To you guys (and gals), who already live in Japan...

[JapanLover]

First of all... HELLO!
It's my first post here, and I don't know if I will get any useful answer, but hey, if you don't try... :relief:
I would like to have some suggestions to come to live in Japan, and I thought that as almost everyone I read of, the best way to have a job is to start off by teaching. Now my question is... how can I find a teaching job while I'm still here in Italy? I know FOR SURE that there are italian language schools in Japan (mainly Tokyo, just becasue I've been there three times and I know a bit of the city), but I just wonder how can I have them call me for an interview. I tried to send a resume to NOVA, but there are no offices here so I don't think they will answer my mail.
I also could (even if maybe it may seem arrogant, considered my level of english, don't ya think ^__^) teach some english in basic classes, but I, of course, have the same problem of finding a school where to teach in.
The target is to teach for some years while learning Japanese (I speak a bit now) so taht I can move to a different job (my field is IT) due to the fact that almost every IT company I contacted wants their employee to speak at least a minimum of Japanese.
Well, this post has got almost too far now, so I beg you pardon guys, and wait for someone who could help me.
Last thing... consider that I could fly to Japan IN EVERY MOMENT! You know, just in case some of you pretty guys has a job vacant... :D

Byez,
JapanLover

[Ewok85]

I think some of the bigger eikaiwa schools in Japan were branching out into other languages　（http://www.nova.ne.jp/global/index.html)

Go here - http://www.teachinjapan.com/ - and change the language to Italian. Your english is pretty good anyway. I think you need to contact the Paris office, do it now!

And when you say "almost every IT company I contacted wants their employee to speak at least a minimum of Japanese" who are you talking about? I'd love to get into IT in Japan, i've 8 years of japanese study and 5 years of IT work experience under my belt, I could go tomorrow and be in a good situation :D

[budd]

i think one of the admins is italian? maybe email/pm him for some info -- then again, he may say to just use the search
saying good luck and best wishes

[den4]

Seems like the trend is that you at least need a college degree before a company would even look at your resume to get hired on at a Japanese company...and it seems increasingly likely that you'll need to have somebody there who can vouch for you, or that you can show that you've been living in Japan for some time, to know that you're just not one of them here today, gone tomorrow type of people...
If you're a student, try and see about getting a working holiday visa, assuming that you meet the "current" requirements, whatever they are...hardest thing is that chances are you are going to have to jump through several hoops if you want to get a job in Japan now....unless you get on at one of the jobs mentioned above...

good luck....get yourself a ticket to Japan, and learn more about Japanese IT. Just because you know conversational Japanese does not mean you'll understand IT Jargon in Japanese.....

[Ewok85]

I've got all my study, JLPT grade 2 certif, a traineeship at Mitsubishi Motors, 4 yrs systems engineer exp, halfway through uni but I'm not in the mood to finish it. My computer japanese is not great but ok, i helped teach lessons in a HS and the teachers would vouch for me.

The trick is networking! I need to meet more people in the industry and get known. Something to aim for dont you think? :D

[JapanLover]

First of all, thank you all guys for the replies... even if I still hope someonr will come up with a good news :-))
Anyway, to Ewok85... well I don't know exactly how many job openings I looked at, but they were A LOT and almost everyone was for Nihongo speakers (at least conversational). I have a lot of experience too (server managing, networking, etc) but it seems it doesn't matter if you don't speak Japanese. So my suggestion is: look at various Giajin job sites, because there are lots of positions. Question for you: you live in Japan now? I have also noticed that 90% of jobs are for persons who already are in Japan.
Budd: I'm new here so I dunno which is the Italian admin, I hope he will show up to me ^__^
den4: well what you say is mostly what I already know, but I also know of lots of ppl who had the luck to find the job BEFORE they went to Japan, and with no degree. Moreover I don't think Italy is suitable for working holiday visas, so the problem get worse. As for the IT Jargon well, as far as the Operating Systems (just to mention one thing) are in english I will surely have no problems, and due to my knowledge of the Windows family, I often used (when I was in Tokyo) Japanese OS with minimal problems. Moreover, I wonder which Jargon problems you mean: if they ask me to put a DNS server on, it is unlikely that DNS is called another way: it is a standard (it is just an example).
Sorry for the long post guys, but kindness requires I reply to everyone ^__^

Bye all
JapanLover

Ewok85: I just read you last reply... The trick is networking? You mean you need help with this (very vast) subject? Well we can end up with an agreement ^__^ I teach networking basics to you, you help me settling in Japan ;-D
It should be pretty fair, don'tya think ^__^

Byez
JapanLover

[Keiichi]

I'd like to hear some tips on networking. I'm not one that just goes out to talk to anyone I feel like. What are some good tips?

[Ewok85]

Well you're already networking, this is a start! :D Basically you try and meet people who have some experience with japan, know about things there. Try to meet people in the IT industry or know people there, and through them find out things.

JapanLover, the conditions for working visa depend on what you want to do, if its IT then you need either 1) A degree 2) 5 years work experience in the field you want to work in. Sounds like you and me both have the second condition :cool:

Did you look at the hyperlinks? Did they mention anything useful for you?

Japanese IT is alot of katakana (95%) so it not that hard.

[JapanLover]

Keiichi: I'm not sure I understood your post... I mean, it sounds a bit ironic, and arrogant too, am I right? In case, I really don't know why you should loose your time arguing with someone who is only joikng/trying to have some informations. Of course if it is not you intention, I apologize...

Ewok85: Yeah you're right, it seems we miss the degree, but sometimes as you surely know, experience is way more valuable than a sheet of paper, don'tya think?
Moreover there are more practical courses and exams which give a better preparation than a general "engineering degree" (just an example) like MCSE, MCSA or even just the MOUS exams :-)
About katakana... you are right, but the point is not about you understand IT jargon or not, the companies I'm talking about want ppl who SPEAKS and READS Japanese :-(
Thank you for your time anyway, very kind person... :-D

JapanLover

[Keiichi]

Keiichi: I'm not sure I understood your post... I mean, it sounds a bit ironic, and arrogant too, am I right? In case, I really don't know why you should loose your time arguing with someone who is only joikng/trying to have some informations. Of course if it is not you intention, I apologize...
I have no idea what you're talking about. :souka:
Ewok: I guess this board is a good place to network since a lot of guys here are already living in Japan. I just needed general networking to say, if I were to need help accomplishing whether it'd be getting a job, getting insurance, etc. I've kept in contact with some penpals, Japanese study abroad students, etc. though not much on a very close-type of relationship and think it may not be good enough networking. But who knows, guess I shouldn't underestimate that. :p

[JapanLover]

I have no idea what you're talking about. :souka:

Well, as I told, in this case I apologize. Gomennasai Keiichi :cool:

Bye
JapanLover

[Blue 3]

Japan also hires musicians and dancers for their hotels and other lesser known establishments. If you have something entertaining to offer, i'm sure you can find a club that can hook you up. Not recommended though.

[Ewok85]

I cant dance or sing :(

Ah well, back to Uni to get my bachelor of arts