Yeah, I went to the Boston Career fair, though I was totally out of my depth. I need a few months in the country to practice my Japanese to even think about going somewhere lke there again. It didn't really seem like they were recruiting for technical positions much there anyway, mostly generic 帰国子女 recruitment. I think I'd be better off just looking for work in Japan itself.

I guess in any country no one can give you a sure fire way to find a job, I'll just have to get out there and look. I think I'll still go down the Masters/PhD route coupled with jobseeking while I do it. Seems better than doing nothing while jobseeking. Any decent company would sponsor work visas, so that doesn't seem like an issue. I'm not interested in any companies that look down on higher higher education either. With 2-5 years in the country to look, I can't imagine not finding any work.

I guess that'd be the best way to improve your Japanese, yeah. If you go over there as an English teacher you'd be best off as a JET ALT. Since you're above the required JLPT N2 level of fluency (if you're capable of speaking and listening above an N2 level in the embassy interview) you could even go as a CIR, which will be a lot better for your Japanese.

In fact I'm considering applying to be a CIR myself just for that reason, because my Japanese has really plummeted since I left Japan, even though I worked as a translator for a Japanese multinational over here!

Considering all the people complaining about lack of opportunities it sounds like making ones own opportunities is in order.

aphasiac Wrote:It certain came up in the interview I had with Sony (SCEE); I'd be able to transfer to Japan after a year or two if I did well. Sadly i didn't get the job

What position?

dizmox Wrote:I did have an interview with one company about working in Hong Kong

What company/position?

fakewookie Wrote:What position?

Gameplay programmer for the Singstar Team. Sony also offer extra perks, like free Japanese lessons to all employees.

dizmox - are you sure you have to do another Masters? Having 2 does seem a bit excessive; you positive there's no other way? If you apply for a PhD in the UK and they like you, they will often pay for any extra qualifications you need - guess it doesn't work like that in Japan?

Actually wasn't icecream offered a research post, on the strength of writing a professor a letter in Japanese? Instead of doing a Masters, you could look at doing an internship over there like she did. Still get experience and language practise; i know maths is a different field, but worth looking into.

EDIT: Also working holiday visa is a great idea. Personally I'd apply for one, go there after you graduate, live with your girlfriend, practise Japanese and decide what you want to do when you're there. Starting a Masters with the intention of dropping out seems pretty crazy.

fakewookie Wrote:

dizmox Wrote:I did have an interview with one company about working in Hong Kong

What company/position?

Stock market research somethingorother using Japanese.

The option of the working holiday visa is tempting, I might do it, but if I can get in as a research student (either relatively cheaply/fully funded) that seems like a better route. Surely doing something (research) while jobseeking is better than doing nothing/英会話 while jobseeking. >_> I was thinking of maybe starting up some sort of business, but I think I need a bit more savings first...

I don't know exactly about PhD entrance requirements at other universities, I'm in the process of finding contacts to inquire with. I asked someone else recently and he echoed that you'd need research experience probably. D: But I guess it's up to the individual professor who supervises you.

Incidentally, does anyone know how hard it is to get a work holiday visa for England? My girlfriend tells me it's quite hard apparently.

If you get funding, then ok makes sense. But that does limit you; if you drop out on a scholarship, you'll usually be expected to pay back funding and possibly fees..

dizmox Wrote:Incidentally, does anyone know how hard it is to get a work holiday visa for England? My girlfriend tells me it's quite hard apparently.

I'm pretty sure all Japanese automatically qualify. They just have to apply online and prove they have about £2000 available to live on:

http://www.visafirst.com/en/uk_working_h...n_form.asp

I knew a Japanese guy in London who came to the UK on one; his main reason was he wanted a blonde Western girlfriend, heh

Yeah, I wouldn't drop out I guess. Just skip the PhD and go straight to work after the Masters maybe (if I had to do another).

Isn't there competition for the work visa? I thought that only a certain amount are granted.

No limit on numbers at the UK end:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workin...ityscheme/

But your government has to sponsor you; maybe Japan only issues X amount of sponsorships?

EDIT: ah ha; seems each country has a quota which resets on January 1st.
http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk/japa...cheme.html

EDIT2: Notice the date of that story - Japan totally filled their quota by May 1st. So she has to apply early in the year if she wants to get on it.

Oh wow, so it's that easy. And it's 2 years? I thought it was just 1 like the Japanese one.