Hello everyone. I’m currently teaching in Thailand with multiple years of classroom experience (both here and back home, with TEFL certification but no official teaching license). I’m really interested in working in a Japanese public school (or a decent private academy), and I actually kind of prefer more rural areas.
I’ve heard in the past that people would sometimes go to Japan on a tourist visa and apply for jobs while they were in the country, but that was before Covid. I heard from numerous people that Japanese schools (mostly private schools) really prioritize meeting candidates in person for interviews and such (though this could be bad information).
So since I’m already in Thailand and that’s closer to Japan than my home in the US, I was thinking of taking a vacation to go to Japan and apply for jobs directly.
Is that idea plausible at all, or have numerous people told me something really dumb? I know about the JET program, but they also say that you have to visit specific places in the US to interview, and that’s not an option right now. I know I may not be able to get exactly what I want on the first try, but I want to actually get into the country with a job first, and then work towards something that suits me better. I even have people here in Thailand telling me to just go to Japan and apply for work, so I figure there must be something to it. But this Thailand position is my first job outside of the US, so I’m still learning a lot (and I tend to learn fastest from asking direct questions in addition to reading other resources).
I appreciate any information that can be provided. Thank you!
9 comments
Job hunting remotely is not only allowed currently, but many ALT/Eikaiwa companies encourage it.
If you want to come here as a tourist, come here on a trip.
If you want to get a job here, apply online.
Its against the rules to job hunt here on tourist visa. You need to do online hunt. The priority of “in person” is they want someone already here with work visa and has worked in Japanese schools for at least 2 years.
As long as you have a Bachelor’s Degree, you should be able to apply online and get some interviews. JET would be out since you have to apply and interview in your home country.
Dave’s esl, gaijinpot, o-hayo-sensei
Technically, looking for work is a violation of your tourist visa conditions.
In practice, however, many people do it anyway, and prospective employers aren’t interested in enforcing immigration rules, so it’s possible though probably not advisable. Before Covid many would come on a tourist visa, and once they secured employment they would hop over to Taiwan/South Korea and re-enter Japan officially on their work visa (as a general rule you can’t change from a tourist to work visa without leaving Japan once).
> I’m currently teaching in Thailand with multiple years of classroom experience (both here and back home, with TEFL certification but no official teaching license). I’m really interested in working in a Japanese public school (or a decent private academy), and I actually kind of prefer more rural areas.
Gotta pop the question… why? Not bagging Japan but a few things to note are that:
– Experience and TEFL won’t mean anything, although they probably will to you if that makes sense. You’ll be expected to learn for the ground up with no real promotion prospects.
– Pay will be ‘better’ but the cost of living will also be higher. A lot of people who I’ve seen come over from the developing world don’t seem to fully appreciate the impact of this.
– Rural’s cool… I like rural and that’s where you’ll make money. However, why rural?
—
Not trying to put you off but I guess just trying to highlight the reality that there’s lotsa roles for ALTs and eikaiwa teachers (and you’ll get one). However, I think it’s good to know why you wanna do this as a lot of people struggle with these gigs.
I’d second Gaijinpot!
Don’t do it, apply from outside Japan.
If you have a chance, please go onto the immigration website and find out the details of how sponsorship works. Because an employer has to sponsor you if you don’t already have a proper visa and the application process for that will take time. Same like in any country you to go to. You may also look into specific job training/intern/business/teaching programs at the Japanese embassy in Thailand (or Japanese embassy in the U.S.).