Job Discussion Forums

[Yaya]

I'm wondering if my Korean ethnicity keeps me from getting a job in Japan. I was rejected by both JET and Geos (the latter really pissed me off as they had me drive from DC to Toronto just to tell me no) back in 1993. I was offered a post with NOVA back in 1998 but declined after hearing bad stories about the chain.

Back in LA, I went to a half-day interview for AEON and the result was another rejection. I've heard of very few Korean-Americans teaching in Japan, so is my assumption correct or what?

Thanks.

[Glenski]

JET has about 4 ALTs from Korea, but 56 CIRs from Korea,

http://www.jetprogramme.org/e/outline/data/Page1.html

so it suggests that fluency in the Japanese language is more important to JET for this nationality.

You turned down NOVA; they didn't turn down you, so I wouldn't say it is fair to put this experience on your list of being rejected. Yes, many complain about NOVA, but many have good times there.
http://markcity.blogspot.com/teaching.htm
http://vocaro.com/trevor/japan/nova/level_up.html
http://www.grassrootdesign.com/articles/nova.asp
It may be worth your time to try NOVA again.

Various Asian-Americans do find work in Japan, so I wouldn't totally write off your experiences as due to your ethnicity. You didn't say anything about your credentials or the interview experiences you had, so it is impossible to tell what may have been their reasons for turning you down.

[Glenski]

One tip, if I may make it, is not to refer to yourself as Asian-American or Korean-American.

Just American will be accurate enough.

[GK]

I am an Asian-Canadian working in Japan and I know tons of Asian-Canadian/American/Australian/British-whoever who works here as well. Back then when I began to do job search I did had doubts about my ethnicity. But it turned out I was thinking too much. Yes there might be schools who will reject you because you have black hair. But there are other schools which will only look at your qualification.

I felt a little 'annoyed' at first when people keep saying, "Ah? Canadian? You look so much like a Japanese." or when I kept on saying "I'm not a Japanese, I'm a Canadian." IN Japanese. But what the hack, I'll learn as much Japanese as I can so they won't think I'm a retard and be a Japanese then.

[Eleckid]

I'm also an Asian-Canadian teaching in Japan & I also know a few who are also Asians teaching here too!

Yes, some schools only hire you based on your appearance. Those schools are not good, so you don't have to bother with them. But there are also schools out there which hires you based on your passion in teaching & your qualifications. Those are good schools. You're lucky in a way that you can filter out bad schools b4 it's too late (when you work there & then find out that they're not good). So you don't have to worry too much. As long as you can make your students happy, your boss will like you.

With the recent Korean craze in Japan, you being a Korean is a plus & will sure get a lot of students asking you about Korean dramas & stars~

GK, I also get the same feeling when some adult students were shocked cuz I'm Canadian but look Asian...a lot of them even go as far as, "You're a Canadian?? Do you have a parent who is Japanese? Because you look like a Japanese..." omg I'm not mixed! I still get that now. haha I don't care anymore, I just get a laugh when Japanese ppl think that I'm a Japanese student at first, then shocked to find that I'm an English teacher from Canada. Some are a bit ignorant about outside of their country (those who never lived abroad). The younger students are actually better, & accepts me as a Canadian immediately. Some adults, however, are not interested in asking me any questions about Canada or myself (on the 1st day of class), simply because I don't look "Canadian" enough for them to be curious about my culture. Oh well, reality bites. But I think this situation is getting much better, plus most Japanese ppl accept other ppl easily.

Anyway, if you can't find a job from big schools, by all means look for smaller schools~

[PAULH]

I know its not much of a consolation, but you get a lot of vanilla-flavor folks who get turned down for jobs with JET, AEON, NOVA etc. Some people are just not cut out for teaching, or they blow the interview. Being white doesnt alway mean you are teaching material and can get a job here. Personally I dont think race is that much of an issue with many employers here and those who want only the blond-blue-eyed Brad Pitt, you dont want to work for anyway.

FWIW, Employers in Korea ARE more color-conscious and I have heard of people being abandoned at Seoul's Kimpo airport on arrival becuase he saw they weren't white or western looking. �Japan is pretty color/race friendly by comparison.

[Yaya]

I know that being white doesn't necessarily mean you're in over in Japan (I've heard of plenty who were not asked for a 2nd interview with Aeon). The strange thing is, I know this one Chinese-American who did the Aeon thing back in 1993, and he'd never taught nor been abroad before. I taught for 15 months at a school in Seoul plus did volunteer work at my alma mater for foreign students learning English.

On another note, I was told by one interviewer back in 1993 that Jet may have rejected me because I was Korean. Of course, she could've been way wrong and such, but it did raise doubts. And then I got that job only to have them say no later after I sent my application materials that included a photo. I have a feeling the recruiter didn't know that perhaps the Japanese client he or she was working for wanted a white face.

