Goin to japan next month. help me!

[Anonymous]

I am moving to the Yokohama area next month from London. dont speak any japanese, have no teaching experience and no degree ( only got HND), but i do have a working holiday visa. Any one got any tips on how & where to find work? im willing to give teaching a try, although ive read a few conflicting reports, just how easy/difficult/nightmarish is it and how much could i reasonably expect to earn?

any advice ?

[Glenski]

This sounds like an enormously unprepared person! Only one month to go, and you're not even sure what kind of work you want? Don't even know where to look for it?

Here's my advice.
Learn some Japanese. Any Japanese will do. Just learn it, even if you have to carry a phrase book all the time.

Look in www.___________.com on the 1st and 16th of the month for info on job openings. When you get to Japan, read the Monday edition of The Japan Times for the classified ads.

Bring your resume and original copies of your diploma. Don't expect a great job with no degree.

Learn all you can about teaching ESL/EFL. This will be an enormous challenge in the short time you've allotted yourself, but teaching is probably your best bet at finding work in Japan, so you might as well TRY to be prepared. Yes, I know some places offer training for teachers upon hiring them, but at least brush up on some grammar, if not learn something about teaching it.

Read about Japan. I have a feeling you're going to come here and be seriously disappointed and disgruntled.

[Anonymous]

oh, i forgot to say ive got no money either.

[trip_hop]

If you really have no money, better postpone your trip and save some money, as you will not enjoy yourself much, you will not be able to put down a deposit on somewhere to live, or survive until you get a paycheck.

Also start looking at this forum on work opportunities and the references to other sites that carry job offers, and learn a bit more about the place you propose to stay for a year in.

You'll need US$5,000 to basically see you through for a couple of months, and enable you to "live", whilst traveling and getting interviews for jobs. Do not expect to borrow money here, and if you are thinking of running up debts on your credit cards, many places do not take them, and not all cards work here, or there is a delay while they phone to check up on you.

But it's your decision.

[Anonymous]

its not all doom & gloom guys. allthough there is a chance that i may be slightly unprepared, i am lucky enough to have a japanese girlfriend with a house in Yokohama. i just need to earn some money by any means necessary.

[trip_hop]

Still, try to go with some money to retain your dignity and independence, and so you do not have to "bum" off her, or depend on her too much.

Trip Hop (Ms.)

[harvey]

You could always sell rings or something on the street. Tons of foreigners do that, and they're really nice, and seem happy anyway... and they seem to survive.
Ask them how to get hooked up with a suitcase full of gear.

-harvey
http://www.japannewbie.com

[Anonymous]

last time i got "hooked up with a suitcase of gear" i ended up in Bangkok prison.

[Anonymous]

only jokin.............i should have a couple of hundred £ or thereabouts. and if i try & "bum" off my girlfriend too much she'll probably resort to violence.What about barwork? i' heard that a lot of english schools will take people with no degree if they've got a working holiday visa, true?

[trip_hop]

There are some references on other threads to sites that specialise in English teaching jobs, check them out first. Should be possible, according to what others have written, but not my area.

[Anonymous]

"if i try & "bum" off my girlfriend too much she'll probably resort to violence?" Yea I'll kill ya! Hah!
What do you all do over there TH, Harvey & Glenski? I hope King Kong'll get a teaching job in or around Yokohama.

[trip_hop]

Catnap - that would indeed be good.

[Anonymous]

Well King Kong, believe you me, I have a UK degree and a Masters in Law too, I won a string of various prizes at university and at the UK Bar, still have found no job yet. So do not get put down by the fact that you do not have a degree. True it is that my field is probably more specialised than yours but sometimes, just knowing someone in a prospective recruiting company or preparing yourself for possible interviews well before your arrival here (which I have not done, most unfortunately) is very important. But most of all, I will reiterate Glenski's advice: you need to know some minimal japanese or else you will be in deep s**t (like me right now). I wish you the best of luck in your prospective more,

All the best,

Ericsan.

[Anonymous]

Why is it you must come to Japan for your girlfriend ?? Why not stay in England and build a life and earn some money and learn some Japanese and get a degree and and and and and and ........................why is is so imperative to come here so soon to bum with this girl and maybe her family, it will not last long.............why ???? You have really no chance here......I had the same story as Ericsan, I am very qualified I feel but my limited Japanese ability really handicapped me. So my wife and I bounce back and forth between here and the U.S. Pacific Northwest while I work in the States off and on for Industrial/Commercial developers (I am an economic analyst by training) to make money and experience, then return to Japan. We are leaving for Portland soon. So why would you want to risk destroying your life to bum in Yokohama, even for this girlfriend.....she is much happier if you just make a life......anywhere !!!!! Soon it will wear thin after the first 5 or 6 months of unemployment...........she will start losing faith !!! I know this !!

[Anonymous]

"bum with this girl and her family"????? there is a disturbing theme emerging in this post.

