Question for the English (or other language) teachers that aren't staying in Japan short-term, truthfulness please!
1. Do you see yourself as a Lifer in language Teaching?
I still don't know. I started on JET, but am now a direct hire at a high academic public school. More responsibility than an ALT, but less than a full on Japanese teacher. The pay is pretty good, with bonuses and the like. Downside is that if the BoE makes budget cuts, my job is likely the first thing to go, even if I'm kicking ass at my job. I would like to move back to the states someday as I have a lot of issues with the Japanese education system, and I worry about things like the bullying of mixed race children, etc. I've got a kid on the way so there's a lot to think about.
I do love teaching though, so if I do stay in Japan forever I will most likely be a teacher.
1.B Are you mainly just doing the language teaching so you can have a job + life in Japan?
Yes and no. I love my job, my co-workers, and most of all, my students. My school has an international department with kids who want to be bilingual and work outside of Japan in the future. Our English club is bigger than our baseball team. However I do feel like I ended up here simply because there were no other options. Like I'm here by default. I would love to make video games but not if that means I have to work the ridiculous hours of a normal salaryman. I don't want that life. I already work about 2 hours of unpaid overtime every day, and I refuse to let work interfere with my family time any more than it has to.
2. Have you tried testing the water in job searches for something else? How did you feel about the chances of what you found? Your experience?
I've done some freelance translation for some local businesses here in Hiroshima. I've also done several bits of voice work for companies like Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation. Never on staff or anything like that, but it pays very well for a couple hours in a recording studio. I would probably do voice work full time if it could support me and my family.