How To Find a Job in Japan When English is NOT Your First Language (How to Find a Job in Japan for Non-Native English Speakers)

This post is almost identical to my previous post  How To Find a Job in Japan Fast.
Several of the topics within this post have been edited and adjusted to fit your situation as a non-native speaker in comparison to the original post linked above. I'd recommend that you read both posts and watch my video series on YouTube as well.

So you're ready to pack up your bags and make the big move to Japan. You've saved up enough money and you've graduated from your university. I can assume that since you are reading this you always spent years learning, studying and practicing English only to be disappointed that none of this is enough to get the job outside of your home country.

Let's face it English is a very difficult language to learn. No matter how well you can speak it there are so many rules that are broken when it comes to speaking or even writing. Heck I make errors all the time (including in my blog posts)! There's an endless list of slang and cultural differences to add on top of everything else. Most people in East Asia and particularly in Japan aspire to obtain a natural and "native" sounding American English accent.
Because of this, most people are not willing to settle for anything else or less than just that. To many this might seem unfair or ridiculous as you can't choose what country you come from or where you were born. It is an unfair advantage to be an American.
In your home country the teachers there were probably non-native speakers and you came out just fine! You can now speak read and write fluently in English! I think about my time I spent learning Spanish in America. I only had a native Spanish speaking teacher for my first year of language classes when I was in the 3rd grade. My middle school and high school teachers were just 2 white people one who had studied abroad in Mexico for 2 years and the other who had never left the USA but majored in Spanish. Sure they were both fluent but they both made many mistakes too! I knew Spanish that my high school teacher Ms.Bradely didn't even know and she had to play it off and pretend like I was wrong to save face although I had learned the formal greeting that I used on her during my conversation practice test from my old native speaking teacher. Anyway I was also aware that her accent wasn't native sounding. She made an effort sure but an effort isn't good enough.
My point is because mistakes can be made and people learn by mimicking you. Using the wrong verb tense, mispronouncing a word, or not understanding a articular idiom etc., can cause your students to make mistakes that will cost them their grades, careers, or simply make travel, work and school difficult as they will not be understood. Where I'm from you are really lucky if you have a native speaking teacher for your foreign language class. In Japan this is the standard and most places will ONLY hire a native speaker. This term being almost synonymous with American (if you aren't American most jobs require you to fake an English accent and if you can't you can probably kiss that job goodbye).

Everything that you need to know...

The Myths

The Pay is Low/Terrible

The average Japanese person makes between 3-4 million yen a month. The average schools pays about 2.5-3 million a month. If you don't have a degree, are inexperienced, or previously worked a retail job this is probably a huge pay raise for you! I wouldn't be complaining. 

Japan is Expensive

Housing in Japan is very expensive to most foreigners living in Japan particularly those who aren't from America.  However for many it is cheap. My rent is only $330 USD and my electric bill ranges between only $4-$5 USD! I could never live anywhere near Chicago for such a low amount even the most dangerous areas start at around $450-$600 USD a month.

Groceries are more expensive but you can save money by purchasing discounted foods at night and freezing them. Consider making pot roasts, and slow cooker meals to stretch your money.

Non-native Speakers Can't Work in Japan 

I was the only native speaker at both of my previous jobs. All of my coworkers are non-native speakers! They all have visa sponsorship through my workplace, their schools, or their spouse. It is hard but it is definitely possible to find a position. Most worked here aren't native speakers and that is why Americans are sought after so much. 

Only White People Can Teach English

I am clearly not white but a black woman. I will admit that I believe colorist and attractiveness plays a major role in Japan. My dark and brown skin friends and coworkers have been met with racial slurs and jokes from both companies and students alike. I would say only "attractive" people can but this is also untrue as the majority of people that I have worked with and seen working where old, obese, and well... a bit rough looking.

You Can't Work on a Student Visa

You can legally work with student visa. All you have to do is ask your school for some help and simply fill out an application in English and take it to the immigration office. It takes a few weeks for them to prepare everything. Upon approval you will receive a stamp on the back of your residence card. You can work up to 28 hours part-time per a week doing anything besides nightlife work.

What is true is that you can't work LEGALLY full-time on a student visa. 

You Don't Need a Visa

In all honesty most places don't check visas, references, certifications, or information about your previous job or residencies. I don't recommend lying but it is commonly done here. You reap what you sow. Your lies will catch up to you eventually! It feels so much better to do things that right way and to be honest as much as possible. We all make mistakes but telling lies about your employment history or visa status is not something that you want to fabricate. Before you know it you'll find yourself caught in a web jobless and potentially banned from Japan for anywhere from 2 years to life!

