Want to work in Japan

[Anonymous]

Hello.
I am planning to visit Japan in the fall, but am also looking for a job there in the meantime. I am currently living in Boston, USA, but I am an australian citizen. My occupation is IT (computer programming), but my english is also decent, if english teaching is the only way in (though it isn't my preference). My japanese language level is pretty low though, only beginner/conversational at best (speaking and written).

Does anyone have any suggestions, tips, comments or things I should know or do to get a job in Japan? I have no preference on location.

Thanks. arigatougozaimasu.

Antony-san

[Jackie Treehorn]

Tip #1: If you really want to do it....just go and teach english in Tokyo or thereabouts.....its not that difficult. Either set yourself before hand (ECC, NOVA, AEON although it might be different as you are an Aussie in the US) or hop on a plane and look for a job that will provide a visa.

Tip #2: Don't refer to yourself as "san"....reserve that for others.

[Anonymous]

IT job in Japan? Long term ex residents can't find them, you won't either.

You need a degree for a visa to teach english. Have one?

[Glenski]

Antony,

Look at the ads for IT jobs on www.jobseekjapan.com and you'll see that near fluency (or complete fluency) in Japanese is required. If you are set on an IT job, you will have to learn the language.

Otherwise, the teaching advice the others have given is sound. A work visa requires a bachelor's degree. A working holiday visa doesn't, but it has its limitations.

[Anonymous]

Iam living in Sri lanka.Iam working in the Sri lanka telecom limited as Telecommunication Technical Officer(Special Grade).Iam45 years Old lady.
I have been to japan 03 times for Telecom trainings(NEC&Fujitsu).I Wish to have any Suitable job in Japan(I heve Diploma in Electrical &Telecommunication In English Medium)

[Anonymous]

> Tip #1: If you really want to do it....just go and teach english in Tokyo or thereabouts.....its
> not that difficult. Either set yourself before hand (ECC, NOVA, AEON although it might be
> different as you are an Aussie in the US)

Do you have any advice setting myself with ECC, NOVA AEON etc?

> or hop on a plane and look for a job that will provide a visa.

Do you mean going on a tourist visa and looking for a job while in the country that will allow me to change to a work visa? And by job I am assuming you are talking about an english teaching job.

Thanks.

Antony

[Anonymous]

iam man 32 year old iam looking for job as painter or builder in japanAntony-san wrote:

> > Tip #1: If you really want to do it....just go and teach
> english in Tokyo or thereabouts.....its
> > not that difficult. Either set yourself before hand (ECC,
> NOVA, AEON although it might be
> > different as you are an Aussie in the US)
>
> Do you have any advice setting myself with ECC, NOVA AEON etc?
>
> > or hop on a plane and look for a job that will provide a
> visa.
>
> Do you mean going on a tourist visa and looking for a job while
> in the country that will allow me to change to a work visa?
> And by job I am assuming you are talking about an english
> teaching job.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Antony

[Anonymous]

I applied to NOVA. I guess all you need is a degree. It doesn't specify whether you need an english degree or not. I have a non-english degree, and little experience teaching, but I applied anyway since there is a NOVA office here in Boston. So I guess we will see what happens...

Antony

[Anonymous]

Interview with NOVA, go over there with NOVA, and don't be surprised if you feel like jumping ship after you've been there for about 3 or 4 months.

Almost all of the NOVA teachers that I have known have quit after 6 months or so, very few see out their contracts. NOVA is decent enough about getting you over there, and setting you up, but the working conditions aren't so great. Since it's a corporate school, it's main concern is getting the students in, and getting their money. Quality of education, and the well-being of the teachers is secondary (at best). The NOVA system leads to some very peculiar and frustrating teaching experiences. (It does vary from school to school though, so there might be some NOVA schools that are alright to work at. . .)

Usually when you quit NOVA, you'll have been there long enough to realize what's good and bad about teaching in Japan, and be able to find a job that's more suited to your expectations. A lot of people go to INTERAC which is similar to the JET program.

AEON and GEOS have slightly better reputations. I've heard good things about ECC in some places.

Going over on the JET program is probably the best though, however, the application process is quite long and tedious, and with no guarantee that you'll get in. However, most of the JETS that I've met seem blissfully happy (a large percentage of them have also been idiots, which may be a prerequisite for getting into the program) - but there's no denying that the JETS have the best initial deal, good pay, nice housing (comparatively speaking), and lots of vacation time. . .

