The Dream Job In Japan

Here's the dream for lots of folks... Come to Japan teaching English, get to know your way around a bit, and then work your way into a "real" job. A lot of people dream of coming to Japan and getting a non-teaching job, so let me give you the scoop on that (and my opinion of course!).

First off, it's fully possible to do it. I know lots of foreign people here who are ex-teachers and now have a more normal job. They all live in Tokyo, and most of them have jobs in the tech industry, for example, working for IT companies. It's pretty likely that you can get a job here working in the same industry you worked at home, as long as it doesn't require Japanese fluency, that is!

I knew a guy at Nova who thought he was going to hang around there a bit, until he could get his career in the host clubs going. Fat chance of that! He was a clown, but it's true that lots of foreign people end up as models. In Japan, they love foreign models, and even if you're no Brad Pitt or Cameron Diaz, you may be what they're looking for. I should mention also that there are lots of opportunities for foreign actors, musicians and other performers in Japan.

There are also overseas companies that have offices here in Japan. Some companies manage or provide services for foreign workers in Japan, and it's possible to get a job working in an office like that. I know some people who work for Japan's Ikea store that recently opened in Chiba.

But now I'm going to tell you why teaching English is the best deal going in Japan...

For one thing, the money is good. The teachers that tell you there's a ceiling, and once you hit it you won't get any higher just aren't as resourceful or creative as they could be. If you teach in Japan some people will tell you that the money for English is not there like it used to be. While that's true, you still get $30 an hour at the VERY LEAST for teaching private lessons. Teaching kids you can still make piles of money.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Japanese corporate culture is a straight jacket. No westerner in their right mind would want to work for a Japanese company! Think of your students, the guys who never make it to their evening lessons because they have overtime... again! And that's not to mention the commute. You'll never stuff me onto one of those packed commuter trains!

A lot of people get burned out on teaching because of the company they work for, not because of teaching itself. Teaching can be heaven or hell, depending on your work conditions. If somebody is making you teach 8 or more lessons in one day, of course you're exhausted. On the other hand, teaching for a good company doesn't even feel like working at all.

Finally, the big thing for me is that every day I play fun games and activities with kid students, have interesting conversations and discussions with my adult students, interact with lots of people and see lots of smiles, and that's what makes my day. For most of your students, their English lesson is a fun and stimulating part of their week, and you can feel that. How many of your friends back home stuck in dull office jobs can say that?

How To Totally Blow An Interview For A Teaching Job In Japan

Don't show up. Enough said, moving on...

Show up late. Japanese people really care about punctuality. In fact, it may be number one. Wherever you're teaching you'll be expected to be at all your lessons the second that bell rings, and if you're not, you'll lose students. Show up to the interview a minute or so late, and then don't apologize or even mention it. You won't have to worry about getting offered the job.

Look like crap. Come on, who cares how you look? You're a teacher, not a fashion model. Show them that you're not the type who dresses fancy to impress. Show up to your interview in a t-shirt and jeans, and you'll get your point across - Don't hire me.

Act like you're God's gift to Japan. If you go in there acting like this is just another job interview for you, and if they don't hire you, somebody else will. After all, there are tons of English teaching jobs for a native speaker like you, and their company is nothing special. Treating this interview like an interview back home (for a "real" job) might actually GET you the job, and then you'd have to show up and actually teach, so don't do it!

Let them know that you're not sure how long you're sticking around. English schools hate when their teachers suddenly decide to go home, giving them just a day or two's notice, and leave them with teacherless lessons that need to be filled at a day's notice. Let them know that you're not really sure what you're going to do in the near future, there's nothing really keeping you here, and you miss mom and dad, and you won't have to worry about getting the job.

Complain about Japan. The language is weird, the food is fishy and squishy, the people aren't particularly friendly and your own country is a million times better. Give your interviewers a point-by-point presentation on all that is flawed in Japan and make sure they understand how backward it is. You're doing them a favor by sticking around and trying to teach English. Tell them this, and they'll be sure not to hire you.

Yawn a lot, look at your watch, fidget impatiently and express by every part of your body that the only thing you want out of life is for the interview to be over. They are going to be looking for a friendly, enthusiastic people-person who is excited about the prospect of teaching at their school. Make sure you don't show any interest at all, and they'll understand you're not the one for them.

Good luck! They say it's easy to get a job teaching in Japan, so you'll have to work extra hard to blow that interview. Unfortunately, you can't get welfare in Japan, but I'm sure you'll get by on your good looks!