Page 1 of 1

MiJ wants a new job

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:56 am
by me_in_japan
Howdy all,

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.

Re: MiJ wants a new job

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:06 pm
by Spevna
Consider eyes and ears open mate!

Re: MiJ wants a new job

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:15 pm
by Miggy Smallz
ECC is always hiring!

Also, I know that ECC Jr does have a personnel director position open at the moment.

Re: MiJ wants a new job

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:37 am
by me_in_japan
Thanks to all who posted here, and to all who PMd me about it - I really do appreciate it, folks.

Unfortunately, having spent a number of hours looking around t'internet, talking to friends and even talking to the management at school vis a vis going part time, I have come to the rather sobering conclusion that for all its bad points, there are currently no jobs out there that offer a comparable salary and benefits to the one I'm currently doing. Yeah, it sucks my life away and means I have no weekends, but the long and the short of it is that I wanna have kids and to secure a decent future for em I have to face the grim reality and knuckle down and work like a dog.

So, for the time being, I have resigned myself to working at St. Joe's. What scares me is that the vice principal keeps harping on about how much harder we're all going to have to work next year compared to this year. I mean, this year I counted a total of zero 3 week periods in which I actually got my contracted weekend. (I mean, my contract says sundays off, every 1st and 3rd saturday 1/2 day, every 2nd and 4th saturday off. Doesnt sound too bad, no? Well itd be great, if thats what actually happened. Saturdays and Sundays are, to them, days to be filled with Stuff as they see fit.)

On the plus side, I get a good-ish salary, twice yearly bonus, pension and health insurance. *small sigh* Its worth it.

Barely.

Anyway - thats enough minging, dave. :oops: I really appreciate everyone's input, and hopefully I'll see most of you at Winter Blitz in a week or so. :D

Re: MiJ wants a new job

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:06 am
by Admiral-Badruck
I hear you man.. I was looking around the Job market is just not that great for a guy with a family...

Re: MiJ wants a new job

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:13 pm
by Moyashimaru
I hear that. More and more I'm pondering the possibility of packing this Japan thing in and heading back to the Great White North, but when I do those familiar questions keep popping up ("What will you do there?") and pretty soon I'm back where I started.
And, MiJ, with all the plans you've got on the table regarding homes and family, Saint Joe's is probably the best place for you to be right now. Take comfort in the security the gig offers you and your family. Try to stay positive, sock some cash away (can't spend it if you're always working, right?), and wait till the dust settles with your missus, etc. before making your move.

Re: MiJ wants a new job

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:18 am
by me_in_japan
Moyashimaru wrote:I hear that. More and more I'm pondering the possibility of packing this Japan thing in and heading back to the Great White North, but when I do those familiar questions keep popping up ("What will you do there?") and pretty soon I'm back where I started.
And, MiJ, with all the plans you've got on the table regarding homes and family, Saint Joe's is probably the best place for you to be right now. Take comfort in the security the gig offers you and your family. Try to stay positive, sock some cash away (can't spend it if you're always working, right?), and wait till the dust settles with your missus, etc. before making your move.
Wise words, mate. Wise words.

tbh, that was pretty much what most people said, and when the vast majority of folks you trust advise you to do something, its generally a good idea to listen. So, Im gonna knuckle down and get on with the job. Im gonna dang well spend my hard earned money on wee toy soldiers from time to time though. I reckon we need to remind ourselves why we're working, sometimes...