CoMic95TheSavior: November 2019

You've sent your resume out to every school that you could find or maybe you've already had your interview but now the hard part has begun. Everyone's least favorite part of the job process is the waiting game. You have absolutely no idea whether or not they will hire you and you don't know when exactly will they message you. The time seems to go by slower, you're starting to second guess the answers that you gave during your interview, you're looking over your resume for errors and refresh your memory as though it's an official study guide. What could you possibly do to let your employer know that you want this job?

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More Job Advice for Non-Native English Speakers

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Job Advice for Non-Native English Speakers

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How to Find a Job in Japan for Non-Native English Speakers

How to Convince Your Potential Employer to Hire You

I am commonly asked by the foreigners that wish to live and work in Japan both from outside and within the country "What should I do to ensure that I get the job after I have submitted my resume/interviewed?". Everyone seems to expect me to have some sort of secret code that will help you land the job overtime but even as a native English speaker from America I have been rejected and I haver made my fair share of mistakes when interviewing, submitting my resume, and when filling out job applications. The quick answer is simple. There is absolutely nothing that you can say or do that will change your employers mind about you and your resume once they have already seen what you have to say about your education, experience and credentials and after they have already seen you in person or through your video chat.
However what you can do is learn from your mistakes and avoid common mistakes that could be keeping your from getting a call or email back with a job offer.
Please keep in mind that in Japan companies usually make decisions at the end of the interview and at the very latest by the end of the week. It is unusual for you to have to wait two or more weeks to hear back from an employer. Any job that asks you to wait more than 3-5 business days is probably a bad employer or one that has you on the back burner in search of better applicants meaning that they'll probably lay you off as soon as they find what they were really looking for at a later date. This could also mean that you won't be able to negotiate your contract as well. Your employer should be afraid of losing you as a candidate and should want to get back to you ASAP. If they seem really relaxed about this then you probably didn't get the job. Keep in mind that most companies in Japan (unlike where I an from in the U.S) will communicate with you by email and not by phone. Even if you don't get the job usually an apology email is sent to provide you with some closure.

Remember your goal is to persuade your potential employer. You want to prove to them that you are the best applicant and the only candidate with potential by...

Appearing to be friendly and good with both children and adults. Your job may require you to teach a variety of ages and to give presentations or orientations.
Having a loud and clear English voice that is nearly "accent free". Employers want teachers that have confidence and that can be easily understood.
Being familiar with Japanese culture. Someone that has been living in Japan for at least a year already or that has studied or worked in Japan in the past is more likely to get hired. There is a fear that you will not like Japan and quit shortly after starting your new job.
Possessing Japanese language ability at an N4 level (no certificate needed but having one is a plus).
Emphasizing your flexibility with your work hours as well as your punctuality.

Quick Tips for Securing The Job

Make sure your resume lists relevant and recent work history and experience in relation to teaching (preferably English).

Avoid talking about your love for Japanese people or pop-culture. Be careful about mentioning your person life such as your marriage relationships, children or religion. This can either help or hurt your chances of getting hired. It is not fair but it is true here.

Avoid saying negative things about working with children or adults. Statements like "I don't like small children" can be a red flag for some employers.

Attach a good headshot photo of yourself in business attire (no visible "exotic" piercings or tattoos and wear natural looking makeup).

Highlight your educational background and and any teaching certifications that you have received or classes that you have attended for professional development.

Use good grammar and proper English.

Don't harass you employer with follow up messages and phone calls (be patient and give them some time). It is extremely unlikely that your employer forgot that you interviewed with them even if it was weeks ago. If they want you they'll be reminding you. Avoid contacting them again unless it has been at least a few business days to a week past the time that they told you a decision should be made. be sure to keep your email professional but also friendly and brief. You don't want to sound desperate and beg for the job.

Speak with a firm and clear voice.

Show genuine interest and passion in teaching and helping others.

Use yourself as an example of someone who has successful learned English (2 or more languages)

Answer all of the questions that the employer asks clearly.

Practice for your interview. Record yourself and ask a friend to interview you. Talk to yourself in the mirror.

Apply for jobs from late October-early April or whenever the hiring season starts for your chosen company or school.

Secure letters of recommendation and get a handful of legitimate references.

Speak and dress professionally during your interview.

Important Words to Know

Native Fluent (English Speaker): Someone who is not from a country in which English is the common language but that can personally listen converse and usually read and write at a level that is near native or indistinguishable when compared to a native speaker.
This is someone who can watch and listen to movies and music without subtitles, that doesn't need to ask someone to speak slowly or to repeat themselves, that understands slang and can use some themselves, and that understands English humor. This person usually has either no accent at all or a very small accent with a huge vocabulary which allows them to converse and express themselves fluently just as a native speaker would.
Grammatical errors when speaking aren't very common. They can typically use the correct tense when speaking and rarely make mistakes with particles as well.

Non-Native (English) Speaker: Someone who wasn't born and raised in one of "The Big 5" English speaking countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, or India, etc..