Your Employer Can Cancel Your Visa

Even if you get fired or quit your employer cannot cancel your visa only immigration can. As long as you are working an appropriate job for your visa status and obeying the laws here you can change jobs as much as you'd like to. If you go a significant amount of time without working/being employed you may find yourself in a "gray area" with your visa situation. You can switch residence/visa statuses and you can change sponsors.

You are an employee not a slave! Sometimes it is hard to believe this.

Why You Can't Find a Job/The Mistakes That You Make

People who comment on my YouTube videos, email me, or message me on other social platforms such as Facebook, Skype, and Instagram tend to have very noticeable grammatical errors.
Whenever I go to work I constantly hear my German, Indian, and Filipino coworkers make mistakes in their accents or choice of words when speaking confidently.
I understand what they meant to say and we are all human so mistakes are only natural but these errors cannot be made if you really want to give potential employers a good impression of you or if you are seeking visa sponsorship.

These Are The Five Most Commonly Made Mistakes That I Have Witnessed

1. Pronouncing "Th" as "tree" or "zee" or "duh"
2. Improper use of verb tense
3. Improper use of singular and plural nouns
4. Incorrect Capitalization
5. Speaking too quickly (difficult for students to follow and increases the chance of you having a thick non-native sounding accent).

Remember you are the teacher! It's okay to make an error here or there it is only natural but you are being judged very differently because this is not your first language. Also be mindful that people are paying a lot of money per a month, week, or by the hour for these lessons and classes. I wouldn't want to pay a white guy from New York to teach me Japanese over a Japanese man who was born and raised in Tokyo unless his lessons were free or half the cost and even then I'd wonder if it would be worth is to  have paid more for the native speaker!

Avoid Using Slang

When slang is misused it’s a thousand times worse then speaking with simple or basic English because, since you were brave or bold enough to use such informal language your listener or the person that you are talking to will assume that you were being rude purposefully should you make a mistake and misuse a slang term. It’s ALWAYS better to speak formal versus informal. In business settings speaking slang NEVER makes someone look native even when used appropriately it always makes the employee or employer seem incompetent or unqualified for their position. Do you want people to think that you are ignorant, rude and incompetent for your position at your company?Keep in mind that if your interviewer is a native speaker and you use inappropriate or odd slang this could make them have seconds thoughts on how "good" of a teacher you will be. On the flip side if your interviewer is Japanese and presumably has a low level of understanding in regards to slang they might not even catch your mistakes!
Some business slang is okay if you dare but avoid everyday slang words, elaborate idioms, metaphors, similes etc..
If you don't fully understand how a word should be used then don't use it!

Acceptable "Business Slang"

"I'm sorry I'm running late. I will be there by 3:00PM"
"I have some errands to tun this evening."

You Need to Slow Down

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is trying to talk fast to show their fluency and language skills. This may have been impressive to your peers in your language classes back at home but this is a bad idea when searching for a job in Japan. As I mentioned before the faster you speak the more likely you are to make mistakes with your choice of words and accent.
Speak with a firm and clear voice. Take your time! There is no rush. Don;t be afraid to ask questions and smile.
English may not be your first language but i can assure you that you are probably way more fluently than the Japanese person interviewing you!

You Didn't Create a (Good) Resume

I believe that everyone should make 3 things a personal statement, cover letter, and a resume whenever you are applying for any job that you plan to have as a career. Using near perfect grammar, a friendly introduction and closing, and answering any questions that the company, employer asked of you is crucial. If your grammar is too difficult to understand and full of mistakes it will be obvious that you aren't a native speaker. 

A general rule of thumb is that if you can't even manage to write electronically on a computer using "good English" what are the chances of you being able to speak properly when autocorrect cannot save you?

Your resume and personal statement are the first things that they will see. This I've them an idea of who you are as a person. It is also an easy way to weed out and eliminate potentially bad teachers and see how well you can follow directions.

Your personal statement should include the answers to commonly asked questions

Your legal name (first name only is okay)

Your country of origin

Why you are in Japan (student/ working holiday visa etc.)

Your visa status and duration of time left

The purpose of your email (the position that you are applying for. This email may be used for potential clientele and students so be sure to specify that you are looking for work and not lessons!)

You Aren't Qualified

Most schools require a bachelor's degree this is NOT just an immigration but an employment requirement nowadays. Can you still get hired without a degree sure you can but you're also less likely to get hired, sponsorship, or even a livable salary as you will be seen as being worth less than your coworkers with degrees.

I know it's heartbreaking to hear that you need a bachelors degree. Everyone tries to go around this requirement and you can but it is very difficult to do so you need 10 plus years of experience an employer willing to go through the complicatedness of your degree-less application or a native Japanese spouse.

