For some context, I’m a 21 year old male from America, very confident in my Japanese (taking N2 in July) and I came to Japan in December to work as an English teacher for one of those “English 保育園” in Yokohama
I thought that I would really enjoy it seeing as my background is childcare and for the first while I really did. However, I quickly realized that this company isn’t as different from your typical Japanese company as I once thought. It’s the same as most other places where they just expect you to put your head down and always listen to everything you’re told. That combined with the work environment and the hours have been really taking a toll on my mental health and I’ve decided that I’m going to put in my notice tomorrow.
I have some savings to fall back on so I’m not in a bind money wise for awhile but I would like to find a different job relatively quickly so that I don’t get too stressed over it. My visa expires mid November so I guess that’s my time limit though.
My background is in childcare / teaching as well as eSports (random I know) and I would ideally like a job where I can actually use my Japanese to contribute to something but I haven’t been able to find anything that looks like it’ll be a good fit for me.
My biggest fear is going into another similar company and having it be the same shitty environment and grind that I’m stuck in right now.
Any advice or general guidance would be greatly appreciated. I’m in all honesty pretty scared because I don’t have a set direction after this but the mental toll that my current work environment is taking on me is just getting to be too much and I can’t let it get much worse.
Thanks and sorry if the way I wrote this was weird to read.
26 comments
I am also fluent in Japanese (N1 plus training in office Japanese) and tried to find a job that utilized my passion for the language and I ended up HATING it. The Japanese work culture is just so toxic and I honestly don’t see it ever changing… people just don’t understand the importance of work life balance. Also all the little cultural things that we as foreigners just cannot wrap our heads around or do properly. Anyway, I ended up finding a job at an eikaiwa and while most here would say that is a shit job, for me, I get to just go on auto pilot for six hours and then I am done (I quite like it to tbh… If I was back in the US, I would probably wanna work a different job but then I am a native speaker and know American culture so it would be easier to integrate into the company). However, I am PR and can work part time so this may not apply to you. I found for me that I do not need to do my passion in order to enjoy work. I work to live and my passion is now just my hobby. Maybe it is better to look for something that doesn’t utilize Japanese. Or you could try and get into some freelance translating/teaching so you can make more of your own hours!
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ETA a lot of the eikaiwa know that the overseas workers won’t be willing to work insane hours, so you should be able to get off when your shift start and ends. This has just been my experience though and ofc your mileage may vary
Japan is a tough place to break out into a career. It may not be what you want to hear, but it’s typically much easier to get a job after you’ve gotten experience elsewhere, whether that be back in the USA or e.g. China. In China, you’ll have way more freedom and probably much better pay, but working in education in China comes with jts own challenges and frustrations.
Your work visa is only valid until its expiry date if you continue to be employed. If you lose your job, it is only valid for 3 months thereafter, so if you quit tomorrow you do not have until November, you have until July to find other employment within your approved status of residence.
Unless you’re not particularly bothered by having to leave Japan, I would think long and hard about quitting on the spot without anything else lined up.
Don’t quit your job until you find another one.
You will likely find that Japanese employers act like Japanese employers pretty much everywhere in Japan.
Cast your net wide. First, update your CV with and emphasis on the E-Sport aspect, any hard skills that are related to that, software tools that you can use, and don’t hesitate to make references to any relevant side projects. Paint a picture that you came to Japan with the aim of getting to know the country through your current job, but that you don’t see a pathway for you to grow there. If possible, have someone with a few years of experience to read it through.
Second. Register for most or all of the major recruiters, but considering that you are very Junior try to shoot out multiple applications (don’t spend too much on those that you don’t care about).
Third, make it clear in your CV or generic cover letter that you have a burning passion for some industry or perhaps HR and learning if you want to leverage what you know.
Fourth. When it comes to interviews (and they will come if you apply enough) be passionate about the industry, research the companies in advance (especially recent news), and don’t badmouth your current job in the interview.
It’s also a good idea to apply for industries that are growing fast – energy, electric vehicles, etc.
I’m not saying you should take the first job offer you will get, but getting out of the English teaching game, and into industry is a must. It will be much easier for you to switch jobs after you’ve left the teaching world.
Good luck.
What is an esports background?
If you want to utilize Japanese language, teaching English might not be the best job for you. Most places don’t want you to use Japanese a lot because you are there (obviously) to speak/teach English.
If you want to stick with childcare and teaching, then maybe you could be open to the possibility of utilizing Japanese language more in other areas of your life. Making friends, etc. i know that one is easier said than done.
