Job Discussion Forums

deerock · Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 6

hello,

has anyone left a nova contract early for another job in japan?
what were the ramifications? does nova ask for reimbursement? how hard was it to find another job?

was it ever an issue in future job searches to explain that you left a contract early?

thank you.

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

How hard is it to find another job? I am surprised at this question.

Finding a NOVA job usually means you aren't even in the country, so the choices are pretty limited. If you are already here teaching with NOVA, the opportunities are a thousandfold greater. You simply have to find the time to hunt for them.

Quitting early doesn't mean any repercussions on you, other than the reputation lost. There are no financial penalties. I would suggest looking for a job before quitting, though. Oh, a couple of the other members of the Big Four have made it known that they won't hire someone who quits NOVA early. In a way, I can't blame them, but I just wanted to give you this heads up on repercussions.

deerock · Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 6

i have not gone to japan. i want to work in japan but do not like the long hours required by nova.

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

Most people do the first year contract with nova, stay a little longer to get the next visa, sort your cash out and then quit.

jademonkey · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 180

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

Personally, I think coming to Japan to work for a company with the attitude that you're likely going to break the contract and take another job is pretty shady. But, hey, lots of people do it so it must not be such a big deal, right? Whatever. I've done my fair share of shady things so I'll leave the moral issue alone.

But, if you have it in mind to pursue a job that's really meaningful to you, you ought to consider sticking out the first year with one company. If you quit NOVA in say, 6 months, you'll be looking to take the first job that's seemingly more decent than NOVA, but not necessarily very good because you'll need to keep moving along without a big break between paychecks. From the time you start with that next company, you'll have to work at least a year (one full contract) to start to build up a decent reputation as a worker in Japan. So, as far as getting a nice job goes, that likely puts you at least a year and a half out from getting it after arrival in Japan if you quit NOVA in 6 months. Stick out your first contract and you might find yourself in a nice position after a year.

Anyway, that's just my take.

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

Nova is probably one of the easiest teaching jobs in Japan to leave from, as all they require is one month's notice. As long as you comply with that requirement, I don't think they'll have any problem with you.

They have people leaving and arriving all year round and the size of their operation means they're probably much more able to cope with people leaving after less than the full year contract than a lot of smaller schools would be. One such smaller school I worked at a while ago threatened financial penalties if you gave them less than 16 weeks notice.

Anyone quitting early would be sensible to at least work there long enough (6 months) to be able to use their paid holiday entitlement. If you're planning to quit even earlier than that, then you're probably better off trying to get a job you prefer in the first place.

I'd also agree with the advice in the post above - many jobs in Japan will indeed have you working similar hours to Nova. They may not always be totally up front about it though. In my first job in Japan, I queried being asked to work longer hours than the stipulated teaching hours in my contract - I was told that one of my days was 9-5 in the school office (for making teaching materials) and that this 8 hours did not count towards "teaching" time. Nova's lesson hours are pretty much common knowledge - hours-wise it's as it appears.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 11:25 pm Post subject:

I worked for NOVA for six months and gave them the requisite one month's notice when I left for another job. If you can arrange the right type of job before you leave and don't depart under a black cloud then it shouldn't harm your employment opportunities one bit.