Job Discussion Forums

negin · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 6

I'm a 38 year old American male, BS in Chemistry / Math, Native English speaker with a Spousal Visa. We originally moved to Japan to purse a family opportunity but that didn't work out so we moved to Fukuoka in January. I've been looking for a job teaching English but I haven't had any luck. I have been sending out resumes, checking job boards on the Internet, Rainbow Plaza (gaijin center) and pounding the pavement. Am I doing something wrong? Am I too old? I know that my background (Chemist, Web Developer, Programmer) isn't ideal but what's the deal? I have seen ads for "Howdy English School" but I've read bad things about the school but I need a job. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Arigoto gozai masu!

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Could be any number of things. Are you getting any interviews or not even being able to get to that stage?

Hows your resume look? That can be a big factor as well.

January STARTS the hiring season. You still got at least through April before it levels off ad May sloppy seconds begin. I had one year where I was getting nothing and then the last week in March I applied, and got hired in 2 days because they needed someone asap.

Don't get discouraged just yet.

negin · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 6

Thanks for responding! I did the research for writing a 'Japanese Resume / CV' and it's good to go with a nice cover letter. I have had more hits from non-teaching jobs but my Japanese isn't up to speed. Despite not having the background in teaching I was teaching English previously in the city we were in before we moved. I was volunteering at the local community center teaching English to kids and adults at the request of some friends I made in the community. It was a lot of fun but very informal. I just need a job or a chance and I don't know what to do.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

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

negin,
Kind of hard to give you much advice without seeing your resume and cover letter. Many people who don't have teaching degrees really overload their resumes with unnecessary stuff, and many people (with teaching degrees or non-teaching degrees) just can't write a cover letter that gets to the point. Shoot me a copy of each and I'll give you an honest appraisal.
[email protected]

This is PRIME hiring season. If you are shotgunning resumes to places that aren't advertising, you won't likely get a good response. There aren't a lot of publications down your way that advertise for teaching jobs, so stick with what you are doing and network as much as possible.

You are NOT too old. I suspect the whole problem may lie in what I've mentioned above.

(And, I hope you check for grammar and spelling on those documents, because you don't "purse a family opportunity", you PURSUE it. I figure it was just a typo here, but you never know. Also, you wrote that you " moved to Japan to purse a family opportunity but that didn't work out so we moved to Fukuoka in January." Hmm, Fu kuoka is IN Japan. Just a heads up.)

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Celeste · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:18 pm Post subject:

Fukuoka is a bit saturated with foriegn English teachers right now. There are more EFL teachers than jobs, so the companies can afford to be a little choosy. There are a few (shudder) low paying dispatch jobs that you could try to get some local experience. After that, you will make more contacts here and will get the real jobs which are unadvertised and are passed on through the grapevine. Also, get your Japanese up to speed. THere will soon be more elementary school ALT positions in Fukuoka, but most elementary schools feel more comfortable with someone who speaks Japanese well enough to discuss the lesson plan with the homeroom teacher. (Not saying that it's impossible without Japanese skills, but I have noticed that elementary school teachers seem to take a dislike to ALTs with whom they can't communicate) Anyhow, the 2 dispatch companies that seem to have a foothold in this area are OWLS (one world language service) based out of Kitakyushu, and Interac has recently been making inroads into the Jr. High ALT market. Working for one of these companies might get your foot in the door for something better later on. Beware, though that the pay is kind of low from what I've heard.

negin · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 6

Hello All,

Thanks for all the information and suggestions.

Maybe it is my resume and / or cover letter. My resume is very watered down since I'm applying to positions outside of my expertise. I left the computer related material in hoping that maybe I could land a job at an English school doing network support, Webmaster or whatever.

Glenski I tried to send you my resume but it came back 'fatal errors - 550 ghill18299 IS NOT ACCEPTING MAIL FROM THIS SENDER.

I'm posting my cover and resume below. Please keep in mind that I cut and pasted my *.txt (text) copies but the text box is unforgiving. I stripped out all the personal stuff because I've been spammed as a result of posting my resume online and it wasn't pretty.

Thanks again!!!

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hi Negin,

How goes it with the job hunt? I was just looking at your resume and when I say looking, that is what I meant. Having also stood in the office of my previous employer and read reams of faxed resumes for teaching positions I can tell you right now that yours needs work.

Each position requires a resume tailored for that position. Keep it simple, and I mean very simple.

If you have time, whip out a quick resume that you think a prospective employer would be attracted by, post it here and we can see. Also, you may want to spell check that cover letter.

Good luck to you,
s

wintersweet · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 5:05 am Post subject:

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hello Clarissa,

How's the weather out there because I will be joining you there from tomorrow?

Warm regards,
s

wintersweet · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:03 am Post subject:

Sweetsee, I shall PM you with the sordid details. Wink

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Thanks so much. I love getting pm's, especially when I am not getting a bollicking for something. There is always that moment of eager anticipation before opening that window and seeing who it is and either being psyched or bummed.

I hope to chill in the park and check Presidio Point, seems to be going off every time I go there and the last time I met a really cool guy who was the only one out, we had a session and then he was off to meet his father across the bridge.

I'll be sure to wear some flowers in my hair.

Enjoy spring,
s

negin · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 6

After I posted my resume and cover letter I was forced to read it and does need work. I did read the advice regarding cover letters and resumes but I'm still a little clueless of what I'm supposed to do since I don't really have any 'real' teaching experience nor the background that I could try and doctor to get a call back. I'm guilty of not paying attention to my spelling and my poor use of grammar. Back to square one.

- Sweetsee: Do I need to dumb my resume down more? Or expand? You said, "Each position requires a resume tailored for that position. Keep it simple, and I mean very simple. " I'm confused as to each position? Are you referring to the positions I've held or the position I'm applying to. Currently, I'm looking looking for a teaching job and I should've paid more attention to my cover letter.

- Wintersweet: So edit my resume down more? I'll fix the cover letter. I might have posted the wrong one because it looks like a draft but I should've paid attention.

I'll fix the errors. I accepted the fact that my Japanese isn't up to speed to get a job related to my background. Now I can't even speak English. What am I going to do? I'll just keep trying. For now I'm going to have a couple of Asahis.

Thanks for the input!!!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Tailor your resume and cover letter to the job you are applying for. Try to look at it from their point of view. You want to hire a teacher. Despite not having any teaching experience, expand on the skills you do have to show you are a teacher.