Most likely moving to Japan next summer. Got any advice?

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

Next summer I will be 23 years old and have a bachelors degree in "Asian studies"(hard to describe) from one of the best universities in Europe. My degree is basically Japanese language, Japanese history, culture, literature and politics, and Media Science.

I know this is pretty much a useless degree, but I guess it's better than nothing. I know a guy who has basically the same background as me(except he's a freaking genius when it comes to kanji and vocabulary), who landed a pretty sweet job for a transport company, more or less based on a good job interview and fluency in English. So I guess luck is an important factor when looking for jobs in Japan. Which leads me to the motivation for my journey. I've realized that landing a good job with my limited degree isn't an easy task, if "living in Japan for a while" is one of the goals.

I want to move to Japan as soon as possible. I'm therefore more than willing to work as an ALT. At least in the beginning. I will of course look for other jobs as well.

What is my best course of action? My girlfriend is Japanese, so I have the opportunity of living at her place until I find a job. Should I just travel to Japan on a tourist visa, and then go job-hunting? I'll be living pretty central in the Kansai area, so there should be some job opportunities.

As for my Japanese level, I'd say my conversational skills are very good. As far as listening goes, I'm probably somewhere between N2 and N1-level. Grammar and reading-wise, I'm around N2-level. When it comes to kanji and vocabulary(my weaknesses), I'm still not quite on the N2-level, which is why I failed the test this summer.

I guess it's worth mentioning that I've studied in Japan for 3 semesters before, so I'm past the worst culture shock. I will also get help from my girlfriend, her family, and other acquaintances, so I'm definitely not alone when I arrive. I will also have around 10 000 USD in the bank.

Also worth considering:

1. I am planning on taking another degree in the future(if I'm not happy with my life), but it's not going to be a degree that I can make use of in Japan. The moment I start on another degree is therefore the moment where I say "goodbye" to Japan forever. I'm not ready for that moment yet. I'm just too happy in Japan.

2. Becoming rich has never been a goal for me. An average salary is more than enough.

3. 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.

4. I've pretty much decided that I'm moving to Japan already.

[GomiGirl]

Sounds like you are all sorted. What actually is the advice you are wanting? About a job?

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

Sounds like you are all sorted. What actually is the advice you are wanting? About a job?

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?

[AssKissinger]

My girlfriend is Japanese, so I have the opportunity of living at her place until I find a job

Does she live with her folks?

My friends who still live in Japan tell me the work scene is absolutely brutal and they've been networking for years. I wouldn't just assume you'll find anything at all.

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.

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.

That's great that you're so generous that a willingness to work is no problem for you. When I was there they really were passing out those jobs like candy but I don't think it's like that anymore. Most ALT's don't actually get to teach, btw.

[tegi]

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?

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.

[McTojo]

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.

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.

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

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.

Yes, my girlfriend still lives with her folks in central Kansai, close to Osaka and Kyoto. I highly doubt that we will break up, but if that happens I will off course have to change my plans a bit.

I'm Norwegian, so I can't play the native speaker-card. Having said that, my English is still fluent. I don't have a strong accent either.

I would definitely prefer to land a job BEFORE traveling to Japan, but I just don't see how that is possible? I could apply for some sort of program, but if I'm not mistaken most of those don't let you choose where in Japan you'll live? And if I respond to regular job openings, what then? Should I say: "hey, I realize that you need people now, but I can't show up for the interview. Unless you can wait a couple of months, that is.."

A friend of mine landed a sweet ALT part-time job for a company that has branches all over Japan, also in Kansai. Could I ask him to put in a good word for me? After all, him and I have almost identical qualifications. If he's qualified, then I'm qualified too.

More advice is definitely appreciated!

[AssKissinger]

How old is she and have met her parents before?

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

How old is she and have met her parents before?

She's 20. I haven't met her parents yet, but she and her mother are positive to the idea of me living there short-term. They used to be a host-family, so they are used to having "strangers" over.

I don't know how positive her father is, but it doesn't seem to matter.

The way I see it, having a place to stay is not an issue at this point. I therefore think that job-hunting needs to be the main priority.

[AssKissinger]

I think you might be getting into a mess. You say you got 10 grand. If you're not working full time by the time it's down to 7 split for India do some travelling and head back home. That's my advice. I have a feeling it's going to matter what pops thinks if you're just hanging in his pad and fucking his daughter and not working or contributing anything. And I doubt you can arrange a teaching job in advance if you're not a native speaker and you'll probably have to lie about it when you get there and that'll make getting a work sponsored visa all the more complicated. When a bunch of Americans are walking around looking for work and willing to accept all sort of bullshit for peanuts being Scandinavian isn't going to help at all.

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

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]

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.

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 ...

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

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 ...

Thanks mate!

Well, I do have many Japanese connections in Kansai. I suppose if I begged them to help me, things would get a lot easier since they can read effectively in Japanese.

And then there's my friend who already works for a big ALT-company. Do you think it would help if he put in a good word for me? He works in Chiba-ken, so his employers would have to inform their colleagues in the Kansai branch.