Edit: I saw you’ve been here for only 4 months at this point. I would give yourself time to really adjust to a new life here if that’s what you want and not be so quick to quit your current job. If that’s a possibility for you… I came to japan when I was 21 too from america…and at that age you’re barely out of college. It’s a young age for such a big change moving across the world and work with a foreign language under your belt!! You are doing amazing things that most people could never imagine!
What is an example of the long hours? I taught at a private English kindergarten for 8 years, so I am curious. I made the change to IT last year.
As yourself if you are willing to gamble your youth away looking for that employer that doesn’t just expect you to put your head down and always listen to everything you’re told.
You can do as others have advised here. Just know that employers also tend to fake it ’til they make it.
It’s always wise to have a job lined up before quitting, but if it’s impacting your mental health it might not be worth sticking it out. Quit, take a break for a week or two and then put your energy into finding a new job/networking while knowing that if you can’t find one within three months of quitting your job then your visa won’t be valid anymore.
If you’re nearing your deadline without any results, so long as you’re an English speaker, you’ll probably be able to find an English teaching job somewhere that can tie you over while you continue your search.
Good luck, dude. You’re going to need it and a lot of perseverance, but you can do this.
I’ve been in Japan for eight years and have seen my fair share of terrible Eikawa/hoikuen during that time (been through 5 different places, two went bankrupt but I probably would have quit anyway) so I know how you feel.
Some places were really toxic and I ended up being sick for a while after pushing myself too hard during my first year here so I understand how hard it can be for your mental health.
That being said, I love working with children and given your background I’m sure you do too, so I’d give a try to another school before giving up on teaching. I’m currently part time so it is easier, but compared to all the other schools I’ve been in this one is really well managed and made me realize that not all schools are doomed to be terrible work environments. Plus you’ll probably have a one month trial before signing any real contract so you can leave on your own terms if you feel like the new school isn’t for you.
Good luck! 🙂
>very confident in my Japanese (taking N2 in July)
You may be confident, but N2 does not give any hint on an actual fluency. It’s the bare minimum to be able to read a few forms and maybe understand quite simple spoken language, and that’s it.
You’re 21, that means you still have a flexible brain, so you can give a try to actually become more fluent if your goal, as you state it, is to “use your Japanese to contribute to something”… Does not mean the work environment will be different in other places though.
Dont quit unless you find new one.
Yes Japan is tough country, but this is the only advice if you are planning to quit.
Oof unless it was a small kindergarten in Yokohama, kindergartens are a nightmare to work at in general given the sheer number of students. Even if your passion and background is in childcare, a certain level of numbness developing on the job isn’t uncommon.
N2 is fine as a starting point especially at 21, but N1 is where most people aim for if they’re looking to work in Japan using Japanese frequently. You might want to supplement your regular Japanese studies with Business Japanese as well.
If your visa is what you’re worried about, take a cushy Eikawa job that’s visa sponsored without the stress of having to sell. It’ll probably pay as much as your current job without having a full schedule on weekdays. Use your free time to prep to take the N1 in July next year.
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but you are 21 so until you have some length of experience behind you, you will find that at most places the expectation will be to put your head down, listen to everything that you are told, and put in the hours.
This is the same with most careers and most places, not just Japan.
esports and children and teaching… a coach?
Might be hard to find a job that makes use of your Japanese, but you could always check out USAjobs. There are quite a few military bases/installations around Yokohama. Might be able to find some teaching gigs, could at least be a substitute for some interim income while you continue to search.
Dont quit until you find your new job
> very confident in my Japanese (taking N2 in July)
Still not quite past the “Dunning-Kruger” phase of language acquisition, I see…
Would you try hospitality?
Look at English teaching jobs. They’re pretty much always available and in high demand and usually offered by independent schools or small programs. You can see if the JET program has positions too. Abroad in Japan started out doing English teaching in Japan for a few years before he got really successful on YouTube.
DO NOT QUIT UNTIL YOU HAVE A NEW JOB LINED UP.
This is why in the interview process you plainly state and agree to your expectations. I knew a guy who failed a lot of interviews but found a company that respects work life balance because he was upfront during the interview process.
How can your background be childcare at 21?
not why so many people are sh*tting on OP for saying they’re very confident in their japanese and are taking N2
like N2 is a the second highest and where a lot of people aim for since N1 is often considered overkill depending on what you’re looking for OP didn’t say that they’re a Nihongo Master or anything— just that they’re confident in their abilities and want a job where they can use those, which is a good career move. why is everyone so judgy sheesh