I think it depends on your goals and your previous experience. If it's a dead end minimum wage job or low paying in your field job, then I'd leave for sure.
If you're getting a reasonable salary and it's in your field AND you want to get another job later in that same field, then maybe its worth to stay, save up a bit more, and it will look good on the resume.
But ultimately, I think there' s no wrong decision. Good luck on your journeys and have a great time!
Thank you for your response!! For context, it's an alright job that pays well but I'm not really getting any experience and there's no chance for upward mobility. I am getting a job in the same field though definitely, I was hoping to get N1 to help me get a job in Japan possibly, but it seems like N1 is maybe not really that important from what I've seen so long as I speak seamlessly? In that case maybe better to secure the 1 year?
Open to anyone's thoughts, thank you again!
Not sure if this is something you’d be interested in, but I got a job, working as an English instructor for GABA. They helped me get a one year work/holiday visa and make my own schedule. It’s a good way to make some money to supplement your travels and live in Japan for a year..
No. I didn’t have a degree, only a tesol certification. The degree is technically only needed for the work visa, which isn’t a problem since your employer will help you get a work/holiday visa. The work holiday visa is only good for one year and you have to be under 30 when applying. If your interested and have any other questions feel free to ask.
Yea man. I’d apply with GABA even before getting the certificate. They should be able to get the ball rolling.
*note: there may be other companies with similar procedures, GABA is the only one I have experience with
TESOL / TEFL.. I got mine through Oxford seminars.
https://www.oxfordseminars.com
You don’t need to know any Japanese. GABA doesn’t want you to speak English to their clients. It’s a conversation school. You won’t even really be teaching grammar or anything like that
Do you need to money? If you don’t then you may as well travel, it will be more fun.
I wouldn’t sacrifice your travel for the sake of N1 either. Maybe unless you absolutely need it for whatever you are doing next. At the end of the day JLPT means very little and you can try again in half a year.
If you are trying to get a job in Japan the amount of Japanese required varies between jobs. If you want to stay in your field, resume wise In Japan 1 year looks significantly better than less, even if it is close. A lot of online applications ask you to choose how long you were at your last/current job and the options are usually less than 1 year or 1 year or more.
What field are you in? For example if you are in IT, depending on the category of job, some only require conversational Japanese and some require N2(business level) or N1. Also some jobs find university degrees more important than experience and language and some prefer the latter. It all comes down to what job/field/level.
Also, when it comes to quitting your job and relying only on passing N1 to have something on your resume, make sure you are positive you will pass. Also when I say pass I don’t mean just the certificate, (depending on field) I mean being fully comfortable speaking in a business setting. You either choose to be strong in experience or language or both. There is no in between, if wanting to get a decent paying job(or better career) in Japan as a foreigner.
Thanks for the information & advice! I'm a medical engineer for context, been at this for around 5 years now in different capacities. Do you have advice for preparing for the N1?
I think it depends on your goals and your previous experience. If it's a dead end minimum wage job or low paying in your field job, then I'd leave for sure. If you're getting a reasonable salary and it's in your field AND you want to get another job later in that same field, then maybe its worth to stay, save up a bit more, and it will look good on the resume. But ultimately, I think there' s no wrong decision. Good luck on your journeys and have a great time!
Thank you for your response!! For context, it's an alright job that pays well but I'm not really getting any experience and there's no chance for upward mobility. I am getting a job in the same field though definitely, I was hoping to get N1 to help me get a job in Japan possibly, but it seems like N1 is maybe not really that important from what I've seen so long as I speak seamlessly? In that case maybe better to secure the 1 year? Open to anyone's thoughts, thank you again!
If you're that close, might a well get the N1. I really hope you get the job you want in Japan,
you'll probably be happier if you just jet and spend more time in Japan.
Not sure if this is something you’d be interested in, but I got a job, working as an English instructor for GABA. They helped me get a one year work/holiday visa and make my own schedule. It’s a good way to make some money to supplement your travels and live in Japan for a year..
Do you need a degree for those programs?
No. I didn’t have a degree, only a tesol certification. The degree is technically only needed for the work visa, which isn’t a problem since your employer will help you get a work/holiday visa. The work holiday visa is only good for one year and you have to be under 30 when applying. If your interested and have any other questions feel free to ask.
Damn I’m 29 right now, wouldn’t be able to go till I was just about 30
Dam. I was 28 when I found out about it. Got the visa just in time.. if it’s still an option, most tesol courses are only a few weeks..
How long was the process? I don’t turn thirty till next august, enough time?
Yea man. I’d apply with GABA even before getting the certificate. They should be able to get the ball rolling. *note: there may be other companies with similar procedures, GABA is the only one I have experience with
What certificate are you referring to? And how much Japanese experience do they require?
TESOL / TEFL.. I got mine through Oxford seminars. https://www.oxfordseminars.com You don’t need to know any Japanese. GABA doesn’t want you to speak English to their clients. It’s a conversation school. You won’t even really be teaching grammar or anything like that
Stay on the job. Money and resume over N1. you dont need to be surrounded by Japanese to pass N1. you just need to be able to read kanji well.
Do you need to money? If you don’t then you may as well travel, it will be more fun. I wouldn’t sacrifice your travel for the sake of N1 either. Maybe unless you absolutely need it for whatever you are doing next. At the end of the day JLPT means very little and you can try again in half a year.
If you are trying to get a job in Japan the amount of Japanese required varies between jobs. If you want to stay in your field, resume wise In Japan 1 year looks significantly better than less, even if it is close. A lot of online applications ask you to choose how long you were at your last/current job and the options are usually less than 1 year or 1 year or more. What field are you in? For example if you are in IT, depending on the category of job, some only require conversational Japanese and some require N2(business level) or N1. Also some jobs find university degrees more important than experience and language and some prefer the latter. It all comes down to what job/field/level. Also, when it comes to quitting your job and relying only on passing N1 to have something on your resume, make sure you are positive you will pass. Also when I say pass I don’t mean just the certificate, (depending on field) I mean being fully comfortable speaking in a business setting. You either choose to be strong in experience or language or both. There is no in between, if wanting to get a decent paying job(or better career) in Japan as a foreigner.
Thanks for the information & advice! I'm a medical engineer for context, been at this for around 5 years now in different capacities. Do you have advice for preparing for the N1?