Hi, guys!
Like many of you, it’s my dream to live and work in Japan longterm. I’ve been there 4 times, staying between 1 week to 2 months during those trips. I mostly went on summer, because it matched with my vacations, so I know what it’s like during the harshest season.
I believe I’m somewhere between N3 and N2 and I speak semi-fluently, although my pronunciation is better than my vocabulary. I currently work in a japanese company in my country and I’m used to talking and writing in japanese. I’ve been in this company for 3 years already, but I feel like my level hasn’t improved all that much, since I only use japanese with the 9 expats working here (everyone else speaks my native language). For this reason I tried my luck at applying for jobs in Japan in hopes of becoming fluent, and luckily, after 2 months of *shuukatsu* I nailed 2 interviews and got a job offer at a big manufacturing company.
Not gonna lie, I’m super excited and of course I said yes!! But… I feel like right now everything is kind of a blurry mess.
I know that I have to wait for the CoE to be processed, and that it could take from 1 to 3 months, but what can I do during that time? What is the best time to tell my current boss? Do I give a 2-month’s notice? 1-month’s? 2-weeks’?
When to start selling belongings, when to buy the plane ticket? When to start saying good-byes to friends and family?
I don’t know, it feels a bit overwhelming. I guess a part of me didn’t think I would actually make it and didn’t prepare for it. I’ve looked around this sub and over google, but nobody really talks about the “in-betweens”.
I know these things vary for everyone, but I would like to hear about your experience. How was it for you? What would you do better?
Thank you!
​
​
2 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
—
**How to proceed after landing a job offer?**
Hi, guys!
Like many of you, it’s my dream to live and work in Japan longterm. I’ve been there 4 times, staying between 1 week to 2 months during those trips. I mostly went on summer, because it matched with my vacations, so I know what it’s like during the harshest season.
I believe I’m somewhere between N3 and N2 and I speak semi-fluently, although my pronunciation is better than my vocabulary. I currently work in a japanese company in my country and I’m used to talking and writing in japanese. I’ve been in this company for 3 years already, but I feel like my level hasn’t improved all that much, since I only use japanese with the 9 expats working here (everyone else speaks my native language). For this reason I tried my luck at applying for jobs in Japan in hopes of becoming fluent, and luckily, after 2 months of *shuukatsu* I nailed 2 interviews and got a job offer at a big manufacturing company.
Not gonna lie, I’m super excited and of course I said yes!! But… I feel like right now everything is kind of a blurry mess.
I know that I have to wait for the CoE to be processed, and that it could take from 1 to 3 months, but what can I do during that time? What is the best time to tell my current boss? Do I give a 2-month’s notice? 1-month’s? 2-weeks’?
When to start selling belongings, when to buy the plane ticket? When to start saying good-byes to friends and family?
I don’t know, it feels a bit overwhelming. I guess a part of me didn’t think I would actually make it and didn’t prepare for it. I’ve looked around this sub and over google, but nobody really talks about the “in-betweens”.
I know these things vary for everyone, but I would like to hear about your experience. How was it for you? What would you do better?
Thank you!
​
​
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/movingtojapan) if you have any questions or concerns.*
>I know that I have to wait for the CoE to be processed, and that it could take from 1 to 3 months, but what can I do during that time?
Well, you can do pretty much anything you want. But what you shouldn’t do is start buying plane tickets or making plans that require firm dates (like signing rental agreements). Certainly you can start broad strokes plans, like wandering around on google maps figuring out which area you’d like to live in or putting together rough sequence of event schedules (register address at city hall; get bank account; get mobile phone; etc).
​
>What is the best time to tell my current boss?
How much notice do you feel like giving your current employer of your departure? In many jurisdictions you’re only required to give two weeks notice. But you would know better how much time you’d need to wind down/handover any tasks (as well as if you’d even want to).
​
>When to start selling belongings, when to buy the plane ticket?
Given that you’ll have no firm dates until you’ve got the visa stamp in your passport you’ll probably want to wait until you’ve at least your visa application submitted. Depending on where you are it can take weeks to get an appointment to submit this application. Regarding your belongings, would you have any friends or family members who would be willing to help sell your stuff for you after you’ve left?
​
>I know these things vary for everyone, but I would like to hear about your experience.
I had it easy; I came over with most of the stuff I needed in my suitcases and left the rest in boxes in my moms basement. Then my moms house burned down and her insurance cut me a check for all of my stuff that was lost. Please note that I do not recommend arson as a solution to your problems.