Plane Ticket and Apartment Search

I bought my plane ticket a few days ago.  I'm flying into Narita so I can get my resident card and then over to Itami since it's closer than Kansai International is.  The one problem is that I am having a difficult time finding an apartment that fits everything that I am looking for.  Everyone that I really like is either too far away, too expensive, or already rented out.  I would rather stay in my budget than pay more to get everything else that I want so I'll probably get a place for one to three months and see if I can get a better place later on.  It doesn't help that my two work locations are about 35 minutes apart, so finding a good place in between is even more difficult.

Placement

This morning I received an e-mail informing me of my placement.  I quickly scrolled through it to see if anything stuck out and when I did I thought I had been placed in Tokyo!  I wasn't too happy about that so when I actually read it I saw that I had been given two locations: one in Osaka, and one not too far over the border in Hyogo.  It did say that my training was in Osaka but (erroneously) gave train stations for Tokyo which caused me to think I was to be working there!  I also have bought most everything that I need except for a few small things and so all that's left is to buy my plane ticket and find a suitable apartment.

Visa

I went down to the Japanese Consulate today and picked up my Visa!  The next step is to get my placement which I should receive in the next few days.  Now I need to focus my time to getting ready to move.  I still have a lot to get together but at least I know what I need to do.

Getting Started

I officially started my job search in January 2012.  I utilized every available tool to help me get acquainted  with the general topics of being an English teacher in Japan (the two most helpful websites being www.eslcafe.com and www.gaijinpot.com).  When I started out I strictly limited my job search to Kansai, specifically Kyoto, Hyogo, and Osaka Prefectures.  I was interested in the area because it is cheaper than Tokyo, had its own distinct culture, and was still a very populated area.  To top it off I had a friend attending college in the area.  Eventually, after applying to numerous job listings, I finally widened my search.  Apparently Kansai in general, and especially Osaka, do not list their openings for those overseas like other areas or do not have as many per capita.  Eventually I expanded my job search to all of Japan and had a few interviews and actually was offered a few (but not many) positions but knew that I really wanted to be in the  Keihanshin metro, and since I had a job, I was in no rush to accept a job in a place I wasn't 100% satisfied with.  Now, even though I started my job search 17 months ago, I took a break from applying for jobs in Japan to focus on ones back home.  The jobs that I was offered were short term as that's how you get into my preferred field, but were too short to be viable to me in the long run (loans and relocation expenses) so I started back up with English teach jobs.  After applying to numerous listings I eventually decided to go back and re-interview with a company that I already had in the past.  It was the first company that I had ever interviewed with: Jibun Mirai/Nova.  I had seen an ad about an opening in Osaka and decided that as long as I could support myself, I truly did care about the location more than any other aspect.

The Process:

I applied to a listing on Gaijinpot.  Of all of the sites that have jobs listings, Gaijinpot's is by far the most convenient for applying for two or more jobs.  Since you have to make a profile, if you only apply for one job on the site it's not worth it unless you can't contact the school/company directly.

I got an email confirming my application with the total number of applicant so far.  The first email was quickly  followed by an official email asking about setting up a time to interview.  If you live overseas the interview will be conducted over Skype.  The interview is convenient, quick, and not very difficult.  I would still make sure that you are prepared.

The interview process is pretty simple. They will first go over your resume, ask about where you are from, what school you went to, what you did with previous jobs, and proficiency in other languages. The main part of the interview will consist of them giving you a scenario and asking how you would teach it. It will probably be four things and it will bet set up something like "In a workbook/textbook there are two pages, on this page there is X (maybe pictures of people doing different things) and on the other page there is X (questions posed by person A and answers given by person B). How would you go about teaching this to a group? (probably five to six people)" There is a little more, I don't remember it all, but this is the main part. You get asked where you prefer to teach and if you are okay teaching kids and adults. You are not guaranteed either age group or any specific location (although, from what I understand, they are pretty good about getting you close to where you want). You are asked if you will want company housing or if you will want to find your own. Then you have time to ask whatever you want. I shirt and tie is enough, they aren't dressed in a coat when interviewing you. You will know if they liked you at the end of the interview, but will get and official response within a few days (they are fast about it), and are then asked to send documents to them for your Certificate of Eligibility.

With the exception of the interview you are in contact with the same person throughout the process.  I have had my emails responded to fast and courteously so I I feel that I am on the right track.

I have received my Certificate of Eligibility and now just need to bring it to the Japanese Consulate to get my Visa!  Once I do I can get my specific placement and buy a plane ticket.