Job Discussion Forums

Anne0 · Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 22

Hey, i'm new. I registered here because I got an interview with NOVA and I wanted some tips. First let me thank everyone, because of you I did the best I've ever done on any interview. I truly walked away satisfied that I could not do any better than what I did.
And yet I was still turned down. I'm looking at the letter now

lalalateda · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 72 Location: JAPAN

I wouldn't give up just yet. One of my friends recently got turned down by nova and aeon but she packed her stuff and moved to japan anyway. She got a teaching job within 2 weeks and she's really enjoying it. I would just keep sending out CVs and hopefully you'll get a job soon!

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

NOVA has a turnover rate of 70% and in some places its more like 90%. They are always looking for people, but I do know they do turn people down for a number of reasons. I have no idea why they said no, but the best idea is not to see it as the end of the world, the be-all and end-all and the last word in finding a job. NOVA is the biggest school in the country but there are thousands of other language schools dotted across the country. I would actually count yourself lucky you didnt go with NOVA as you would be one of the ones who quit after 6 months anyway (nothing against you but statistics don't lie). Better to avoid going with them from the beginning and work towards a more attractive position.

Do the numbers. Dont give up after failing two interviews and think its hopeless. Two years ago I sent out about 50 resumes for job and got shortlisted at two universities. Sometimes i got two rejection letters on the same day. Dont take rejection personally, take it on the chin, pick yourself up and keep sending out CVs. Getting jobs here is about persistence, throwing mud at a wall until some sticks and not giving up until you get some offers. Working in Japan ina foreign culture is also stickability. perseverance and giving up because of one or two knock backs may mean you are not suited to dealing with adversity which you will experience a lot here. If all else fails buy a plane ticket, come on a tourist visa and look for jobs once you get here. NOVA and Berlitz are not the only games in town.

If someone says no. say thank you very much and keep applying. I dont know why NOVA would say no but here are some possible reasons:

Too experienced. NOVA likes blank slates, not people armed with lots of experience and prove unteachable to their ways of doing things.
Over qualified (Masters degree, CELTA)
Too demanding and rigid about what they want out of a job, where they will work, what they will do. Try to call the shots in an interview.
want to come to Japan just to live with girlfriend or meet women (for single or unattached guys, not many women here have Japanese boyfriends)
Too ambitious for a low entry level job, talking about a 'career' at NOVA (mention becoming a trainer or manager, running before you can walk, maybe you have management experience and they worry how you will do in an entry level position)
Speak Japanese (they pay you to teach English not to speak Japanese to students)
Use job to learn Japanese and learn about Japanese culture. They are not paying you to be a student but to work as a language instructor.
Your dress and body language at the interview.
Your CV and how you have written it out. Is it an "American" style CV? Maybe too long and too wordy.
You dont have a degree for the work visa.
You criticise NOVA work policies during the interview (e.g. drug clause or fraternisation policy)
You say you wont teach children.

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

Anne0 · Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 22

I'm not sure what a sympathy vote is.....
I know what they say about NOVA but from what I read here it sounded like a good place to start. I have more preserverance than most people, I know from experience and I can succeed at pretty much anything I set my mind to, anther thing I learned from experience.
There's just one thing I suck at. FInding a job. In college I couldn't get work at McDonalds. I mean I really suck at getting hired. It's too bad for those employers too because I'm any employer's dream. Honestly, my current employer hugged me when I told her I had an interview with NOVA and gave me two days off for me to go to Boston for the interview.

I actually did really well at the interview. My interviewer even complimented me after I did the teaching example. I mean, if I had sucked it would make sense. But I didn't. One thing I never understand is the question "why do you want to live and work in Japan?" because I don't think they want an answer to that question. I mean if they want to knw why i'm going to tell them i'm interesting in the culture I want to learn the language or somethings like that. If they don't want people to say that then they should ask. If they want to know why we want to teach at such and such school then ask why do you want to teach at the school but they asked why do I want to live and work in japan so that's the answer I gave.

I wa thinking of working at berlitz here for a while because it's something. It's experience. Right now I have absolutely no teaching experience. I'm one year and 6 months out of college so I have no work experience either. I'm that blank slate you all say NOVA wants to bad but I still got turned down so again. I don't know. I can only point at myu body language during the interview. I was nervous and as much as I didn't want it to show it did but again WTF do they expect. We were in a room smaller than most closets with he door closed. He said our information was sent to the office in Japan. So I think they said no, which is weird. Why send my information to someone who's never met me. The whole point of an interview is for the interviewer to get an idea of how I am and make a sdecision. OK i'm dwelling too much on this.

