Job Discussion Forums

iam007 · Joined: 31 Jul 2003 Posts: 21

Is mid-January a reasonably good time to look for a job in an eikaiwa? (I have all relevant qualifications to get a working visa)

nomadder · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2003 8:13 pm Post subject:

At my first school-James School jobs started in Feb, May, Aug and Nov. so it is possible. Lots of schools start in April when the school year begins as did my second school.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

It's a bad time to come. After the New Year holiday, things start off slow and you're limiting your chances. Things don't get going again until March in general. The summer is a better time to come in my opinion. Many foreigners leave when it starts to get really hot. If you can arrange a job before you come, that's the surest bet.

I heard many conversation schools don't do domestic hiring anymore. If you want to come in mid January, come with a job.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Wait until February. Job adds are pretty scarce in January.

The peak hiring time for high schools and jr. high schools is February, March and early April. Bear in mind that these are not easy to get.

Conversation schools have a very busy recruiting season for students in March and April. For this reason they like to have their staff in place before then.

I have to disagree with canuck regarding summer to be a good time to look. It is not.
Also, only the large conversation schools, Nova, AEON, Geos, and ECC do their recruiting oversees. The smaller schools do not have the resources to do so.

People's opinions vary in regards to coming with a job lined up already or not. Mine is that you should already have a job secured. If you don't like the job, quit. Then you'll have the Visa and a small network to work within. Many schools do not want to go through the difficulty of sponsorship. If you have lots of EFL experience then you have more options, but if your only qualifications to teach are those designated by the Visa requirements then go the route of the chain schools or JET.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Two friends of mine in Osaka. Here they would rather hire from overseas because the average stay is longer for teachers they hire abroad. Many of the people hiring also know people use Nova just to secure a visa.

Many I was too general. Of the big conversation schools, I would say that ECC is the most open to hiring from Japan, but still the great majority of teachers are hired outside of Japan.