Questions & Special Topics |
Qualifications & Requirements for the Job
I don't have a bachelor's degree. Can I still get a job?
Well, it's possible, but not nearly as likely. Canadians and citizens of
other countries with working holiday visa arrangements with Japan can get
work on that visa regardless of their degree status. Spousal visas (spouses
of either Japanese nationals or of U.S. military personnel stationed in
Japan) can also get work without a degree (I don't think this applies to
spouses of non-Japanese with working visas). However, keep in mind that
most companies ask you have a diploma anyway.
Many different people are telling me different things. My girlfriend
and I are planning to fly to Japan next fall in the hopes of landing a teaching
job. Neither one of us has a university degree but we are both enrolled
in a BA program at the University of Ottawa. In your opinion what would
be are chances of finding employment without a BA.
Find out if you can get a working holiday visa, if you are Canadian citizens.
I'm not sure if it requires a B.A. or not; if not, then your chances are
greatly improved. With that visa, you can fly over and apply for jobs direct;
if you are good, congenial teachers with native English accents, your chances
are good. Check with the Japanese embassy or consulate nearest you for visa
details.
Assuming that I have a little accent, how big of a problem would that
be?
Despite what is already written on this site, many people still email me
on this topic. The answer is, the more accent you have, the harder it will
be to find a job. Again, North American and British are most accepted, Aussie
and Irish fine at most schools. If you speak English as a second language
and have any accent, your chances go down. If you come from a country like
India or Ethiopia where English is an official language but not the only
one, chances of getting a job are very low unless you can do a very convincing
American/British accent.
I am sort of disappointed that the people who interview you are not looking
for teachers that have professional knowledge of the English language itself.
All they are looking for are people with American accents even though they
have no idea of what the English Language is about.
To make a long story short, I was interviewed by a group called AEON and
went from Boston all the way down to New York for the interview; they gave
all sorts of stupid reasons ("suggestions") as to what I should
work on in order to get the job. But an "American" friend of mine
with no experience in teaching ESL whatsoever got the job in a matter of
seconds.
That can happen.
Could you tell me if my chances of getting a good job in Japan is more
or less likely if I am a Japanese citizen? if I am an U.S. citizen? Does
it matter?
As long as you are a native English speaker with a North American or British/Australian
accent, it shouldn't matter too much. If you are of Japanese descent, speak
Japanese fluently, and act Japanese, this may hurt your chances; a lot depends
on perception.
Is it possible to get work with no teaching experience? If so, how does
one fill out that part of the resume?
Yes, it's possible. You should point out your gregarious personality, enthusiasm
for teaching, interest in Japan and its people, and any jobs you have held
that might have any kind of crossover skills.
I have been told by NOVA that I will not be able to get a visa until
I convocate--in other words, until I have my degree in hand. I phoned the
Japanese consulate and was told by someone there, in a very hesitant voice,
that not having a degree in hand shouldn't be a problem.
This can sometimes depend entirely on which immigration officer you happen
to get served by; NOVA and the consulate official were probably just trying
to play it safe. If you have received the actual diploma, bring the original
with you to Japan. If your university has not delivered it to you yet, then
before you leave for Japan, get them to issue you a formal letter with the
seal of the university (embossed on the letter is best) stating that you
do in fact have the degree. Some schools may still be skittish, and there
is no guarantee immigration will accept it--but I've never heard of it not
working.
Is it easier to get a job if you have a Japanese girlfriend, or maybe
even a Japanese wife? Do you think it looks good to the employer?
A Japanese girlfriend or boyfriend will make no difference for job prospects;
your employer will not mind, unless you start dating students or do something
odd to the detriment of the school's reputation.
A Japanese spouse will help greatly, as you can get a spousal visa and would
no longer need sponsorship; it also allows you to get any kind of work you
would like.
How difficult is it for unmarried couples to find work in the same location/school
etc.?
Most schools will be OK with it, but a few may not want to hire couples
(married or otherwise) or siblings. Ask at the interview. The biggest problem
you will probably deal with is finding a place that has two job openings
within a reasonable amount of time, and will hire both of you.
By the way, I intend to move to Japan permanently, is that considered
a plus by Japanese language schools?
Not really. Few schools, if any, will want to hire you for life, or even
more than a few years.
I'm Unsure of What To Do...
So what should I do? Try to get a job from here, or just jump on a plane
and go to Japan?
Again, I am constantly asked this question, despite what I explain in the
site proper. I guess people just want someone else to make the decision
for them. Fact is, you have to be the judge. I really can't say more on
that than I've already said here.
