Job Opportunities Shifting Overseas?
Career, Japan Trends 
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As the US economy slides (crashes?) and the job market seems less and less supportive here in the US, many JET alums are likely starting to look back to Japan for work opportunities. Sure Japan is in a recession, but they don’t seem to have quite the negative exposure that the US financial institutions have had and in several instances Japanese finance has helped bail out some struggling US banks and auto companies.
An article in today’s NY Times seems to support this trend, taking about lawyers increasingly moving to their firms’ offices in Asia and the Middle East. Notably, the article starts off with a female lawyer who decided to accept her firm’s suggestion to move to their Tokyo office.
Are you in a similar boat? If you’re a JET alum who’s moving (or considering moving) back to Japan or elsewhere for better opportunities, get in touch and share you’re story. Just e-mail stevenwaseda /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
JET alum Lars Martinson, author of the graphic novel Tonoharu: Part 1, just completed a 10-part series on his site (larsmartinson.com) all about self-publishing. While he writes from an “alternative cartoonist” perspective, he offers valuable insight and experience for any JET alums in the writing or publishing business.
Perspectives include:
- Cartooning is a poor career choice, so make sure you have alternative revenue streams
- Seek funding such as the Xeric Grant, Monbusho scholarships and other sources of funding
Taking advantage of Amazon Associates, and selling related merchandise- Suggestions on how to create an effective online presence
- How to find established distributors in your field
- How to manage sales and money
- Plus plenty of other helpful concrete suggestions gleaned from personal experience and struggle
You can also read a nice article about Lars from the Winter 2008 “Digital Media” Issue of the JETAA NY Newsletter, written by Alexei Esikoff (Fukushima-ken, 2001-02).
Seeking JET alumni authors
Books, Career, Celebrity, Networking, Writers Comments Off on Seeking JET alumni authors
Are you a JET alum? Have you ever written a book? Do you know of any JET alumni who have authored a book?
JetWit is trying to track down any and all JET alumni authors, well-known and obscure. If you’ve ever written a book or know of another JET alum who has, please e-mail any info to stevenwaseda /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
Below is a list of JET alumni authors JetWit knows about. (To see the books they’ve written, go to jetwit.com/wordpress/library/authorsbooks/.)
- Auslin, Michael
- Beaton, Hamish (Osaka, 1996-99)
- Feiler, Bruce (Tottori-ken, 1989-90)
- Ferguson, Will (Nagasaki-ken, 1991-94)
- Kelts, Roland (Osaka, 1998-99)
- Kennedy, James (Nara-ken, 2004-06)
- Klar, Nicholas (Prefecture, Years)
- Kootnikoff, David (Prefecture, Years)
- Levitas, Ethan (Prefecture, Years)
- McConnell, David L. (Prefecture, Years)
- Tessler, Manya (Prefecture, Years)
Job listings for JET alumni? Send’em in!
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REMINDER: If you have a job listing that would be relevant for JET alumni, or if you’re a JET alumni with an opening where you work and want to share the job listing, feel free to e-mail it to stevenwaseda /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com.
A nice International ed job listing courtesy of JET alum Sara Arlin:
CENTER DIRECTOR – TOKYO, JAPAN
Qualifications for the Center Director position include: a Master’s degree (Ph.D. preferred) in an appropriate academic area (e.g., Japanese language, Asian studies, education); at least 5 years of management experience, ideally in a study abroad or higher education setting; excellent written and spoken Japanese and English; a good understanding of both the U.S. and Japanese higher education systems; and experience working with American university students. This is a permanent, full-time position offering opportunities for professional growth and a competitive annual salary and benefits. All applicants should be able to lawfully accept employment in Japan at the time of the offer of employment.
A complete description of this job is available on the IES Abroad website at www.iesabroad.org/IES/Careers/employment.html<http://www.iesabroad.org/IE=<www.iesabroad.org/IES/Careers/employment.html%3chttp:/www.iesabroad.org/IE=>S/Careers/employment.html>. Read More
From The Chronicle of Higher Education: Position: Director of International Education
Salary: Unspecified
Institution: Bucknell University
Location: Pennsylvania
Date posted: 11/19/2008
Bucknell University seeks applicants for a Director of the Office of International Education. The Director of International Education reports to the Assistant Provost and manages a team of 6 professional and part-time staff. Bucknell University currently sends over 40% of its student population off campus and expects this number to grow. The Office of International Education is responsible for advising these students on over 160 off-campus studies options. As an institution, Bucknell University is committed to enhancing the international character of its community, and strongly supports off-campus studies as one avenue through which students can become tolerant, reflective, global citizens. Read More
WITLife – Episode #3
Career, Networking, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Comments Off on WITLife – Episode #3
WITLife is a series by Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). She is currently traveling around the U.S. as a freelance interpreter for the U.S. State Department.
Hello from Seattle! I intended to write from each of the cities during my travels, but somehow my busy schedule got the best of me. I am now at the last stop on our tour of the States before returning home to NYC this weekend.
The last time I checked in I was in DC for the election, and after a brief stop in Kalamazoo, Michigan we made our way to Obama’s stomping grounds of Chicago. Even though we couldn’t be in Grant Park for election night, it was cool to visit the spot where he had spoken a week later (courtesy of a tour from a friend who had been lucky enough to be there at the time!). Read More
Saw this on the JETAA DC grouplist:
Job opportunity
Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:24 am (PST)
Dear All:
A job opportunity from a friend in Rwanda. Please see the website below to find out more!
