Job-Searching in-country... (tourist visa)

[Kanchou]

Since I'm getting more and more desperate, I'm thinking somewhat strongly about hopping on the next flight to Narita to find work (since the large majority of good jobs are 'currently in Japan' jobs)...

Is there anything I need to know about finding interpreting/translation, English teaching, or general new-graduate work in Japan, on a tourist visa?

And what are my chances of showing up at a job asking for "native level" Japanese and getting the job on "semi-illiterate extremely conversant, sporadically business-level" Japanese (with a smile on my face)? (at least as far as language-related jobs go...more so than a 'real' job)

And is it possible to find a full-time job, and get a visa in 90 days? (assuming you're not superman/the flash, or ethnic Japanese)

What about jobs that ask for "currently residing in Japan?" I imagine a lot of places don't like it when they have to apply for your visa when even though you're already in the country.

Let's also assume I can crash at a friend's place and have a decent line of credit...lol (to take out at least some of the financial issues).

And let's say I was staying and Tokyo and had to go to say, Hyogo (not even sure where that is...)... are there any sorts of compensation for interview travel expenses?

[ttjereth]

Since I'm getting more and more desperate, I'm thinking somewhat strongly about hopping on the next flight to Narita to find work (since the large majority of good jobs are 'currently in Japan' jobs)...

Is there anything I need to know about finding interpreting/translation, English teaching, or general new-graduate work in Japan, on a tourist visa?

And what are my chances of showing up at a job asking for "native level" Japanese and getting the job on "semi-illiterate extremely conversant, sporadically business-level" Japanese (with a smile on my face)? (at least as far as language-related jobs go...more so than a 'real' job)

And is it possible to find a full-time job, and get a visa in 90 days? (assuming you're not superman/the flash, or ethnic Japanese)

What about jobs that ask for "currently residing in Japan?" I imagine a lot of places don't like it when they have to apply for your visa when even though you're already in the country.

Let's also assume I can crash at a friend's place and have a decent line of credit...lol (to take out at least some of the financial issues).

And let's say I was staying and Tokyo and had to go to say, Hyogo (not even sure where that is...)... are there any sorts of compensation for interview travel expenses?

A lot of companies that require "currently in Japan" mean they want you to already have a visa that allows you to work in Japan.

[Visitor K]

when i moved from kansai to tokyo, my work visa expired and i had to look for work on a tourist visa, so i know a little about what you are asking.. it is possible to do, as you already know, most of the jobs are looking for people already in japan..

for the visa, i believe that generally speaking you dont have to have a new visa issued before the 90 days expires, only be in the process of applying for a new one.. but it is possible to land a job and get the visa before the 90 days is up.

i found most full time jobs were willing to sponsor the visa, but most of the part time jobs wanted somebody that already had a proper visa.. just go around and try it out, if they like you enough it shouldnt be a problem to sponsor you.

i have never heard of anybody reimbursing for travel expenses to the interview, and that would not be one of the first questions i would ask a prospective employer..

i found it pretty easy to land a job in tokyo on a tourist visa.. ive done it and ive had friends do it as well. start trying to line up contacts now and have some interviews lined up right when you land.. i got a job in under a week of looking in tokyo. of course it depends on your qualifications, which you didnt mention.. do you have experience or any qualifications?
for english teaching, a good site to check out is http://eslcafe.com

good luck!

[Kanchou]

I know when they say "reside in Japan" that they mean "have a Visa," but they're going to have to extend it eventually either way (or change the type), so I don't think it would be much more work to apply for one...

By reimbursing, I was including any possible tax deductions that might be valid.

[ttjereth]

I know when they say "reside in Japan" that they mean "have a Visa," but they're going to have to extend it eventually either way (or change the type), so I don't think it would be much more work to apply for one...

By reimbursing, I was including any possible tax deductions that might be valid.

They don't have to extend visas for those on spousal visas or with permanent residence etc. You'll have to contact each company to see what they want/expect. You can usually swing a visa with an eikaiwa job though.

For reimbursement, I've only ever been provided travelling expenses for one interview and that was at a large law firm. There are no tax deductions or anything I know of either.

[Charles]

For reimbursement, I've only ever been provided travelling expenses for one interview and that was at a large law firm. There are no tax deductions or anything I know of either.

As I understand it, under US Tax Law, you can deduct any expenses for work searching or relocation, that means travel expenses (even if it didn't result in a job).
This may not be so useful if you get a job overseas and don't have much US income for the year to deduct against.

