To help you find your feet in the job market, i-to-i can arrange well-paid teaching job in Japan. Otherwise, it’s relatively easy to find a teaching job before you leave home, either through the Japanese government’s JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) program, university careers departments or specialist recruitment agencies.
Given the current fashion for learning other languages such as French and Spanish, the ability to speak a second European language could boost your employment prospects.
Can I find work while in-country?
Japan is one of the easiest places to find a job in-country, as long as you’re a native English speaker with a university degree; and if you’re willing to venture outside of Tokyo, the lack of competition could make your search easier. Just be sure that your savings will cover your first few weeks without a job, or you’ll be back home quicker than expected!
What is the usual hiring process?
Once you’ve applied for a position, you’re usually interviewed over the phone. The Japanese value enthusiasm and professionalism in their English teachers, so make sure you speak clearly. Equally, if you’re invited for an interview, it helps to be smartly dressed and polite.
Is a work visa required to find paid work?
It is essential that you have a work visa to teach in Japan. If you have a job offer, your employer will send you an official Certificate of Eligibility, which you then take to your country’s Japanese embassy who will issue a work permit. If you want to turn your tourist visa into a work visa, you will have to exit the country first. If you hope to find work inside the country, it’s best to have a six-month working holiday visa (extendable for a further six months).
If you hope to find work inside the country, it’s best to have a six-month working holiday visa (extendable for a further six months).
Work visa requirements:
No criminal record
Citizen of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, or Denmark
Primarily in Japan for a holiday
Have a return ticket or enough money to purchase one
Have savings of at least £2,500 for living expenses (this varies depending on your nationality)
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