Okinawa, here I come! :) Any advise?!?

SNMP · 22 Jan 2007

Im so excited, I will be going to Okinawa in a month and will be looking for a new job/new car/new house (or roomate)! I just found this website and think its a good one for me to check out. If there is anyone else relocating to Okinawa in the near future, get ahold of me! I know only one person there and its going to be quite the experience for me. Id love to chat with anyone else doing a similar thing or anyone who has some great advise for me. Im a civilian, will be looking for the best route for jobs (even temporary employment at first) while Im there and going to try to jump into it with as smooth a transition as possible. I have been there once before, just as a vacation, for a month, and absolutely loved it! Im nervous as ever, but cant wait!

Absolute Zero · 22 Jan 2007

Hello and welcome, new person. Welcome to the site and enjoy your stay at Jref.

Davey · 22 Jan 2007

Welcome to Jref, I hope you will enjoy your stay, and if you have any questions you can always ask, just don't spam it arround.

Btw, what kind of visa do you have?

SNMP · 25 Jan 2007

Thanks guys!
Just a tourist visa for now, I have been looking into all else, and searching for info, it seems like such a confusing and complicated matter... Im just beginning my traveling days without the parents help, and Wow, there is a lot to learn! I have never really traveled very far or for very long, though I have traveled a fair deal and am in love with it!

KirinMan · 25 Jan 2007

F.Y.I. if you are on a tourist visa, depending on the type of work you are interested in doing, it may be a bit difficult to find a company to sponsor your visa switch to a working one. There are not that many companies here outside of the ekaiwai chains that hire foreigners and the competition for the limited number of slots available at those aforementioned eikaiwa's is pretty fierce, as Okinawa is a highly requested location.

The military will not hire people that are on tourist visa's either.

Either way good luck, I hope something works out for you legally.

senseiman · 28 Jan 2007

Okinawa is a great place.

Just out of curiousity though, why are you going there on a tourist visa without any work/accomodation set up? Its not an easy place for foreigners to find employment even if you've got those things sorted out already.

SNMP · 29 Jan 2007

"why are you going there on a tourist visa without any work/accomodation set up?" -I have options, just like when I went before and I survived then, but plans can always change if I find something better. Im going back to visit.
Although I am just going back to visit, I would like to find a way to (legally) stay longer, and would have no problem leaving the country to switch the visa or whatever needs to be done. If it does not work out, well, I will be back to the states then. I have it in mind that it may not work out for me to stay there, Im fine with that to, but thats not going to stop me from trying to make a go of it. I just wanted to "put a shout out" to anyone else who might be doing something similar.
I know things will be dificult, and although that was my first post (and I know I sounded a little just WOOHOOOO about the whole thing ) I have been looking quite thouroghtly into the legalities and possibilities there. Thanks for the support and advise!

Elizabeth · 29 Jan 2007

Obeika said:
F.Y.I. if you are on a tourist visa, depending on the type of work you are interested in doing, it may be a bit difficult to find a company to sponsor your visa switch to a working one. There are not that many companies here outside of the ekaiwai chains that hire foreigners and the competition for the limited number of slots available at those aforementioned eikaiwa's is pretty fierce, as Okinawa is a highly requested location.

And if you're interested in working for an eikaiwa, the hiring process is normally done through their North American branches. I'm not certain whether there is any preference given to applicants already in the country or even where you need to go to find out. Simply show up at any random school and expect to set everything up on site. :? It sounds almost too good to be true...

KirinMan · 30 Jan 2007

Elizabeth said:
And if you're interested in working for an eikaiwa, the hiring process is normally done through their North American branches. I'm not certain whether there is any preference given to applicants already in the country or even where you need to go to find out. Simply show up at any random school and expect to set everything up on site. :? It sounds almost too good to be true...

There is a rather large "pool" of qualified people here in Okinawa, compared that is to most of the rest of Japan. Many of that same "pool" of people have no need of a sponsor for their visa as they are under SOFA status and can get command permission to work off the installation.

There are also any number of eikaiwa's that pay under the table for their teachers as well.

However like Elizabeth wrote the "major" Eikaiwa chains hire from English speaking countries directly.

Elizabeth · 30 Jan 2007

However like Elizabeth wrote the "major" Eikaiwa chains hire from English speaking countries directly.

