declan_murphy@hotmail.com wrote:
> rcaetano wrote:
> > Some time ago someone asked here about jobs and recruiters. Declan
> > wrote an  useful reply but not really about recruiters. Does anyone
> > here have experience with recruiters and can give more concrete info?
>
> I'm shocked that I wrote a reply considered useful. Interesting
> perhaps, but useful? I'll open another beer in consternation.

Sorry. I just said it out of politeness.

> For recruiters, best I've heard of is Mark Stoneman up in Tokyo. Quite
> a few of the techies/engineering types passing through Mombassa have
> mentioned him. Whether he(they) can help re science careers I'm not in
> a position to say, but a referral may be possible.

Thanks. I am a techie type. My science (ahem) career will end soon.

(...)
> Personally I wouldn't underrate the suisenjou system. It works. Its how
> I got started too - first job in Japan (Makita) was via the
> recommendations of a professor in Sydney years ago.

I'm sure the system works well for the Japanese. I'm just not sure it
works well for foreigners in general and for me in particular.
Especially if that first job is the one you were talking about in your
previous (useless) reply.

>  I'd also suggest getting your Japanese up to at least JLPT1.

Well, almost no chance of passing 1-kyu this year.

> > Oh, and the wages for newly graduates kinda suck (20~21 man)
>
> That rate probably wouldn't apply for a gaigin, usual benchmark for any
> work visa is 25 man, slightly more for engineers/science in some
> cases).

I know more experienced gaigin can earn more, but do you mean I could
earn more than a Japanese even going thru the usual suisenjou system?
Odd.

> Plus it probably doesn't include bonuses and perks, and would
> only apply for a short period of time.

Really? I had the impression that one's salary here would improve much
slowlier than in Brazil (and probably USA, etc) where seniority doesn't
count so much.

> Meanwhile you could get your Japanese up to speed.

I hope so. But I don't think I'm going to improve much in 6 months
(even if I take extreme measures like studying regularly or (shudder)
taking classes).

> > Also, I'm thinking of taking TOEIC. Is it useful at all for gaigin, or
> > all gaigin speak English anyway?
> >
>
> All gaigin speak English, except around here, where they all speak
> Portuguese. Either way you should be able to wing it.

Er...
[looks up dictionary]
wing it Informal
    To say or do something without preparation, forethought, or
sufficient information or experience; improvise: She hadn't studied for
the exam, so she decided to wing it.

Oh, sure! I'll wing it.

BTW, I'd appreciate pointers to recruiters/companies in Aichi.

Rafael Caetano