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Old Surrender
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 393
Location: The World's Largest Tobacco Factory
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 Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 10:07 am Post subject: Networking at the JALT conference |
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I'm presenting at the JALT conference this year. Is it a good conference for networking and job searching? Should I carry some copies of my CV with me?
I'm part of a Sino-US dual-degree program in China, but I am looking to move on in the next couple of years. Japan is my list of places to check out.
Thanks! |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 11:03 am Post subject: |
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No, since most jobs are taken by then.
There are fewer interviews than in the past. |
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scrying
Joined: 14 Nov 2004
Posts: 27
Location: Nagoya Japan
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Never hurts to bring business cards to exchange. Establishing relationships early is never a bad thing. CVs would probably be a pointless much though, especially if you aren't ready to start in April. |
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Old Surrender
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 393
Location: The World's Largest Tobacco Factory
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 5:25 am Post subject: |
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| scrying wrote: |
| Never hurts to bring business cards to exchange. Establishing relationships early is never a bad thing. CVs would probably be a pointless much though, especially if you aren't ready to start in April. |
Earliest would be next fall, and I already gave my university a non-binding oral commitment that I am going to stick around. I was thinking in a year and half.
I will be working the networking angle for sure. I'll be a stronger candidate later as I will have more conferences and publications under my belt.
Thanks for the replies all! |
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kzjohn
Joined: 30 Apr 2014
Posts: 277
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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I left JALT maybe 15 yrs ago, main reason is they were sticking with local chapters (passé) over SIGs, and some other things.
JALT conferences were also too big to get to know anyone, too massive to have any sense of community, and, membership and conferences got expensive. I mean really, this year's conference, well, just check on the prices for membership and a couple days of conference attendance.
Unacceptable (and even tho I could still use some research budget for it, it's still unacceptable).
Jobs via JALT conference "jobs corner" has long since been supplanted by online sites. If you're finding something at a JALT conference, you're undoubtedly last in line, at the back of the bus. I suppose there might be some slot-machine-like new tidbit, but don't hold your breath.
Take some meishi, leave the CV behind. If you do meet someone, you can always email it within a day or so.
Last edited by kzjohn on Fri Nov 11, 2016 12:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kzjohn
Joined: 30 Apr 2014
Posts: 277
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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On the positive side, if you're at all into moodle:
https://moodlejapan.org/?lang=en
This group is small, close-knit, and connected. |
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Shakey
Joined: 29 Aug 2014
Posts: 199
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: Networking at the JALT conference |
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| Old Surrender wrote: |
| I'm presenting at the JALT conference this year. Is it a good conference for networking and job searching? |
No. JALT is not a good conference at which to network. Especially if you are only visiting once and attending just the one time. Even people who have lived here 20 years have had trouble "networking" at JALT conferences.
There is a small job board section at each JALT event, but all of the jobs are online on the JALT / Language Teacher website. So it is redundant. It's not like TESOL Arabia, where schools regularly interview applicants.
I'm going to tell you right now, while not impossible, it is very difficult to get hired for a full time university TEFL position - even contract - from outside of Japan. If you are young, you might have a better shot at a job from outside Japan than older applicants.
It's getting harder to get university TEFL positions and it has been like that for a while now. Almost everything is either non-renewable contracts or being sliced up into part-time positions.
Besides, JALT tends to be very cliquey; almost hippy-ish. But it's in that crowd where the jobs are offered word of mouth, etc.
I stopped attending JALT about 10 years ago for many of the reasons cited above. And yes, it is expensive. I never really got much out of it and many of the topics are just recycled. I also agree that some of the better, more interesting work is being done in the SIGs. |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2016 12:36 am Post subject: |
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From what I have heard, most of the schools already do the interviews before the conference.
Jobs can be had if you live outside Japan.
There are a few places that hire people from abroad: Chuo, Tokyo International University (in Saitama), and one in Niigata and Osaka.
I talked to people at the Jobs Corner and there was little there a few years ago. Just a part-time job in Hyogo and not much else.
By November it is just part-time work left, if that. |
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 1029
Location: BFE Inaka
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2016 11:30 pm Post subject: Re: Networking at the JALT conference |
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| Old Surrender wrote: |
I'm presenting at the JALT conference this year. Is it a good conference for networking and job searching? Should I carry some copies of my CV with me?
I'm part of a Sino-US dual-degree program in China, but I am looking to move on in the next couple of years. Japan is my list of places to check out.
Thanks! |
I will be attending JALT national this year. Swing by and say hello! |
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