[Kanchou]

Would it not be usable for when you leave Japan, get a Japanese tax refund, and then have to pay US income taxes?

(at least that's how I've read the taxing of US expatriates works in Japan)

[Charles]

Would it not be usable for when you leave Japan, get a Japanese tax refund, and then have to pay US income taxes?

(at least that's how I've read the taxing of US expatriates works in Japan)

You're replying to my comment, I presume?
AFAIK, you have to claim job-search and relocation expenses in the year they're incurred. But consult a tax professional.

[ttjereth]

Would it not be usable for when you leave Japan, get a Japanese tax refund, and then have to pay US income taxes?

(at least that's how I've read the taxing of US expatriates works in Japan)

For U.S. citizens you pay taxes in Japan and have an exemption for U.S. taxes if you earn less than $80,000 a year (or something close to that, changes every year), earning over whatever the foreign earned income exclusion is requires you to pay taxes on the amount over the exlucsion in the U.S. as well (so you're taxed twice for part of your income).

Charles' point aside, I somehow don't think the IRS will let you get away with claiming travel expenses paid to get a job where you will not be paying U.S. taxes. But I'm not certain of that, when in doubt, call the IRS

[GomiGirl]

What job sites are you looking at.

http://www.careercross.com/en/ This one is a good one for bilinugal candidates.

[Kanchou]

Thanks.

My search was basically limited to whatever "Japan Job" would put out on Google, and the Japan Times bilingual listings... (and various ESL sites)

In all reality, my ideal job would be freelance T/I work, so long as I have enough work to make a decent living. Free time is my most precious resource... and salaryman hours aren't really what I'm looking for.

[GomiGirl]

I have posted a few jobs here on the working in japan forum that have reached my inbox from a mailing list. There is a link there to sign yourself up for this resource as well.

With Freelance work you need to have an established client base in order to set yourself up on a self sponsored visa.

[Charles]

Be aware of the Japanese job fairs in the US and elsewhere outside Japan. a little web searching will locate them. You can hit a lot of prospects in a short time at a job fair, and there are loads of IT jobs.
But there is often a catch. I went to a job fair in San Jose and got one invitation to a series of interviews in Tokyo: 3 interviews, 30 days apart. It seemed clear that this would eliminate anyone from coming over on a 90 day tourist visa. If you came over 1 day early to decompress from jet lag, you'd have to overstay your visa 1 day.

[james]

If you came over 1 day early to decompress from jet lag, you'd have to overstay your visa 1 day.

or make a quick saunter for some sightseeing in korea..

[Kanchou]

Job searching is such a string of disappointments...

Anyone know how to avoid making companies stop ignoring your applications?

[ttjereth]

Job searching is such a string of disappointments...

Anyone know how to avoid making companies stop ignoring your applications?

... so... you want them to ignore your application?

[omae mona]

... so... you want them to ignore your application?

Oh, give him a break already. Thats not what he didn't mean to say.

[Charles]

Oh, give him a break already. Thats not what he didn't mean to say.

Well if he doesn't want them to ignore his applications, he could stop sending them.

I never had much luck either. I remember some material I collected for my resume kit (stuff that didn't make the cut) they talk about a "madoguchi," your window into a company, a personal contact that can connect you with someone inside the company. You need someone to recommend you, so there are example letters full of "Mr. Suzuki of Nippon Techronics recommended that I contact you in reference to openings in your XYZ division." Now the real trick is having a good contact in the first place.

[kusai Jijii]

Sorry to chime in here, but I think the best (but no doubt most annoying) advice I can give is, if you are planning on just 'jumping on the next plane to narita', dont expect a bed of roses. I dont mean that in a smart arse way, so dont get offended. What I mean is, the job market in Japan is getting tighter and tighter for both FGs and Japanese. (not just fucked eikaiwa dudes, people qualified up the yingyang too) IMO, conditions are going down the tube, and if you are serious about a real career in Japan, I'd suggest getting 'good' Japan related experience abroad before coming here. It may take you longer to realize your dream of living here, but I can assure you, it will fast track you into a good job once you are here.

[ttjereth]

Oh, give him a break already. Thats not what he didn't mean to say.

I didn't not meant it to be mean. I honestly, didn't able to not understand what he meant.

[kusai Jijii]

I didn't not meant it to be mean. I honestly, didn't able to not understand what he meant.