Anyway, just some advice from someone who's been there and done it all.

-fred

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I'm an Aussie working in Tokyo in IT.
The 1st hurdle is your VISA - get one.
The second hurdle is that you're a programmer. There's a serious glut of non-Japanese speaking, often Indian, DB & every other type of developer. And these are often guys who have qualifications galore and heaps of practle experience.
The third hurdle is inability to speak Japanese.
It's not impossible, or even rare, to get a job in IT without it, but if you have it, you will have a much better chance of getting a job if you ever don't have one, you will have your pick of jobs to go for, while you have one already(!) and they will be higher paid...if you are fluent or close to it.
Having said that. Get a vendor certification like MCP, MCSE or CCNA and the Cisco stream and your chances are greatly improved in getting a job which is modestly paid by IT standards here, but high compared to standard English teaching or unskilled Japanese positions especially.
Cheers,
Woomera69

[Anonymous]

hi iam jordanian looking for job in japan as painter and iam good painter and builder iam man 32 year old iam ready to travel there iam naw in

[Anonymous]

> I'm an Aussie working in Tokyo in IT.

Great! How did you get the job?

> The 1st hurdle is your VISA - get one.

How do I get one? Don't I have to be sponsored?

> The third hurdle is inability to speak Japanese.

Well I'm not completely without Japanese language skill. I do have some beginner to intermediate japanese. But no where near fluency.
Are you fluent?

Thanks

A

[Anonymous]

> Almost all of the NOVA teachers that I have known have quit after 6 months or so, very
> few see out their contracts. NOVA is decent enough about getting you over there, and

What happens when you quit, is your visa revoked? How can you quit if you are contract?

> The NOVA system leads to some very peculiar and frustrating teaching experiences.

Like what?


Thanks

A

[Anonymous]

Check some of the Visa threads. Heaps of good advice.
Both my visa and my job came about through friendships & people skills.
Cool, beats me and it will help, if not enough to get a job, then in the one you get.

[Anonymous]

You really mean that olde boys network from Australia don't you?

[Anonymous]

Oh, I forgot, Is your Mothers name Lucille? Your dad is Ricky?

[Anonymous]

> Both my visa and my job came about through friendships & people skills.

Struth, well let me know if your company needs any programmers with software/db/web skills :P

A

[Anonymous]

You are australian, thats a plus but you have no visa and they wont get you one. Plus you dont speak japanese they want that too.


Woomerbang: Can YOU speak Japanese? Read it?

[Anonymous]

Anthony,

from J Treehorn earlier in the thread:

>Tip #2: Don't refer to yourself as "san"....reserve that for others.

This means remove the "san" from your name (author's) in your postings... Let others address you as "Anthony-san" and NOT you referring to yourself as "the honorable Anthony", somethin' like that... Got it?

It's just annoying mate, that's all...

Peace.

[Anonymous]

> This means remove the "san" from your name (author's) in your postings... Let others
> address you as "Anthony-san" and NOT you referring to yourself as "the honorable
> Anthony", somethin' like that... Got it?

> It's just annoying mate, that's all...

Sorry. I just thought it meant "Mr", that's what it seems to say in all the learning materials.

A

[Glenski]

Antony,

If you quit your job, you don't lose your visa. It stays with you until it expires.

"San" after a person's name is an honorific. Yes, it can mean mister, but it is reserved for other people, not yourself.

[Anonymous]

Glenski, thanks for the heads-up. Interesting about the visa though.

A

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I live in London and I am thinking about going to work in Japan. I am married to a Japanese so I don't have any VISA problems, and I am studying Japanese at the moment, although my Japanese is VERY basic. I can't read or write Kanji.
I am a software engineer with about 9 years of experience in the field (C, C++, VB, c#, SQL Server, ASP, ASP.NET....), including project management.
I wonder how hard it would be for me to find a decently paid job in Japan, if I have any chances, and what's the best way to do it. I have been looking at a few job related websites, but I don't see many jobs on offer, 20-30 at best for the whole of Japan. Are there any better ways of finding a job for foreigners once you are in the country? Or is searching on the Internet the only way? What's the average pay for an IT job requiring my skills?

Thanks in advance!
Antonio