Risks initially in Japan

[shogoz]

I have applied for a lot of jobs in and around Osaka and I have been thinking about just heading to Japan in August regardless of whether or not i am able to find a job before then.

i figure that when i get there, i will be able to find a job a lot easier. I will be able to stay in a hotel without paying more than 200 dollars for the first month and i can use that time to find an apartment.

Do you think this is a wise choice? My real fear is that i will have used up the working holiday visa that is only issued once and a lot of money without finding a job. I know that i will likely have to stay in Japan for about 4 months before i would think about packing up and going home, i think its a risk but what do you think about it?

[gfell]

I would only find an apartment after you find a job. Unless you plan to stay in Japan long term, then it's best to find a spare room in an existing apartment rather than renting your very own apartment. If you rent your own apartment, then you would need to pay a few months bond, deposit and buy all your furniture include gas stove top.

Gaijin houses are your best bet initially until you get your feel for things. You can expect to pay around 50,000~60,000 yen for your room with futon and common facilities which you share such as net access, kitchen and so on. Usually gaijing houses offer a 1 month refundable deposit too.

If you hold a bachelor's degree, then you should be fine with getting a job. Many schools will sponsor you for a work visa even though you may be on a tourist visa.

Good luck with things!

[shogoz]

i dont have a bachelor degree yet, do you think i would be ok finding a job without one if i just went there and looked around for 2 months?

[gfell]

No, it will be very hard without a bachelor's degree and no more working holiday visa's available to you. Pity you already used 1 WHV.

[shogoz]

i havnt used my working holiday visa yet, i havnt been issued one. im currently thinking about whether its possible in case i dont find work before I go to japan, to be on a tourist holiday visa and then change to a working holiday visa just to be safe. or, since i will be studying soon in uni (distance learning) to gain my bachelor if i could still work on a student visa. i REALLY need to find a job before i go. if i dont find a job within a few months then i will be worrying about all this. grrr

[Antonio]

Well, glad to hear you haven't used your WHV yet. Unfortunately the WHV is only short-term, so the last thing you want to do is arrive to Japan and only find work 2 months later. You really need to find work within 2 weeks of arriving to Japan, otherwise applying for your WHV would be a waste.

If you don't think you can get work within 2 weeks, then head to Japan on a tourist visa, and once you find work, apply for your WHV from outside of Japan.

I would recommend though you completing an online TEFL course. That way it will boost your chances. Get your WHV before you arrive, and then once you get to Japan, you will be ready to work asap as you will have your WHV and a TESL Certificate. Schools will love this!

[LeslieW]

Without the bachelors degree you wont be hired as a teacher. But you can find other work on a working holiday visa. As another member suggested a guest house is your best bet for a place to stay and you do get the deposit back in full the day you leave. They are a good value for the money. Most on a working holiday visa stay in them for the value and a great way to meet people from all over the world.

Japan is cracking down on teachers and without a bachelors degree there is no hope of being hired by a school.

[shogoz]

Ok just to summarise quickly, I have no bachelor degree, recently have gained a CELTA certificate, planning on going to Japan in the first week of September for 2 months on a working holiday visa to hopefully find a job teaching English. Does anybody think this is possible? has anybody heard or know of somebody who has been in the same position as this?

My heart is set on going to Japan to work and make a career teaching English while i work to gain my Bachelor of Vocational Education and Training (2 year course). I have been applying for many positions that i have seen online, with 3 and a bit months before I plan to go i have about 4 schools telling me to contact them but i dont know whether they are just being kind haha, i am well educated with the whole immigration law of must having a bachelor to teach in schools and so forth and yet these 4 have said in their advertisements before i applied that a bachelor degree is required and are saying i can contact them when i arrive in Japan, so im a little confused.

Anyway, Thankyou for your time

[Antonio]

I think you will be fine. The fact that you will have a WHV and CELTA certificate will go a long way for you. Schools really don't want to deal with teachers applying months beforehand as they know a lot can change in the meantime. Just contact them again 2 weeks before arrival. In fact, I reckon you will get a lot of interest in you if you contact schools 2 weeks prior to arrival.

Without a bachelor degree, many schools will still touch you if you have a WHV and Celta.

Good luck.

[shogoz]

Thankyou very much for the information Antonio, sounds like i'll head to Japan and just see what happens, i was also wondering, are you speaking from experience??