As a non-native speaker you will always have to prove yourself. You have to show them that you are a good teacher. You're probably much smarter and harder of a worker than most native speakers here anyway so it shouldn't be hard for you to do.

Now after all of the negativity and disappointment, let's get to the reason why you decided to read this article!! How To Get Hired!

Have Some Knowledge of Japanese Students/Culture and Language

Interviewers love it when I tell them that I'm familiar with the difficulties that students have here with pronouncing "L", "R", "B", "V", and "TH" sounds, as well as understanding how shy they are with speaking loud or as the rest of the world calls it at a normal indoor voice tone. It's such a basic and obvious statement to make and to be honest everyone should know this and be aware of it simply from listening to people speak English here but you'd be amazed at how many people don't know this or don't think to restate the obvious.

Introduce Yourself

Put together a simple generic template-style personal letter, email, cover letter, and resume. Having this put together in advance will be very helpful as you can quickly pull up the file by name print copies or send them electronically whenever it is needed.

General Advice

Grammar

Be sure to check your spelling and punctuation especially if you are not a native English speaker or if you are a native speaker but English isn't your forte. Keep in mind that if you are Canadian, British or Australian you should use American English when writing or typing and of possible try your best to fake an accent when speaking. Some jobs don't care if you send American or not but some do!
It will be hard to trust your teaching skills if your writing is full of errors.

1. Check your spelling
2. Always use proper English 
3. Use capitalization
4. Use an appropriate greeting and closing for every email that you send 
5. Avoid using slang of any kind as much as possible when writing

Labeling 

Every resume related file and every email that you send should have a title. This makes it easy to search for it when you need it again both for you and your potential employer. This will also help emails avoid being sent to spam and is helpful for Japanese employers who may not always understand all of the contents of your message. Be sure to use a clear, short and simple subject.

Location 

The further away you move from major cities such as Tokyo the less competitive job positions are. country side areas and less touristy cities offer high pay, better benefits, and easier interviews as the schools are less picky and more desperate. This can also be beneficial to non-native speakers as most schools would rather have someone than no one to teach their classes. If you are a native English speaker than this is a huge advantage for you.
If you don't already live in Japan consider applying to schools in different prefectures. If you live in Japan consider moving to a different prefecture or at least to a suburban area.
There are thousands of schools who don't have public advertisements on trains, searchable websites or social media pages. Don't be afraid to walk inside of an international school and ask about their opening.

Be Cautious

If something feels a bit off don't do it! Trust your gut and follow your tuition. Be sure to get detailed contact information such as employer names and addresses, as well as the direct link to the school before sending over copies of your passport, visa or certifications. This is Japan but as an English teacher you will find yourself dealing with a lot of Europeans and occasionally Americans and Canadians all of which are generally less trustworthy. Have you guard up and ask questions and request link or a phone call before sending anything personal.
If possible request that copies of your personal items be made after or during the interview in person.

Email Tips: 

• Always create a clear subject for each message
• Double check your grammar and punctuation
• Use a greeting and a "thank you" of some kind for the closing
• Reply ASAP. employers will thank you for such a quick response even if it takes them days to reply to your messages

Personal Statement: 

Greet the employer and express your interest in the job that you are applying for. Briefly summarize your resume highlighting your education and experience. Be sure to mention your visa status. This can be copied and pasted into the body of your email. your resume and cover letter should be attached by 2 separate files. Be sure to copy and paste your photographs to the bottom of your resume. Your professional business headshot should be at the very top next to your name and address.
Japan is full of photo booths made for this. Passport photos from Walgreens work great too! IF you don't have access to either use your cellphones timer or ask a friend to take a picture of you in business attire while standing against a white wall.
Your personal letter is very similar to your cover letter but not the same. It should be a summary and mention a few things that neither your resume nor cover letter does such as your visa status.

Cover Letter Tips:

Explain why you want this job and why they should hire you over the next gaijin! It's okay to brag and show off here, but make it sounds sweet and a little humble if you can. Be sure to makes hints about your experience.
Be sure to list the following.....

• Your full name 
• Address
• Phone Number(s)
• Email Address
• Address the reader
• Explain why you would be great for this job
• Thank the employer

Resume Tips:

It's okay to use the old fashioned copy and past out line for your resume. Regardless of the dates I recommend putting any experience related to teaching at the top of the work experience section in order from most to least impressive. You should stress your education and volunteer experiences.

Be sure to list the following.....

