Julie Matysik (Yamanashi-ken, 2006-07) is a freelance copy editor and aspiring in-house editor who recently moved to NYC with her husband (also a JET alum). She has just started an internship in editing/publishing/writing. Editorial Pursuits chronicles her job hunting efforts, experiences and lessons learned.
As part of my internship, I’ve been entrusted with reading what we like to call “slush”-unsolicited manuscripts that, almost 99% of the time, come to find an impersonal rejection letter folder in a neat and hopeful self-addressed stamped envelope. Now, normally I like to consider myself a very fair, open-minded, and kind individual; I especially love being introduced to new books, authors, genres, etc. However, when it comes to reading “slush,” I feel a demonic, elitist monster overtaking my body.
That said, this is not the first time I’ve been asked to read through various query letters, synopses, and sample chapters. At an internship I held at Cream City Review literary magazine in Milwaukee, WI I also read short story manuscripts and about half of the time, I passed the manuscript on to a fiction editor for their feedback. So I don’t know if the frustrations with not being able to find a permanent publishing job in the so-called “Mecca” of publishing (a.k.a. NYC) or my need to assert some pent-up dominance over Read More
Tadaima! #3 – Knocking on doors
Career, Jobs, Uncategorized, Writers 
Comments Off on Tadaima! #3 – Knocking on doors
My name is Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08). And whether readjusting to post-JET life is something you’re facing now, will deal with in the future or if you just enjoy reconnecting with that awkwardly uncertain feeling you had when you got back from Japan, come along with me as I look for a new job, a new apartment, and yes, mow the lawn of my parent’s house. Tadaima!
I scored my lucky seat on the train. You see, on the LIRR, there is always a fold down seat right near the doors between cars. Granted it wasn’t rush hour or anything, I just always love getting that seat.
I sat carefully in a futile attempt to not wrinkle the pants of my navy suit. I also liked my orange tie that I picked up in the Harajuku Zara back in Japan. I needed to dress to impress, because it was offense time. Read More
JetWit Success Story #2
Blogs, Career, JETAA Chapter Beat, Jobs, Networking, Writers Comments Off on JetWit Success Story #2
Omedetou to freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) who just got an internship with a publishing company thanks to his work with JetWit as the JETAA Chapter Beat guy!
He found out about it through Julie Matysik (who herself got an internship at the same publishing company after a JET alum who works there saw her first two Editorial Pursuits posts on JetWit), who found out about the latest internship opportunity and passed it on to Jonathan because she knew through JetWit that he was looking for similar opportunities.
This is one of the strengths of the JET alumni network. There are lots more connections and opportunities out there, even in this tough economy. We just have to dig a little and sometimes be creative to find them.
Note: The internships are unpaid, albeit good places to start, which means Julie and Jonathan are both still in the market for paying jobs if anyone wants to hire them. (The JET alumni network is strong, but it’s not all-powerful. Not yet anyway. :-)
In response to the previous post about “going back to Japan,” I received a nice email from a JET alum with a bunch of sites that are good for finding jobs in Japan. I’ve also posted them on the Professional Profiles/Job Resources page.
FINDING JOBS IN JAPAN
- Interac – http://www.interac.co.jp/recruit/
- GaijinPot: http://www.gaijinpot.com/
- E-Central: http://www.ecentral.jp/index.php?l=e
- Jobs In Japan: http://jobsinjapan.com/
- Japn Times Jobs: http://job.japantimes.com/index_e.php
- Temp Staff Universal: http://www.tempstaff.co.jp/universal/eng/index.html
- Japan Guide Jobs: http://jobs.japan-guide.com/job_search.php
- Tokyo Metropolis Jobs: http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyojobsemployment/1.1.inc.htm
- Japanzine Jobs: http://jobs.seekjapan.jp/jobs
Feel free to email any others to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
A recently returned JET alum recently asked for suggestions on recruiting firms or other channels for “getting back to Japan.” Since my sense is that the US job market is making that an increasing trend among returning JETs, I wanted to put the question out to the JET alum community.
The only option I can think of off the top of my head is Interac, which had a recent post on JetWit.
