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DarkMagus
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 30
Location: Manchester, NH
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 Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:25 pm Post subject: What happens after NOVA asks for a background check? |
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This is my first post ever. Perhaps many more to come...
I interviewed with NOVA on 3/10/06. I survived it and received an email a few days later saying "Congratulations, you've passed the first stage..."
Then they asked for a background check (which cost me $55.00). I went ahead and dropped the 55, now I'm waiting for a reply.
Does anyone have any experience with NOVA's hiring process? What happens next? Do I have a reasonable shot at the job?
Thanks!
-Mike |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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DarkMagus
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 30
Location: Manchester, NH
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks, I've been lurking around here for awhile so I've read those posts. I'm trying to figure out how likely it is that I'll get hired, given that they've asked for a background check. Do you think that means they'll offer me the job? |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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| DarkMagus wrote: |
| Thanks, I've been lurking around here for awhile so I've read those posts. I'm trying to figure out how likely it is that I'll get hired, given that they've asked for a background check. Do you think that means they'll offer me the job? |
No one has a crystal ball without knowing anything about you. I think I read on here they are short of teachers in Tokyo. They wont judge or select you just on a background check- maybe just checking you dont have any hidden skeletons.
If you are not fussy about where you are posted you stand a good chance IMO, but no one can make any promises here. Getting hired there is a lottery. |
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DarkMagus
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 30
Location: Manchester, NH
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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I think I stand a pretty good chance as well... given that I don't have any hidden skeletons! I've got a clean record and I've been teaching Special Education for the past two years.
I didn't really specify where I wanted to be placed... I did say that I'd rather not be placed in Tokyo, but mentioned that I'd be happy to be placed anywhere. |
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womblingfree
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 826
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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What is this background check? What does it consist of?
Calling previous employers? Surely standard practise?
A police check? Doesn't sound plausible.
It sounds like they just want you to give them $55. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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| womblingfree wrote: |
What is this background check? What does it consist of?
Calling previous employers? Surely standard practise?
A police check? Doesn't sound plausible.
It sounds like they just want you to give them $55. |
Could quite possibly be a requirement in the state where he is living and they are required to by state law. |
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DarkMagus
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 30
Location: Manchester, NH
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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As far as I can tell, the background check is a criminal record check as well as a "previous residency" check. My previous employers have already been contacted, as I listed them as references in my application and provided letters of recommendation from them.
But I hope its not just a tricky way of getting my $55.
I've paid for background checks/fingerprinting previously, prior to working for various school districts in New Hampshire (in the US), so I'm under the impression that its a fairly routine thing and that its not a scam. Not sure if its particular to my state... I live in New Hampshire, and the interview took place at NOVA's office in Boston, Massachusetts.
Hopefully someone on here has some direct experience with NOVA and with this process, so that they can give me an idea of how likely I am to get an actual job offer! |
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angrysoba
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 446
Location: Kansai, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think it is NOVA policy per se, when I was employed by them in Japan they never asked me for a fee to do a background check.
But NOVA are bound to the laws of the country that they are hiring in so it is more likely that they are required to do it and unlikely that it's a scam. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| DarkMagus wrote: |
| Hopefully someone on here has some direct experience with NOVA and with this process, so that they can give me an idea of how likely I am to get an actual job offer! |
Magus,
I worked at NOVA but that was in 1988 and the people they hire are a reall mixed bag. there are over 4000 foreigners working for NOVA. They do have a hiring profile and I did write on here a while ago about what kind of people they look for.
People that DON'T tend to do well are:
Japanese speakers as they worry you will use it in class.
People with an arm-length iof qualifications including CELTA and/or Masters
Prima donnas
People with management pretensions or previous management experience
People who are just coming to live with their girlfriend or pick up women
People who demand to be placed in Tokyo or Osaka
People who have problems with punctuality
People who demand to work 9-5, Mon-Fri.
People that implicitly or explicitly criticise the company or moan about what they have read about NOVA on the Internet.
People that are not team players
People who expect life and work in Japan to be like it was back home, and cant adjust to foreign culture and lifestyles
People who look as though they will quit within 2 months from homesickness.
People who expect to be creating syllabuses and lesson plans from scratch for their branch or school or will not work with NOVA syllabus.
Last edited by PAULH on Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
People who demand to be placed in Tokyo or Osaka
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Uh oh, sounds like me although I haven't actually "demanded" to be placed in Tokyo or Osaka. I have indicated my preference for these two cities in my application forms. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Jazz1975 wrote: |
| PAULH wrote: |
People who demand to be placed in Tokyo or Osaka
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Uh oh, sounds like me although I haven't actually "demanded" to be placed in Tokyo or Osaka. I have indicated my preference for these two cities in my application forms. |
You can say where you want to go but they wont guarantee a place. If there is a opening and you agree you have a good chance.
Saying you wont go anywhere but Osaka because your girlfriend lives there will doom your application. NOVA doesnt like being dictated to by its job applicants, who for the most part are not yet teachers or employed, and straight out of university. |
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| Saying you wont go anywhere but Osaka because your girlfriend lives there will doom your application. NOVA doesnt like being dictated to by its job applicants, who for the most part are not yet teachers or employed, and straight out of university. |
For starters, I'm a woman and very much heterosexual  . What I did say (paraphrased) is that I would like to be placed in either Tokyo or Osaka because I am most familiar with living in a big city. I did go on to say that if this is not possible, I'd be just as happy to be placed in the vicinity of one of these two cities. Oh and btw, I graduated from university quite awhile ago and went back to school (college) a second time a few years ago. I'm not so young (you can find my age on one of the other threads if you look hard enough  ). |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Jazz1975 wrote: |
| For starters, I'm a woman and very much heterosexual . What I did say (paraphrased) is that I would like to be placed in either Tokyo or Osaka because I am most familiar with living in a big city. I did go on to say that if this is not possible, I'd be just as happy to be placed in the vicinity of one of these two cities. Oh and btw, I graduated from university quite awhile ago and went back to school (college) a second time a few years ago. I'm not so young (you can find my age on one of the other threads if you look hard enough ). |
NOVA hires women, gay and straight and the oldest teachers there are in their 50's and 60's. Kansai is a big area and you also have Kobe Kyoto and Nara within easy commuting reach of Osaka
If you have a Masters you are probably overqualified for the type of teaching you will be doing but as long as you dont let that stand in the way of getting hired and are willing to do what ever they throw at you you should be OK.
Teachers come in all ages shapes sizes and colors. Im 43 this year by the way. |
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angrysoba
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 446
Location: Kansai, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Jazz1975 wrote: |
| I'm not so young (you can find my age on one of the other threads if you look hard enough ). |
Is 1975 a clue? |
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