Job Discussion Forums

[bkaemingk]

I am going into an interview with EC Inc. of Sapporo, Hokkaido and have found only one (very negative) posting through the discussions forum. I do not want to make a decision based off of one persons bad experience. If anyone has had any dealings or personal experience with this company it would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Mr. K

[Mom'taro Arabia]

surprised noone ha responded. well, i left Japan and sapporo 3 years ago and just today looking for work in Japn again (the money in Arabian Peninsula being better but life so dull) EC was my 1st job back in 96. I hated it, cos of the stupid philosophy of EC. It is this sorta 70's Calif. cult thinking that people just want love and a smily face. EC drilled me and others for hours on how to smile, greet people again and again (like if u go down the hall again to just have a whiz, you gotta say HEEEEHHH lOOOO- ooooHH like the customer (student) were some dangerous psycho path)...can you follow this....
so my boss Alan Boeser gave some OK teacher training (he fled EC like a smart man, he still is respected ESOL guy in Sapporo, I think) ...but other big wigs played mind games with you. example, they kept you in a hotel and discouraged working teachers from talking to you, lest they "ruin you" with negativity about the school. Many guys said EC paid hotel staff to spy on you, go in your luggage to look for condoms and porn when u were at training, etc. to get a feel for your character. I can believe this. One of the top guys Mr Yamaya was obviously having nervous breakdowns while training people
but they just stayed the course.

on the other hand, some friends stayed a few years, cos EC paid you on time and not badly and wanted to keep an honest reputation as far as pay disputes, etc. they WERE huge, still big, so they wont go belly up and leave you jobless

If they find you a flat, this may be too pricey as it was a kick back scam for them b4 2000.

i can't speak for how it is now. things change fast in J-land nowadays.
suggest you go to Xene.com for the Hokkaido network. also some guy called Glenski seems to be the Hokk guru on Dave's these days. maybe Arudo Debido (a brilliant gaijin in Otaru) has written in media about EC or their ilk, could google his name for it.

Hokk is great fun if you like snow. I am now reading Booth's "The Roads to Sata" brilliant! ...reminds me so of Hokk bike adventures, hitching , skiing.

One bad worrd on housing in sapporo. i found it bad myself. many flats are freezing in winter (bad insulation) ...so go to sapporo but be wary of
folks who say "It is all so easy here or you may end up shivering and poor.

good luck to us both.
the ex-Sapporo Gump