I am a high school social studies teacher who should be completed with
a bilingual/ESL endorsement this summer. I am very interested in teaching
in Japan, but I am having a hard time getting information about schools
or language institutes. I am especially worried about schools or language
institutes that bring over foreign teachers with promises in contracts and
housing and do not fulfill these. Ideally, I would like to try to secure
a teaching job before I leave the U.S., and also not have to travel all
over the country to have interviews for jobs in Japan (traveling to San
Francisco a few times for interviews could be a little costly).
Applying for work in Japan from overseas is always a bit risky, unless you
know people who worked at that particular school before; there's little
that can be done about this. What I do is use a search engine on the Internet,
searching for documents that contain the name of the school I'm interested
in; sometimes I'll hit a resume and can email the person and ask them what
they think.
You might also want to try the annual TESOL convention; they often have
representatives from schools from around the world interviewing for jobs.
I want to teach English or French in japan, but I'm not American. are
there some program like JET in Europe, or can you go with JET even if you're
not American?
JET takes applicants from all over the world, but a majority of them come
from countries where English is the only native language, i.e. Australia,
Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S. Almost all ALTs (Assistant
Language Teachers) come from these countries. Only a handful come from other
countries. Most JET participants from other countries are hired as either
"coordinators," who mostly do translation and liaison work, or
as "sports exchange advisors," primarily highly skilled sports
people. Check with your closest Japanese embassy or consulate for more information.
I am broke and searching for a school which can provide airfare and housing.
Try JET. It is the best option I know of.
The company I applied to said they require a $200.00 deposit upon acceptance
which is supposedly returned to you in yen during training in Japan. Does
this sound normal to you?
Whenever you see something unusual like this in your contract or as a general
provision of employment, watch out. Most of the time it's innocent--but
not always. When in doubt, ask--and make your own judgments.
Is teaching English the best form of part-time work available in your
opinion?
In my opinion, yes. A translator would probably disagree.
Would you recommend showing up in Japan over going through the companies
that have recruiting office in the U.S.? Would it be faster? Would you get
a better deal? Would they not take time to review your cv/resume?
Applying from the U.S. means fewer options and will take longer, but the
school (or JET) will be more likely to set things up for you. If you are
qualified and go to Japan to look for work, you might be able to get a job
within a few weeks. Keep in mind that some of those organizations that recruit
from overseas may not give you a choice as to where you will work.
Getting a Job
I'd like to work just through the summer, or just for 6 months.
Well, here's where we get into a difficult area. It's rare to get work-visa
sponsorship for less than a year, so unless you've got a working-holiday
or other visa, you'd have to work on your tourist visa, which is illegal;
I cannot recommend it. Also, most schools hiring full-time look for at least
1-year commitments. Some people agree to that, then just quit after three
months; this is not something you'd be arrested for, but is really unkind
to the school. Please keep whatever agreements you make (unless emergencies
or irreconcilable differences force you to do otherwise). All that said,
some schools may hire for temporary part-time positions; you'd have to talk
to them about visa arrangements, though.
Is it possible for a friend who has an AA degree from a junior college
to spend the summer in Japan teaching?
This is not a promising situation for two reasons. First, not many schools
will want to hire you for just the summer. Second, you'll need a visa that
allows you to work, and few schools that want to hire people for a few months
in summer will sponsor you for an actual work visa. However, if you have
a working holiday visa or spousal visa, your chances increase dramatically;
you might even want to get several part-time jobs. The problem, of course,
is getting one of these visas; if you aren't married to a Japanese or aren't
a citizen of a country that has a working-holiday agreement with Japan,
your chances of legally finding such work are very small indeed.
How can I determine if a school / company is legitimate?
The best way I can think of is to ask teachers who work there. You might
not be able to find this out all the time, though.
What are my chances of finding a job in a small to mid-sized city?
Fairly good if you join JET, but you go wherever they send you there. Very
good if you look in the Japan Times and are selective on that criteria.
Also, I must admit I'm a bit of a romantic...are there places outside
the urban sprawl of Tokyo, where the weather is fine and the scenery is
picturesque where one might find a teaching placement?
Of course. There are fewer schools out there, but also fewer teachers willing
to work out there. Some schools in the countryside have to work harder to
find people willing to go. I got my first job because of that.
I'm thinking of coming to Japan to teach, probably through a big company
like GEOS or Jet. My questions: What area would you recommend for a "newbie"?
Somewhere like Tokyo, because of its massive size? I love mountains and
water, does that help? Overall, I would think that the cost of living would
be lower in a small town, or am I wrong?
Well, first, JET is not a company, but a government program; that's picking
nits, though. As for where to start out as a newbie, that depends on what
you want. The countryside can be more refreshing and things cost less, but
with few English-language resources and the fact that you stick out more,
some people feel less comfortable there.
