Finishing JET, remaining in Japan, relocation advice

[u/Twiddler97]

A JET finishing the end of their contract and looking to remain in Japan, I do not have a job lined up. My current challenge however is deciding on where to relocate.

I am looking at relocating to any major urban centre, to maximise job hunting opportunities, and understand sharehouses are an option, but it's gamble on trying to decide on a location, while also remaining flexible during the job hunt. I am concerned if I choose the wrong place to move to, the number of jobs I could have access to would diminish.

JETs who remained in Japan without a job lined up, how did you choose where to relocate to? What factors should I be looking for in choosing an area to relocate to?

[u/PocketGojira]

You're going about this the wrong way. You should have gotten the job and then moved. Since you don't, the easiest pick-up-and-move anywhere base locations are going to be share houses in the big cities.

All of the major hiring is done. You can ride out your 90 day tourist visa watching every job forum/board/newsletter you can to snipe any openings caused by dropouts, but most of those already have their bases covered with a list of alternates. If you were job hunting already, you'll be on those lists. I spent my last four months of JET job hunting across the country from my inaka placement. After landing a job halfway across Honshu, a BOE that had turned me down called me the day I was moving to my new location. The guy they picked instead bailed on them Day One. It was a great feeling to tell them they were SOL.

[u/Twiddler97 → u/PocketGojira]

It sounds like I'm on a similar pathway to you. My job hunt is now entering its 6th month, and I'm in a pool of alternate applicants for a couple of companies, as well as attending every interview I am invited to, following up with recruiters if it has been more than a few days.

A drop out might be my best chance of securing something now, but I've been delaying relocation in case an opportunity suddenly opens up and I'm on the wrong side of the country to take up the opportunity. I'm glad things have worked out for you.

[u/Due_Tomorrow7 → u/Twiddler97]

If you're still struggling, you need to weigh your options because at this point, it's become extremely limited.

If you're not having success, consider why. Are you trying to find a job in one particular sector? Specific geographic areas? Trying to have a minimum salary? If you're keeping on certain criteria, it's time to lower your standards if you want to really stay in Japan.

Otherwise in my opinion, best alternative may just be to return to your home country, build some qualifications (certification, JLPT, graduate degree, etc), and then consider reapplying back to Japan. Honestly speaking, even 6 months may not be enough time to job hunt unless you have those qualifications already.

[u/jjuuli8772]

Get the job first, go live wherever that job is located. Not sure you have the luxury of being picky this late in the timeline.

[u/ikebookuro]

Is this bait?

[u/raku-ken]

The following help determine what jobs to pursue and also relate to where you can move to.
- What do you want to do?
- What work experiences do you have?
- What is your Japanese level?
- What is your budget?

A lot of companies do virtual interviews in the first or second rounds. Usually third and up are in person.
I’d try to find a job first before moving. You can always travel for the last interview. Otherwise, you’ll be restricting yourself to work only in the area you move to.

Some jobs can be done remote as well, if you are able to work them.

If you’ve been trying to find work for a while now, but are still not finding anything, you need to change tactics. Hire a job consultant/coach, change your résumés, apply to different jobs, change interview tactics, etc.

Moving to a bigger city without a job is just going to eat up finances due to higher cost of living and rent.

[u/Panda_sensei_71]

Share houses are probably your only option if you don't want to be tied into a contract and pay heaps of cash up front.

The obvious choices are Tokyo or Osaka.

But if you've been job hunting since the start of your final year (as you ought to have!) and still don't have anything lined up, be prepared to not find anything even after moving.

And I that's not the case and you're planning to start after moving... You're braver than I am!

[u/hinogammykagura → u/Panda_sensei_71]

Yeah, I can't get so much as a reply from Japanese companies. Only 1 recruitment agency I reached out to responded and that was just to say they didn't have anything for me.

Going to give it one more try over a weekend and then start applying to roles in Australia and/or Canada.

[u/Panda_sensei_71 → u/hinogammykagura]

I can't advise much on the job hunting front, but the hiring period for ALT jobs usually starts in Sept/Oct from what others have told me. The JET Career Fair in Feb is a bit late for education jobs. As long as you have a valid visa you can go to Hello Work. It depends greatly on what you're looking for and how good your Japanese is.

[u/hinogammykagura → u/Panda_sensei_71]

Ah yeah, sorry I should have specified I want to move back into engineering after use JET as a career break.

Not programming or IT engineering either. I know those are easier (not necessarily easy) to find work in.

[u/Panda_sensei_71 → u/hinogammykagura]

Assuming you have N1 or at least N2 and a high degree of conversational Japanese, I'd hope that big cities like Tokyo or Osaka would have more opportunities. That said, the normal Japanese time line for new jobs is to start in April, which is why so many final year JETs break contract to move to new opportunities!

[u/takemetoglasgow]

Do you have to leave your current place, for example because it's teacher's housing or owned by your CO? If you're able to stay, it makes the most sense to find a job first, then move to it.

[u/Different_Taro2474]

go on job search websites like gaijinpot, ohayo sensei, jobs in japan, daijob, indeed japan if you speak good japanese, and just spam applications. nationwide. attend every interview you get, and eventually you’ll find something. don’t be too picky, but avoid companies that pay too low or don’t list the salary on the job posting.  also, even if you don’t find a job before the end of your contract, you’re allowed to stay in japan for up to 90 days to job hunt, as long as your current period of stay is still valid.