Job Discussion Forums

[ejectseat]

This being my first post, I want you to know I've been browsing the forums for the last couple months in order to get a better understanding of teaching/living abroad. This site is great and almost all of the threads I have read have been useful in helping me make up my mind about teaching abroad.

I'm 24, have a bachelors in history, and I am ready to take off. I was living in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina came along, and now I'm back in my hometown of Pittsburgh. Nothing excites me more about the prospect of seeing seeing new places and meeting new people.

I've debated many locations to teach, and I have a background in Spanish. I ruled out South American countries for the time being, however. I gained interest in Asian countries, and then debated China, Taiwan, and Japan. Low and behold, my destination of choice is Japan, specifically Osaka.

I've read all of the good and bad in regards to NOVA, and decided to apply. Their Boston office contacted me via email, and they want me to schedule an interview.

I'd like to know what to expect, and if there's any advice you could give I would appreciate.

Thanks - Colin

[Glenski]

I've posted this before a few dozen times. One more won't hurt.

NOVA
Here is what someone wrote:

"I interviewed in San Francisco.

I was given a little company overview. And was given a very casual group interview (with some random questions on the spot). There were individual interviews. I was asked my goals. What I want out of the experience. How would I cope with silence in the classroom.

I thought it was fairly simple. I think it's about showing enthusiasm and willingness to learn. I think being outgoing is important (but I think that's naturally part of the job)

I felt the interview was a chance to ask general questions (try not to get to negative on this) and also to find out how you cope with being nervous in front of strangers."


and another person's experience...

"In Australia, only people in NSW and Queensland are interviewed by NOVA Australia. Recruitment from the other states is outsourced to another company, so what I've written below might not apply.

When I interviewed in Jan, I had a 30-40 min grammar test and 30 min interview - but they didn't test general knowledge of Japan. If you can show you have a reasonable understanding of what you're in for, cultural difference, language problems etc, then you will be fine. They will want to gauge that you won't freak out when you arrive.

I didn't have to do a demo lesson or anything, but they did show me the "Quest" textbook and ask me to tell them what I thought the language point was, and which words I thought a student might have difficulty understanding. I think I was also asked to explain a difficult word in simple terms while the recruiter pretended to be Japanese."

and another...

"whatever you do, **don't be late** They sent a girl home (ie refused to let her into the information seminar and interviews)because she arrived at 8:05 and we had started 8am exactly. I would recommend getting there around 20 mins early. (I was interviewed in Sydney)"

Another interview experience
I did my interview in NY too. I think it was on Lexington and 50th? I remember thinking they had a building or office in Manhattan and that was a good sign. Then I entered the bldg. and nobody had heard of Nova, but...they were there. They rented the place for X time period for recruiting, I guess.

Anyway, it could even be the same recruiters so here's what to expect:

-Sit in a room for an information session. They'll tell you the truth but enhance the hell out of the good side. Like they play up all the culture you'll soak in and not say much about how you always work on national holidays and aren't allowed to fraternize with students.

-Wait for interview with everyone. I think there was a lunch break in between. I remember a bunch of people with no real work experience all kind of nervous an posturing. Like trying pose as being "international" when their big intl experience was a semester abroad in London. Then there were the 1 or 2 oddballs that were a little older and obviously running away from something and giving us way too much info about their personal lives (yeah, I was a chemical engineer for the past 15 years, but got a divorce and felt a change was needed, yada yada). Scary.

-The interview lasted 30 minutes. They asked me why I was interested in Japan, and how I thought I would adjust to the culture. Asked if I knew anything about Japan or had read books and why Japan, not China. Then they asked me to describe the difference between:

I play golf -and-
I am playing golf

I think they asked me a slightly harder question related to grammar and how to teach it. I bombed and then they told me that they would teach me how to deal with various grammar points anyway in Japan.

Good luck. I have to say the interview was fairly easy but prepare anyway. Look professional too. There were people there without suits - geez! For all the garbage, I have to say that it was fun working there for a year.

Another experience (April, 2003)
I went for an interview in Australia a few months ago expecting it to be a quick and simple interview, with little real testing about the English language. Do all the things Glenski says and brush up on your grammar (in Australia we only get taught grammar until about grade five then it is all 'creative writing'), as we had a test and then had to pick the grammar point in a lesson out of their teaching manual. We also had to describe how we would explain certain everyday situations to our class in simple terms. We were also asked a number of questions about ourselves, which we could answer in only three words or less. Eg What is your greatest achievement? What do you want to teach English in Japan?

Another experience (May, 2003)
I interviewed with Nova last year and I am now working for them.

In terms of the interview, be personable and energetic. People are mainly hired for their personalities. Try to project yourself as energetic, personable, fun-loving but responsible. Come across as an interesting person. If you are not interesting, exaggerate or lie outright.

Looks count. Dress professionally but not too severe. You don't want to come across as a stuffed shirt.

Smile. Tell polite jokes. Participate during the info sessions. Volunteer answers. Try to take a leadership role, but don't be pushy.

Check out Japan and make a wish list of places that you want to go and things you want to do. Be excited about the possibility of working and living in Japan. Be knowledgeable.

Tell them you are "creative." They're big into creativity--or at least my interviewer was.

Another experience (Sept. 2003)
I interviewed with Nova recently at their Boston office. I do not think you need to shave the goatee, as long as it looks neatly trimmed. You will have time to stress that you want to live in Iwaki, but there's no guarantee you'll get it. I asked to be put anywhere in Hokkaido but was placed in Osaka.

The interview began with a two-hour presentation about Nova. We got a chance to look through teaching materials, sample schedules and student evaluation sheets. It was all handled very professionally. The presenter described the Nova dresscode: suits are optional, but men must wear ties and aren't allowed to wear earrings. Women must wear business attire, including stockings and closed-toe shoes. Absolutely wear a suit for the interview.

After the group presentation were individual interviews. The interviewer had a copy of the online application I filled out; if you apply online, you might want to keep a copy and go over it beforehand. I was asked about my location preferences, and how I felt about working with kids. I was asked to answer 15 questions quickly and briefly. Some were:

What would you do if all your students were quiet?
What do you think of smalltalk?
What's something you accomplished recently that you were proud of?
What would your current/last employer say about you?
How are you at handling criticism?
What one word would your best friend use to describe you?
If you saw someone you thought you knew, but weren't quite positive you recognised, what would you do?

Based on these answers and the information on my application, the interviewer then asked more probing questions. What do I like and dislike about my current job? Would I be able to adapt to living in such a highly populated country? What problems do I think I might face in Japan? We then talked at length about what makes a good teacher. Since I have studied several languages, I was asked what challenges students might face in learning English. I was asked to be very specific about this, with linguistic examples. Then, I was asked how I'd explain an assortment of concepts, like the phrase 'find out' or the word 'prison', without resorting to lengthy verbal explanations. I was also asked several other grammar-related questions.

I think the most important thing is to look professional and act enthusiastic and outgoing. Play up your interest in teaching; remember that you're being interviewed for a job, not a vacation. The interview is actually fun if you let it be, so relax and enjoy it.

If you get the job, you're notified by mail about a week later.

[LHanks]

Here is a website that will give you the run down on NOVA. I worked there, it was alright. I lived in Osaka for two years-great location. It is a near (easy day trips) from many great nearby places.
Good Luck!
http://www.teachinjapan.com
LH

[allyismycopilot]

Dress in a suit. Shave. Get a haircuit. Show up. Put on an engaging front if you don't have one. Show excitement in the "demo lesson". You have now been hired by Nova.