Alright...

[Mr. Hai]

So I used to post here quite a bit... "Otaku Supreme" was the handle. Always wanted to live in Tokyo or Osaka, and I'm graduating tomorrow with no job. So I'm thinking... English?

What I remember from my previous dalliances on these forums is as follows: JET is a gravy train, most awesome, but it's hard to get in. It helps to know people who know people, as it's hard to get into, and they prefer greens out of college. NOVA is cheap and used by many, but is crappy and makes you stay with other gaijins. Eikawa leads to the dark side of Gaijins hanging with Gaijins and never assimilating or learning any of Japanese culture, and for that is detrimental to the image Japanese have of foreigners in general.

What's the best way to do this? I used to be friends with the daughter of some very political Japanese-Americans, so I think I could probably rekindle that if I needed a good word put in for the JET program. On the other hand, my objectivist/capitalist leanings leave no moral qualms about supplementing an eikawa income with side-jobs, and I'm told if you do that you can make off quite well.

What do you guys think?

[Samurai_Jerk]

dude, stay home.

[Charles]

I have set up a convenient web site that contains everything you need to know about your planned emigration to Japan.

[Mels]

I suppose my question is why go teach english at all?
I know some friends that did this, but it really doesnt help in a career...well depending on what you plan to do. If teaching is your career, then yeah, maybe that may be a good start. But dude, you graduated from college, what was your concentration?

Have you looked into working for a company that will take you to Japan? That is more my mind set. I had no desire to teach english in Japan, but then again I lived there for so long and I taugh english while I was in HS there.

I suppose if you can't get to Japan through a company (expat) then teaching english may be the best bet. Just think of it this way: what will help with your future? If this time in Japan helps, then great. But I also know friends who ended up losing that time because companies looked at the teaching as no experience what so ever.

I suppose what I am sharing is: decide what you want for your future. and then re-engineer those plans to understand what flexible plan you can come up with...if teaching english can be included, great, if not, look at other ways to get to Japan.

When I accepted the position with a Japan Corp, that was the best choice I made for my future.

Good luck and how exciting for you. Even though you may not have a job, investigate whether or not the english teaching thing will help or hurt your future plans. OR if you are doing this just to take some time off, then great.

[Blah Pete]

On your resume teaching English will look s impressive as being a pool lifeguard for the summer.
If you are serious about teaching then get credentials and apply for a job at a university.

[Maths Dude]

Yeah, I wasted 5 years of my life teaching in Japan - big mistake. When I came back I had to do a second degree (gonna gradute next semester) just so I can get the door open again to a proper career. With my first degree, I graduated during a downturn in the economy and couldnt get work in my field for a year so I went to Japan and got stuck. My advice is - don't go unless you are doing a real job - in your field.

[AssKissinger]

Apply to JET, is my advice.

Japan's a fucking trap though. Don't say I didn't warn you.

PS Your sig seems a little trollish...

[kamome]

I don't think the JET program is as hard to get into as you believe. I have interviewed candidates for the JET program and was a participant myself, and I understand the acceptance rate is around 50% or so. You definitely don't need political connections to get in. Just a brain, a personality, some maturity, and a BA will give you better than average chances.

But I agree with everyone else who questions the impressiveness of eikaiwa on a resume. Don't just bail out to work in Japan, because it will be hard to get back to your home country and start a new career.

[Maths Dude]

Big fat fuckin Amen to that!

[AssKissinger]

Geez, it's like everyone is 100% against coming to Japan. Just out of college it's not that bad. I think as long as you're still in your 20's some time overseas looks pretty good on a resume. The trick is to not stay longer than three years.

You can come on JET (or even eikaiwa), pay down your student loans. Learn a language if you got the dedication. Definitely get some time with some Asian hotties. Live overseas (Hell, a lot of people pay for the experience). And you can easily end up with enough change to toss in a nice trip around Asia. The key is knowing when to call it quits. From the get go, organize your exit plan. Japan is still a good gig if you do it right.

[Maths Dude]

Look at it like this AK. If your fresh outta college with NO experience in the field and then you come back 3 yeras later, you have 0 chance of competeing with fresh graduates for the same 'graduate job'. Better to get 3 to 4 years exp in your field AND THEN go to Japan. Come back and youll have the previous exp up your sleeve.

[Taro Toporific]

1 year in Japan = nice vacation from adulthood

2 years in Japan = resume hole

3+ years in Japan = black hole

[Maths Dude]

Holy shit, if 3 years is a blackhole, what is 5 years!

[Maths Dude]

On the other hand I guess I'm not as bad as those who just slaved for Nova. I started up a school with another dude. SO I guess I have some 'business' exp. i.e organising ads, materials, staff, planning moves or what ever. Still wish I didnt stay so long.

[dimwit]

All I know is that 11 years in permanently unemployable.