• Your full name 
• Address
• Phone Number(s)
• Email Address
• Education
• Grade Point Average 
• Degree/diploma
• Certifications
• Work Experience and Location
• Job Descriptions
• Skills 
• Volunteer and Recreational Work

Be a Little Extra

Say Cheese

Japanese people LOVE all things sealed and official and what better way to do this than to have photographs and or videos demonstrating your teaching experience?! Employers are always very surprised when I send them photographs of my teaching and volunteer experiences. The photos don't have to be edited and flattering like I prefer natural "bad" pictures of you really enjoying yourself in the moment is a guaranteed way to land that job before you even interview for the position.

I Choose You

The only thing better than photographs that show and therefore prove your experience is to have employers, managers and even coworkers who can write letters of recommendation with their phone number and email included. It's not common practice for Japanese employers to call your previous job to check out your experiences as an English teacher (I have worked many jobs and nobody has ever done so even at the restaurant, cleaning and cafe jobs that I have had). If you are planning to leave your previous place of work on good terms consider nicely asking them to do type a nice letter for you and to send it via email, preferably on official paper with a signature but anything will do.
There is a 90% chance that they won't actually call but it looks great to have this "on your resume".

Make Connections

As I have said before most of the foreigners in Japan are from Asia and Europe NOT America! Yes most foreigners use English to get by and even when talking with their families in public, but it is usually not their first language. Thousands of people live and work here every year on visas that are sponsored by companies.
Attend international, business, and language exchange parties to meet new people. You can ask them for advice and recommendations.
People aren't usually willing to openly share their connections or any information on how they were hired unless you are close friends so get to know people hang out with them and you will learn more about their work history or current place of work. It never hurts to try or ask.

You Need Experience

While some places will appreciate your honesty most will turn you down or pick someone else over you because you lack teaching experience. Having a degree is a HUGE advantage! Having a degree in education is an even bigger advantage (I will go into detail about this and more things you should know about interviewing in Japan here).
If you don't already have experience volunteer! Consider starting your own online and in person lessons from home and at local cafes. Make connections with your friends here. Both Japanese and foreigners usually know someone who works as a teacher, that owns an eikaiwa, or that is looking for a language tutor. Experience is not just good for your resume but it prepares you for the actual job.
If possible try to obtain experience in a wide range of ages.

A lot of the jobs that are available here have pretty ridiculous wants and expectations. Many employers ask for several years of teaching experience music, theater, and dance backgrounds and many more outrageous requests. They often don't even offer visa sponsorship! This is usually a requirement although most places will still accept applicants that do not meet their ridiculous needs.

Become Japanese

Many school are weary of hiring or even interviewing applicants that do not have at least some or all of the following things...

• Japanese phone number
• Professional looking email address (your first and last name only)
• Hanko stamp with your chosen kanji or katakana signature
• Japanese bank account
• Permanent personal address (such as your own apartment in your name)

The more official things that you have in your name here the higher your chances of finding a job will be. Employers expect you to quit and go back to your home country so the more things that you have in your name as solid evidence of your intentions to work and live and hopefully become a Japanese citizen the happier your employer will be. How Do Non-Native Speakers Get Jobs?
Most non-native speakers that have jobs here are able to work under special circumstances. Just because you have a visa doesn't mean you can get a job. I would compare working as an English teacher to working as a pharmacy tech or a nurse aid in America. Once people get the job they usually don't quit because it is hard to find an opening and land the job especially if you get a hospital position. You generally have to have connections and know someone to get in.
Teaching English as a non-native speaker is no different. If the company offers visa sponsorship or even decent pay the position will be very competitive if it is even available.

Beggars Can't Be Choosers!

Apply to EVERY school and don't turn down any positions! Your goal is to get your foot in the door. As long as it is legal and you are not putting your life on the line, some money is better than no money. Any position that you can obtain is great experience to add to both your resume and life experiences. My first job in Japan was at a kawaii maid cafe in Akihabara and I absolutely hated it! I felt uncomfortable and embarrassed and I encountered stalkers which ultimately led to me quitting the job but it paid well, it was fun, I learned a lot of Japanese, I got to meet interesting people and it gave me experience working in Japan.

Your first job doesn't have to be your last, only, or dream job! There are so many people that would do anything to be in your position.

Don't Get Discouraged

Yes it's true most jobs clearly state that they exclusively and will only hire a native English speaker but that's not true for all companies! Your best bet here is at an eikaiwa (language school), or at an English conversation cafe. There are still some public and private schools that are willing to hire a non-native speaker but this is typically confined to just small schools that are looking for preschool teachers, substitutes, or that don't offer visa sponsorship.

For every rejected application email, or no reply that you receive you are one step closer to landing your job!

I know it can be hard receiving no replies, not getting call back, and constantly hearing no or the dreaded term "native-speaker" but once you finally land your job it will all be worth it!

Tips:

• Finding work in Japan as an individual who doesn't speak english natively AND was actually born raised and has citizenship in that said country is very difficult. It's very competitive. You will generally have to do more work/bring more to the table for less pay or hours.

