I have a favour to ask.
(If you know me personally, you can skip the next 3 paragraphs and go straight to the favour asking
)For the past few years I've been working at a private girls junior high / high school in Mie. I love the teaching side of things, but there are various other aspects of the job that are...less enjoyable. Because of this, I am now actively looking for a new job. I have not quit my current job, and have no intention of doing so before I find another, but I have definitely moved from "not happy at work" to "let's find a way to leave." I don't expect to find something before the new term starts in April, but I'd take it if it was available.
I'm at a stage in my life where I have to be quite careful about what kind of job I take. I don't have any children yet, but my wife and I really want to have a kid quite soon - practically speaking, in a year or so. We also really want to get our own house, although this is something that will have to wait until I work out where my future job will be, of course. Because of these two things, I feel I have to find a job which has decent long term prospects, and also comes with a pension and health insurance (or pays well enough to buy my own.)
From next year my wife is going to be working as a school teacher in Mie prefecture. We dont know exactly where, but it will probably/possibly be in Tsu, as this is where we live now. The contract is with the prefecture, however, so it could theoretically be anywhere from Owase to Kuwana. As it was very difficult for her to get this job, I feel I cant ask her to move away from Mie for the moment, so any new job I got would have to be either in Mie or commutable to from Mie.
So, here comes the favour:
I would really appreciate it if you guys (particularly those in or around Mie/Aichi) could keep your ears to the ground for any possible job opportunities. Salary is not such a huge issue, but stability is. I'm not actually too fussy about the nature of the work. Teaching is the obvious path to take, and I know I really enjoy it, but things like proof reading or corporate lessons would also be a possibility. Location is also flexible, within Mie, or possibly even Nagoya. I know that there arent so many jobs around at the moment, but I'm prepared to wait until something appropriate comes up. PM me if you have any questions about specifics - I will (of course) be happy to answer them
Thanks in advance - it's much appreciated.
- Me in Japan (Dave in Tsu)
ps: things about me:
years in Japan: 7
employment history:
Nova (3 years - Eikaiwa teaching, with the last two years as AT (Assistant Trainer) for Tsu, Tsu-minami and Suzuka Bell City branches. Basically training up new teachers and doing a smidgeon of paperwork.)
various teaching jobs (6 months, bridging the gap between Nova's bankruptcy in October and school term starting in April. Some private students, some kindergarden stuff.)
St. Joseph Joshi Gakuen (3 years to present. The school got me a teaching licence which allows me to teach without a japanese teacher being present (as japanese law says a licenced teacher must be in the classroom at all times). Thus, my job is almost exactly the same as what a japanese school teacher's would be. I teach lessons, plan them, grade papers, write papers, run a club, write reports for parents' days, attend all school events, etc etc.)
qualifications:
BSc (hons) : Immunology and Microbiology (University of Strathclyde)
MSc : IT Systems (University of Strathclyde)
Japanese ability:
JLPT grade 3, but I took this test 3 years ago, so I would hope that I'm a bit better now. My kanji reading is definitely not so good (400 or so? Maybe more - I havent counted...) Improving my Japanese has become a good deal less abstract for me since I decided I needed a new job.
I really appreciate everyone's input, and hopefully I'll see most of you at Winter Blitz in a week or so. 
