Graduate from college if you want to live in Japan.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Akakage

I agree (You weren't expecting that from me ). Whether you go to college or a trade school, you need to be marketable. As Napoleon Dynamite says "Chicks dig guys with skills". I was wondering if the moderator would be able to make this one a sticky. It could serve as a source of good information...maybe rename it to "What must a person do in order to realistically live in Japan" or something like that. We could compile all the information on exchange programs for schools, what would be the best subject to major in while in college if one wants to go to Japan. If college is not an option, what skills or trades are in demand in Japan, how much experience is needed for those trades, etc. Just an idea.

A question about degrees, does anyone know Japan's policy on distance degrees? I know Taiwan doesn't see them as valid. Is Japan the same? If Japan accepts them I think that would be a great alternative to those who cannot enroll in a college full time but still want a degree to go Japan.

Is that like correspondence school? My initial feeling would be "not too highly" but that is probably true in the US, as well.

Having worked for Japanese employers on hiring teams, the first thing the Japanese boss asks about an applicant is "What's his degree?" (Rarely "What's his major?") and the second is "Where did he go to school?"

90% of the boss's decision to hire or not is based on these two questions.

[Lolx5]

Well put. Helpful.

[tommasi]

Originally Posted by Akakage

A question about degrees, does anyone know Japan's policy on distance degrees? I know Taiwan doesn't see them as valid. Is Japan the same? If Japan accepts them I think that would be a great alternative to those who cannot enroll in a college full time but still want a degree to go Japan.

Are you talking about online universities?

Like UOP and Devry?

[SSJup81]

Originally Posted by tommasi

Are you talking about online universities?

Like UOP and Devry?

Probably. I was wondering the same thing. I went to a Community College years ago, but I'm finishing up my degree online at a four-year university (Ashford University), but since I can't attend full-time offline and work a full-time job, I'm doing their online program.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by SSJup81

Probably. I was wondering the same thing. I went to a Community College years ago, but I'm finishing up my degree online at a four-year university (Ashford University), but since I can't attend full-time offline and work a full-time job, I'm doing their online program.

A degree is a degree, and the fact that you will be able to answer "yes" to the question "Did you graduate from a 4-year-university" is going to keep 95% of the doors from slamming in your face. I wouldn't rush to say you earned your degree online, though.

[DivineBled]

As the others have said, well put MMM-san. I couldn't say it any better.

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by MMM

Having worked for Japanese employers on hiring teams, the first thing the Japanese boss asks about an applicant is "What's his degree?" (Rarely "What's his major?") and the second is "Where did he go to school?"

90% of the boss's decision to hire or not is based on these two questions.

Japanese employers don`t really care about correspondence schools - as long as the school is accredited it is valid. If it`s one of those "Receive a degree overnight based on real life experiences!" scams, then no - it will never be valid anywhere in the world.

If you`re going to be teaching English, they don`t really care WHERE you got your degree either, as long as you have one. It`s more for visa purposes than any real educational expectations. I have a feeling that if most of the big name English schools could get away with it, they`d hire those without degrees so they could pay them less.

I literally had 6 schools jumping to hire me as soon as I had a valid visa - which was before I had my degree. The thing is, I was married so had that valid visa - not really something anyone can do.

If you`re going to be teaching English, the only cases where employers care where you got your degree is if you were in an especially important position (which is pretty much...never?), or if you received your degree in Japan. (Or, obviously, if you`re Japanese.) Even then, a degree is a degree in most cases.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

Japanese employers don`t really care about correspondence schools - as long as the school is accredited it is valid. If it`s one of those "Receive a degree overnight based on real life experiences!" scams, then no - it will never be valid anywhere in the world.

If you`re going to be teaching English, they don`t really care WHERE you got your degree either, as long as you have one. It`s more for visa purposes than any real educational expectations. I have a feeling that if most of the big name English schools could get away with it, they`d hire those without degrees so they could pay them less.

I literally had 6 schools jumping to hire me as soon as I had a valid visa - which was before I had my degree. The thing is, I was married so had that valid visa - not really something anyone can do.

If you`re going to be teaching English, the only cases where employers care where you got your degree is if you were in an especially important position (which is pretty much...never?), or if you received your degree in Japan. (Or, obviously, if you`re Japanese.) Even then, a degree is a degree in most cases.

Absolutely correct, as always. The employers I worked on hiring committees for were a bank and a translation company. For English teaching, as long as the degree is legit, WHERE you graduate from becomes less important...just as long as you graduated, and are visa-worthy in the eyes of the government.

[kcyk8703]

Well said MMM. Seems the majority of people wanting to live/work/whatever in Japan only know what they want to know.

To move to any country requires research. Know what you're getting into and want to accomplish. A dream is nice, but that's all itll ever be if that's all who want it cares to see.

[Kenpachi11]

the main reason i want to live in japan is that im in love with the culture and the people. and plus whats the use of living in the united states? they say we are free but we are no where near being free. so i dont see any reason to stay here. i hate were i live and probably always will hate it. and i know that im going to go to japan no matter what. and also you dont have to graduate from college to go and live in japan.