Job Discussion Forums

aristotle84 · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 3

Hello all,

I booked an interview with NOVA at their Boston office in November. I wish it would be sooner so I could know earlier if I get accepted/rejected.

Do any of you have a clear idea of what the approximate success rate is for people who apply to NOVA? After doing some searches, I've read that it is fairly easy amongst the big 4, but want to get a better idea.

Is anyone else gonna be in NOVA's Boston offices come November? Anyway, I'm excited about the prospect of going to Japan!

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johncanada24 · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 119 Location: Canada

zignut · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 33 Location: Bay Area, CA

I am certain this has been posted countless times before, but the answers are evidently timeless. Here goes:

1) Look professional. That means suit and tie for men.

2) Don't be late. Easy one, that.

3) Be affable. Smile, and present yourself as easy-going and approachable. I'd say garrulous but professional is the way to go.

4) Speak clearly, correctly, and naturally.

5) Always be ready with something to say or ask. This one may be a bit more difficult. You need to think on your feet when they ask if anyone has any questions (in a group interview), or request that you give a short demo lesson in private (I had to explain what a lawnmower was).

Honestly, these are the criteria that you'll be judged on when you're on the job as well. Other eikaiwa employees told me tales of grammar examinations and reading comp tests, but I had no such experience. Nova is really looking for the next nice, young, foreigner to plop down in front of their customers for another 40-minute round of small talk.

Good luck!

seastarr · Joined: 22 Sep 2006 Posts: 76

I don't know that Nova has a success rate for each interview, as people in the same session leave for Japan at different times and people who are already in Japan give very short notice at times (ie. they stop coming to work and just go home). I think they just pick people they think will stay and do the job for a year or so and send them when they have openings, which they always seem to have. I still talk to a lot of my friends that are teaching in Japan and there has been a constant trickle of new people coming in and a huge rush of people leaving (in my old area anyway). To give you an idea, by March of next year, in my area (which had about 40 people when I got there a year ago) I will know 4 teachers because the rest will have left. My area has an above average staying time for teachers, most did a year or more. I've heard the overall average for Nova is about 9 months. I only know of one teacher who had a friend that interviewed with him that wasn't hired. I don't want you to think its a sure bet that you will get the job, I'm sure there are people they don't hire, but if you go and put your best face forward and give good references, your chances are pretty good. Good luck with your interview!

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I've met one guy who was rejected by Nova, when talking to him a couple of possible reasons became clear: he was not very articulate and stumbled over words a lot, and he would look all over the place while talking to you, anywhere but directly at you. Nova is looking for people who are fairly good communicators.

He apparently told the interviewer he didn't want to teach low lovel students- they are Nova's bread and butter, so saying something like that is obviously not a good idea. You need to appear flexible, willing to teach anyone they throw your way.

It's a good idea to appear to have an interest in language but not seem like a know-it-all with grammar and teaching methods.

To answer your question I think the acceptance rate is fairly high, and that you stand quite a good chance of being selected.

Venti · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: Kanto, Japan

A company like NOVA doesn't spend a lot of time communicating with its branch schools about what kind of teacher(s) the school is looking for. They just need someone fresh to replace the last person who didn't renew his/her contract, bailed out with little or no notice, or, in the rare case, was fired mid-contract. It's a big company with lots of schools and lots of foreign instructors. It's the only eikaiwa company (last time I heard) that is publicly traded on the stock market. NOVA has many other business interests besides the eikaiwa one.
Companies like AEON and GEOS have people from the head office in contact quite often with the branch schools and are more concerned with the branch school managers' wishes concerning new instructors. Of course, when times are desperate, schools get whoever the recruiters can pick up. When a company, like AEON or GEOS, is more or less caught up with recruiting there can be more of a focus on branch school managers' requests when interviewing teachers to fill positions that will be opened by teachers who will not be renewing their contracts. Thus, applicants will be evaluated according to various standards that may or may not depend on branch managers' wishes.
NOVA is probably never in this position and are almost always going all-out to fill positions. So, yeah, you've got the best chance with NOVA. But, they still have quotas and do fill them during most recruiting periods so not every interviewee gets a job. If you don't get hired, it doesn't mean you're not getting hired anywhere; you just didn't make the cut that time. Try again with other companies and keep going.

My experience with NOVA:
Group interview-- I asked some questions and participated throughout

Personal interview-- I answered the (sometimes too personal) questions
honestly and thoroughly (there's a portion where
you're required to answer in 3 words (or less?). Then
I read from one of the lessons and was asked to
explain the meaning of a word I thought an
intermediate level student wouldn't know. That was it.

Job offer-- Took the job and came to Japan. Wasn't awful, but every job
I've had since has been better. I never had any problems with
the head office, always got paid on time, and my apartment
nice; my roommates were a different story. The AT wasn't a
very pleasant person and the regional manager was a bit
scary. I did my time and moved on.

LoTan · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 30

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

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=21529&highlight=nova+lesson+example

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

I doubt it's as high as people make it seem. If I had to guess, I'd say it's around 1/3rd or 1/4th. One thing I've noticed is that some people think a group interview is like a race - you only have to do better than the other people. This is wrong, so don't think like that. Basically if everyone would make a good teacher (and stay for a year), everyone gets offered a position. If everyone sucks, then nobody gets offered a position.

I'd also say to follow other people's advise on the interview. Don't appear demanding to the interviewers ("I'll only work in Tokyo"). Show that you know about Japan (and NOVA/eikaiwas), but not too much (and don't mention anime). Show that you know about living abroad, especially in Japan (basically you have to show them that you know it's a challenge). And you absolutely must convince them that you will stay a full year. You could be perfect in every other way but if they don't believe this your application will be tossed.

Venti · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: Kanto, Japan

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

24601 · Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 75

um...

a floor manager the other night said it was a company crisis right now because they could not find enough people to fill positions. Recruitment is not meeting demand.

Hence, I would seriously wonder about anyone who said NOVA did not hire them in the last say, 6 months or so.

Just sayin'.

yamanote senbei · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 435

I'd like to confirm what 24601 said. Nova has a very hard time finding replacement teachers right now. There has always been a high turnover, but it's turned into a crisis recently. There have been several anti-Nova stories in the press recently and it could be that potential employees are finally getting the message that Nova isn't a good company to work for.

illbeback · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Japan

yamanote senbei · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 435

What message would you like to give them, I'll?

If you go through the archives you'll find that some Nova employees read all the negative reports on their soon to be employer, but ignore the warnings because they are so hyped to go to Japan. When they get here, after borrowing money from their parents for the airfare and setup costs, they don't last six months at Nova. How they repay the debt to their parents I don't know.