Best of Luck with the job hunt. Dido Kris’s advice though. The qualifications are a bonus but honestly I think its a mix of chance and the networking game more than anything. I moved to Tokyo with a Bachelor’s, TEFOL cerfication, and bad timing (February – AKA the bottom of the recession) and ended hunting for a job for 6 months in the world’s most expensive city. 100 applications and 4 interviews later I finally landed something. Stay in there and don’t panic! Its a total bluff game during interviews anyways. Just remember that you are the native speaker, and most of the people talking to you aren’t, which makes you look good in their eyes. Gombatte!

In regards to qualifications: Serene and I discussed this last night. I do not have TEFL/CELTA training, and never finished my bachelor’s degree. So officially, I have a high school diploma and that’s it. It’s true that many people here do have it, but it takes a bit of luck, skill and networking to get around it. It can be difficult, but it is possible.