Job Discussion Forums

[SamhainP8]

Hi,
I was just wondering what the big eikaiwa's attitudes are towards hiring potential 'instructors' who are in pre existing long term relationships with native Japanese. My partner (Japanese 28F) and I (Australian 28M) are considering moving to semi-rural Japan next year (her home town).

I have been researching the idea of applying for an eikaiwa position for a while (thanks to everyone for all the good and bad info). It seems that the big eikaiwa's prefer to hire single people with no Japanese experience, ability and contacts, so that they can get them into there overpriced apartments and keep them naive for as long as possible to all their shonky goings on etc.

I have read with amusement, as many posts as I have been able to find about eikaiwa and call me a sucker for punishment but I think the best way to go 'initially' would be with one of the big boys.

Negatives I have come across:
Sure your a cog in the machine, the work can become monotonous (try pulling the guts out of sheep every 7 seconds for 10hrs a day, 6 days a week for monotonous), managers can be pricks (good managers are rare in any industry), you can be treated like a second class citisen etc etc. Obviously there are MANY more negatives, as anyone who has spent any time reading eikaiwa posts would be aware.

Positives:
Visa sponsorship, will employ someone with no teaching experience, you know your work schedule, have more 'chance' of being paid regularly and on time and your getting paid to speak to people.

However, getting to the crux of my post, do you think that 'they' (the big ones) would consider hiring someone who: has a pre-existing relationship with a Japanese native; has some Japanese speaking, writing and reading ability; has experience living in Japan (but not working); would live in their own accommodation and who would request to live in a semi-rural area? I know that there are representatives from all the big eikaiwa�s in this city. Or would including such information in an application be shooting myself in the foot so to speak? Do you think I would be better off to keep all of this info to myself and just apply as a naive 'newbie'? Then I would be hard pressed to find an excuse for wanting to be posted to the 'rural' area! hahaha

Being that I am in a stable relationship with a returning local and have Japanese experience and ability, to my thinking would suggest that I would be far more settled and content in my job (no social pressures etc) and far more likely to enjoy my job and see out the entirety of my contract.

Maybe I have got the wrong impression and this information would be a positive addition to my application? Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Any thoughts or suggestions?

Kampai!!!

Ben.

[lajzar]

What they are after isn't necessarily people whom they can control, but people who won't run out on them. Naive fresh grads is one such category. You are the other major category.

Single folks who know their rights and have no ties to keep them where they are are the group they don't like to hire.

[fluffyhamster]

What you seem to be indirectly wanting to know is 'Will these local branches of the eikaiwa chains give me a job if I approach them directly?' (we both seem to be in agreement in assuming that the head offices aren't in the business of pandering to requests to be sent to specific locations, even if the branch in that location might be needing teachers - but somebody correct me if I'm wrong!) - that's the main question I'm asking myself and would be asking others too, anyway!

I am sure a lot of them might like to, but I also imagine they would need to run it by recruitment/personnel at the head office (if only so head office could check off the "need to fill this position in one-cow town soon" box); then there probably aren't quite the resources in the local branches devoted to procuring the necessary visa documents (especially if you want to secure a full work visa before you arrive. What's the age range for the working holiday thing again?). A further complication could be that the accomodation has to be accepted and taken by any new teacher in order to keep it open for future teachers...

Generally, you and your girlfriend might need to consider living elsewhere than her hometown if the vacancies just aren't to be found there (with whatever sort of language school, chain branch or small independent school...not sure which is better, some of the small ones can be ailing or too quirky in their ways!), and applying generally (probably better without any too specific requests and/or reservations) to the big eikaiwa through their central offices would almost certainly mean they could offer you lots more "opportunities" (good or bad depending on location mainly, compared to where you would prefer to be living)...failing that, marry her pronto to solve the visa issue thing and expand upon the sort of work you'll be allowed to do!

[Willy_In_Japan]

I interviewed with both GEOS and AEON, in 2002.

At both interviews, there was an applicant who expressed that he had a girlfriend in Japan, and wanted to be placed in a specific location. Both of the companies refused to promise a location BEFORE you signed an agreement.

In other words, they would tell you where you were going in Japan (where they needed you) AFTER you signed the contract. The applicants were very disappointed with this answer.

In my case, I had a friend in East Tokyo/West Chiba, I wanted to be near so I could hang out with him. I got placed in Kanagawa which was only 3 hours by train from my buddy. The GEOS recruiter was happy for me, as she knew that I would be able to be relatively close to my buddy, but was AMAZED that they accomodated me.

[SamhainP8]

Lajzar: Well yeah it makes sense to me that they would want someone who would stick around to complete their contract, maybe I just picked up on the wrong �vibes� and I might have a chance after all.

Fluffyhamster: Well I would be applying for a position from Australia and just stating my preference to be posted in or near that town, not actually approaching the branches directly. This is unless we decide to move regardless of having jobs lined up, in which case I would get a working holiday visa (up to 30yo I think) and then approach branches directly. Maybe this would be the easiest way to go about it, but with no experience I think it would be quite difficult for me. After pulling out all that guts I have got plenty of cash saved up so I could support us no worries for as long as it took to find a job, but obviously I don�t want to see my hard earned savings dwindle. As for the accommodation, we would prefer and be able to get our own rental place independent of the school. Yeah we are aware that we may have to consider living elsewhere and that�s fine if its in within an hour or so away and I could commute, however, the reason for wanting to move back to her home town is her aged mother is alone. So if we lived 4 hours away then it would largely defeat the purpose of having moved back to Japan in the first place. Yeah it would be much easier to be married!!!! Hahaha! I�ll pull my finger out soon enough and make an honest woman out of Takako soon. Honest I will!

Willy in Japan: I can understand them not being able to �promise� a specific posting location before and/or after a contract was signed. That�s no worries. My main concern was if they would consider me in the first place due to having a Japanese gf and being somewhat �Japanised�.

Further question:
Does anyone know what the deal is with transfer applications? Say for instance I was to get posted hours away from our desired destination, is there a minimum period you have to wait before being considered for a transfer? Obviously if no position came up in or around the desired area then I would just have to deal with that, but by the sounds of it staff turnover is fairly high across the board so maybe we could get lucky. Possibly even more so considering it is not a major city that I would request to be transferred to?

Cheers,

Ben.

[melirae]

I don't think it's really necessary that you let them know how 'Japanized' you are or that you have a Japanese girlfriend and your reasons for moving to Japan. On the other hand they may see you as more stable, so it might be good to let them know that you would have solid reasons for being in an area. Hard one to call.

As for NOVA, I think you are allowed to put in for a transfer as soon as you are off probation. I work at the MM Center and I know people who have transferred to branch, and I also know some people at MM who came to Osaka from branches as far away as Chiba. So it is allowed, but it is based solely on their needs. Another thing they may do to you is transfer you to a different branch after you have signed your contract and been working at a branch for 4 or 5 months. I think they try not to send you more than about an hour commute from where you live though.

Good luck!

[SamhainP8]

Melirae: You don�t think its necessary but it might be good? Thanks for clearing that up for me hahaha Yeah that�s what I have been trying to nut out, as both options have numerous pros and cons. Thanks for the info regarding transfers. If worst comes to worst and I get a job hours away its something that I will have to look into further. First things first though I gotta get a job! Maybe the �mother in law� should just move in with us? NOT! She�s an awesome woman but fare crack of the sav!