Archive for the ‘jobs’ Category
The hopes of a cynical person
Posted on: October 14, 2008
- In: fukuoka | goals | Japan | jobs | Uncategorized | Writing
- 2 Comments
A cloudy Autumn evening in Fukuoka
A little while back I turned 26 years old. Another year older and a little more cynical. Let me break it down for you. Tomorrow I go back to my part-time job at the university. When I left for summer vacation there was talk about more classes and a possible full-time position. I told them that I would definitely want to do that, but so far I havent heard another word about it. My visa will expire in January and all their talk will be just talk if I don’t get an extension. You have to apply at least 2 months in advance. I like my job, but I’m tired of scraping by. I’ve been offered two full-time ALT jobs that would require me to move, both wanting me to start immediately. I passed on both, because ONE it’s a pain to move and I’ve already moved at least 5 times since I’ve been in Japan. TWO I really don’t want to do the ALT thing anymore now that I’ve had a taste of teaching at university level.
It was my hope that this university position would give me a step-up in the world. I don’t want to go back to being a chimp in a suit, just sitting at a desk waiting to punch out because this week the Japanese English Teachers decided they don’t need my services. Sure it gave me time to study being an ALT, but so far all my studying hasn’t given me any extra money. My friends back home working in warehouses are making more money than me.
My hope is that this month I will be given that full-time university position and get my visa. Then I can stay in Japan for another year, doing something that I enjoy. However I do have a backup plan. If I don’t get the job, then when I go home to America for Christmas vacation, I’m not coming back to Fukuoka. I may come back to Japan, but when I don’t know.
Hustling for that yen
Posted on: May 2, 2008
The other day I decided I can’t stay still anymore. I need to get out there and make something happen or I’m not going to achieve anything and it will all come to nothing. So I went down to IMS and got a paper to place an ad on their bulletin board for language instruction. I came home and made and advert for my services and printed it on that bulletin paper. The day after I went back and had it put up on the bulletin board. Also I made a bunch of flyers to pass out to people leaving the train station. So that’s what I did. I went out there, I looked each person in the eye and said, “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.” It’s the customary expression people say when handing out advertisement in Japan. It means, “Please be good to me.”, “Pleased to meet you.” or just plain “Please.” It has many uses.
I was out there standing by the escalator, waiting for people to get off the trains. Some people made a sharp right as soon as they saw me so they wouldn’t have to interact with me. Others pretended I was invisible. Some said, “Excuse me.” and went on by. There was one high school boy that took a flyer and made a big scene by saying, “Thanking very much!!” in Japanese very loudly. I just said the same back to him in English. I managed to handout all of my flyers. How many flyers are in people’s trashcans and how many are on people’s tables next to their day planners is unbeknownst to me. I’m hoping to get at least 10% will contact me for a lesson – 20% would be great, 30% would make me prosperous, 40% would be unbelievable, and 100% would be too much for me to handle.
The majority of people who took my flyers were women. I’d say it was skewed to about 65% women and %35 men. But that seems about right anyway. When I taught at Nova, most of my students were women. Women tend to be more interested in learning languages than men.
Now I’m going to wait a for about a week or so. If I don’t get any replies, I might have to go back to teaching for a school. I have to make money. If I don’t make money, I can’t eat. If I don’t eat, I’ll die. Dieing is bad. But I’m long way from that. I just want to.
Well today I went to a jobagency in Fukuoka. It was a very interesting experience. First I was greeted after I came through the door right now time. I would have been early, but it took a little while for me to find the right building. Once inside I was given a sheet of paper to fillout. All the usual stuff: name, date of birth, address, and contact info. When they heard me finish writing, a man and a woman came to the table and gave me their business cards, introduced themselves, and gave me slick looking printout with a summary of the companies information. From then on the man did most of the talking. He told me all about his company. He spoke with a rapid pace, but also very clearly. Then he started asking me questions like. What kind of work are you interested in doing and how I came to Japan. What companies I worked for and how I was able to learn Japanese in such a short time. I tried to answer as politely as I could, but ever now and I again my grammar would slip back into dameguchi (unpolite speech), and I would correct myself if I caught it. They didn’t seem to mind. They seem to have had lots of experience dealing with foreigners, however I was the first American customer. They were absolutely thrilled when I told them I’m from America, because they love America. They studied there in college and frequently visit the states. They didn’t speak much English to me, but by the looks of it they understood well enough. On occasion they would throw in an English word, when a Japanese word would do, for my benefit of course, but I can’t blame them for trying to be accomodating. Overall it was a great experience. They seemed excited about my coming to them, because it would give them something to added to their company website. Normally they just deal with Asian students who are studying in Japan: Chinese, Koreans, Philipinos, and maybe Thais. To tell the truth it made me feel good. I am the first American to go to that job agency, I have made history. Not real history, but a significant step for me. I don’t know when I will get a job, but as I was heading out the door they told me that if I should find a job that I looks interesting to me in my own searches, I should tell them and they will contact the company for me and to plead my case. The last bit made me a little uneasy, because it sounds like they don’t have anything lined up for me yet. Now just I have to wait and see how things unfold.
