Questions about eikaiwa

I decided it would be way, way too stressful to hold out for an IT job with no work experience (in my field, at least), and the 都会 are what I love about Japan, not so much the 田舎, so I wouldn't want to risk doing JET and end up in the latter.

So, just a couple questions:

How long before I plan to graduate (来年３月予定) should I apply? Are these the kind of jobs you can apply for well in advance?

Also, what should I tell them if I get asked how long I want to live in Japan? I honestly want to live there the rest of my life and get a permanent job. I really don't know how to answer this without sounding like an overly weeaboo-type person, or person who's just going to stay a year or two, or which is better. Either way, how should I answer this?

You should check the websites of the companies you wish to join. They'll have all the information you need about applying.

Also, what should I tell them if I get asked how long I want to live in Japan?

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You can be honest, but you might want to tone down the "rest of my life" stuff.

If I were making the hiring decisions, a "rest of my life" person's application would go in the round file forthwith. They don't expect people to stay forever and they know that realistically two years is the common max.

There may be some very long-term foreign residents of Japan who actually came here with that as their plan....but I have never encountered one.

JET Programme www.jetprogramme.org
There is only one application period per year, and deadlines vary with the country, but it is usually at the end of the year. For Tada it is December, I believe. You can probably apply before you have graduated, but you will need to provide proof that you are about to graduate. According to the web site, you must:
Hold at least a Bachelor's degree or obtain one by the departure date (See Note 2), or be qualified to teach at primary/elementary or secondary schools or obtain such qualifications by the departure date.
NOTE 2. Each Japanese Embassy and Consulate conducting JET applications in all participating countries other than China, Korea, Brazil and Peru is assigned to either Group A or B. Arrival dates in Japan for 2008 are set as: Group A-July 27 / Group B-August 3.

As far as other teaching jobs to (mainly eikaiwa), they generally put out ads 2-4 months in advance of the start date. March is a peak month for April starts, though. The reason for the long lead time is the need to process visas and to get your act together to leave your home country. Employers who don't want to deal with applicants from abroad (and the corresponding delays in visa processing) will usually ask for applicants to already be living (and often to have a visa already) in Japan when they apply.

what should I tell them if I get asked how long I want to live in Japan?

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Since the visas are issued for 1 year or 3 years, and contracts are usually a minimum of 1 year, say one year. Add to that anything you want about hoping to learn enough about the country and culture to stay as long as possible. They will see through B.S. about staying forever, especially if you have never set foot here before.

I have been there on vacation (will be three times by the time I apply)... and it's not BS.

Also, no one has explicitly answered my question about how long in advance I should apply. Is it the 2-4 months ahead that the ads are sent out, or the month before... I'm confused.

Tada,
To you, the concept of living here permanently is not BS. I have no problem with that. However, to have visited only on vacation a few times is not really a reason that will seem strong to an employer to live here forever. But, that is not important, really. What I intended was that you should avoid overly enthusiastic remarks like that because there are tons of young people who apply, and their main reasons for staying are sex, anime, partying, and sex. Try not to look like them.

How long should you apply? For JET, you will have to wait for the application itself to be made available. Look around October or November.

For other places, as I wrote (and answered as specifically as anyone could):
"they generally put out ads 2-4 months in advance of the start date"

It's July now. This is the beginning of a slow time of year for eikaiwa. Not impossible, but slow. How long will it take you to give notice on your apartment, pack up your belongings and store them while you are in Japan? How long is the visa application process (answer: 4-8 weeks). Timelines are one thing, but if I were you, I'd shop around and see what sorts of jobs are out there for newcomers. Do some research on locations, salaries, benefits, types and hours of teaching, etc. Don't jump into things.

It's a buyer's market right now. The market is flooded with teachers. Choose wisely, but don't expect the first employer to say yes.

tada said:

I have been there on vacation (will be three times by the time I apply)... and it's not BS.

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That is very much like saying you've eaten tuna fish sandwiches twice and therefore know that you want to spend the rest of your life working on a tuna boat.

I've also taken Japanese history courses, researched the character of the Japanese, the manner and etiquette, etc. My knowledge of Japan is a lot deeper than a few vacations. It seems like every day I'm learning a new fact about Japan that makes me want to live there. The fact that they are so punctual and stamp their feet at trains even being one minute late, the fact that there's no such thing as tipping, and the fact that there does not exist (and probably never will exist) a single Wal-Mart. I've learned hundreds of those things over the years in addition to the history, character, and etiquette and I know Japan is the place for me.

Of course, I'll probably have to downplay this at the interview... that will be fun. Main point of this post though is that a couple vacations aren't the entire basis of me wanting to live there.

Man oh man are you ever in for a rude awakening.

Textbook knowledge, Tada. Don't expect people to speak like your textbooks, either.

But don't let that stop you from researching. I strongly suggest you post some questions about what you read, though, just so you can get feedback from people who live and work in Japan.

Well, I found the answers to my questions, so, yeah. I'm not going to say anything more to incriminate myself.

Mike Cash said:

That is very much like saying you've eaten tuna fish sandwiches twice and therefore know that you want to spend the rest of your life working on a tuna boat.

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Or...

Just because you went to go see the monkeys doesn't necessarily mean you can run the circus.