• Having previous experience teaching English (preferably in Japan) and a good four year minimum college education is a huge plus for you.

• It's a lot easier for non-native english speakers to secure employment at a retailer such as a convenience store, clothing store or a restaurant. If you live in Japan especially in Tokyo most stores and restaurants have a handful of foreign workers there. There's no English requirement for these jobs only Japanese (if any) is necessary. You would be amazed at how many of these jobs require a very low level of Japanese understanding. You typically just need somewhere between an unofficial N5-N4 level of Japanese under your belt. They will not ask for documents or certificates as proof of your conversation skills, but instead they might call you and conduct a phone or in-person interview to gauge your Japanese speaking and understanding ability as well as your friendliness.

The Best Positions Available for Non-Native English Speakers

It is typically much easier for you to get hired or to receive visa sponsorship for positions that don't require much speaking, have a low average classroom age range, a high turnover rate, or lower pay/salary.
It is hard for schools to keep up with all of their vacancies and most native speakers here are men who often don't have degrees (and when they do it is not in education), hate kids and are only working because their Japanese wife is making them so these schools usually cave in eventually and will hire people from Europe and various Asian countries as they don't want to lose money due to cancellations of classes.
This sounds like a stereotype which it is but theres a lot of truth to this! Generally native speakers tend to be older white men and often times don't have children and/or simply don't have a liking towards them.
Even if the schools says that they don't hire or aren't looking for non-native speakers I would still consider applying for the job.Remember to give a good first impression! Don't lie about your visa, country of origin, certifications, or English speaking skills. It will come back to bite you if you do!

Assistant Teachers

Don't confuse the with a typical ALT position instead of being the "gaijin-toy as I heard from someone else, you will act as an assistant to the native English speaker who is the homeroom or "head teacher". You job will include passing out work, helping students with given assignments, encouraging participation, changing diapers, cleaning up the classroom after activities, giving complicated instructions in Japanese and being the go to for students who have emergencies or problems of any kind that they cannot convey in English.
This is a very fun position to have depending on where you work especially if it's with kids who are not in pull-ups!
It is rare to see a native speaker assisting with these kinds of classes or lessons as the pay is low and most native speakers don't speak Japanese well enough to be an aide if any at all (I'm guilty!).

Grammar Teachers

If you aren't confident about teacher or lack experience this is a good way to get your foot in the door.
You will mostly teach from phonic books, help students use Rosetta Stone-like computer programs and play C-D's aloud for the class to listen to. There isn't much talking or reading on your end as the teacher. You will mostly just supervise the students.
I have no idea why but it works in your favor! It is common for language schools to use both Japanese and non-native speakers with a decent understanding of Japanese to teach phonics and basic reading and writing skills. Once again it is rare to see a native speaker over these kinds of classes or lessons as the pay is low and most native speakers don't speak Japanese well if any at all (I'm guilty!).

Pre-school Homeroom Teacher

If you are seeking control, power and responsibility like a normal classroom teacher this position is for you! A lot of schools don't mind hiring non-native teachers for preschool and kindergarten positions as the lessons consist of mostly games, songs, and videos so there isn't much talking being done. Also the pay for these jobs are very low and the kids can be a challenge so native speakers tend to not apply to them or quit quickly after they realize that Japanese babies are cute but can be a nightmare to deal with as they are babied much more than where I am from. Most kindergartners don't know how to write and most preschoolers have never had a babysitter nor have they ever been away from their mom for a few hours.

Substitute Teachers

Consider marketing yourself as a substitute teacher. Besides just the high turnover rates teachers call in sick, go on vacation, and have emergency situations all the time. Schools have to then quickly find a temporary replacement to keep things running smoothly. As a substitute teacher you are typically allowed to teach as you please or you may be requested to give the students a writing assignment, a video to watch or monitor the class during online grammar activities all of which require minimum speaking. You will generally receive the same pay as the teacher whom you are subbing for which is a nice perk. The biggest downside is that you will constantly have to switch locations, schools, and classrooms and this may not provide solid work to live off of or visa sponsorship.

Where To Apply

I have personally used all of these websites to land jobs and interviews in Japan. Everyone will have a different experience. Job openings come and go and so do employees! Be sure to check these websites frequently for listings and positions. Your objective is to email as many companies as possible and you will eventually land the job that you desire. something is always better than nothing and if you have no experience consider the low pay as an add on for your future resume. You can always quit and switch jobs later! 
 Use caution when replying to Craigslist ads. Don't be afraid to ask questions, request names, phone numbers and links to company websites to assure that it isn't an elaborate scam of some sort. Craigslist ads usually offer low pay or unstable work but there are plenty of good positions both full and part-time and some even offer visa sponsorship for successful applicants.