Best,
Josh
We have a new job opening in our office here in Kigali, so I wanted to spread the word in case any of you knew of any likely candidates. Orphans of Rwanda is starting our own language training program for our students as of January 2009. We are focusing on English, although we also have about 15 people who need additional training in French. We are now actively seeking a Language Coordinator to work with me to oversee the program. Read More
Saw this on Craigslist for Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC. (I have no idea what SEO refers to, by the way.)
Japanese translator & seo copywriters
Date: 2008-11-18, 7:32PM EST
Japanese translator & seo copywriters by bizworx
http://www.getafreelancer.com/projects/mithi_345318.html
We need a Japanese translator with SEO experience. Ongoing work delivered fortnightly including numerous: * Brochures translation projects * Websites translation and seo copywriting * Article submission… (Budget: $30-250, Jobs: Copywriting, SEO, Translation, Web Promotion)
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:21:40 -0500. GetAFreelancer.com_project_345318. Copywriting. SEO. Translation. Web Promotion
Help JetWit find sponsors
Advertising, Career, Uncategorized Comments Off on Help JetWit find sponsors
JetWit is seeking sponsors (or other forms of support). Here’s how you can help:
- E-mail me at stevenwaseda /atto/ jetwit /dotto/ com with contact information and a contact person for any potential sponsors.
- Contact potential advertisers yourself and encourage them to get in touch to discuss advertising.
- Be an ad sales rep for JetWit. Contact me to discuss if interested.
The reasons a company might want to advertise on JetWit:
- A unique centralized channel for reaching a national audience of JET alums and other people with a connection to Japan along with current JETs and prospective JETs. (FYI, there are approximately 20,000 JET alums in the US.) (Not that all of them read JetWit. :-)
- Positive publicity and good karma from showing support for JET alumni
- JetWit’s ability to provide creative advertising solutions.
- Benefit from my 7 years of experience communicating with and supporting the JET alumni network in my role as the JETAA NY Newsletter Editor.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, and thanks for your help.
Steven (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)
JetWit in Japan-US Business News
Blogs, Career, Networking, Uncategorized, Writers Comments Off on JetWit in Japan-US Business News
Yvonne Burton (an independent business consultant who has both US and Japanese clients), has a nice entry about JetWit.com and finding opportunities in a tought economy today on her unique and interesting website Japan-US Business News (www.japanusbusinessnews.com).
JetWit will be paying close attention to Yvonne’s site going forward as she has a lot of experience working with small and mid-sized businesses and a reputation for coming up with creative approaches to cross-cultural business issues. Definitely a good resource for many JET alums.
(Side note: Just want to mention I was able to get to know Yvonne thanks to JET alum writer/interpreter/translator Stacy Smith, who has written and done translation work for Yvonne at different points.)
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!
********************
“Zannen…. Motainai“…..She repeated it again as she circled the computer skills on my resume. This was the third woman I had talked to today from this recruiting company.
It was 3:42pm in Manhattan and I had to decide if I was going to stay to see some people for drinks later tonight or take a train on the LIRR back home to my parent’s house – where I live now. Three months ago it was sayonara parties and teary goodbyes. Now it was recruiting companies and resume dos-and-don’ts.
Yuki (not her real name) was clearly disappointed. Even though we had been speaking Japanese most of the time I met her, she still felt it was not good enough for a Japanese business environment. She then explained Read More
Job: Bilingual Product Specialist for Nintendo (Redmond, WA)
Career, Jobs, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Job: Bilingual Product Specialist for Nintendo (Redmond, WA)
Just saw this on Craigslist, which means it has no connection to JetWit.
Bilingual Product Specialist (English/Japanese) (Redmond)
Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-11-17, 4:18PM PST
To apply, go to: https://nintendo.taleo.net/careersection/10000/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=080000009E
Bankruptcy Bill – Strip #4: Headhunters
Blogs, Career, Cartoon/Illustration, Humor, Uncategorized, Writers Comments Off on Bankruptcy Bill – Strip #4: Headhunters
Bankruptcy Bill is a cartoon created by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94) and Gideon Kendall. To see more strips as well as bankruptcy haiku, go to bankruptcybill.wordpress.com.
Job Opportunities: Asian Pacific University Translation/Interpreting Jobs – Beppu City
Academic, Career, Jobs, Translating/Interpreting Comments Off on Job Opportunities: Asian Pacific University Translation/Interpreting Jobs – Beppu City
Professional interpreter/translator (and Beppu Hot Springs Master) Joel Dechant (CIR Fukuoka-ken, 2001-04) mentioned that his former employer, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu City, Fukuoka-ken, often has open positions for faculty and native English staff. Go here for job listings: http://www.apu.ac.jp/administration/modules/opportunities/index.php?id=1&sel_lang=english
Joel says these are contract positions, meaning they’re good for fresh Ex-JETS itching to get back to Nippon
and a good place to hone your skills enough to go solo at some point. He also points out there are several ex-APUer acquaintances that ended up in higher education jobs in their respective home countries.