Can I sponsor myself for a work visa?
Strangely enough, I hear it's possible. I have to look into this more to
be sure though. You might have to call the immigration office in Japan itself
for a conclusive answer. If it is possible, you probably have to have lived
in Japan for several years, and probably would have to be able to demonstrate
financial independence for it.
Working In and Out of School
Do the Japanese schools give you some training in how to teach, or where
to start, or what workbooks, etc. to use? How extensive is their training
and for how long?
This differs from school to school. Some schools will throw you right in;
others will give you as much as a full week of training.
Could you give me some more info on what I'll have to wear while teaching?
I think it's a given that I should wear a suit when applying for a job,
but once I have it can I get away with dress pants, a shirt and tie, and
a blazer? I guess what I'm asking is how strict is the "dress code?"
If I could get away with wearing a non-white collared shirt, a blazer and
some cords, it would save me a lot of money.
The more conservative schools will require male teachers to wear dress shoes,
slacks, a dress shirt and tie minimum; a blazer would also be acceptable.
Female teachers should wear at most a conservative dress and shoes (pumps
not necessary) and stockings; slacks and a blouse are also OK. I have not
heard of many schools that require you to wear the same kind of outfit for
teaching as you would wear during a job interview. Some schools allow less
formal wear, even blue jeans and sneakers sometimes.
I'd like some information on how schools treat their staff.
Me too, but people just ask me for information, and rarely offer it. You
can check out pages like the NOVA Union of Teachers page for the dark side
of teaching (remember it's biased!), but other than that, you gotta ask
people who work there.
I'm a pragmatist so I would like to know if there are ways to make extra
money (tutoring, editing, etc...translation is out).
Sure. You just have to look for it.
What are the chances of getting work teaching privately?
There are quite a few opportunities for this, but you have to get out and
look for them. I would recommend starting with a full-time job for a year,
picking up private jobs as you go. After the year is over, you will be more
able to support yourself with these jobs.
I have a Canadian bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA. I was thinking
of going overseas for a change. I've heard from some people that on top
of your contract, you can also teach on the side, giving your own private
lessons. is this true? If so, how much would you charge the average Japanese
student for this service?
Almost no employers will try to restrict you from outside work so long as
it does not conflict with or otherwise interfere with your primary job.
One job I had required me to get permission before doing outside work--the
contract specifically said that all income from any work I did would go
directly to the school, on the rationale that they were sponsoring my visa.
Once, they gave me permission to do some lucrative outside work, about $500
for 14 hours of work--and then they kept the money. If you want to do any
outside work, be cautious of any school that puts contractual restrictions
on it.
How much you charge depends on the specific situation, especially on factors
like class size, preparation time and your own experience and credentials.
You have to work out the details for each class. Personally, I would not
work for less than 2,000 yen an hour for a single-student class.
What are the chances of getting caught teaching without a visa?
I really can't say. I've never heard of anyone teaching English being caught
working without a visa, but then I didn't know anyone who was doing that.
You takes your chances.
What are the consequences of not obtaining a working visa?
I imagine you'd get deported and not allowed back in.
How well are women university instructors received in Japan?
Good question. I'll add that to the list when I find out.
Living in Japan
Realistically, how difficult will it be to survive in Japan without being
able to speak Japanese?
A bit difficult, but not impossible. Very difficult if you depend on social
contact a lot. Take it as a great opportunity to start studying the language.
How much do you suppose I could expect to pay in rent for a 2 room (6
tatami each) house with kitchen and toilet/bath for outside the Tokyo area?
Depends on where you are outside the Tokyo area, and what kind of apartment
you get. I really don't know the low end on this. In Tokyo, such an apartment
would probably go for about 100,000 yen a month.
One key question: Is it prohibitive to take two children, ages 11 and
15, overseas in this capacity?
It can be, even with younger children--you just get different problems depending
on how old they are. Schools which teach classes in English can be expensive
and hard to find outside big cities, and there's no telling how your kids
will adapt to life in Japan; they may love it or hate it. I don't know how
employers would react to applicants with children.
How would a male teacher of 5'10 feet tall, blonde hair, blue eyes, and
very white skin be perceived by the Japanese? Some non-Japanese have told
me I would stick out so much I would be shied away from and may even seem
intimidating.
You will stick out, but usually just children will shy away. In big cities
or major tourist resorts, most people will not take any special notice.
In the countryside, you can expect stares and pointing. Most Japanese in
any location will become nervous when you try to speak to them, however;
speaking in Japanese will not always do away with that nervousness.
