Difficulty Getting Back to Japan

[InDuhUSA]

Since this is the "rant and rave" section, I am going to rant here about my frustrations in getting a job back to Japan. I do not expect sympathy, just want to let off some steam (though if you are reading this and are in a position to give me a well paying job, hey ..... :D)

I have applied for numerous jobs back to Japn. Most of them with the federal government (who I currently work for) and few with contractors. The only real offer I got was a contractor offered a position for six months in Japan and I could not bring family along (my wife is Japanese, what the heck, should I leave her in the USA while I enjoy her country?) Otherwise, out of all the jobs I had applied for (over a four year period), I have only had ONE interview and still have yet to hear anything.

Most of the IT jobs in OKinawa for the federal government are for those who are "already in the commuting area." That means if one is in the USA they should not waste time applying for it. I have applied for jobs with much lower paygrades than I have and got rejected. It sucks I tell ya.

It almost feels like I may never get back over there to live. Vacations here and there maybe, but getting back there for a few years seems to be nil. If you are in the same predicament as me, then respond and make your voices heard. It won't do you any good but it'll make you feel better :D

Durn, feel good already. Thanks for reading this rant (hahahahahaha)

[DoctorP]

I feel your pain (sort of). Of course I am already here, and working, but I am a stepchild so to speak. Many of my coworkers get paid for their housing and get other benefits because they were hired in the US. Here I am doing the same job (actually more work) and making much less money! I think the whole system just needs to be fair across the board.

Send me a PM detailing your current job (level) and I'll keep watch for other openings for you. I check weekly!

[dk]

I always thought it was rediculous that you had to be hired off-shore to be able to reap the full benefits of some of these base jobs. Absolutely rediculous.

But screw the bases. There's plenty of money to be made out in town. It's just a lot harder to grab. If you want a job bad enough and a way back to Okinawa, there's plenty of employment opportunities. At least to get you fed.

But I understand that most of you would rather have your COLA. I wouldn't mind a little COLA myself, but I've been working off the local market for 6 years now without it, so it's nothing I miss and/or can't live without.

[DoctorP]

dk...I could live without the COLA, but I have too much time invested in the Federal Government! I will work this way until I retire (at least 10 more years if I retire early)

I have several ideas for making money on this island. I even have a backer for one of the ideas, I just haven't pulled the string on it yet.

[InDuhUSA]

I feel your pain (sort of). Of course I am already here, and working, but I am a stepchild so to speak. Many of my coworkers get paid for their housing and get other benefits because they were hired in the US. Here I am doing the same job (actually more work) and making much less money! I think the whole system just needs to be fair across the board.

Send me a PM detailing your current job (level) and I'll keep watch for other openings for you. I check weekly!

Doc

I was in the exact same situation as you are in now. I got out of the military and was hired three months later as a local hire (1993). Certain rules said that as long as I still had my transportation agreement then I was eligible for all the bennies. Fought it for two years unsuccessfully. Part of my reason for going back to the USA was because I was already over my five year limit but also I figured I could get back to Japan fairly easy.

I was wrong on that last one.

I'm looking for an IT position. Prefer a GS12 or above because I don't want to lose my grade, but may go as low as an 11 reluctantly.

[InDuhUSA]

I always thought it was rediculous that you had to be hired off-shore to be able to reap the full benefits of some of these base jobs. Absolutely rediculous.

But screw the bases. There's plenty of money to be made out in town. It's just a lot harder to grab. If you want a job bad enough and a way back to Okinawa, there's plenty of employment opportunities. At least to get you fed.

But I understand that most of you would rather have your COLA. I wouldn't mind a little COLA myself, but I've been working off the local market for 6 years now without it, so it's nothing I miss and/or can't live without.

COLA? Are we talking Coke or Pepsi? :D

I'd have to admit that the extra bennies offered in a government overseas job is attractive to me. Furthermore, I did work the local economy for two and a half months before I went into the government and I think the hardest part for me is the fact that the government gives annual and sick leave and the local economy docks your pay for any time that you take off. And forget about taking off on American holidays.

Yes, I am indeed spoiled by the gubmint.

I do agree with you that the local hire situation is completely unfair.

[DoctorP]

Doc


I'm looking for an IT position. Prefer a GS12 or above because I don't want to lose my grade, but may go as low as an 11 reluctantly.

You know you can go to an 11 and have pay retention as a 12 right?

[Eyeball]

I retired here two years ago and took a GS position. I kept my transportion aggrement and had someone willing to pay for it and still could't get it approved. Since then I've found that I don't need the housing to do what I want. Half of my peers get housing and we are all doing the same job.

What gets me is they will let a localy hire person go to hire a person form the States at a much greater cost.

[InDuhUSA]

You know you can go to an 11 and have pay retention as a 12 right?

Yeah, I know. But pride and ego makes me want to keep the 12 :D

For someone desperate to get back to Okinawa, Ah sho is a picky one, ain't ah?

[InDuhUSA]

I retired here two years ago and took a GS position. I kept my transportion aggrement and had someone willing to pay for it and still could't get it approved. Since then I've found that I don't need the housing to do what I want. Half of my peers get housing and we are all doing the same job.

What gets me is they will let a localy hire person go to hire a person form the States at a much greater cost.

I feel your pain eyeball. But at least you can supplement it with your retirement pay. I got out after only 11 years in the military and started as a GS7 over there. I think we would have struggled if my wife wasn't working. Though we weren't broke, we weren't exactly getting ahead either like those who had housing and other bennies.

The organization I worked for was willing to pay my housing too but since we did all of our personnnel stuff through Kadena CPO, we had to go by their rules and judgments. Need I say more?

[Sex Wax]

b acon rights !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!