Finding a job in Japan does not look good.
Tanner and I are going to have to work on creating a back up plan.
I almost wish we had not told people we were planning this, because now if we can't make this happen everyone will know. I think that is going to make me feel pretty awful.
In other news, I lost a few pounds, so that is awesome.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Job Prospects in Japan
We read online a few days ago that a major English language school, GEOS, filed for bankruptcy. There are over 200 locations of this school across Japan. Many of them are being purchased by another language school, G.communication. While some locations are closing, classes have already been cancelled and teachers laid off.
Today I read that GEOS is trying to back out of bankruptcy. So right now it's unclear what will really happen with the company.
But what matters for me and Tanner is that this reflects larger issues is Japan. For about ten years the number of students who want to learn English has remained the same, and even gotten smaller. While there are as many language teachers as their ever have been. After NOVA closed, and now GEOS, there are a flood of English teachers who are all looking for jobs right now. These people also have their work visas already and experience in teaching English. If we tried to go get jobs this month, it would be tough.
Some of the people in our lives believe you can just move to Japan and find a job and all will be well. It is true that if you can afford to move there and try hard you can get hired. But there are a lot of part time jobs, and a lot of awful companies, and a lot of situations that would be miserable. A lot of companies and schools won't sponsor a work visa. A lot of companies require teaching experience. Some require international drivers licenses because they want you to shuttle yourself between schools. Some schools require you find your own students, so you spend your days on the street handing out fliers.
So, Tanner and I don't have experience or work visas. We are going to look for a job that will sponsor us before we arrive. But we are prepared to move and look for work once we arrive. We have done a lot of work and research, we will be prepared. I think we know what to look for so we don't end up in a job that we have to work for a year that will make us miserable. I just want everyone to know that it is not easy.
Today I read that GEOS is trying to back out of bankruptcy. So right now it's unclear what will really happen with the company.
But what matters for me and Tanner is that this reflects larger issues is Japan. For about ten years the number of students who want to learn English has remained the same, and even gotten smaller. While there are as many language teachers as their ever have been. After NOVA closed, and now GEOS, there are a flood of English teachers who are all looking for jobs right now. These people also have their work visas already and experience in teaching English. If we tried to go get jobs this month, it would be tough.
Some of the people in our lives believe you can just move to Japan and find a job and all will be well. It is true that if you can afford to move there and try hard you can get hired. But there are a lot of part time jobs, and a lot of awful companies, and a lot of situations that would be miserable. A lot of companies and schools won't sponsor a work visa. A lot of companies require teaching experience. Some require international drivers licenses because they want you to shuttle yourself between schools. Some schools require you find your own students, so you spend your days on the street handing out fliers.
So, Tanner and I don't have experience or work visas. We are going to look for a job that will sponsor us before we arrive. But we are prepared to move and look for work once we arrive. We have done a lot of work and research, we will be prepared. I think we know what to look for so we don't end up in a job that we have to work for a year that will make us miserable. I just want everyone to know that it is not easy.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
progress
Tanner has gotten a new washington state drivers license. He also sent in his passport renewal. It expired November 2011. We were not sure where we would be then, and other nations are not supposed to allow you in if your passport is about to expire, so we are being proactive.
Satruday we have plans to get some things done.
We are also going to get started on planning my graduation party, which is the biggest event between now and when we leave. Yay!
The photo is from Fukuoka, in southern Japan, I am voting for a move to somewhere warm and tropical.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Status Report: Mid-April
We have done a lot of research in preparing to go to Japan. That said, we are already behind on some of the preparations. We aren't too worried though. Many young people take a few thousand dollars and move to Japan, without a job offer or even any Japanese language skills. We are going to be very prepared, no matter what.
I am not entirely sure how Tanner would have approached the move to Japan, I think he would have prepared rather slowly, and then finally moved quickly and POOF he was there. I however, enjoy research, a lot. So I do a lot of research, and some planning, for any trip or move. So we have a lot of lists, a lot of ideas, and we have been talking a lot with people about the move. We do get a lot of questions, one of the most common is if we have jobs. Honestly it is very early to apply for any jobs. It takes about six weeks for a company to get a visa set up, so about six weeks from our travel date we will start applying for jobs.
