So I am writing this post cuz I am so tired of the other intern stressing about this. We have both been interns for six months here in Tokyo (living expenses were covered by our company, though) and I will be going back to my home country soon to start a job. He, however, insists on staying in Japan but hasn’t found a job yet. He has been applying for everything from conbini to teaching English, and as his Japanese level is N4, we guess that teaching is his best bet. So far, he has applied for Nova, Aeon, etc. but with no luck. In the interviews, they told him he sounded native, but after that, he never heard anything back. He has a master’s degree from a Nordic country, but in a non-English language (is this why he is rejected?). Also, he doesn’t have TOEIC or IELTS, etc. He wishes to stay teaching English while improving his Japanese so that he might get a different job in the future. What can he do to boost his chances? I am leaving soon, but I am honestly worried for him because he is going to run out of funds soon and is desperate.
10 comments
He should maybe try some small jukus and ekaiwas. I know places hire non-native speakers but they have different requirements. The city I worked for had no issues hiring non native speakers but required 12 years of education in English. I feel the bigger the school the tougher the requirements.
Try ALT dispatch companies? They hire more in country as far as I know.
Well, if he…
– doesn’t actually plan to get into teaching
– doesn’t mind moving to a smaller city
– is ok with a FT job
– is ok ‘living at work’
– likes kids (teens)
then maybe DM me because my school is looking for boarding house staff. Preferably women but they might still be open to a few more guys too idk
It’ll pay more than an eikawa/ALT gig since it’s an international school. But it’s obviously a FT job and you live in the dorms.
Why do people worry about other people unnecessarily? Do they need extra worry in their life ? He’s fine. He will worry about himself.
He needs to apply like a mad man. Never stop.
There are eikawas everywhere but now is not really hiring season.
Him being Scandinavian doesn’t matter that much tbh.
I’m Scandinavian as well and been working here for 6-7 years.
Maybe they didn’t like his personality. If he’s an otaku or something I assume his social skills are low. Social skills are more important at an eikawa than the actual language.
Swede here. Just left Japan.
Look at O’Hayo Sensei for part-time jobs. Plenty in the tokyo area, more often than not they only want someone who’s a “native level” speaker.
If he’s not getting further requests for interviews, he might need to think about his approach to interviews. A lot of the time it’s about your personality, and not necessarily what’s on your resume. Employers want people who smile a lot and hwo are very bubbly and outgoing because that’s what sells their lessons. That is what a lot of dispatch companies want are looking for.
International Schools is basically out for the count unless he’s got at least a master’s degree, a teaching license and/or several years experience.
If he’s still struggling, my best advice would honestly be to go home, regroup and then come up with a plan.
Tell him to try GABA
>We have both been interns for six months here in Tokyo (living expenses were covered by our company
What is your visa status? Because I’m thinking that this may be the problem. For example:
>He has been applying for everything from conbini
There are basically only three visa statuses that a conbini can hire, student visa (by far the most common), spouse of a Japanese national, and permanent resident*. The same thing goes for all sorts of ‘baito’ positions (unskilled general work positions) that he might have been applying for. If he doesn’t have the right type of visa, they can’t hire him.
Unlike a lot of other places in the world, where a work visa allows any type of work, work visa in Japan are restricted by category. Working as a professor requires a professor visa. Working as a journalist requires a journalist visa, etc. The most flexible is the specialist in humanities/international services visa which basically covers any job that it is difficult to hire a Japanese person to do, for example English conversation teacher, translator, customer service for non-Japanese customers, e.g. hotel front desk, etc.
If your friend already has this visa, and is in Tokyo, then honestly finding a job is a matter of applying for anything and everything that falls under this category and something should come his way. It’s a numbers game.
However, if he doesn’t have this visa, then he is in a bit of a chicken or the egg type situation. In order to get a job, you have to have a visa–in order to get a visa, you have to have a job. Many of the people who hire locally expect that applicants already have a visa. They need someone to start soon, within a week or two. Getting a visa can take months and they don’t have time for that.
There is a common misconception that people have that is often discussed on social media which is that it is easier to get hired if you are already in Japan. That’s true, but only if you already have a visa. If you don’t have a visa, it is more difficult to get hired here.
My advice is to have your friend make an appointment at Hello Work. They can explain everything and give him some examples of jobs that he can do and even give him some leads. In Tokyo there is special office that is dedicated to helping foreigners find work.
[https://jsite.mhlw.go.jp/tokyo-foreigner/english.html](https://jsite.mhlw.go.jp/tokyo-foreigner/english.html)
I wish him (and you) the best of luck.
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*Before people start arguing with me, yes there are other types of visas like long-term resident (but that is very difficult visa to get) and working holiday (but that is heavily restricted by nationality, age, with strict time limits so not really a solution in this case). It is also possible to get permission to work outside of your category, but to do that you still have to primarily doing the thing in your category so that’s not relevant here.
I’m saying generally speaking only three types, i.e. there isn’t a baito visa.
Edit: fixed a few things
English teaching is a dead end anyway, go home.
Get him to try temp agencies, he can become a full time employee with the full social cover if he asks for full time employment, and they will guide him through every interview (even accompany him/drive him by car to sponsor him), even help him write his resume etc. Generally, agencies specialize in many types of jobs from restaurant to factories or convenience stores.
Keywords should be something like that:
派遣 スタッフ募集 正社員 外国人可
He should find a lot of links on temp agencies sites that list their job offers. If he applies to any of them (after having created an account -of course it’s free of charge- and uploaded his resume, in some cases), he will receive a phone call, or maybe an sms. Generally the same day, or the next one.
No need to pay any fee, the temp agency will get a fee from the place that is searching for new staff when your friend is hired.
Also, it’s probably the fastest way to get a new job. In my case, there are instances when I was hired less that one week later.
[Here, an example.](https://www.hatarako.net/tokyo/kdw18/)
You can refine the search by entering the prefecture, and other preferences. The most popular sites are Hatarako, Indeed, Kyuujin Box etc.
Seriously, in 23 years, it’s because these agencies exist that I’ve never been unemployed.
If your friend needs money fast, he can also apply for night shift jobs. It’s what I’m doing.
I hope your friend finds his new job fast!