Yes, sorry for that bit of vagueness. I believe the large chain companies do have provisions for conducting hiring within Japan year-round but the bulk of
it at least is during "recruitment periods" through their North American headquarters.

KirinMan · 30 Jan 2007

Elizabeth said:
Yes, sorry for that bit of vagueness. I believe the large chain companies do have provisions for conducting hiring within Japan year-round but the bulk of
it at least is during "recruitment periods" through their North American headquarters.

Elizabeth I would like to add that in addition to North America, schools like NOVA also hire from Australia, New Zealand and Great Britian as well.

I apologize for not stating that more clearly in my first reply to your post.

SNMP · 30 Jan 2007

Thank you for the updated info, I am keeping along with new posts, I appreciate the input! Im not sure if being already in Japan will be a benefit or not either, I have heard to stay away from the big chains if I can help it, but if I cant, maybe thats where I will end up. I will continue looking for ways to go about my job hunt, I hope to have a better idea by the time I go.

Elizabeth · 30 Jan 2007

SNMP said:
Thank you for the updated info, I am keeping along with new posts, I appreciate the input! Im not sure if being already in Japan will be a benefit or not either, I have heard to stay away from the big chains if I can help it, but if I cant, maybe thats where I will end up. I will continue looking for ways to go about my job hunt, I hope to have a better idea by the time I go.

Yeah, I get where you're coming from on the eikaiwa hunt. If I decide to live there someday, it's going to be hard for me to say away from the large ones too without any previous teaching or ESL experience.
Although fortunately I have no desire to live in a place as popular as Okinawa....

Best of luck ! And meanwhile I hope you have plenty in savings to take along....

SNMP · 4 Feb 2009

Ok everybody, I have posted back on my other threads and if you would like the longer version check out my 'Civilian Jobs on Okinawa' thread. Long story short... It Can Be Done!! I heard a lot of people say I couldn't do it, or they hoped I had 'plenty of savings' and maybe for someone a little less determined, that might be true, but I want anyone reading this to know that if you want to move to Japan, Do it. Do your research, I did tons, but if you don't get the answer you want the first time, call back or go back in and ask someone else. Ask in a different way. I have been back in the states for nearly a year now and totally miss so many things about Japan. I lived in Okinawa for a year, and absolutely Loved it.

anoeto · 11 Oct 2011

hi

SNMP said:
Ok everybody, I have posted back on my other threads and if you would like the longer version check out my 'Civilian Jobs on Okinawa' thread. Long story short... It Can Be Done!! I heard a lot of people say I couldn't do it, or they hoped I had 'plenty of savings' and maybe for someone a little less determined, that might be true, but I want anyone reading this to know that if you want to move to Japan, Do it. Do your research, I did tons, but if you don't get the answer you want the first time, call back or go back in and ask someone else. Ask in a different way. I have been back in the states for nearly a year now and totally miss so many things about Japan. I lived in Okinawa for a year, and absolutely Loved it.

This might be a bit of a late reaction are you still living here in okinawa?and Have you got a job now? I'm just curious because I am a newbie now and kind a desperate on where to find a job here.
thanks!

admiral7 · 26 Oct 2011

@anoeto Ever considered growing oysters? Or is there any sort of online outsourcing work you can get from the metro (ex. Tokyo)?

KirinMan · 28 Oct 2011

anoeto said:
This might be a bit of a late reaction are you still living here in okinawa?and Have you got a job now? I'm just curious because I am a newbie now and kind a desperate on where to find a job here.
thanks!

anoeto it really depends a lot upon what connections and qualifications you have. What can you do?

anoeto · 7 Nov 2011

admiral7 said:
@anoeto Ever considered growing oysters? Or is there any sort of online outsourcing work you can get from the metro (ex. Tokyo)?

Well do you know some online outsourcing? And can it be trusted?

---------- Post added at 01:20 ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 ----------

KirinMan said:
anoeto it really depends a lot upon what connections and qualifications you have. What can you do?

Mostly admin works, i can also do CAD, customer service is also fine with me.

Okinawa, here I come! :) Any advise?!?

SNMP

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Absolute Zero

Zero's Dark Side

Davey

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SNMP

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KirinMan

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senseiman

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SNMP

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Elizabeth

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KirinMan

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Elizabeth

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KirinMan

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SNMP

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Elizabeth

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SNMP

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anoeto

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admiral7

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anoeto

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