While in Japan did you maintain a bank account check/credit with a Japanese
bank? How difficult was it to work with?
Getting an account on your own as a foreigner in Japan may be troublesome
at a few banks, but most banks will give you no trouble. You might not have
to deal with finding a bank on your own, though; most schools will tell
you which bank you should use because they pay your salary directly into
your bank account. They will therefore have the system set up with a specific
bank, which will accept foreign customers.
Credit cards are another story, however. A bank account means you put money
in, and can't take out more than you have: a safe risk. In Japan, credit
cards are not handed out like candy like they are in the U.S. You'll probably
be better off getting a VISA or American Express card back home before you
go. After you've maintained a healthy bank account in your Japanese bank
for a year or two, you may find the bank offering you a card without your
asking--that's what happened to me at one bank.
Checking accounts do not exist in Japan; checks are only used in special
circumstances, and usually just by companies. In Japan, it's cash or credit.
As for how hard it is to do banking in Japan, it's not that bad. You may
have to learn some of the Japanese words and kanji characters involved,
and you might need help from someone from your school to set things up or
deal with difficulties; few banks have service people who can speak English.
Some banks in Japan will offer English-language pamphlets, or even an option
for English menus and readouts on ATM machines.
What are income taxes like in Japan?
When you work at a regular salaried job, you get your taxes withheld each
month, and the company does the tax figuring for you; no filing is necessary,
but some claim doing so will get you a greater refund than if you leave
it to your company alone . If you work part-time, you must fill out the
forms at the end of the year (they will assist you at the tax office if
you ask).
Federal Income Tax
The rates are still a bit unclear to me, but I was able to figure out by
looking at my pay slips from 1995 that there is a sliding scale for income
tax; the more you make in a given month, the more you're taxed. As far as
I can tell, the basic rates are roughly:
| 250,000 yen |
5.3% |
| 300,000 yen |
5.6% |
| 350,000 yen |
5.8% |
| 400,000 yen |
6.1% |
This is what you're charged by the month; twice a year (usually around July
and December), however, you get a reimbursement, most likely a refund for
overpayment (tax agencies everywhere usually like to take more than they
need to on a monthly basis, just in case). After these refunds, my tax rate
was under 5%.
"City" Tax
You also get taxed locally; this is called "City" Tax, but it
originates from whatever municipality you reside in, whether it be a city,
town, or something else. You do not get charged with this tax until a full
year after you start working. The tax is based on your total income amount
for the previous year, so the later you start working in your first year,
the less you will be charged in the second year when the payments start.
You will start seeing the full amount charged 2 years after you start working,
when the city tax people have a full year's income to figure your taxes
by.
This was my payment:
| August '93 to July '94: |
zero |
--- |
| August '94 to June '95: |
1,800 yen/month |
less than 2% of income |
When you leave Japan, you will be charged the equivalent of perhaps 5 months'
city tax on your last paycheck, presumably to make up for all those months
you didn't pay a thing.
How much money could I count on saving if I live frugally?
At a job paying an average salary, I found it relatively easy to save an
average of about $1,000 a month. Keep in mind that I didn't eat out often,
I didn't travel often, I had a reasonably-priced apartment (about $700/mo.),
and I usually bought things like clothes (expensive in Japan) in the U.S.
or had them sent over. On the other hand, I wasn't exactly Scrooge, either.
Off-Topic Questions
Can you give me a list of schools where French is taught?
Nope.
What if I would like to teach a language other than English?
Some schools offer courses in French and German; other languages are even
harder to find. All in all, it's not easy finding teaching jobs in other
languages; perhaps one teaching job out of every 20 or 30 may be for a non-English
language.
What can you tell me about teaching English in countries other than Japan?
Nothing, I'm afraid.
How can I get in touch via email with my friend who lives in Japan?
Is it possible to get other types of work in Japan such as construction?
What kind of prices will I pay for a PCS phone versus a land line phone?
Good questions. Unfortunately, I can't answer most questions like this.
Please, folks, limit your questions to those about finding jobs! Thanks!
If you have read all the contents of this web site in addition to the questions
above and still can't find the answers to your questions, feel free to email
me for information. I receive and answer about 100 emails a year from people
who visit my site, and am happy to do so. Such questions allow me to expand
the scope of information on this site and help others down the road. It
is frustrating, however, when people email me for information that is already
posted on the site. The most common questions have to do with working summers,
working without a degree, teaching other languages, and a few others that
are covered on the site already. Also please remember that I am not an expert
on everything in Japan; please limit your questions to those that have to
do with teaching English or general questions about life in Japan.
Yes, I read everything and still have a question!
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