In case this is interesting for anyone, and since it will remind Tanner and I what we are doing, here is a list of things we wanted to do in March and April:
Get international drivers licenses, which means Tanner has to renew his current license
Tanner also has to renew his passport
Get Tanner to a doctor for a check up and to renew a prescription
Get me to a doctor for my H1N1 vaccination
Set up all our prescriptions so they be filled online and shipped to Japan
Create new resumes
Take photos to put on our new resumes and to email to employers
Have my volunteer coordinator write a letter of recommendation for me
Begin to email people we know who have or are living in Japan, to get advice and perhaps in the long run job leads
Practice our Japanese language skills
Continue to research job postings online to get a feel for what we should be looking for
Continue to research Japanese cities, so we have a feel for where we are willing to settle
Read some good resources on how to teach English, so we won't be terrible teachers, and then decide which to take with us to Japan
Figure out how to pay my credit card bill while we are in Japan
I think that is most of what we want to accomplish this spring. When we get closer to the move we have another round of chores. It is very exciting. Honestly, I am mostly excited about graduating at this point. Japan still feels a long way off.
I am not entirely sure how Tanner would have approached the move to Japan, I think he would have prepared rather slowly, and then finally moved quickly and POOF he was there. I however, enjoy research, a lot. So I do a lot of research, and some planning, for any trip or move. So we have a lot of lists, a lot of ideas, and we have been talking a lot with people about the move. We do get a lot of questions, one of the most common is if we have jobs. Honestly it is very early to apply for any jobs. It takes about six weeks for a company to get a visa set up, so about six weeks from our travel date we will start applying for jobs.
In case this is interesting for anyone, and since it will remind Tanner and I what we are doing, here is a list of things we wanted to do in March and April:
Get international drivers licenses, which means Tanner has to renew his current license
Tanner also has to renew his passport
Get Tanner to a doctor for a check up and to renew a prescription
Get me to a doctor for my H1N1 vaccination
Set up all our prescriptions so they be filled online and shipped to Japan
Create new resumes
Take photos to put on our new resumes and to email to employers
Have my volunteer coordinator write a letter of recommendation for me
Begin to email people we know who have or are living in Japan, to get advice and perhaps in the long run job leads
Practice our Japanese language skills
Continue to research job postings online to get a feel for what we should be looking for
Continue to research Japanese cities, so we have a feel for where we are willing to settle
Read some good resources on how to teach English, so we won't be terrible teachers, and then decide which to take with us to Japan
Figure out how to pay my credit card bill while we are in Japan
I think that is most of what we want to accomplish this spring. When we get closer to the move we have another round of chores. It is very exciting. Honestly, I am mostly excited about graduating at this point. Japan still feels a long way off.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Good but not good enough
So the biggest problem is just getting started. I will always start my new life tomorrow. Tomorrow I will start working out. Tomorrow I will start eating better. I need to start now!
Saturday I ate well, we pressure washed, so I am counting that as exercise.
Today I ate well, no pigging out on Easter. But I did not work out. Tomorrow I will have to work out twice. And work out every day twice a day, until I feel skinnier and healthier.
Keep trying! April is off to a good start. Lost a belt loop size, and at least a pound. I feel skinnier. So I'm on the right track.
Saturday I ate well, we pressure washed, so I am counting that as exercise.
Today I ate well, no pigging out on Easter. But I did not work out. Tomorrow I will have to work out twice. And work out every day twice a day, until I feel skinnier and healthier.
Keep trying! April is off to a good start. Lost a belt loop size, and at least a pound. I feel skinnier. So I'm on the right track.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Haven't been blogging
Dunno, just got away from me. I was questioning if I wanted to keep doing it. And I wasn't showing much progress.
I've lost a pound!
And my belt tightens one loop tighter.
I haven't been eating great, and I have only worked out occasionally. But it all seems to be helping.
March is gone, I started this some time in January, so I've lost about two and half months. Moving to Japan is getting closer and closer. I need to lose some weight. I need to fit into more of my old clothes, so I can take them to Japan.
I will blog more often.
I've lost a pound!
And my belt tightens one loop tighter.
I haven't been eating great, and I have only worked out occasionally. But it all seems to be helping.
March is gone, I started this some time in January, so I've lost about two and half months. Moving to Japan is getting closer and closer. I need to lose some weight. I need to fit into more of my old clothes, so I can take them to Japan.
I will blog more often.
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