[GregX999]

Originally Posted by RealJames

Welcome to (posting in) the forums!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by RealJames

If you got a 4 year degree of next to any kind then getting a job teaching English is a walk in the park unless you're disfigured or dumber than Bush, in those cases it's mildly difficult.

Okay, I've got those three items covered.

Originally Posted by RealJames

The further you live from a city core the less frugal you gotta be to get by on English teachers salary. If you land a decent gig then it's a cake walk wherever you are.

Granted, I've yet to visit Japan, but I was thinking smaller city than Tokyo. But certainly not rural.

Originally Posted by RealJames

I did some programming before I came to Japan, working a social job is like a breath of fresh air honestly, I don't think I could go back to cubical coding.

I've managed to break out of the cubicles and turn freelance. But it's still pretty mind-numbing to be in front of a computer all-day, every-day.

Originally Posted by RealJames

The English certs a plus for sure, but you can get by just as easily without them, I did, still don't have them and I run my own school here. It all comes down to the interview, and they make very little difference for getting your foot in the door.

This is very surprising to read. I guess it really varies from country to country. I thought Japan was strict on required certs. How much difference would it really make? What about regarding salary levels?

Originally Posted by RealJames

You can change jobs as much as you'd like on that working visa, even if you change job types most of the time they are so lenient with it all it's kind of funny. I went from the standard "Specialist in Humanities" visa that all teachers get to "Investor/Business Manager" with a 6 month leeway, granted I had an awesome immigrations officer.

That's great to hear!

Originally Posted by RealJames

I strongly recommend finding a job from here, otherwise you will end up working in butt-kiss nowhere or with the salary of a burger-flipper with some head hunter counting your yen, or both.

If you can do it right (afford it, I mean), imo you gotta take your time to visit the major cities and some token rural places (on a tourist visa) to see what part of Japan you feel suits you most, then look for a job there the old fashioned way, foot and paper.

This sounds about like how I'd prefer to do it anyway. The idea of applying from here seems very limiting. And not even being to see the place (school) first...

But, with only limited Japanese ability, how easy is it to find places while there? Are there English classified ads in the smaller cities (Kyoto for example)?

And, can a tourist visa be converted without needing to leave the country?

Originally Posted by RealJames

Oh here's a tip I wish I'd heard: don't put any pressure on the employer about having to sponsor you for a work visa, you'll scare everyone away from giving you a job. The fact is that if you have a contract, even tentative, then you can walk into immigrations and use that, along with a few numbers regarding the company, and come out with a work visa.

This is very good to know as well. What do you mean by "a few numbers"? The school wouldn't care that you don't yet have the proper visa?

Thanks! Your message is a gold-mine!
Greg