Craigslist, Guidable Jobs, NOVA, and Gaba are your 4 best bets if you are not a native speaker. Please also keep in in mind that living in Japan is great but if you live in Tokyo and you are applying for a job in Osaka most schools will trash your application or wait until you actually drive before requesting an interview of any kind.

Open and flexible availability is crucial especially if you are seeking visa sponsorship. Nobody wants to hire someone who isn't available during peak business hours. Most language schools receive 95% of their business Monday-Friday from 4:00PM-9:00PM as students are out of school and salary men and career women are finished with work. Most schools are closed during the weekend as Japanese people prefer to keep all of their business and studying on weekdays. Nobody wants to waste their Saturdays studying English with tutor! However depending on the company Saturday can be a busy day for them so your availability during this time is mandatory.

Some schools will offer vacation and sick days (paid or unpaid). Other schools are still open during the holidays meaning that you will be expected to work during this time.

Here's how to Increase your chances of receiving a reply, interview or a job offer...

• Send a resume with a professional and clear attached photograph of yourself
• Live in the city that you are applying for the position in
• Have a bachelor's degree or higher
• Have experience teaching any subject but preferably English paid or unpaid
• Have a valid visa that allows permission to work
• Have 3 years or more of teaching experience
• Be under the age of 40 
• Be physically attractive
• Have open availability including nights and weekends
• Be single/unmarried (this is mostly for women as employers fear that you'll quit once pregnant)
• No family (this is almost synonymous with being single)
• Have Japanese certification level N3 or higher (your employer may use you as a "Japanese" assistant teacher if your speaking and understanding is good enough

Your Best Bet

Craigslist is much easier to land an interview and a job as it is more personable and you are less likely to be interviewed by a major school or a native speaker both of which can be intimidating and will often trash or overlook your resume or email. There are scams and spam as I said earlier but there is much more good to be found here than bad. This should definitely be your plan B if you were rejected from NOVA and GABA. Be sure to ask about visa sponsorship as not all of the listings specify this. There's no need to waste your time! Do keep in mind an employer that doesn't want to sponsor your visa now might be willing to do so 6 months to a year later after you have proven yourself loyal and a good teacher.

Craigslist

https://tokyo.craigslist.jp/
https://osaka.craigslist.jp/

Guaranteed Visa Sponsorship

While these two schools have very mixed and possibly mostly negative reviews they are the two easiest gate ways into Japan. They both voluntarily offer visa sponsorship, accommodation and travel expenses to Japan. These are within the top 5 language schools in Japan for adults. They have fairly low requirements and tend to hire large groups of people as the turnover rate is extremely high at both of these schools. Remember you can always switch jobs later. Both of these companies accept applicants that do not live in Japan, can't speak Japanese, and that have no teaching experience. Most schools in Japan would throw out your application after reading all of that!



NOVA
http://nova-holdings.jp/teachinjapan/

GABA
https://www.gabateachinginjapan.com

Miscellaneous

Guidable Jobs

https://jobs.guidable.co

Jobs In Japan

https://jobsinjapan.com

Japan Work

https://www.japan-work.com/job_offers

Be Your Own Boss

Consider creating an online profile and teaching your own private students. You can decide your pay, availability, who, where and what you will teach. While you can't use private lessons as a way of sponsoring your own visa it most certainly helps out if you are lacking experience, need some extra income or simply want to perfect your craft. After creating your profile you just sit back and await your replies from potential students who want to book a trial lesson. Trial lessons are usually free or discounted anywhere from¥500-¥1500. Once your finished with your profile you will just need to update it about once a month or less to stay relevant in searches from potential new students. Be sure to choose your best most flattering photos and provide a good description of what you have to offer to attract more students. Looks are just about everything here in Japan. It can either be in your favor if you were blessed with good looks or it can be a bit depressing if you are lacking in the "looks department".

Hello-Sensei

https://hello-sensei.com

Find Students. Net

https://www.findstudents.net

My-Sensei

http://www.my-sensei.com/sensei/

Interview

Purchase a cheap and simple outfit that is versatile and that can be designated for future interviews. I recommend shopping at Target, Old Navy, Payless, Shimamura, and UNIQLO (if you are in Japan). Cheap doesn't have to mean ugly, bad quality and unfashionable.
Remember you want to buy comfortable clothing and shoes and modest outfits because you will constantly be walking and running up and down streets and stairs. You will be on trains standing and sitting, sweating, speaking in front of groups of people and at times chest to chest with total strangers.

