Possibility of living in Okinawa

[Willkun]

I was stationed in Okinawa about 5 years ago and loved it there. I would like to go back there now as a civilian but I'm a bit unsure still about finding a job, and actually being able to make it there. I'm currently working as a GS employee Pharmacy Technician in the states, and I'll be finishing up my Bachelor's in System/Network Administration here in the next few months. Since I've been away from Okinawa for so long I've lost much of my language skills in Japanese.

I'll be applying for jobs on USA jobs, but most of those seem to be open career jobs to cover all bases, and not actual specific job openings. Can anyone point me in the right direction about possibly getting my foot in the door with either pharmacy related or IT related jobs I could be applying for?

[ryukyuboi]

DoDDS seems to have quite a few IT positions. You might check www.dodea.edu

But in general, I think decent jobs are very difficult to obtain on Okinawa.

[Willkun]

I found another post showing a lot of websites for the various government job postings. I'll be keeping my eye on those, but are there any possible internal contacts any of you may know that I can get with to find out about any jobs not being posted?

[cellophane]

Internal contacts to give out to a stranger on a forum? Good luck with that because there are lots of other threads of people who already live here who need a good job. But where there is a will there is a way I guess.

[Willkun]

I see you're point. I guess I'll grind away at applications for now and go from there. I am open to any useful information people have to aid in job searches that anyone may have. Thanks ryukyuboi for the DoDDS link. I didn't come across that one yet.

[Old Man]

I would have to agree with Cellophane. :first: I have lived here for going on 35 years :old: and it was a hard grind for the first 2 years. It is easier now but it is best for you to apply for the States. Most of the Jobs that are on USA Jobs and the various Military sites will provide housing if you are hired from the States. Notice I said most of them. It needs to state that in the job announcement. Good Luck. If you come here without a job you may be sorry and need to leave after 90 days. :scratchchin: Okinawa is the best place in the world to live.:thumbup:

[uriel]

Okinawa is the best place in the world to live.:thumbup:

I'm gonna have to go ahead and, disagree with you on this one. I find it to be a close second to the Otake, Hiroshima, and Yanai areas up in Yamaguchi ken. However, if it was a choice between this and MI where me and trail are from, not even a question, i'll have my bags packed and be on the plane to Oki before the question is even past your lips.

[Burado]

Not sure if you have checked the Army side of the house but here is a link to vacancy announcements. https://cpolwapp.belvoir.army.mil/public/vabSelfNom/index.jsp
Good luck!

[mikersoft]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and, disagree with you on this one. I find it to be a close second to the Otake, Hiroshima, and Yanai areas up in Yamaguchi ken. However, if it was a choice between this and MI where me and trail are from, not even a question, i'll have my bags packed and be on the plane to Oki before the question is even past your lips.

Another Michigander here. It's a great outdoors state. If the economy there didn't suck so bad, it'd be high on my list nice places to live (along with Japan of course ;)).

-Mike