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Florizalll
Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 42
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 Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:06 am Post subject: Applying Directly to School Boards: Any Success Stories? |
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I am a certified teacher with experience and a degree. The general consensus seems to be that conversation schools/companies (NOVA, etc.) and ALT dispatching companies (Interac, etc) have engaged in unfair labor practices and may cater to individuals with little or no teaching qualifications.
For a teacher applicant applying from abroad, what is the success rate of receiving an interview/ position through direct contact with a school? What are the factors that contribute to this success- i.e. time of year, qualifications, documentation?
Is finding a job directly from a School Board an impossibility?
If not, please share details of your successes! |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:56 am Post subject: |
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| Tokyo public high schools hire directly from the offices at city hall. |
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Florizalll
Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:59 am Post subject: |
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Thank you, that's so helpful to know! Could you recommend a website or a way to contact the city hall? I did a google search but found articles about Tokyo instead.
I assume that could be a way to contact other school districts in different regions of Japan. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:20 am Post subject: |
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| Florizalll wrote: |
Thank you, that's so helpful to know! Could you recommend a website or a way to contact the city hall? I did a google search but found articles about Tokyo instead.
I assume that could be a way to contact other school districts in different regions of Japan. |
You would contact the Boards of Education but websites are in japanese. You have to be able to read Japanese and be able to navigate the website.
There is no reason a BOE would advertise a job in English on its Japanese website and many ALTs are hired through dispatch and private companies. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:30 am Post subject: Re: Applying Directly to School Boards: Any Success Stories? |
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| Florizalll wrote: |
| I am a certified teacher with experience and a degree. The general consensus seems to be that conversation schools/companies (NOVA, etc.) and ALT dispatching companies (Interac, etc) have engaged in unfair labor practices and may cater to individuals with little or no teaching qualifications. |
All you need is a BA to get a work visa here. You dont need a teaching licence to teach conversation. The bar is being lowered re the quality and standard of foreigners coming here now. Pay is getting lower and people are accepting less in order to get a job.
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| For a teacher applicant applying from abroad, what is the success rate of receiving an interview/ position through direct contact with a school? What are the factors that contribute to this success- i.e. time of year, qualifications, documentation? |
Very low. they dont recruit overseas, you dont have a work visa and are not resident in Japan. What guarantee do they have you will get on a plane and be here when school starts? How do they know you are not wanted for child molesting in the US, based on a few emails?
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| Is finding a job directly from a School Board an impossibility? |
I know university teachers hired directly from overseas but they had Masters degrees and phDs.
If not, please share details of your successes![/quote] |
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Florizalll
Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:32 am Post subject: |
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I see. So, lately I've been sending resumes and cover letters directly to principals and administrators in high schools through their English websites. I have to admit- I've probably sent over 30- and it takes so much time! Is this method of job search futile?
Perhaps I'll ask some friends to read through the Japanese board of education websites. I've heard mixed feedback about going through ALT dispatch companies although I've scheduled a interview with Interac later this month. It may be best to go forward with the interview.
Thanks for your help! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:38 am Post subject: |
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| Florizalll wrote: |
| I see. So, lately I've been sending resumes and cover letters directly to principals and administrators in high schools through their English websites. I have to admit- I've probably sent over 30- and it takes so much time! Is this method of job search futile?Thanks for your help! |
Cold calling and spamming resumes to principals is pointless unless they are hiring. They have deadlines and calls for applications. Im applying uni jobs now and you have to go throuugh the right channels.
You are wasting postage. and throwing mud at a wall, hoping some will stick. You dont even know about the area where the school might be. what if its in an area that doesnt suit you? |
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Florizalll
Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:05 am Post subject: |
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My inquiries are hardly spanning. I've been going to websites, looking at mission statements, and looking at job postings. In turn, my messages are personalized and detailed. I've taken the approach that is sometimes successful for teaching job searches in the US- put your resume in the lap of employers- were you to attract their interest, they'll keep your resume on file and contact you at a later time. However, it seems from your replies that this isn't the best method- and as I have mentioned- it is time consuming! I guess I'll wait for postings on Gaijinnet and the Japan Times before sending out further resumes.
Thanks! |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:10 am Post subject: |
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| The BOE in my neighborhood has an ad in English. |
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yamanote senbei
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 435
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:50 am Post subject: |
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| Florizalll wrote: |
| I've taken the approach that is sometimes successful for teaching job searches in the US- put your resume in the lap of employers- were you to attract their interest, they'll keep your resume on file and contact you at a later time. |
It doesn't work like that in Japan. The only file your resume will go in is the paper recycling bin. If you are young and attractive, your photo, it's standard to include one when applying for jobs in Japan, might generate interest in the office but it won't get you the job. Also, very few Boards of Education advertise so you aren't going to see their ads in the Japan Times. |
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Khyron
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 291
Location: Tokyo Metro City
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| Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:27 am Post subject: Re: Applying Directly to School Boards: Any Success Stories? |
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| Florizalll wrote: |
I am a certified teacher with experience and a degree. The general consensus seems to be that conversation schools/companies (NOVA, etc.) and ALT dispatching companies (Interac, etc) have engaged in unfair labor practices and may cater to individuals with little or no teaching qualifications.
For a teacher applicant applying from abroad, what is the success rate of receiving an interview/ position through direct contact with a school? What are the factors that contribute to this success- i.e. time of year, qualifications, documentation?
Is finding a job directly from a School Board an impossibility?
If not, please share details of your successes! |
Well, I'm 1/1 on this.
I got hired from out of the country (working for a hagwon (eikaiwa) in Korea), directly by a school. My pay is substantially higher than what any ALT makes, and I have full benefits. I'm not treated like a rogue foreigner who's going to leave in a year or two. I'm treated like one of the regular teachers, which is a great feeling. I only have a BA. They sponsered a teaching cerificate here for me. So, I'm a certified teacher (although you'd be more qualified than me with your certification, I'm guessing. I'm either lucky or blessed, depending on how you look at it). I have no idea if there are other cases like this, other than my foreign co-worker.
I am a special case though. This is a Christian private grade 1-12 school. I've been a member of, as well as actively involved in, the church body that this school is part of my entire life. In other words, their requirements in a teacher were very specific.
So, there are jobs working directly for schools out there. They just aren't easy to find. If you do find one, you're definetely in a good situation.
Good luck! |
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