Be mindful of where you are. This is Japan so you should abide by the rules here and try your best to assimilate and fit in with normal Japanese staff and workers regardless of your personal opinions about clothing, makeup, body art, hair, and piercings you should be respectful of their culture. This is not the time place or country to "be different" or "creative".
Of course every school and company is different but when in doubt it's always best to go with the flow. No company will complain about you not having a 6ft beard and no tats but your risking having your application and resume tossed in the trashcan if you.

You will do practically no speaking the employer will just talk to you about the school, their expectations and explain what's in it for you. You will then typically be asked to talk about your work experience, why or what you like about Japan and if you have any questions.

Interview Do's and Don'ts.....

Wear It

Business professional clothing
A clean white colored blouse or dress shirt with a collar
Black navy-blue or gray dress pants or a women's business suit
A shiny solid blue colored tie (this is recommended for interviews in Japan)
A nice watch it doesn't have to be expensive but it should look
A nice leather handbag
Modest jewelry (small diamond earrings etc.)
A modest hairstyle with visible eyes (men should be clean shaven men NO facial hair not even a mustache is acceptable)
Modest natural looking makeup (its okay for men to wear makeup too!)
Comfortable Chunky Heels
Comfortable Dress Shoes

Don't Wear

• Sunglasses/Shades
• Hats/Scarves
• Western Style makeup (eyeshadow, cat eye, unnatural colored lipstick,fake brows or lashes)
• Mini skirts/dresses
• Open toe shoes  
• Tight fitting-clothing
• Stilletos (sexy heels) 
• Gym-Shoes/Sneakers
• Colorful/kiddie/kawaii/gothic or anime looking accessories
• Colored Hair
• Exotic piercings ( one earring per an earlobe no facial or body piercings should be visible!)

Cover Up

• Your breasts!
• Your legs
• Your tattoos

Don't

• Arrive late
• Come in with food or beverages in hand or a visible bag (this includes coffee and tea)
• Use your phone unless you have asked if its okay to set a reminder or to take notes by phone 
• Use profanity or slang
• Talk about video games, cosplay, anime, pop music, fashion etc. too much (don't seem obsessed that is)
• Be rude or disrespectful
• Wear your shoes inside (check to see if theres a sign asking fro you to remove your shoes or a shelving area for shoes to be placed and slippers put on
• Wear long acrylic nails or colored nail-polish besides clear
• Yell at the students or lose your temper
• Speak Japanese! Most schools hate or ban this as parents will complain. A full immersion experience is preferred 
• Be afraid to reschedule your interview if you are sick or running late!

Do

• Eat breakfast
• Brush your teeth and use a good mouthwash
• Clean and trim your nails 
• Bathe with neutral smelling soap
• Wear deodorant
• Bring a travel sized umbrella
• Ask the interviewer questions
• Shake hands and greet everyone you encounter warmly
• Thank the interviewer and express your interests in the company
• Talk about your longterm plans of living and working in Japan
• Talk about your fiancé or spouse (shows that you have plans to stay in the country longterm)
• Call or Email them if you will be late and give an overestimate of your expected arrival time
• Apologize profusely if you are late and issue that this is not a usual occurrence 
• Use your manners
• Use proper English when speaking or writing
• Be honest about your experience, qualifications, home country and personal life
• Talk about your interest and share photographs of things you have done in Japan temples, food you've eaten or meals you have cooked etc.
• Ask for a landmark, directions, and a phone number should you get lost
• Wear clean socks/pantyhose as you will probably have to remove your shoes upon entry
• Aks for help if you need it
• Remain professional even if things go wrong or the staff is not friendly
• Expect seemingly inappropriate comments about your personal life, appearance, family plans

Show Them

• Your smile
• How articulate you are
• Your friendliness
• Your ability to listen
• Your intelligence
• Your degree/certificates

Be sure to select a time and date that will work for you. if you are going to a new location it's best to make a trial run to figure out where exactly is the school and how long it takes to get there.  

DO NOT arrive more than 15 minutes before the interview as they might not be ready for you and could possibly be in the process of interviewing other potential candidates. this upset an interviewer that I had had. I only arrived 10 minutes early and well he was pissed!

You can choose to work an IT, office or restaurant job if you wish but pay is general lower and the work is just as stressful.

The Big Bad Demo

Ahh the moment that nobody was waiting for the demo lesson! It's okay to feel nervous and shy about presenting your lesson whether it be online via Skype or in person. It is a nerve wrecking experience for most. I know its hard but try your best not to worry about it! Remember you are the native speaker and you are the language expert! 

I recommend watching some YouTube videos for inspiration and reading some lesson plans for kindergartners or 1st graders in America. Keep your lesson short sweet and simple! Your demo lesson can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 1 hour depending on the school. Most jobs request a 20-30 minute demo lesson for a classroom of about 20-25 kids.

