Advice?

[UberPwnzr]

I'm a freshman in high school right now(in the U.S.) and I was just wondering if anybody could give me some advice on moving to Japan after college...

I really don't know what my career plan is exactly but this is what I had in mind. After high school, I want to study something in relation to computers. If I do I'd like to go to Stanford University, University of California(Berkley) or University of Illinois. Whichever college I go to is fine but I don't know where to go from there and I don't necessarily have to go to a university in the U.S., I'm open to Japanese schools too. I'm not completely dead set on studying something in relation to computers. I also really enjoy music, so maybe something in that field. Another thing I would really enjoy is working for a company like the one that makes Ultraman. Brad Warner(if anyone knows him, author of Sit Down and Shut Up) worked for that Ultraman company and that would seem like an awesome job.

If anyone could give me some pointers or advice I would gladly appreciate it.

[MMM]

I would graduate from an American University, then look into the JET Program as a good way to get into English teaching for a few years. It's a good program and generous with funds.

[UberPwnzr]

Yeah I've also been looking into that and it seems like a really great program. And about getting jobs in Japan, is it almost the same process as getting a job in the U.S.?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by UberPwnzr

Yeah I've also been looking into that and it seems like a really great program. And about getting jobs in Japan, is it almost the same process as getting a job in the U.S.?

No, because you have the added factor of not being a legal resident without a work visa. Your employer needs to sponsor your work visa (a red-tape headache) and the government needs to approve your status (a red-tape headache).

Therefore you will only find work where your specialized skills EXCEED those of native Japanese, therefore giving your employer a reason to go through the hassle of hiring you, as opposed to a Japanese person.

That's why 95-99% (my guess) of the foreigners working in Japan are language teachers...mostly English language teachers.

[GregFromScotland]

Originally Posted by MMM

That's why 95-99% (my guess) of the foreigners working in Japan are language teachers...mostly English language teachers.

I would say that to be true of White english natives only.

However, the majority of foreigners working in Japan are Chinese, peru, brazilian and fillipinos.
White English natives don't even make it into the top 4 as far as I'm aware.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by GregFromScotland

I would say that to be true of White english natives only.

However, the majority of foreigners working in Japan are Chinese, peru, brazilian and fillipinos.
White English natives don't even make it into the top 4 as far as I'm aware.

Good point, Greg. I should have said "Westerners" not "Foreigners".