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Anonymous
2001-04-14, 03:39 AM
I have a degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University, Washington, DC (1993). I studied 3 years worth of Japanese at nearby Georgetown University and did quite well. However, I did not go into my degree field, nor use my Japanese language skills to keep them sharp.

I do have good experience using computers, e.g. MS Word and PowerPoint. I have very good analytical skills, have had to create courses and booklets for my employer, and currently, I design security and safety systems for academic, residential, parking and mixed use facilities (though it is not what I would choose to do for the rest of my life). Last, I have also run political campaigns and created web-based and hard copy political materials. Would I be any good in Japan?

The questions confronting me now are:
1 - Are Japanese organizations or companies looking for non-native employees?
2 - Are international organizations or companies with sites in Japan looking for, e.g. US citizens, employees?
3 - Based on the current economic climate in Japan...how has that or has it, affected #1 and 2?

While I do enjoy, for example, teaching (I am not a teacher by profession), I am at an age in my life where my focus must be on earning an income, rather than simply just the experience of living in Japan.

I have Japanese friends here in the States and actually, I would like to marry a Japanese woman and live either there or here. But that is another topic (ha, ha).

Thank you in advance for any and all assistance.

Sincerely,
Gregory B. Scoma
<gregarious4u@yahoo.com>

eric
2001-05-01, 01:29 PM
In my opinion you should have some certified computer skills, if you want to do almost anything besides teaching, but if your Japanese is semi-fluent to fluent your options increase exponentially. So the key is your Japanese, not your formal education, or political background. Most teachers (English) here have never taught a day in there lives before coming here so that is not a worry.
Eric