I've search a little bit and most of the search results turned up with people who are either: 1.  In the states now and want to move to Japan.  2.  Military spouses looking for work.  3. Military persons looking to separate and stay in Japan or.  4.  People already in Japan, but with no prior military or government background,  so hopefully my questions haven't been answered too many times already haha. 

For starters is my background:  I worked for the FBI for nearly 7 years, reaching a GS-9 step 4 as a Technical Information Specialist with TS/SCI clearance.  I quit the FBI under good terms with a recommendation for rehire so that I could pursue my goals of being a young adventurous idiot who wanted to try living in Japan and "mastering" Japanese.  I've been in Japan for almost 1 year now on a student Visa, my Japanese is improving but still a work in progress, and I've decided I would very much like to stay for a least several more years.  Oh and I also possess a 4 year degree in business.

As for my questions:

1.  It seems like being a former GS employee, who is already in Japan, could be an advantage, especially one with a former SCI clearance who had just had his 5 year reinvestigation completed before leaving.   Is this true?

2.  I'm naturally familiar with the USAjobs site, but from my understanding there seems to be more "direct" routes I can take being that I'm already in country, and possibly other places I need to be looking at and/or calling.   If so where would my time be best spent in regards to annoying the HR people (just kidding), or is everything I'm looking for really just going to be on the USAjobs site? 

3.  Politics.  What are they and how strong is it for GS positions?  This essentially relates to question 1 but I'm trying to get a feel for the power of the spousal preferences/etc. 

4.  Any VISA issues?  Currently on a college visa, but that will be ending soon.  


Thanks in advance.

As you've probably learned by now, if hired here you would be considered a local hire vs stateside hire, which means a loss of substantial allowances & travel privileges.

Having an active clearance is a huge plus. Check out www.clearancejobs.com and www.clearedconnections.com. You might even find a job as a contractor with security clearance; it should pay quite well.

Yes I'm aware of the local hire status, but from what I'm hearing getting hired from stateside is nearly impossible to begin with so my logic is that a lower paying job that you can actually get is better than a higher paying job that you can't haha. That being said what I'm asking is if that is even true at all? Do I have an advantage being in country?

Thanks so far btw.