Native (English) Speaker: A person who was born, raised, and educated in a country whose national language is English such as the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Other countries such as Jamaica and South Africa are debatable and aren't commonly included in the lineup as native speaking countries for a few different reasons.

Some comanpies don't care and will hire people from other countries but most will not or simply don't consider these countries to have native speakers.

Where to Search for Work?

Search for cultural centers , travel agencies, internships, and international schools from your country with Japan campuses. These are easy ways to find work in Japan that usually doesn't require you to be a native English speaker. Keep in mind that even an unpaid or low paying gig can help you gain experience and get your foot in the door here.

You can always switch jobs or find a better program later so never feel trapped at any one company.
Please check out my YouTube videos for more advice on job searching.

If It Sounds too Good to Be True Then it Probably is...

A lot of people spend tons of time doing Google Searches and applying for jobs that seem fun and enticing but upon arrival in Japan you will see that the company housing is in a slum, your check is a bit off, the work load is a lot heavier, your boss and coworkers aren't as welcoming, kind and trusting as they appeared to have been.
I have personally accepted jobs that promised to sponsor my visa and then let me go right before the time came.
Remember you don't have to start off working your dream job but you also don't want to put yourself in a dangerous situation, end up getting blackmailed or find yourself in legal trouble while abroad.

Japan has a tendency to abuse middle easterners and South Asians people because they are willing to work very hard for very little and usually speak better Japanese than Americans and Europeans. However I know of people from Italy and Germany that have also been paid low wages for hard work and long hours without even receiving visa sponsorship.

What Kind of Visa do You Need?
Most visas with the exception of the standard 90 day "tourist visa" will allow you to work as long as you fill out a simple application form and submit it to your city's local immigration office in Japan.
The preferred visa is a work visa (instructor or specialist in humanities). There is a catch-22 with this though. Most employers aren't willing o sponsor a work visa for a non-native English speaker but they also don't want to hire students as they don't understand the laws and rules in regards to student visas and others simply don't want to take any risks and would rather avoid hiring students altogether (understandably).
Most companies that are okay with just a spouse visa are language schools and low end international schools. (AKA jobs that pay ¥250,000 yen or less a month before taxes).

How Much Will You Make?
This amount depends on a variety of factors. Your Japanese and English language ability your years of experience your role within the company, and the size of the company that you are working for. For example a small school will general pay all of their staff an equal salary whereas a larger school will usually pay teachers based on their years of experience and are open to negotiation.
Keep in mind that not all schools see non-native English speakers as lesser teachers. Many will pay the same salary across the board to all of their staff and others will even pay non-native English speakers much more than a native-English speaking teacher due to their years of teaching experience, work performance, Japanese language ability, and of course years working for the same company (raises and bonuses do exist in Japan).
However on average you can expect to be paid about ¥1000-¥1500 an hour and about ¥200,000 a month.
There are however a lot of non-native English speakers that are only making ¥120,000-¥220,000 a month for doing jobs that vary from office work, professional translations, IT related work and ESL work. If you are l;living humbly and if you live alone and don't have any children to support then this is an okay salary but if you are living in the middle of Shibuya, Tokyo with 2 kids and a spouse then this is nearly impossible to live off of.

Nothing Seems to Be Working...
Unfortunately sometimes even after we do everything that we can possibly think of things still don't end up in our favor. The reality is that Japan has its on rules and isn't subject to foreign laws when it comes to interviewing or employing foreigners. Discrimination based on your age, marital status, gender, religion, race, nationality, and sexuality are all fair game here.You may have done everything right but they'd rather hire the blonder haired blue eyed British woman or the green eyed Aussie over you.
Is it always because of race? No! Absolutely not but the unfortunate reality is that both staff and Japanese children and adults usually prefer to not only have a native English speaker but someone with white skin and light colored features.
Sometimes it is simply your age or weight that has caused a job to choose another applicant over you especially if you are white but aren't from a country where English is the first language.
Consider yourself lucky! You dodged a bullet! Why would you want to work for a shallow employer anyway? Being patient could earn you a major raise at a new employer.

Please don't give up! I have personally sent my resume out and have filled out countless applications for countless employers. I have experienced being unemployed, I have been fired, I have been rejected, I have spent months searching for work and I have also worked at countless bad companies but it all paid off. I eventually found good and honest employers and so will you! It doesn't matter what country you are from or what you look like. Their are English teachers of every shade and from just about every country living and working in Japan. Sure, there are some challenges that you may face that others didn't have to but then you will have an amazing story to tell and great advice to give to others.

The interview process is a learning experience and any employer that doesn't take a chance on you will wish that they did when that "native speaker" quits their job because grandma got really sick or they're going through a divorce 2 months into their 2 year contract.
Once you find the right job it will make up for all of the low paying job with bad environments. Continue to be strong, keep praying, keep working on yourself as an educator and continue learning both Japanese and English. No matter what you choose to do or where you choose to work please try your best to never give up.

Have any advice to share or tips to give? Have a question? Please share your experience with working in Japan as a non-native English speaker. Feel free to ask your questions in the comments or send me an email and I will try my best to help you.

Stay Tuned!

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