Is it hard to get a job in Japan?

[kazuri]

Hey all,

I'm currently working on a TESL / Japanese combined honours degree in the UK, and was just wondering how hard it is to get a job over there with these qualifications? (and a relatively small amount of teaching experience!)

Or are these qualifications considered 'the norm', and employers prefer experience over academic knowledge?

Thanks in advance :-)

P.S I'm a native Brit

[Glenski]

Is that the equivalent of a bachelor's degree? I'm American and not familiar with British education.

If it's equivalent, you are pretty much eligible for a work visa, which is a bigger concern. Employers may be willing to hire people, but if those applicants can't get visas, they can't work.

I suggest you read the FAQ here, especially the part(s) I wrote. http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26209

Essentially, things go like this for teacher wannabes.

1. You need to qualify for a visa. There are many types. http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
2. You get an employer to hire you and to sponsor your visa (if the visa type requires sponsorship).

Work visas (usually the Humanities Specialist/International Relations type) require a minimum of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent), or you can bypass that if you have 3 or more years of work experience in teaching. The degree itself can be in any major, from anthropology to zoology. Sadly, entry level jobs (and many intermediate teaching jobs, for that matter) don't require teaching degrees or teaching credentials, licenses, or certificates.

Working holiday visas don't require a degree or sponsorship, but they are only good for two 6-month stints for Brits, consecutive, and only once in your life. It's also age-dependent. http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html

These are your best bets, considering the little that we know.

JET programme requires people with degrees to be ALTs. Read about their requirements at the current pamphlet. http://www.jetprogramme.org/e/introduction/pamphlet.html

Now, I have a lot of follow-up questions, but you probably don't need to hear them just yet. Basically, you sound like a typical entry level prospect.

[kazuri]

Yes, it's a bachelors degree, 4 years with the 3rd year in Japan (exchange at a jpn uni). After completing the course I will have only 1 year of teaching experience (gained through teaching international 'guinnea pigs' who signed up for free english lessons at my uni)

I was hoping to get a teaching related job while I'm on my exchange year in Japan, and then go back and find a full-time job there once I've graduated. At least, that's the plan anyway... :P

But I'm concerned that employers in Japan will be more interested in experienced applicants, rather than 'book smart' people fresh from uni :/

Thanks for the reply

[Glenski]

Nope. No experience necessary. Even with the minimal experience you have, that and the year you spent here makes you more attractive to many (not all) employers. Some prefer people right off the boat and don't even recruit from within Japan.