Job Discussion Forums

[SEndrigo]

Hi all,

My contract will be up early next year and I'll be looking for another teaching job, preferably one during the day and Monday-Friday.

Other than the dispatch companies (Interac, Altia, etc), what other options do I have if I want to get a morning teaching job?

I don't care whether it's kids, teenagers, adults, businessmen, etc....and I don't care if it's eikaiwa or public school....I only care that the job is 8-5 or 9-6 and Monday to Friday. I don't want to work on weekends.

I have a BA, TEFL, and 3 years teaching experience. What options would I have other than the dispatch companies, and when would schools hire me for the April school year? January? February?

Many thanks for any advice you could give.

best,

[Glenski]

I don't have an immediate answer, but it might help to know where you want to work.

[Zzonkmiles]

I don't mean to sound rude here (really, I don't), but let me see if I've got this straight:

You don't want to work weekends
You are willing to work at a conversation school
You only want to work "normal" office hours (e.g., not after 6pm)

You do realize that these three things are generally not compatible, right? And being new to the company and asking for the schedule that is likely the most highly demanded one will only make your likelihood of snaring such a schedule even dimmer. The largest eikaiwa schools will probably hire you, but the teachers and trainers who have a bit more seniority will likely already be working the M-F daytime shifts. So you'd have to put in your time and service on the shifts nobody really wants (maybe Tuesday and Wednesday off, for example) before you can get a bit more seniority and get a better schedule.

Aside from conversation schools, high schools and vocational schools will likely offer the better working hours you are looking for. Since the school year started in April, I'd imagine the hiring season is pretty much finished. But you said you were looking for something for "the start of next year," so maybe your chances of success will improve then. But competition for such jobs is going to be very very fierce. After university gigs, I think vocational schools and high schools are the most sought after teaching positions in Japan. Your BA won't separate you from the pack, unfortunately, but your experience and TEFL certificate will certainly help. Can you speak Japanese? That skill will go a LONG way to helping distinguish you from other applicants.

[PAULH]

The only thing I can think of is to approach the Boards of Education in each district you are interested in, if you want to teach in junior high schools and elementary schools. Some hire ALTs directly, and not all foreign teachers are hired by dispatch companies. Many jobs are got through connections, or seeing a job ad posted by the local government for ALTs.

My guess is you would need to speak some Japanese as English speakers in the BOE or public offices will be few and far between.

Hiring for ALTs is usually done well in advance- I teach at a university and most positions for April are filled by mid-January though you get the odd last-minute opening in March when someone suddenly quits before term begins.

[SEndrigo]

[SEndrigo]

[PAULH]