That said, so how hard would it be for me to just go to Japan (smaller areas or suburbs of Tokyo or Osaka) and find work on my own?

[fabulous floating flotsam]

You'll find something if you're persistent. Being of Asian background will definitely rule you out in a lot of employers' minds. The situation you describe with the recruiter not knowing the racial expectations till after hiring the wrong race is not uncommon. Keep in mind that employers are allowed to discriminate racially in Japan. Interviews are so much about being in the right place at the right time. Look around and you'll find an employer who hires you on your skills and personality. You might even find yourself landing a job because of your Asian appearance or Korean connection.

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

I have met numerous teachers at Geos who are of Asian descent, so I don't think that was the problem.

[Eleckid]

The phone interviews I had with different Japanese schools are strange. They'd ask if I was born in Canada, where my parents live & were they born in Canada, what jobs they have, AND asking where my grandparents live. Man, they really go asking a lot of private questions that has NOTHING to do with my English or teaching abilities or experience. What does the place my grandparents live has anything to do with it?? I think they just wanted to check how "Canadian" I am...

Anyway, I don't think it's a good idea for us asian-north americans to just come to Japan & then look for a job. I think having phone interviews (in our case) is safer than personal interview, where they can see you at first (which can make them discriminate your ability). In our case, I think it's better for them to see our writing & speaking abilities before meeting face to face.

However, if you can't wait, I guess you can try to come here first, but I sorta wouldn't recommend it, esp if one (esp being asian) doesn't have any teaching exp in Japan. Just keep posting your ads & email the schools for now. I think eventually, if at the right time, you'll find a school that you like. Good luck!

[rcn]

Being of Asian descent does matter! A lot! I'm Chinese-Canadian(born and raised) and have experienced racism from(dumbass) English schools that didn't want to hire me based on the fact I didn't look like an "English teacher".

However, if you have the qualifications then many companies won't care about your appearance.

Many schools advertise that you don't have to live in Japan to apply. I would send your pic with your resume(this is standard Japanese practise) just to be safe. If a company calls for a telephone intvw then tell them at the outset you are of Asian decent and may look Japanese. Some interviewers will suddenly cut the conv short(PFO) which will save both of you time.

* Also, stay away from the big 3 and JET unless your looking for a job that is mindless and more like entertaining than teaching.

[Eleckid]

rcn,

I totally agree with you & feel for you! You've spoke my mind!

I even put that I'm an asian-canadian right on my ads so that I won't have to waste my time receiving replies from schools who rejected me right after they saw my pic. Really filters out a lot of crappy racist schools out there.

If you're an asian, you'd have to work hard to make your resume & coverletter better, as well as having a lot of qualifications so that they won't concern so much about your asian appearance. It's like "Oh, they're asian, but their qualities seem pretty good, ok, I'll hire them."

I think asians who can stand working in Japan (& still enjoy working & living here, like me & other ppl) are much stronger & tougher cuz we're always being attacked by constant racism.

I really think the idea of asian discriminating other asians is stupid (in every asian country). We're all the same.

[JimDunlop2]

Teachers seeking to enter the JET program coming from a non-English-speaking country (like Korea) face a ridiculous challenge -- having i-kyu (level 1 Japanese proficiency) and proving this to JET in order to be accepted.

As for being of Korean descent, I don't know. I've met more than my fair share of native English-speakers that were of Asian descent, working for various compines, including the "Big 4." Someone I knew at GEOS comes to mind specifically.

All I can say is, good luck.... But perhaps Korean ethnicity DOES play more of a role than it should in cases like yours. Racial discrimination is very unfortunate, and in Japan it can be quite annoying sometimes.

My wife recently commented that she's just about had it with people referring to her as "amerika-jin".... as she isn't and nor am I. Isn't that akin to someone in N. America seeing anyone who looks even remotely Asian and calling them all "Chinamen?"

/Just sayin'...

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

I don't think the OP is applying to anything as a "Korean", but as an American who happens to have Korean ancestory. If she applied to the JET programme, she would not need 1kyu, because she would not be applying from Korea (Korean people need 1kyu b/c so few Japanee people speak their language- especially in rural areas. I think nikyu would be fine too, but English people are at an advantage here because so many Japanese people at least understand a little English).

Remember: if she is interviewing in the States, then it is mostly American people who are interviewing her. Private language schools very rarely use Japanese people in the recruitment process. The JET programme usually has one of three who is Japanese on the panel, so two are not.

She may have a better shot by just going elsewhere in America to apply for jobs in Japan.

[Yaya]

I think my age (34) also had something to do with my rejection, though people say I look about seven years younger and such. Anyway, my world won't end if I don't teach English in Japan so perhaps I can find another way there somehow.