[tony]

I do not think that you will have to worry yourself too much....
the main thing is that you have got your working holiday visa.....
there are plenty of jobs out there (Japan times on Monday and gaijinpot.com.....etc....).....
I came over with hardly any money like yourself from the UK during the summer for 8 weeks during university holidays and I have not graduated yet....but with two weeks searching for jobs, i got one....but it was very hard work and it cost a lot of money due to phone bills....
And also the time of yr that you are comin over is great for finding a job...because all the kids are starting school....and they need teacher to teach them...

good luck

[Anonymous]

I guess it is only bumming if the job search fails.....I think maybe there needs to be some time limit (besides the one given by his visa) on how long he should be able to remain....while not working. And may I ask......if you fail to get employment, will you have money and a home to return to in England ??? I am sorry if my earlier post seemed so negative....seriously. Just I have had a hard time in my own experiences maybe ;)

[Anonymous]

Dear Ericsan
I thought a degree in anything would
do. Does a person need a degree in
English to teach english?
If so perhaps that is why I am still in China.
GP

[Anonymous]

This is the most ridiculous story. Stay at home and earn some money before coming here. Learn some Japanese so you can actually communicate with people. Learn how to read Japanese. (at least hiragana and katakana) Get some study books and bring them with you. Your Japanese girlfriend will probably grow very tired of you and send you packing. You sound like a sponge!!!!! Japanese people can be extremely generous but to think you are coming over as a freeloader makes me sick.

If you do come here with no degree sure you can find a job. Your job won't be secure and your employer will take advantage of this. Because you don't have a degree your pay will be lower than those with degrees. Remember Japan is very expensive!!!!!!

Get your degree!!! If you are still with your girlfriend then come over. Infatuation fades very quickly!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Ah, another piece of pseudo-godlike wisdom from commonsense. "infatuation fades fast!!!!" which hollywood blockbuster did you get that from? Who are you to judge people that you have never met and will never meet. "YOU MAKE ME SICK". why do you even care you sanctimonious freak. you sit behind your computer screen just waiting for a chance to vent your sexist, patronising @!#$ on to people who dont want to hear it. it s probably your only contact with the real world. God help anyone who ever ends up married to you. Who are you to call somone a sponge and a freeloader whilst hiding behind a computer screen. GET A F**KIN LIFE YOU SAD C**T.

[Anonymous]

when things don't work out, I really suggest you don't burn any bridges back in your home countries. it is a real boost to your chances of remaining here if you have some opportunities to gain experience and income back in your home country. Like I said back in my previous post, my family and I are heading back to the Pacific Northwest U.S. for awhile (so beautiful there !) and then reload and come back. I hope you can do this, and it may be a big difference.

[Anonymous]

King Kong, I remember you from the Japanese movies from the 1960s!
Have you lost any weight?

[Anonymous]

cws - back already? wastingyourgoodlifeonthisforum? laughing at the misguided hacks? pulling chains and rattling cages? you really are an economic analist


ps swanning about
where do I put my sweet money for the chardonnay?

[Anonymous]

dont worry your wittle self, you can have your wittle friends and wittle forum now, dont cry. I am weaving soon wittle one, dont worry your wittle self and get your panties in a knot. here are some toys and your wittle friends can pway. bye bye

[Anonymous]

The comments you see on this forum tell you about the people you will work with at the language schools. Think seriously about it. I didn't mean to come off sounding high and mighty. I have just seen too many relationships go sour after a few years. I have met many Japanese women as well as men who have married foreigners. Some of them are happy but there are more that are unhappy. You start the relationship off very well because it is on your turf, you speak the language, and you have your friends and family around. Things really change once you are in a new country.

You sound like you are very young. You truly need a degree and it doesn't matter what country you live in. Go to school and work on getting your degree. Come over for a vacation to see the country first hand. Your chances of landing a good job increase with your degree. Use this time to learn the language as well. Once you understand the language you will have a wonderful time here. Japanese people are truly warm and caring people. They are very happy when you respect them and their customs.

Please think carefully before you leap.

[wasabi]

It seems like some people on this forum do not know what a Working Holiday visa is or what the objective of the program is. It is designed for young people, from several different western and Asian countries (except for the US) to come to Japan and work part time while travelling around. I am sure some people may come here and never leave Tokyo, but most people I know who participate in the program generally spend a year working a bit while having a holiday. Working, travelling and studying the language, and usually have the best time of their life!

There are resource centres in major cities that specifically help people on working holidays to find work. The advantage that people have with a working holiday visa, over most foreigners that come here is that they can (legally) do any work. For example working in a bar, restaurant or ski resort. My suggestion is to do anything but teach English, as it will do nothing to help you learn Japanese.

It is a fantastic opportunity to do this before you begin university or while you are at university. If you do some research and study Japanese hard you may also be able to get credit towards a degree, if you enrol in university before you arrive. I had the same experience the first time I cam to Japan, not much money, no Japanese skills but sometimes you just have to take the plunge! I am sure you will have a great time.

[Anonymous]

You could try working in a bar or restaurant, or signing up with a talent agency to do modeling etc.