Job Discussion Forums

melodinelson · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

Hello,

I am (reluctantly - its a long story) applying for jobs in Japan. I had an interview with Westgate today and interviews with AEON and ECC over the next two weeks?

I'm sure its an old question but which is the best company to work for?

.... a bit about my situation.... I am going to Japan to be with my Japanese girlfriend. We want to get a couples apartment and it has to be in Tokyo - as central as possible. We also want to save (to get back out as soon as poss) and I also plan to do extra work on the side possibly with an online company (incidentally, whilst here does anyone know anything about E-com?)

Any replies and advice would be greatly appreciated...... Smile

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

melodinelson · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

From what Ive found out AEON and ECC are fairly similar in terms of pay and hours and westgate is a different structure but what I really want to know about is what are these companies like to work for
- do they pay on time,
-respect your rights as an employee,
- which one treats you the most like a human being ?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You will need a different type of work visa for Westgate, compared to AEON and ECC. Not a biggie there.

AEON has its own company policy about providing housing for one person only (not even married couples!), and if you take an apartment on your own, they will try to get you to pay for the AEON housing as well. Keep that in mind.

As you have already figured, pay for ECC and AEON is about the same, as will be the hours and weekly selection of days. Westgate has you working Mon-Fri as far as I recall, but it's a very long day, yet you end late afternoon, not late evening as with the other 2.

I assume that with Westgate's uni classes, your classroom will be typically large (20-40 students), while ECC & AEON have 2-10 students per lesson.

Westgate has 3- or 7-month contracts. Until recently you couldn't renew, so find out what their current plan is like. If you can't renew, you would be on the streets in 3 months in one scenario, and that means job hunting and apartment hunting (unless you found your own accommodation).

Westgate reimburses for the flight here. The other places do not, and I think either ECC or AEON even wants a refundable deposit like US$300 before you come, just to ensure you don't bail out at the airport and just use them to get a visa.

Not sure what age students you will teach at the eikaiwas. Confirm. Could be 2 to 90. Westgate has either kiddie classes or college students. Again, confirm.

Narrowing the field to one city, even one as large as Tokyo, might pose a problem. Hard to say. They all might have openings in branches not even close, and even though they say they take into account your request for location, you go where they need you.

All 3 pay on time and pretty much respect the teachers' rights. Do not tell them you plan to work on the side. That's none of their business, and who can say whether they will try to bully you into thinking you are not able to do that on their contracts.

But, just starting out here, you are going to find it hard to get used to the job, living, living with the gf, and shopping for private lessons all at the same time. Give yourself 4-6 months before considering supplemental work, or you could burn out.

melodinelson · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

Thanks for the detailed reply - very useful:)

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

seklarwia · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:45 pm Post subject:

JPS · Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 17

Why are you limiting yourself to those 3? Have you thought about Berlitz? I work there in Kansai - my co-workers who have worked at other eikaiwa say it is as good or better - they pay on time, treat you okay.

TTTT · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 30

Westgate extracurricular (non-accredited) is a 3-month contract. Class sizes are less than 10.
Westgate accredited is a 4 month contract. Class sizes are 15-35. There are far fewer of these contracts than the former.
Renewal is possible but there will be downtime of about 2 months without work (longer for extracurricular).

Sirens of Cyprus · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 255

Do they pay your rent in Japan during the downtime?

TTTT · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 30

They don't even pay your rent while you're working.

mspxlation · Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 44 Location: USA

sideways_gun · Joined: 28 Apr 2010 Posts: 49 Location: Tokyo

Mrguay84 · Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 125

When I search Japan jobs it seems that these 3 companies come to the fold.

Anyway, I was thinking about trying for a shorter contract (several months), just in case I don't like the job/lifestyle/culture/country etc.

Has anyone worked a short-term contract (by this I mean several months rather than the standard 1 year contract)? If so, do you know if it's possible to extend them?

Arigato.

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

Aside from Westgate, you're expected to work for a minimum of one year.