My current job only requested a 3 minute lesson!

Your employer will typically and secretly judge you based on these five things...

1. Your voice projection and presentation
2. Clarity and speed of voice
3. Creativity/fun
4. Ease of understanding presented materials
5. Timeliness

Speak loud and clear so that everyone in the room can hear you. You should seem genuinely happy (big smile!). 

Don't increase your speed! Please try your best to speak with a clear accent and slowly so that you can be understood remember English is not their first language.

Employers love teachers who can incorporate songs, games, crafts and dances into their lessons

Your lesson should be easy to follow for someone who doesn't speak English. Think of charades! Again hand gestures, body movements, songs, videos and flash cards are your best friend.

Try to start and end your lesson promptly. Its okay to end your trial lesson a little early but try to avoid going over the allotted time or ending too early. Ask your potential employer if it's okay to end the lesson a little bit early before you start and hopefully as you show them what you have prepared.

Tips:

• It may seem over the top to have to put on a circus show for your students for both the demo lesson and possibly for future lessons too but you should keep in mind that companies are taking a risk by hiring you as there is a 90% chance that you will quit before your contract is up, or simply be a bad teacher. Their goal is to weed out potentially bad teachers.

• You may think that you aren't being paid so why go through so much for your interview or demo lesson but adding fun activities such as videos to watch and songs to sing and dance to will help you kill the trial lesson time.

• If you speak slowly and clearly and review vocabulary and practice dance movies or quietly listen to the songs before singing and dancing this will also help to kill time.

• You will earn some serious brownie points if you bring your own lesson materials and notes for the demo lesson as this shows your level of seriousness and professionalism.

• I would suggest using a simple topic that's easy to teach such as emotions, colors, or days of the week. Most schools will allow you to use their supplies and materials if you arrive early and simply ask them if it is okay to do so.

Salary & Hours

Please keep in mind that these are just general estimates.

General Full-Time Hours

Full-time positions don't usually include weekends. You will usually always have a two day weekend every week.

Most public and private schools will schedule you weekdays from about 8:00AM-5:00PM.

Language and cram schools will schedule you weekdays from about 3:00PM-9:00PM.

Weekend hours are usually limited to morning and afternoons only typically 10:00AM-3:00PM.

Average Salary

Part-time hourly ¥9000

Full-time hourly ¥1,500

Part-time Salaried ¥120,000

Full-time Salaried ¥200,000

Short Story

At my old job I worked with an Indian woman who was about 12 years older than me and allegedly had a PHD in some sort of medicine studies for cancer. She never told me the exact name and I never saw her degree but my point is she was being pay half my salary just because she wasn't a native speaker even although she was theoretically over qualified. Her degree was irrelevant to English but was in science and she didn't speak perfect English either. This job didn't sponsor visas but they did make differences between the native and non-native speakers. I can see things from a balanced perspective on both sides but sometimes I do feel that it is a bit sad and unfair to say the least.

What's Next

Most employers will offer you the job on the spot immediately after a successful interview. Occasionally you will receive an email within a week.

In Japan contracts are normal! If your company offers you a 1 year contract it's totally normal so don't freak out. Where I'm from contracted employment is seen in a mostly negative light but here having a contract is preferred over a fragile "You're hired!!! Can you start today?". Contracts offer clarity of your job position, pay and expectations, as well as support assurance and security of the position that you have obtained.

Unfortunately most employers don't offer maternity or paternity leave. If your employer does it is probably unpaid. It is fairly taboo for a woman to continue working after starting family.

Single mothers are hard to find and not open about this.

Ideas of feminism is general unwelcome and "taboo" in Japan.

If you didn't get the job there's thousands of other places to apply to and dozens of new schools opening every year! Don't give up on your dream of teaching in Japan.

Things To Remember

1. You should earn your bachelors degree to make you more of a competitive applicant!
2. Apply for jobs that ask for native speakers even although you aren't!
3. You should consider learning a high level of Japanese language to become an assistant teacher.
4. You will more than likely have to accept a lower pay rate :(
5. The more experience you have the better your resume and teaching skills will be!
6. Consider teaching your own native language instead!

Thank you so much for reading! I hope that you found this information very useful. I wish you the best of luck in your search for a job in Japan! Please leave a review, comments, or suggestions that you may have below so that you can help other people who are interested in working and living in Japan too.

Any help or advice is appreciated!

Stay Tuned!

Please Subscribe to my Blog and Follow Me on my other social media pages.

YouTube: 
https://www.youtube.com/user/CoMicninetyfive/videos

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comic95/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoMic95/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Comic95?lang=en

Email: comic95thesavior@gmail.com