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I'm gonna graduate in 2016 as an undergrad and want to try working in Japan. Are there any jobs or programs people can recommend other than JET? I want a few backups at least.
If it helps, my majors are Japanese and computer science.
Your best bet is probably to teach English or enter a language program first, then when you're on the ground you can try to find an internship or something else. As for specific programs, I don't know anything other than JET. Check some ESL forums or something.
I was a Japanese major a few years back and a bunch of my friends went to some of the English teaching schools (Nova, Aeon) but I think some of them are out of business. I have some friends who work for the school districts but not via JET. I also have a friend who works for a Fortune 500 company- he applied to their Tokyo office, explaining that he was 100% fluent in Japanese (level 1 in the JLPT test) and they scooped him up. That is a much more difficult path to follow. Alternatively I know people who work for large companies in the US and are then transferred to their Asian offices.
Or you could come to Hawaii- esp on Oahu, there's tons of Japanese people.
I also have a friend who works for a Fortune 500 company- he applied to their Tokyo office, explaining that he was 100% fluent in Japanese (level 1 in the JLPT test) and they scooped him up. That is a much more difficult path to follow. Alternatively I know people who work for large companies in the US and are then transferred to their Asian offices.
What companies would these happen to be? And what did your friend study in school? I'm trying to do something similar in China.
I'm gonna graduate in 2016 as an undergrad and want to try working in Japan. Are there any jobs or programs people can recommend other than JET? I want a few backups at least.
If it helps, my majors are Japanese and computer science.
Good thing you are learning the language because there are a lot of Japanese language only jobs in IT. I spoke with a couple managers over there and as long as you have connections and a degree, you're set.
I've lived and worked in Japan for the past 14 years. The posters above recommending the JET program have the right idea: JET is low stress and pays a decent salary, and it lets you see the "real" Japan without keeping you cooped up in a salaryman-style office all day long. And you can get by with minimal Japanese. Just don't assume that because you speak English natively, you can also teach it. Do your homework and learn the rules of English grammar and word formation; study a little etymology; learn to write the International Phonetic Alphabet.
JET is up to 3 years. If you get antsy after teaching out in the hinterlands somewhere, and your Japanese is up to the challenge, late in your first year start visiting the nearest big city and look into "real" jobs.
And if you don't get into JET, consider the private English teaching schools, but go in with your eyes open -- those schools are about profit, not education. You will be worked to the bone there; they're called the McDonalds of Engilsh teaching for a reason.
After you've put in this stint, see if you can then get hired by an American company -- hopefully the economy will have improved by then -- and then get yourself sent back to Japan as an expat rather than working for local wages. I'm on that latter train, and believe me, it's nowhere near as lucrative as working for an American company would be.
This is just one potential life course, and it's one that assumes you want to work in the corporate world. There are many other avenues to living in Japan -- grad school, volunteering, etc.; yuo've got plenty of time to decide which is best for you. Gambatte!
I'm in IT and the software house I worked at in the Phillipines way way back got contract work with Itochu. I was picked for the gig but I completely backed out because their keyboard is different
I married a japanese woman so I dont mind working over there if the opportunity presents itself. I'm just a little worried about the pay tho
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