[IparryU]

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 ...

when my friend got a job a google... he said the exact same thing.

bout the best advise you can give when looking for a job...

"Who do you know?"

[Mulboyne]

Your Norwegian connection reminded me that you mentioned your plans to us earlier last year.

You probably want to get on with the next stage of your life as soon as possible so getting on a plane to Japan seems to you like it should be your top priority. I still think you should put in a major effort now to find something, anything, before you leave. It might even be in your interests to offer yourself to a company or organization for free for a few months. 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.

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.

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.

[maraboutslim]

...being Scandinavian isn't going to help at all.

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
3) Caucasian native speakers with blue eyes
4) Other Caucasians
5) Japanese of some sort
6) Africans
7) Arabs
last) Other Asians

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

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

I'm 6'1, blue-eyed and dark-blonde.. Guess I'm number 2 in line

[Russell]

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!

[Christoff]

Bring a healthy dose of anti depressants.

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

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.

I'm already working part-time at an elementary school. I basically take care of 1-4 graders after they are finished for the day. I make sure that they are OK until their parents come and pick them up after they are done working. This doesn't really involve academical skills, but you have to be really good with children. I could just keep my job until I leave, and use this workplace as a reference. Would that be sufficient?

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.

Her mother doesn't really seem like a typical Japanese woman in the sense that she would be disappointed if I didn't make it home for dinner a couple of times. But I will off course adjust my behavior to the Japanese family style as good as I can. I can easily stay away from alcohol and fun, as long as I have company(my girlfriend) and my lap top.

I know that I have to hit the ground running, and I definitely intend to. Not just because I should, but because I want to. I really enjoy privacy and living alone. The only person I would consider living together with long-term, is my girlfriend. No matter how awesome her family might be, I will long for my very own place. That's why there's no chance of me "slacking off".

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.

She lives a 30-40 minute commute from both Osaka and Kyoto. I can live with that until I find my own place.

EDIT:
Also, thanks for your long reply!

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

Bring a healthy dose of anti depressants.

You're talking to a guy who had to sleep with a knife under his pillow at the age of 17.. I'm practically immune to depression now:violin:

But duly noted!

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

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!

Thanks for the heads up!

[Mulboyne]

I'm already working part-time at an elementary school

I really meant you should put a priority on lining up a job in Japan before you go there, even if it means putting back your departure date.

You mention that other people you know have found work without too much difficulty. What kind of positions have they turned up?

You also mention you have a friend who could introduce you to a language school. Why don't you follow that up now to make it a firmer option? You could even see if they will sponsor a visa for you, which would give you more freedom again. It's not an ideal choice and you might have reservations about applying for a job on the basis you plan to leave it as soon as practically possible. I wouldn't be too comfortable doing that which is why I'd favour exhausting your options before flying.

Osaka Gas has some energy interests in Norway. Have you contacted them at all? Of course, you have more to offer the world than just being Norwegian but it is one of your Unique Selling Points. If there are any openings where being Norwegian will be an advantage, then you want to chase then down now.

It's reassuring to know that you've thought about this a good deal and aren't just acting on a whim. I'm sure also there's part of you that wouldn't mind leaving some things to chance just to see what the world turns up. However, you've got a relationship you want to be in and I'd recommend minimizing the risks where you can.

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

I will done with my final exams in the beginning/middle of June. Then it will take maybe 3 weeks before I get my "diploma". During this period I plan on working(to save money), while I'm looking for jobs in Japan online.

It's also worth mentioning that I can't stay at my girlfriend's place before the end of July, since she's not at home.

I will try to contact both my friend's company and Osaka Oil.

Thanks for the advice

[rooboy]

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.

Leave the lady Tegi alone. At least she's not an unproductive arsehole leeching off the J system like you are. How old are you? How long will it take you to fucking grow up? When you're just about to cark it from all the dioxinated/radiated fish you've shoved into your fat mouth?

To the OP - Asskissinger has it just about right. You just have to look at once famous English teaching job sites to see how far the industry has fallen and keeps falling. Even ohayosensei which once had the best fricking jobs in Japan is advertising again and again the same ol part time work and 'full time' (very full time, so much that you aint getting paid for some of the hours) jobs that keep being advertised cause the suckers that get em quit fairly soon.

ALT jobs aren't easy to get these days. It WILL be a problem trying to line up one esp if you are Norwegian. If you are, you don't qualify as a native speaker of English, bottom line. Those of us who've lived here for some time will get work, in my case putting together a no. of part time gigs. But you can't work in Japan like that first time around. You need a full time, sponsored job. Hope ya get one, good luck, but expect it to be tough.

[JLR]

Best of luck. Maybe there are jobs near areas affected by the disaster that most gaijin fled?

I dunno I just see it not being all that easy to show up here and think you will find work near your girlfriends house and no real teaching experience or being a native speaker.

I agree I would get a job lined up before getting here. Do a Skype interview if need be.

[Ghost]

What happened in the end?

[Coligny]

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...

[GomiGirl]

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...

You really should write childrens' books.