ALT Companies
Posted on: April 15, 2008
If you are looking for a job in Japan you might want to teach at a public school in Japan as an ALT. ALT has different meanings depending on who you ask. It may mean human tape recorder if you go to a junior high school. It may mean teacher/clown at an elementary school. The job is definitely more challanging if you work at an Elmentary school according to my friend who taught in the Elementary schools. I however worked in Junior High schools and it was an absolute cakewalk. I could have done the job in my sleep. Most of the time I was in the teachers lounge because there where no classes for me to participate in for whatever reasons the Japanese English teachers had. In truth I think they used my services sparingly, because they were set in their ways and don’t like doing team teaching, because it messes with their normal flow of things.
So here is what I know, about the ALT companies in my area (Fukuoka). The companies I know of are called Interac, KBS, and OWLS. They all pay about the same and they all are very stingy with money. Don’t expect to get more than 250,000 yen with transportation and everything included. Here is why; they get paid directly from the board of education. They get something around 327,000 yen plus full transportation costs. So out of the money they get from the BOE they pay you. Leaving them with whatever is left over. It’s bring big chunck they take. So if you were able to get a job directly from the BOE, you would make a lot more, but it’s not exactly easy and in Japan they love the middle-man.
Interac has more schools than OWLS or KBS and are more corporate feeling on the whole. OWLS has schools in the Kyushu are concentrated around the Kitakyushu area mostly. KBS is the smallest of them all and so far I hear good things from the people that work for them, however the pay is a little less in comparison.
If I was looking for a job as an ALT I would probably go with Interac, but only because I’ve worked for OWLS and I know how shadey things are there. They try to keep their employees in the dark in order to make more money off of them. They don’t give bonuses, but I don’t know if KBS or Interac do either. OWLS on the whole does not trust foreigners. So I would stay clear of them if it is your first time to Japan, because honestly people really depend on their companies for a lot when they come to Japan for the first time. Luckily for me it was not my first time to Japan.
I will tell you this. There is a shortage of native English speakers in Fukuoka so it is quite easy to get a job as an ALT. Even non-native English speakers get the job. I’ve met Georgians, Saudi Arabians, Indians, and Africans who teach as ALTs. Their English isn’t always 100% grammatically acurate, but it is very good on the whole.
I would like to hear from the ALTs out there. What is your opinion of the companies you work for? What’s been your experience?
Lackadaisical or “meh”
Posted on: April 2, 2008
So it’s been about 10 or so days since my job ended. I’ve made a few efforts into searching for a new job, but I could be more energetic with my inquires, but I’m feeling like “meh” right now. I don’t feel the fire under me to get me going, but I know need to put some energy into something because I know something will not just fall into my lap. I have to go out and get it. I have gotten a phone call from a company, but they offered me a job that is even further than my last job. I wrote an e-mail to a hakken (temp agency), but I don’t have the full details on their office and I think I have to call in order to setup an interview. I’m a little uneasy about calling because my Japanese phone etiquette is basically just good for ordering pizza. So I need to brush up on it. I can pull of a really good Japanese accent, but when I don’t use proper etiquette I think it lets the American cat out of the bag. Anyway, have some lessons on phone etiquette that I can study, but that feeling of “meh” is hard to shake now, because I’m comfortable. I have money, my bills are paid, and I got food. I don’t want to worry about tomorrow. So I stayed home most of the day and watched CSI DVDs -big deal. It helped me figure out how to write one of my stories better. The show is a plethora of fascinating tidbits of potpourri. And I’m studying my Conan Doyle to see how he setups up each story. There really is a set pattern to it. If you copy the pattern, not the story nor the characters, but the pattern of how he tells a story you can write a good mystery – maybe. Anyway, I’m not just veggin’ in front of my tv playing video games – I did that the day before yesterday. I really hope I can make something out of the things I love. I don’t want to be tied to a job that is uninspiring and overly common.
