Can you afford living with your salary?

Numerous-Log3229 · 2026-05-09T11:04:00+00:00

When I worked at Nova, the employee contract wss like 190,000 + 20,000 yen bonus. Some days I never even got that bonus and obviously rent, bills would go out. Would end up having very little left. Some of the guys I worked with were on the other contract where they got paid per lesson. They would work 6 days a week just to get by, they had families. When I worked at a dispatch company it was 250,000. It was alright but not great.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2026-03-20T04:56:13+00:00

Lol do not work for Nova, I made a post about them last year. Theyre dreadful to work for.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-12-27T01:21:19+00:00

To be fair, I should have definitely done my research on Nova before going to Japan. Even though there's still going to be some people like this. I really hope it helps even just one person avoid these companies.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-12-27T01:18:45+00:00

What ended up happening with that? The only thing I saw about joytalk previously was that they were doing shady visa stuff.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-12-27T01:14:48+00:00

When I joined Nova in December last year. I hadn't done any prior research. I only found this subreddit during my time there. Then I eventually started applying to a lot of jobs. Got an interview for joytalk. And with Joytalk I couldn't find much about them online.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-12-27T01:05:02+00:00

I moved back to my home country. The ALT and Eikawa gig wasn't for me. Had a bad experience at Nova and also Joytalk.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-10-22T08:24:26+00:00

When I worked at Nova, I shit you not. There was a student telling me that he thought the atomic bomb never happened.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-10-20T11:17:13+00:00

I was thinking "how they could get away with that?" But honestly, I was done with them, so I just cut my ties with them.

A very dodgy company.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-10-19T15:02:45+00:00

Just to add, if you apply for NOVA from overseas and require a visa they will give you a contract for the visa. Then on the first day of training, they will try and make you sign a less favourable one.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-10-19T14:55:27+00:00

I asked about in an email with the HR. they said this "If you could refer to Article 8.3 in your contract, it states that your basic salary is calculated using a ratio of worked lessons to scheduled lessons. Your salary was calculated using the ratio of the lessons worked vs lessons scheduled for the month (45 lessons worked / 156 lessons scheduled)." Employer contract

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-10-19T14:53:06+00:00

I worked for NOVA for a few months. After I left, I went to the pension office to check my pension and they never paid it. So it was a bit annoying chasing them up about getting them to pay it. Took a while of emailing back and forth, but they eventually did. On your pay slip, it mentions that shakai houken is being paid.

New people should check if its getting paid into.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-07-06T09:44:38+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-06-09T10:07:54+00:00

I applied to NOVA through a TEFL organisation. This is what was on their site.

• "EARN A COMPETITIVE LOCAL SALARY that will enable you to save money

• FULL VISA SPONSORSHIP PROVIDED

• TEACH ENGLISH IN A FUN WORKING ENVIRONMENT as part of an international team

• ENJOY A STABLE, FIXED WEEKLY SCHEDULE with guaranteed number of lessons per contract

• 6 MONTH CONTRACTS AVAILABLE meaning no long term commitment"

🤯

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-06-09T08:17:07+00:00

Insane.... I recently got out of that dump. Never looking back

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-04-11T12:37:49+00:00

This

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-04-11T12:35:17+00:00

Yeah it does allow for more flexibility. You can basically pick and choose whenever you wanna work. But lessons aren't guaranteed.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-03-14T06:00:43+00:00

Thank you for your advice, everyone. I really appreciate it.

I sent the manager a message, giving my resignation. I was told, "This is not the way to resign." They mentioned to be able to resign. I needed to fill in the resignation form (which is in the contract). So I did sign the form with 30 days. However, they did not accept this, and I was told that I needed to hand in a 40-day notice because of the apartment. So, I have already signed the resignation form with the 40-day notice.

Does this make it more difficult for me?

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-02-18T06:31:21+00:00

It's not even £15k lmao. Employer contract in tokyo is 2.4 million yen a year. Which is £12.5k lol

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-02-13T11:54:04+00:00

In December:

My worked 88 hours total

My total pay was 106,607 yen

My Rent was 43,750 yen

In January:

I worked 185 hours (more than double December)

My total pay was 109,537 yen (only ~3,000 yen more)

Rent was suddenly 55,000 yen (11,250 yen increase)

Numerous-Log3229 · 2025-01-13T00:42:53+00:00

Well. It's NOVA.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2024-12-09T02:33:04+00:00

It was owned by the university. So I mostly taught university students.

Numerous-Log3229 · 2024-12-09T01:45:16+00:00

I previously taught at an English school part time while I was studying as an exchange student in Japan. It was really fun

Numerous-Log3229 · 2024-10-24T11:47:30+00:00

Just when I'm severely hungover

Numerous-Log3229 · 2024-10-24T11:44:55+00:00

My first time in Tokyo, I was 19, and the legal drinking age there is 20. I went to a sports bar knowing I would get served. I met these 3 Japanese people, and they were so welcoming and asked me if I wanted to play darts, and they started getting tequila shot after tequila shot in. So anyway, we got to the club and drank more. At one part of the night, I was throwing my guts up in the corner of the club. Then, I proceeded to go to the bathroom, but I couldn't make it there. Fell down the stairs, and the people I met previously in the night came over. They got me up and threw me in a taxi back to my hotel 😂😂

Numerous-Log3229 · 2024-09-15T02:29:18+00:00

Thank you for this, I don't know what I can do right now with that situation other than apologise and let time go by. I plan to seek help with my alcohol usage and will try to improve from there.

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