Maybe going to Japan is the best thing. I just don't know how to approach this. There's a reason why I suck at finding work hhaaha.

oh just in case, I am working fulltime at a wonderful job. It's exactly what I need for right now.
I have another question, I've seen some jobs where the requirement is "must have nexcessary visa" but isn't it that you can't get a work visa until after you get ajob? So howe can you have the necessary visa before you even apply?

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

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

I had an interview with both NOVA and GEOS in the UK before coming to Japan. They both turned me down. Had no idea why. Even more insulting once I saw what they did actually hire once I was out here. 8 years on and I am proud of my successes here in Japan. Don't let it get you down. If you have the money come out here, get a job, then the work visa. Costly way to do it, but you WILL get hired.

Anne0 · Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 22

OK for one. Maybe your employer was so happy because she want to get rid of you?
Are you trying to be rude because you were totally successful. you odn't know jack diddly squate about my employer or me so don't pretend like you do. That was just a stupid comment. Your whole post was stupid really. If you going to repky to something be helpful.

Myh whole point of this post was to ask people's opinoin of going to the language school and getting some experience there possibly applying to berlitz at a later date.

For one I don't think I gave the impression that I was not going to get the job. I know I gave the best interview I could. I walked away very happy and that's a rarity for me. it's only happened for me in one other interview. I didn't get that either though, that was an internship. I hate those more really. In interviews where I do everything right it hurts more because I cannot understand what happened. There's only been two so far so i can't say much about it except it just hurts a lot.
Like I said before I just don't know what to do. I have no experience so I just feel like this is a hopeless battle. Everone tells me I need so much experience3 and looking at job sites they all ask for things I don't havce like "residents must currently reside in japan" or "must have working visa". I'll do anything to improve my chances but will volunteering at berltlz help?

sidjameson, thank you. That did help. I had called one of my friends she was borna nd raised in Nagoya. I'm thinking of catching a flight with her but i'm not sure. In a way I want to do everything I can to get a job while living here and then if everything fails move to Japan. Your right i shouldn't give up. I saw the rejection letter today and freaked. I'm sorry.

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

Anne, for your information I have worked at NOVA for a year when i first came here and I know what the company is like and what they are looking for. i have since gone on to bigger and greater things, have spent a lo~ng time in japan, which you can read about on this forum. I am simply reading between the lines here and can tell a lot about you by the way you write. You obviously can not take constructive criticism or you would have a job by now.

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

In case you havent seen it this is what i posted about NOVA.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=27295

Also look at this site

http://www.vocaro.com/trevor/japan/nova/level_up.html

NOVA. GEOS, AEON. ECC and Berlitz are all the big language schools and hire new teachers overseas from the same basic pool of candidates for jobs here. A person fails an interview at NOVA they go apply at ECC, schools are competing for the same people and students. Once you have an idea of what they are looking for you can then tailor your application to each school. Plenty of links on here about attending interviews and applying at the big schools.

JET is not looking for 'teachers' but enthusiastic young keen foreigners who can introduce your country and culture to high school students. You are not a language 'teacher' that is the Japanese teachers job. JET is not about teaching English but its a cultural exchange between foreigners and high school students. Student learn about foreign cultures by learning English and meeting foreigners who speak that language. Experience per se is not required but they are looking at your attitude and your suitabiliity and whether you can last a year or two in a foreign country and your reasons for wanting to come here.

You are an assistant to the JTE and your job can be anything from human tape recorder to planning your own lessons with help from the JTE. Plenty of info on here about what being on JET involves. There are now over 6000 JETs in Japan from about 30 countries and all walks of life. 50% of JETs do not do more than one year out of three years on the program.

in my opinion getting a job at these places is a lottery, whether you get hired depends on the individual recruiter in each city. people have been hired becuase they are blonde, six foot, have the right 'look' and are oozing sufficient charisma. Dont take it personally, dont give up and simply keep applying until some one says yes. With only two interviews under your belt you have not even started the job hunt yet here.

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

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

Person lacking the ability to even get this, wrote:

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

Teaching at Berlitz in Japan

http://www.teachinginjapan.com/berlitz.html

lalalateda · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 72 Location: JAPAN

Anne0 · Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 22