On a sad note. My friends Kit and Mac-mac have gone off to England. I was sorry to see them go. However I have been invited to come visit them and I would very much like to. So I need to start saving up some more money. But first things first. I have to make money before I can save any. Take a look at my store at www.cafepress.com/gorillaskin
Job hunting
Posted on: March 31, 2008
- In: goals | Japan | japanese | jobs | nihongo | Uncategorized
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So at around 10am I got a call from a company I applied to weeks ago. They told me they had a position open in Kita-kyushu. They wanted me to work in a place called Kanda Town. I’ve heard of this place. It’s really, really far away from where I live. I told them I wasn’t interested in working there at that location. They told me to fill out an application form just in case something close to me opened up. It would be nice if it did, but I’m not holding my breathe.
I have to get my resume changed to Japanese format soon. I’m going to do that tonight if possible. Then I’m going to go to a temp staff place. If there is time, I’m going to go to a talent agency too. Just for kicks. They might have something for me. I could be stand-in in a commercial or a movie or something.
The job I want
Posted on: March 25, 2008
- In: fukuoka | goals | humor | Japan | japanese | jobs | jokes | learning | linguistics | photos | teaching | translater | translator | Uncategorized
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So today is the first day of my “vacation” until I find a another job. I’ve been looking online, in the local want ads, and at Rainbow Plaza in Tenjin. So far I’ve seen a few jobs that pay better, but the downside is they’re teaching English. All the translator jobs are in Tokyo or Saitama which is practically Tokyo. Plus I’m missing a few things to become a translator. I’m missing experience with a program called TRADOS. It is a program translators use to manage the translating process. Next I’m missing experiences with translating the most common kinds of documents: legal, electronics, and medical. I do know a good deal of medical terms, but it’s not enough really. I need to find a way to overcome these obstacles. Plus almost every company wants JLPT Lvl 1 for translators. For a proofreader I only need JLPT Lvl 2. So I’m looking for proofreader jobs right now. Maybe it will be my step into translating.
As far as making money is concerned, I’m getting my monies that are due to be paid by the government tomorrow. It’s a good thing so I can pay off the debt I accrued when Nova went belly up and I had to live of my credit cards and my parents kindness. Plus I’m going to start teaching private lessons starting next month. I just have to advertise my services and find a place to give lessons at.
I’m still working on my designs for t-shirts and other apparrell. Help a ninja out. Please buy something from my store at www.cafepress.com/gorillaskin
The monies
Posted on: March 21, 2008
- In: ALT | etymology | fukuoka | Japan | japanese | jobs | linguistics | OWLS | owls alt | teaching | Uncategorized
- 3 Comments
Well It looks like my plan to keep a record of my food is a wash. I can try and start it again, but alas as the Japanese say, “Shoganai” (Et cant be hept). Translation for those who don’t speak Texan “It can’t be helped.” Basically I’m feeling lazy or as the British people say, “I can’t be bothered.” I love that saying, “I can’t be bothered.” You pick up all kinds of little differences in your own English and other peoples in Japan.
On many occasions I have been cornered in my classroom when my students ask, “Why do they say it this way.” Invariably the answer is, “That’s just the way we talk.” If you turn the question around on them and ask them why a certain Japanese phrase is the way it is, they give you the same answer – sometimes you get the blank stare of horror. It is true that many expressions do have an origin, but it can really bring a lesson to a halt when you try and over-analyze everything. Especially when the goal is to teach conversational English and not the history of the language. If I know the origin of a phrase or word, I enjoy sharing my knowledge. But my knowledge on word origin and turns-of-phrase is finite. There is a good number of books out there on the subject of etymology (word origin) and I’ve been meaning to buy one, but it all comes down to the monies. Then again knowledge is important too.
I don’t know if you’re like me, but I have a tendency to collect more books than I actually read. I like having books around. You never know when you might need that information that a certain book might have. It is a habit I picked up from my parents and one of my teachers. My art teacher in college said, the trick to being creative is having a good library to get inspiration from. And it really does help. Even in the translating world I hear that having a good selection of reference materials is essential to the translation process. A translator most be a voracious reader forever thirsting for knowledge.
On a different note:
I heard back from my company today. I tried to bargain with the company for more money. I figured I’d give them a chance to do the right thing. They just sounded upset and the conversation ended rather quickly. I should hear back from them soon enough. It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds.
Pros and Cons of Working for OWLS
Posted on: March 18, 2008
Tonight I just got the details about my new contract. Here it is verbatim:
Your schools are Kato JHS, Kato ES and Genkai ES. You can walk to Kato JHS and ES from Akama station. To get to Genkai ES you can take bus from Togo station.
232,000 yen per month is provided except for August. So is transportation expenses up to 15,000 yen per month.
We will show you the actual contract at the meeting on 24th.
If you have some questions, please contact me.”
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