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Raniken
Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 1:19 am Post subject: Looking for a good company to work for in Japan |
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Hi,
I�m new to this site, and am looking for some advice on which companies might be a good option to apply to. I�ve recently graduated from a University in Ottawa (Canada) and am very interested in the chance to live in Japan for a year while I teach English. Although I don�t have any experience related to teaching English in another country I look forward to the chance to live abroad and am eager to get started. This being said however I�m a little apprehensive concerning which companies are �safe� options and which ones I should avoid. I�d like to find a company with a good salary and that is known for treating their employees well. Besides that, another one of the other major concerns I have is with living arrangements (I�ve looked into a few places that set up a place for you, but I�m a little skeptical about what kind of apartment I would be supplied with). Basically I�m just wondering if anyone could recommend some options that they think might be a good fit for me.
Thanks alot |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 2:19 am Post subject: |
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Companies here pretty much offer the same salary. 250,000 yen/month used to be the standard for years. In the past year or so, some places are offering less, but I wouldn't take it unless you are desperate or they offer some astounding supplemental benefits (not likely in my opinion).
"Good" companies abound, but people rarely post about them. It's easier to find fault, so you will see more negative remarks, even about reputable places. I guess sometimes it even depends on people's definitions of reputable.
What's your timeline? You missed the JET Programme deadline for 2005 work, so if you can wait, apply for next year sometime in November or December. |
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Raniken
Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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Hey,
Thanks for replying. I�d rather leave sooner then later (within reason, I want to find a good company first) so I would rather not wait for the next round of JET applications. I�ve looked into a few options so far and the AEONET (or Amity) seems to be the front-runner thus far, although their closest recruiting location is a few hours away. Any other companies you might recommend I look into?
Thanks again |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:12 am Post subject: |
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| Raniken wrote: |
Hey,
Thanks for replying. I�d rather leave sooner then later (within reason, I want to find a good company first) so I would rather not wait for the next round of JET applications. I�ve looked into a few options so far and the AEONET (or Amity) seems to be the front-runner thus far, although their closest recruiting location is a few hours away. Any other companies you might recommend I look into?
Thanks again |
Glenski has often posted on here before that if you are in Canada, there are only 10 or so language schools, that recruit and hire overseas for teachers. they are:
NOVA
AEON
ECC
GEOS
James English school
Interac
Language House
Peppy Kids
Myself I have only worked for NOVA and Language House, but these may not be for everybody. LH does not have a website but its in small city in Shikoku, quite provincial and even after many years of not working there I would probably recommend it if you can handle living in provincial Japan. It is definitely not like living in Tokyo or Osaka, and i know a couple of people living there at the moment.
For info on NOVA that is fairly unbiased, go to
http://www.vocaro.com/trevor/japan/nova/level_up.html
There are a lot of whiners who gripe about NOVA but they have 4000 teachers there and they never seem to have trouble finding staff for their schools. Take the bad press you hear with a huge grain of salt.
There are probably others, but you would have to scour through the job ads. I dont know about working conditions at individual schools and alot will depend on exactly what you are looking for. Many posters here talk about 'nightmares' and horror stories working at a particular school but these come from a very limited perspective and usually written by someone with not a lot of time or experience in Japan. The best idea is to consider what your actual needs are, what you are looking for in a position and see which school best matches those needs. Often people applying for jobs will take the first thing that comes along and complain when the school or job doesnt meet their immediate needs. For example, do you want to work in a big urban branch or a small school, teach kids or adults? Do you need housing provided (as some of them provide apartments)? When do you want to start work here?
Most of these do not require previous teaching experience nor any Japanese ability nor formal teaching qualifications so you have a good chance if you apply for them from Canada and you fit their hiring profile. A "good" school will not necessarily hire someone with no experience, and you will find the big schools are pretty well identical in general working conditions and hours. Its not so much whether its a good school or how "reputable" it is, but more how you adapt to life and teaching here, your willingness to occasionally put up with BS that may get flung your way, coping with homesickness and culture-shock. You will be a long way away from home and what is familiar to you, not speaking the language or not knowing many people. Your emotions will take a bit of a hit that has little to do with the actual workplace and whether its a "good" school or not.
Sorry if this post sounds like its carping a bit, but my main message is that you are limited for choices, you will be thrust into a foreign work environment, and you really dont get to pick and choose your work mates. A school is just a set of buildings but your experience will largely come down to your own attitude to your job, how you get on with your immediate supervisors etc who are human and have their agendas and off days, just like you. Some people have great experiences here, even as they make the most of a bad situation, others come with a bit of an "attitude" that the world owes them a living and that things should be served to them on a gold plate because they are English speakers, and others just come to party and have fun, which is fine too, within reason. A lot depends on the individual and what you bring to the table IMO. There is no such thing as a 'perfect' school and its unlilely you will find it as soon as you step off the plane. Even JET that has 6000 people on it at the moment comes with its own set of problems when West meets East for example or you are thrown into a country-are high school with no English speakers around you for example. How you deal with adversity and setbacks are key. |
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