Hi guys,
So I just got the news that the ALT dispatch company I work for failed to win the contract for next year, so I’m gonna have a to move. Again. Again, because I had been working as a direct-hire ALT with a board of education, but I along with a bunch of other ALTs, had our contracts not renewed, thanks to that wonderful change in the law that means all direct hire ALTs have to re-apply from scratch every year and there’s nothing stopping the BOE from simply not re-contracting you if they find they need less ALTs or if they like a new applicant better.
I’m looking for something more stable than this nonsense. At some point, I’d like to buy a house in Japan, but there’s no way I’d be doing that when I have no idea if I’ll still have a job next year. I enjoy ALT work, but it seems like your only options are direct hire with a BOE or working for a dispatch company. Both of which have the same issue of instability.
At least, that seems to be the case with elementary and junior high. But high schools aren’t run by the BOE, right? So if I got a job there, I’d be a permanent employee?
Aside from teaching, I’m interested in doing something maybe in translation or IT. I’ve been to a career seminar, and the problem is you need to be able to use keigo and have N1 certification, which is WAAAAY outside of my ability. I’ve worked in a Japanese-only environment for about 3 years, so my Japanese is good enough for that, but keigo is out of the question.
I’ve done translation work a number of times, but nothing professional. I have a feeling I can probably do it, but again, you need N1 level Japanese.
I have a part bit of experience with IT, but it seems like all the IT work is centred around Tokyo? I’d be looking to get a house in a more rural area so I can get a bigger one, I’d prefer to not be working in Tokyo.
Any advice guys?
6 comments
>the problem is **you need to be able to use keigo and have N1 certification, which is WAAAAY outside of my ability**. I’ve worked in a Japanese-only environment for about 3 years, so my Japanese is good enough for that, but keigo is out of the question.
>I’ve done translation work a number of times, but nothing professional. **I have a feeling I can probably do it**, but again, you need N1 level Japanese.
Getting some mixed messages here. Can you elaborate? For example, when you say you’ve “worked in a Japanese-only environment for about 3 years,” are you referring to your ALT position? If N1 is that far outside of your ability, and you have yet to grasp the fact ability to use keigo is one of the bare minimum requirements for being a grown-up in Japan, it sounds like you may be overestimating your ability. Do you have an educational background that you can leverage in a translation position?
*I enjoy ALT work, but it seems like your only options are direct hire with a BOE or working for a dispatch company.*
Or getting hired at a private school. You’ll need credentials though.
I’m confused. You said that the dispatch company you work for failed to win the contract. That doesn’t sound like you are a direct hire.
You’re confident that you can do professional translation, but you don’t have N1 and can’t use Keigo?
Wow
Random thoughts:
– If you want a house, you’ll want PR. So I assume you are going to be here long-term. Do yourself the biggest favor you can and make it a goal to pass N3 in summer 2023 and N2 in summer 2024.
– Translating or IT? That sounds wishy washy, do you have anything more concrete? IT is just a term for “something to do with computers,” so is there something more specific?
You can definitely make things work here, but I think you need to sit down and map out how exactly you will be at the stage to “get a house.” It’s annoying and requires closing off a lot of potential futures, but it’s better to work towards a concrete future than flutter around wondering about this and that forever.
– Signed a dude who fluttered around way too long and finally got his shit together a few years back.
I work in IT (programming). It required N3 minimum. I very rarely need Japanese at work since most of my coworkers speak English, and when there are ones that don’t, there are enough bilingual people to translate.
You need to prove you have skills to get into this, though. Certificates/degrees help, but ability to pass programming tests, and a solid portfolio, are usually how people get interviews/offers.