Job Discussion Forums

[Rooster.]

[Hauraunah]

Maitoshi

I didn't directly ask. I asked them would the company reimburse it. That open mouth did NOT get fed, it will be all up to me.



Rooster

I could not send the pictures by PM. It seems this forum doesn't allow attachments.

They keep saying that I'm responsible for utilities so I highly doubt that internet is included in the price. I asked about internet and she that was my responsibility.

How would I go about politely declining after having made it clear I'm flexible and a team player?

I'm more so afraid about how I handle business politics. My last job and I didn't mix too well after a year because I didn't take too kindly to the toxic environment management enjoyed creating. Basically they did all they could to make me miserable, I used their rules against them to make them miserable and they wracked their brains to find a way to legally fire me because they didn't like some new kid out-smarting them. And this is quote coming from one of the managers I did get along with. Asia is different and I'm worried I wont figure out how to be a meek employee who is also respectably firm when it counts.

I do have financial obligations. I am still in the stages of paying off my student loans. My last job paid about the same as this one. Sometimes more depending on the commission I personally made and the store itself made as well as over-time, over-over-time, etc. Anywho it seems like my first year I should be able to save with this job and at least look for other legit, better paying jobs.

They need two teachers. One teacher has been with the company for 9 years and been in Japan for about 20. The one I'm replacing is female and has been there for 5 years and is leaving because her fiance is being relocated. I think his job is different from hers. They've had that ad up since March of this year it seems. Perhaps all the people who tried out were men. They didn't specify gender but it seems that Asia prefers females for most Kindy/Elementary positions.

When I was speaking to the owner and the teacher leaving they made it seem like the kindergarten was a separate location from the school.

Okay I'm going to see what the owner says. Thank you so much for your help. However, I think I might have to still risk it and take the job. I'm still going to AEON and ECC interviews just to be safe but I cannot merely turn down the first job handed to me since 1. It's one NOT in China, and 2. I've been applying and searching since late August and have had NO responses. If this DOES bite me in the butt at least I'll be in Japan and eligible for more jobs that I'm not eligible for here in America. Considering how competitive AEON and ECC are there's only a small chance for me to be accepted, especially by ECC.

What should I be asking about vacation time? How should I phrase it?

[Shimokitazawa]

[Maitoshi]

How would disappearing on the tenth of the month serve your interests? Wouldn't you be working for free 1/3 of a month to avoid a 1/5 reduction in pay for the previous month?

At any rate, if you don't want to at least pretend to cooperate with most anything an employer requests, working in Japan may prove much harder than it's worth, particularly with debt obligations due in dollars and the plummeting value of the yen. If you think you can manage to turn your frustrations inward and develop a passive aggressive approach to distasteful situations and, of course, think the exchange rates won't keep you from living and paying your bills, why not jump in and give it a shot? Even if the contract states illegal stuff, it's just as much a hassle to get them to abide by a contract as it is to fight illegal clauses. I get the feeling most employers only look at these things as general guidelines anyway. Otherwise, they would be much longer and detailed.

[Maitoshi]

How would disappearing on the tenth of the month serve your interests? Wouldn't you be working for free 1/3 of a month to avoid a 1/5 reduction in pay for the previous month?

At any rate, if you don't want to at least pretend to cooperate with most anything an employer requests, working in Japan may prove much harder than it's worth, particularly with debt obligations due in dollars and the plummeting value of the yen. If you think you can manage to turn your frustrations inward and develop a passive aggressive approach to distasteful situations and, of course, think the exchange rates won't keep you from living and paying your bills, why not jump in and give it a shot? Even if the contract states illegal stuff, it's just as much a hassle to get them to abide by a contract as it is to fight illegal clauses. I get the feeling most employers only look at these things as general guidelines anyway. Otherwise, they would be much longer and detailed.

[Hauraunah]

Shimokitazawa

Well if I did reject the offer I would graciously let them know there are certain risks I cannot take. It is after all a team effort. I don't mind living in a small town. I don't mind most of my students will be kindy/elementary, but I do need base guarantees to know I will not be taken advantage of. I really do want to go to Japan badly, but if my first experience leaves me broke and bitter then everything I've worked hard for was for nothing.