Do you have suggestions for recruiting firms or other decent options for “getting back to Japan?” Post a comment below or send an email to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
Writing Opportunity: Japan-US Business News
Blogs, Career, Networking Comments Off on Writing Opportunity: Japan-US Business News
Friend of JetWit Yvonne Burton is looking for JET alums and non-JET alums to write about their practical business experiences with Japan for Japan-US Business News.
www.Japanusbusinessnews.com is an online forum for news, discussion and advertising for the Japan-US business community. I am looking for people with practical experience working with Japanese people and/or companies to write their stories.
I usually write these types of stories as case studies. For example: client/company had this challenge/issue or this is what came up when I worked with a Japanese company. This is how I helped them resolve problem or this is how I handled what came up and finally lessons learned–this way the articles are educational as well.
In exchange for writing for www.Japanusbusinessnews.com, you will receive:
- Free publicity by having your article on the blog and then archived on the blog
- Your brief bio below your article
- Link to your website or blog
If you are interested, please email me at: yvonne /atto/ burtonconsulting /dotto/ biz.
I just learned about another JET alum author named Rob Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04), currently a resident of Toronto, thanks to JETAA DC newsletter chair Gina Anderson (Nara-ken, 2003-05).
Rob is the author of Zorgamazoo, a “rhyming, rhythmical tale of Katrina, a girl with a big heart and an even bigger imagination” published this year by Penguin Books and available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Powells.
If the website for the book (www.zorgamazoo.com) is any indication, then the book seems like an exceedingly fun read for adults as well as children. (Plus, I read the free excerpt and it turns out it is as fun as the website.)
You can also follow Rob’s blog at wayofthewest.wordpress.com
FYI, to see a list of all JET alum authors (of which JetWit is aware), go to jetwit.com/wordpress/library/authorsbooks. And if you know of any others, be a good JET alum and send an e-mail to jetwit /att/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
New Graduate School page on JetWit
Academic, Career, Graduate School Comments Off on New Graduate School page on JetWit
Have a look at the new Graduate School page on JetWit.com. These are schools and programs that tend to be popular with JET alumni.
- If you know of a school that should be added, or
- If you attended one of the programs and want to add some information or comments or would be willing to be contacted if other JET alums want to talk to people who have attended your program
just send an e-mail to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
Translation Resources
Blogs, Career, Networking, Translating/Interpreting, Writers Comments Off on Translation Resources
I’ve been following a blog called Translation-Language-Culture (www.translationlanguageculture.com) written by a guy named Werner Patel, and I noticed a nice recent post about online resources for translators that I thought was worth sharing.
Werner specializes in English-German translation and is a Canadian citizen, though the blog addresses translation issues from a general perspective.
I’d be interested in hearing what JetWit readerst think of the site, especially any info or perspectives that might be particularly helpful to the JET/JET alum community.
Send any comments to jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
Jobs in the hospitality industry in Japan?
Advice, Career, JETAA Chapters, Networking Comments Off on Jobs in the hospitality industry in Japan?
The below question and response recently appeared on the LinkedIn group “Official Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and Alumni Association (JETAA).” (Names of the alumni are intentionally not included.)
Question: Topic: Companies to look at for hospitality/tourism or entertainment related jobs in Japan
I recently had interviews with Bandai and Konami but didn’t get moved onto the next round in both cases. However, I realized I’d really like to work at a gaming/entertainment company. If that doesn’t come through, then I’d like to try and work at a hotel or similar establishment. If anyone has ideas for companies/hotels where I could apply to work for in Japan please let me know.
Response: If you are not to concerned about salary you could check out the adventures here: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/working-at-japanese-ski-resorts.html
(Seems like it is more for the experience, rather than the earning potential.)
By the way, I also used to work in the games biz back in Vancouver, and I have visited quite a few studios here as well. One thing I can tell you is that the atmosphere is really different. Whereas you might expect really fun, creative work places with free Starbucks and foosball (a la North American experience), the Japanese reality is excessive overtime and Akihabara-style people who don’t get out much. I would probably go for the ski resort…
It turns out JET alum Lars Martinson, author of the graphic novel Tonoharu: Part 1, has a four-part series on his experience applying for a Monbusho Scholarship that’s worth reading.
JetWit also recently had a post about Lars completing a 10-part series on his site (larsmartinson.com) all about self-publishing. And I just realized he has a unique section on his site devoted to reflections from his time on JET.
