Between a rock and an Eikaiwa

[corblimey]

Came out to Japan recently to do a conference/course thing and thought 'Hey, why not look for a job out here while I'm at it?'. But I've been finding the J-job market really heavy going. I've been mostly looking for translation gigs, I speak good Japanese, have degree and experience, some specialist areas... But each time I get letters saying, 'Oh, we would've hired you, but you don't have a visa, so bye bye!'

Is it worth holding out for a translation job or should I give in and start applying for eikaiwa jobs (done it before, hated it)?

I figure the worst that happens is no one hires me and I get back on the plane in 3 months, but I still feel it's worth a little bit of effort since the shittiest engrish job is a billion times better than the best job going in the UK atm.

[Yokohammer]

If you don't have a proper visa (i.e. a work visa, a spouse visa, or permanent residence, etc. ... NOT a tourist visa) you'll have a helluva time getting any kind of job. And companies are not likely to want to take the risk of sponsoring someone who just walks in off the street with a temporary visa. You might get lucky, but given that the job market is crap at the moment I kind of doubt it.

[sublight]

On the other hand, the fact that you're here puts you ahead of people applying from overseas, like I did (granted, that was 15 years ago. Are there any of those even left?).

I'll be honest: I have no idea what the job market is like. That said, I'd say keep at the translation companies, but maybe also get in touch with some eikaiwas just for insurance. It doesn't hurt to get in touch with as many companies as possible, and if you end up going the eikaiwa route, you can always call up the translation companies again after teaching for a while.

[Taka-Okami]

Great, another noob who thinks just because they are gaijin and speak a little bit of Japanese they can just waltz into a job.

Go back to school and get a real career.

[Iraira]

Unless the translation company is hiring in house translators, they pretty much won't give you a VISA.

[corblimey]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Great, another noob who thinks just because they are gaijin and speak a little bit of Japanese they can just waltz into a job.

Go back to school and get a real career.

Well luckily for me apparently Japan disagrees with you and I'm just an impatient fucker. Sorry sassy batman.

Unless the translation company is hiring in house translators, they pretty much won't give you a VISA.

Well they are all in-house jobs obviously, but the companies/staff don't seem to have hired foreign people not on spouse visas before or worked abroad themselves and always get kind of suprised about how strict JP immigration can be in some regards. Like because I'm the 'good' kind of foreigner immigration will immediately give me a stamp saying I can do whatever I like in Japan.

[IparryU]

...Like because I'm the 'good' kind of foreigner immigration will immediately give me a stamp saying I can do whatever I like in Japan.

A good kind of long colon, buta kusai gaijin? WTF is that.

All gaijin are bad.

Take chan will be the judge of that.

[Taro Toporific]

.... companies/staff don't seem to have hired foreign people not on spouse visas before or worked abroad themselves

Hitachi and most Japan companies follow this wise policy---Only an insane companies and eikaiwa slimeballs would sponsor no0bs without tremendous specific proven skills and multiple degrees.

....because I'm the 'good' kind of foreigner immigration will immediately give me a stamp saying I can do whatever I like in Japan.

Maybe... depending on the phase of the moon, sunspot activity, the price of beans in Bolivia and how many herpes cankers are visible on your grandmother's pussy.

Japan does NOT have any laws that are uniformly enforced. Everything is case-by-case.


Please use smilies when writing irony poorly.

[Taka-Okami]

Thanks for the advice guys.



Well luckily for me apparently Japan disagrees with you and I'm just an impatient fucker. Sorry sassy batman.



Well they are all in-house jobs obviously, but the companies/staff don't seem to have hired foreign people not on spouse visas before or worked abroad themselves and always get kind of suprised about how strict JP immigration can be in some regards. Like because I'm the 'good' kind of foreigner immigration will immediately give me a stamp saying I can do whatever I like in Japan.

ROFL.

Judging from your comments you clearly are a noob and way out of your depth.

The best thing for you to do is run off home and go get a real career.

Someone like me who speaks Japanese, has 2 degrees and current experience in project engineering (mechanical) jobs worth $100's of millions would have a far greater chance of landing a decent job there then you do or ever will most likely.

[Iraira]

Well they are all in-house jobs obviously, but the companies/staff don't seem to have hired foreign people not on spouse visas before or worked abroad themselves and always get kind of suprised about how strict JP immigration can be in some regards. Like because I'm the 'good' kind of foreigner immigration will immediately give me a stamp saying I can do whatever I like in Japan.

Ok, at the risk of actually not ending this thread, I'll bite. What field of study are you an expert in? That will generally determine what kind of translation job you can get.

[corblimey]

Ok, at the risk of actually not ending this thread, I'll bite. What field of study are you an expert in? That will generally determine what kind of translation job you can get.

I don't want to say, for reasons that are probably obvious, but at anyrate I got offered a job, which is what I was trying to say in my second post. So I guess this thread is kind of moot after all

[TheNYCSobaIncident]

Best of luck with the new job.

[uwabaki]

+1 for the job market sucking right now.

I currently have a job offer with Aeon. And TBH, fuck that. Didn't study for six years to stand around in a lobby talking english and telling students to buy shit they don't need.

I'm in Japan doing the same thing as you; looking for a job (a REAL JOB) most places have started turning away anyone on a tourist visa. Shits not cool man.

[rooboy]

I don't want to say, for reasons that are probably obvious, but at anyrate I got offered a job, which is what I was trying to say in my second post. So I guess this thread is kind of moot after all

How the fuck didya get a job thats not eikaiwa so quickly? How about telling us.