You point is taken so not very well. We understood your felt, and appreciate your output to help people not know where you are coming to and make good decisions of Japan. If I couldnt say one second last final point, it wouldnt be that its good not to have people who dont look out for your worst interests as you try not to be stuck not working abroad outside of in Japan. After all, theres no point not beating into the bush, and the sweeky wheel drinks too much oil. I wake up my case.

Oh, and one third last thing first, no one likes a keyboard warrior!:hehe:

[Kanchou]

That's what happens when you try to change how you word a sentence and forget to proofread the final result.

I've got another bite from an in-house translation job... and I'm expecting a phone call...sometime.

I think perhaps I need to rely less on the guys from my last job as references, since there's a chance they're not giving my good ones, or responding to queries (which might explain why I get ignored by 80% of the places I apply to).

[ttjereth]

That's what happens when you try to change how you word a sentence and forget to proofread the final result.

I've got another bite from an in-house translation job... and I'm expecting a phone call...sometime.

I think perhaps I need to rely less on the guys from my last job as references, since there's a chance they're not giving my good ones, or responding to queries (which might explain why I get ignored by 80% of the places I apply to).

Most Japanese places probably aren't even contacting them. You can work around it by adding something in your cover letter somewhere about "references available upon request" and not sending any at first. My bet is no one will ask for them, and you'll still get ignored by 80% of the places you apply. It's just the way things tend to work.

[Kanchou]

Could someone tell me how I should handle a job that's supposed to be 6 days of work per week?

I really, really don't want to work more than 5 days a week (I'd rather work 10 hours a day 4 per week than ~6 a day 6 a week...), but I'm, well, desperate and don't want to blow another chance for a job in a good location.


Any experiences about whether they're hire a person who'd take a pay cut for less days?

[kusai Jijii]

Could someone tell me how I should handle a job that's supposed to be 6 days of work per week?

I really, really don't want to work more than 5 days a week (I'd rather work 10 hours a day 4 per week than ~6 a day 6 a week...), but I'm, well, desperate and don't want to blow another chance for a job in a good location.


Any experiences about whether they're hire a person who'd take a pay cut for less days?

I doubt thats going to go over too well. As i said in an earlier post, the job market for FGs at the moment could be described as a 'buyers market' - employers can afford to be picky. If I were you, I'd think about a little bit of advice about succeeding in the working world that grandpa Kusai Jijii taught me when I was just a wee kusai Jijii:

Get a job. Do it well. Look for better job. Move up to a better job. Do it well.
Repeat...

[Gilligan]

Get a job. Do it well. Look for better job. Move up to a better job. Do it well.
Repeat...

Ah, so THAT'S the secret of your current success is it?

[ttjereth]

Could someone tell me how I should handle a job that's supposed to be 6 days of work per week?

I really, really don't want to work more than 5 days a week (I'd rather work 10 hours a day 4 per week than ~6 a day 6 a week...), but I'm, well, desperate and don't want to blow another chance for a job in a good location.


Any experiences about whether they're hire a person who'd take a pay cut for less days?

A lot of jobs are 6 days a week even if they don't tell you that up front

The translation agency I worked at had a fold up bed and a sofa bed in the office because having to spend the night there was so common.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Could someone tell me how I should handle a job that's supposed to be 6 days of work per week?

I really, really don't want to work more than 5 days a week (I'd rather work 10 hours a day 4 per week than ~6 a day 6 a week...), but I'm, well, desperate and don't want to blow another chance for a job in a good location.


Any experiences about whether they're hire a person who'd take a pay cut for less days?

Do you really only expect to work 40 hours a week max? I guess you aren't actually interested in getting a real job afterall.

[Kanchou]

Over 40 hours isn't so bad if it's 5 days or less a week...

[kusai Jijii]

[quote="Gilligan"]Ah, so THAT'S the secret of your current success is it? ]
Well, its worked for me thus far Gilligan.
You gotta remember, I started at the absolute bottom, so the margin for improvement as far as jobs are concerned, has been pretty wide. Considering I took your old job, you'd know just how 'successful' I am:p ! I will be moving up from that in the next 12 months (as its one of those fucked up contract positions!) (but most likely sideways or even down again... )
Remember also, the advice I was passing on from Grandpa Kusai Jijii was for a guy who started this thread asking about how to get A (i.e. ANY) job in Japan