It’s also worth noting that, while he had been living in Minneapolis, MN, more recently he’s relocated to Tokushima-ken in Shikoku for graduate school.
Julie Matysik (Yamanashi-ken, 2006-07) is a freelance copy editor and aspiring in-house editor who recently moved to NYC with her husband (also a JET alum). She has just started an internship in editing/publishing/writing. Editorial Pursuits chronicles her job hunting efforts, experiences and lessons learned.
Warning: the following post is coming from deep frustrations with job searching and the inability to land a solid entry-level job in the editing and publishing field over the past four months.
I cannot even begin to express how frustrating it is when you check a site daily for jobs and find nothing a) that you are qualified for, b) that is in the city you are living in, or c) — just plain nothing!
My most favorite, and most reliable, job searching sites-Publisher’s Marketplace, MediaBistro, and Book Jobs-have not posted anything pertinent to my job search needs in the last two weeks.
Of course, I know better than to blame the job search engines for Read More
Job Listing: JetWit
Career, Humor, Jobs, Networking, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Job Listing: JetWit
JetWit is looking for people to help with the following jobs (which are unpaid for now):
1. Ad Sales – One or two people to pursue and follow up with leads for potential advertisers.
2. Updater – One or two people to send out a daily or periodic email update to an email grouplist with links to the latest posts. Room to be creative if you want.
3. Job Listings – One or two people to help me gather and post relevant job listings.
4. Other – If you have other ideas for ways to help, feel free to email with suggestions/proposals.
Among other things, JetWit is intended to be a way to help JET alums get some work experience, even if you don’t have a job, whether writing, translating, business or other experience. A way around the catch-22 of needing experience to get a job but being unable to get a job without experience.
Feel free to get in touch to discuss more. Contact: jetwit /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
Job Market Update
Career, Japan Trends, Jobs Comments Off on Job Market Update
I was in touch with a couple recruiters from Japanese staffing/recruiting firms this past week, and it sounds like there really are no job listings right now, at least from Japanese companies seeking Americans with some level of Japanese ability. The one glimmer of light was a comment that, starting in 2009, Japanese HR managers may be more open to hiring given that down markets are always a good time to hire talented people.
So buckle your seatbelt and be creative and proactive if you’re in the market for a job. And by all means make use of JetWit and the JET alumni network. (And any other networks you have too, for that matter.) Most of all, remember that every challenge offers new opportunities. It’s just a matter of figuring out what they are. Ganbarimashou!
Tadaima! #2 – Networking, Karate and Stocks, Oh My!
Career, Humor, Networking, Uncategorized, Writers Comments Off on Tadaima! #2 – Networking, Karate and Stocks, Oh My!
My name is Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08). And whether readjusting to post-JET life is something you’re facing now, will deal with in the future or if you just enjoy reconnecting with that awkwardly uncertain feeling you had when you got back from Japan, come along with me as I look for a new job, a new apartment, and yes, mow the lawn of my parent’s house. Tadaima!
My cousin recently published a mystery/horror novel called “Once Upon a Nightmare,” which I read exclusively at night because that’s generally when scary stories are most poignant. She asked me to review it, so I am. But like most books you get really into, you forget what time it is, and I ended up staying up really late. So I end up waking up late.
First I checked e-mails for leads and responses with jobs. A fellow JETAANY member (Steven) needed help with the Kintetsu Essay Contest, and at this point he and I were working on a title for this series. The back and forth was a great way to keep myself engaged and feeling like I was doing something. The Essay Contest data was formatted quickly, but Steven and I went back and forth several more times brainstorming for a name for this series.
Downstairs I went for brunch in my deserted house. Carefully placed on the kitchen table was my daily note from Mom. Tuna in the Fridge. She’s going to Lowes when she gets home. Vacuum all the leaves in the front of the house.
I thought of calling my mother at work and telling her that many houses in Japan lack yards and doing yard work would severely cripple my cultural transition. Instead I threw on my weird leather and faux fur hat (I have a habit of wearing odd hats during chores) and began on the leaves. While doing this my neighbor Tony sauntered over.
Tony is about my fathers age and has two loves: Cigars and Sinatra. Read More
