months rent payable in advance.

[karekora]

[Greji]

Am not sure if the golf courses are back in the money but golf caddy used to be an amazing way to make cash with an easy job that involved carrying old salarymans clubs all day.. practice your japanese on them and earn tips and presents!!.

Ah, hah! GG I always wondered where you got all those big bags of dust you been banking. Ripping off those poor old rich ojiisans that are too slow to keep up with you on the 19th hole. The truth finally comes out!

[GomiGirl]

Ah, hah! GG I always wondered where you got all those big bags of dust you been banking. Ripping off those poor old rich ojiisans that are too slow to keep up with you on the 19th hole. The truth finally comes out!

I wish - my friends did it for years in the Kansai area while boosting their Japanese skills. One of them went on to become a flight attendant and then she used the Ojiisan's tips to finance her private flight school tuition and she became a pilot with Cathay.

It was easy cash during the bubble - hostessing basically while getting a tan and exercise on the golf course.

During that time I was doing my second degree in Economics so I was a poor student.

[Greji]

It was easy cash during the bubble - hostessing basically while getting a tan and exercise on the golf course.

I wanted to try that too, but I could never figure out what to do with that 19th hole!