"Hello Work"

I recieved two pieces of advice from friends living in Sapporo on finding jobs: Go to Hello Work and go meet people.

Hello Work I learned is the name of the national job placement service for unemployed folk. I biked out to the main Sapporo branch and walked into an extremely crowded and shabby building that reminded me immediately of the DMV. After taking a number for those waiting to discuss job options with a clerk, several employees rushed over from another part of the room and escorted me to a small corner reserved for agents discussing options for foreigners.

The first thing on both of our minds was to see if there was anything out there regarding the upcoming G8 Summit at nearby Lake Toya. Unfortunately the only posts available were for bus drivers during the event. Driving on the "other side of the road" is one thing, but we both agreed that driving a bus load of diplomats or what-not was probably another. Next we went over the available English teaching positions, and, although the $30 / hour pay and visa sponsorship perks are tempting, English tutelage was not what I had imagined for myself this summer. The only other option she had available that foreigners sometimes found success in was working the front desk for a hotel. Such a job, she thought however, would probably not want to sponsor my visa.

Hello Work was not too successful, but I am now registered in the national system, so positions may become available in the future, and I will be able to search for jobs in other places, for example in Tokyo.

Moving on to Plan B, I went to visit a friend who owns Bier Pub Louis, a beer bar where you can also play Wii. I was hoping he had the new Super Smash Brothers, but he unfortunately did not. He was happy to see me though and promptly called a friend who may be looking to hire a foreigner. He'll introduce me next week. A short while later, the bar master introduced me to a regular who also said he had a friend that might be interested. Interactions with this second contact led to some phone calls, my volunteering (handing out paper flags) at a half marathon on Sunday, two more introductions, and finally an interview scheduled for the end of the week. I'm not completely convinced any of this is going anywhere, but at least I'm making new friends.

Now I have to go out and buy a necktie that doesn't have numbers on it.

*The above image of Hello Work is borrowed from Co-op (a supermarket) Sapporo's life advice blog. I also found this image from a guidebook for Japanese nationals seeking work abroad. I liked it, so I attached it here. The book is using the term "Hello Work" but the book itself is not published by the agency.