I'm far more afraid of Korean private schools. There's far more on blacklists than there are Japanese private schools. I'm taking it with a grain of salt but still... As for China, if I spoke Chinese I would be there by now with all the jobs ready and available, but I would like to be able to articulate myself when it comes to important things.

Maitoshi

I personally don't want to know where they would have pushed me mentally to walk away like that. I would stick it out because I would of course need them for release papers and recommendations and such.

One things I learned from all the job boards here pertaining to Asia is to let it roll of your back. I do not regret vehemently defending myself at my old job because racism/harrassment/descrimination EVERY SINGLE DAY is not fun at all. I wont accept that in America. You want to run your business that way, take it to a country that doesn't advertise itself as a melting pot. So I guess I'm hoping that the honeymoon phase lasts a year and I can let it roll down my back.

[Hauraunah]

I think I might have to decline the offer you guys.

Here is the email I sent her about the contract:

Dear ________,

Could you please clarify the transportation fee clause in the contract? Where exactly would I be expected to go? How often would I be expected to go? Would the company be compensating the expenses 100% or simply a portion?

I'd also appreciate it if my exact hours were included in the contract as well. What about breaks? What's the maximum break time? One hour for working 8 hours?

What is the fee range for being late? If the teacher is late 5 minutes will they still be charged a fee? Is the 10,000 yen deduction based on if they are late for an hour?

Thank you very much.

Respectfully,

My name.



Here is the response I received. I'm sensing a bit of hostility and she didn't address my question about the fee.


Dear __________,

I understand that you have lots of things you are concerned with the working conditions.
As this is a small school, things can be changed according to students’ needs.
So I don’t put everything in the contract.

I may ask you Friday night to work the next day.
I may ask you to teach more than 25 hours a week.
I compensate for that work, but every time I cannot re write the contract.

It may be better for you to work for a big company as they have a good and certain contract.

Mine is like a family business, when there is no trust, it is difficult to work together.

The contract I sent you was not a basis for discussion, but the conditions with which you were offered the job. It reflects the realities of working at Blue Jays English School.
If you feel unable to accept the contract as it is, and work within the framework of trust implied within it, then you should decline the offer.

I wish you luck with your job search.


I honestly do not wish to respond to this. It seems like she's giving me the boot for not going on blind faith. I'm willing to put a little trust in something but this is my life and well being for a year we're talking about. I was willing to accept the fee subtraction, among not having my flight reimbursed. Seems like she thought I was going to be a wide-eyed Gaijin too busy geeking out about Japan to look at the fine print. Oh well, maybe China will be better for me because Korea seems locked tighter than Dick's Hatband and I'd much prefer to not jump from one shady Eikaiwa into a mega shady/racist Hagwon.


Any thoughts? Should I take this as a sign to definitely walk away?

[kzjohn]

"They need two teachers. One teacher has been with the company for 9 years and been in Japan for about 20. The one I'm replacing is female and has been there for 5 years and is leaving because her fiance is being relocated. I think his job is different from hers. They've had that ad up since March of this year it seems."


For all the criticism of this place (and people offering laws they are breaking, questions to ask, etc), I find it hard to believe that they've retained people like this for so long.

Take the job, go with the flow, leave after a year if it's such a disaster. You've done an east asian studies degree and by the time that year is up will have polished your excellent japanese lang. skills, and you will be able to leverage your position there into something better.

This is your first stepping stone, not something you're committing to for the rest of your life.

[kzjohn]

[rxk22]

[Maitoshi]

Like I said in an earlier post, these kind of contracts really only serve as general guidelines for a lot of folks here. "Real" full-time employees are not contracted in this manner. Hence, we have employees, contract employees, part-time employees, and everything else.

[Maitoshi]

Just to clarify the tone of that last post, if needed, I am also not a "real" employee in this sense as I am currently employed on a contract basis.

[Shimokitazawa]

[Rooster.]

[RM1983]

That is a rejection e-mail! Move on. Be aware that a lot of people here are quite strict when it comes to boss/employee relationships, I suppose.