I’m on an instructor visa as an ALT, it’s my first job in Japan. I just started the job this summer and my contract ends next summer. However the workplace is getting increasingly difficult. I found out I’m repeatedly getting reported for stuff that 1. I haven’t done and wasn’t planning on doing, and 2. I’m even getting reported for using vocab the kids have already learned in their textbook (for example, “earthquake” is banned despite a chapter on disaster prevention being in the textbook and it including the word earthquake. No one told me I can’t use “earthquake”, then later I get reported for it). 3. The Japanese staff gossip about everything including how you fold your coat over your chair. My commute’s 4 hours total a day too. Mentally I’m completely drained.
I have over 8 months until my contract ends. In general I have JLPT N1 Japanese and want to change careers after this contract, which also means changing visas (probably to the Humanities one). After learning what’s been going on at work however I’m thinking maybe I should get a new job sooner instead. I heard if you change visas they’ll ask if you finished your previous work contract. I also know it’s hard to find a company to sponsor your visa and companies don’t trust you if you job hop. I also have to pay a fine for breaking the contract if I quit early. Etc.
Should I try to finish out the contract, immediately look for a new job, or what? Is it easy to switch visa types from Instructor to Humanities? Any advice? Thanks for your time.
2 comments
Why would you want to finish this obviously very shitty ALT contract? Especially with N1 Japanese? What’s the point?
I taught at kids duo and hated it. Moved back to IT field 4 months into the job. I was in a bad environment.
Switching visas is up to immigration and may/may not require new company support. Just let recruiters know your visa type, although they will ask. If the new companies can’t help with your visa situation, They will let you know.
Immediately look for a new job.
Also welcome to work in Japan, Japanese companies are absolute shit and pretty much sound exactly like what you describe.
I’d recommend you talk to Robert Walter’s, michael page, and other similar big recruiters. They have many multinational companies with international teams that have MUCH better culture.
Btw just to help out, what marketable skills do you have/what are you interested in doing?
Edit: you don’t need to finish contracts to keep visa etc. the visa is given by MOJ, not the company. You can lose the visa for doing seriously bad or illegal shit but immigration / govt decides, NOT the company.
Also, don’t worry about job hopping. Especially if you reach out to recruiters and explain the situation. The recruiters are in direct communication with hiring managers and can say “I have a great candidate who is looking for your work culture, you should interview” or something. I heavily leverage recruiters when I’m really searching.
If there is a company that cares about job hopping on your history, you probably don’t want to work there cause it’s a nihon kaisya 🤮 I have been at my current place almost 2 years. Before that, I didn’t have more than 1-1.5 years at the last 3 companies. No one said anything and I had collectively 12interviews in my current company. (5 when hired, 5 for a promotion and 2 for a new team). Good companies recognize people have reasons for not staying in one place 5 years or other extreme number of years
It’s your first job, it’s only been 4 months, and you already want to quit? How sure are you that the Japanese business culture outside of ALT work isn’t the same? What have you done to make your current job more bearable and how can you proactively collaborate with your current coworkers since you can communicate with them with your N1?
Hold out, make it work, and show your future employer that you are capable of thriving in a crappy situation.