Hi all, I found this forum while googling to a few questions I had and was amazed at how helpful everybody was to other people asking similar questions.
I'd like to explain my situation and ask a few quesitons of my own, any help or information at all would be greatly appreciated.
Until Fall of 2006 I was stationed at Yokota AB, outside of Tokyo- now i'm back stateside until I separate in November of 2007. My goal (heck, my dream) is to get back to Tokyo, work at Yokota and share an apartment with my girlfriend there.
Leavin the USAF and hoping to work at Yokota (base near Tokyo ::
Leavin the USAF and hoping to work at Yokota (base near Tokyo)..plz help My goal (heck, my dream) is to get back to Tokyo, work at Yokota and share an
http://www.jref.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-30369.htmlHOME |
Yokota High School Alumni 1980's Directory::
I went back to Tokyo two years ago but didn't go back to the base. . Still in Ohio, which is where we came after leaving Yokota. From the middle of Tokyo
http://www.feelthevibe.com/yhs/1980.htmHOME |
My Japanese is so poor it may as well be nonexistant and my education, so far, is limited to an Associates Degree- clearly my options will be limited. I want to either try out for a contractor position at Yokota (i've been working computers for 4 years of my enlistment, so hopefully something along that line) or, if absolutely all else fails, scrounge for whatever is available.
My main questions are the following:
-If I get desperate, what are my chances of being hired by AAFES? I'm living stateside and I doubt they would sponsor my visa or anything considering most of their employees are already military dependents. How about DECA (commisary) or services? If I move to Japan on my own upon separating, will any of these places take me on and enable me to work in Japan?
-I separate in November but i'm job-hunting now. I've checked around a lot and most of the communications-type jobs are far out of my league as far as experience and education. If I show up in November with just my resume and a hopeful grin, how likely is it that I can find some type of employment as a contractor and gain SOFA status (or a visa, or whatever)
-Are there any options I havent thought of? So far my options seem limited to hoping that I can find and get a Contractor job or hoping AAFES will sponsor my VISA, both of which seem pretty unlikely. I cant teach english (no Bachelors yet), cant speak Japanese (I studied while there but have forgotten it astonishingly quick), what other options do I have?
If you were in my shoes, stuck stateside with a strong desire to get back to Japan but only 4 years of computer experience and an associates' degree, what would you do? When November comes around, I want to either already have a job waiting for me to fly to, or know that I can fly down with bags in tow and find a job relatively easily.
Any help would be absolutely great, i'm lost and nervous and desperate for some good info.
Contractors gain SOFA status, but not always full SOFA benefits. It's a little complicated. Also, contractors are not required to pay you housing allowances. Some do, some don't.
AAFES can hire people locally, so why would they hire you from stateside and pay you more money? Most services jobs won't pay housing, but provide SOFA...but again most of those jobs are filled locally, and don't pay well. Getting a job when you are here on a tourist visa is hard, not impossible, but hard. It would be best to wait out your time in the US and get a full ride, but if you can't wait, then come on over and take your chances.
Are there any options I havent thought of?
1. Finish your degree, even if you have to do it long distance. Having only an associate's degree and American citizenship will not get you far. I would hazard a guess that SOFA status is limited to base, so you may not be able to get that and work as a contractor off-base. Anyone?
2. Another option -- like it or not -- marry your GF (if she is Japanese). That would at least give you a spouse visa and make you ELIGIBLE for work anywhere. Whether an employer thinks you're QUALIFIED is another story.
3. Student visa and cultural visa permit PT work with special permission.
Search all of the websites for government jobs and just keep applying. IF you get picked up while stateside, things will be much better for you. (trust me on this!)
So if I get picked up as a contractor while i'm still stateside, I can come over and get SOFA status and full benefits? That sounds great, hopefully I can pull it off and land a job.
If not, would getting a job with AAFES or Services provide SOFA status?
I guess those are my two biggest requirements: SOFA status and a steady paycheck. Hopefully I can find some way to gain both soon...
Thanks a lot for the reply! Working as a contractor on-base would be just fine, as long as I have SOFA status to stay in the country and enough money to pay for cost of living, thats enough. The only thing i'm worried about is actually landing that job in the first place.
Is it easier to get picked up stateside than if I went to Japan and began applying?
About the same. But at least if you are picked up stateside, you would have full benefits.
Search all of the websites for government jobs and just keep applying. IF you get picked up while stateside, things will be much better for you. (trust me on this!)
Is it easier to get picked up stateside than if I went to Japan and began applying?
 Nobody understands...any help please?
 50 points for someone willing to do this!!!!!!!!!!?
|
Leavin the USAF and hoping to work at Yokota (base near Tokyo)..plz help