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KarenMarie
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
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 Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 9:29 pm Post subject: Where can I find good examples of resumes and cover letters |
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for Japan specifically?
I feel quite lost.  I don't want to start out by doing the wrong thing. Please advise me. Thank you. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 12:21 am Post subject: Re: Where can I find good examples of resumes and cover lett |
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| KarenMarie wrote: |
for Japan specifically?
I feel quite lost. I don't want to start out by doing the wrong thing. Please advise me. Thank you. |
Karen
sending out your CV like spam to lots of different employers will probably yield you low results, and I think alot depends on your background, where you are now living (harder to get hired if you are outside Japan) and you have to 'customise your CV for each employer.
I dont know of any templates for Japanese CVs but there are several things I could tell you which are culturally inappropriate or differ from when applying for jobs in the US.
these include:
resume is too long: 1-2 pages is sufficient
use of buzzwords, abbreviations (US states GPA etc)
stating objectives for the job application (rather unnecessary for a CV here)
Talking about loving Jpaan, wanting to learn language and culture and learn how to teach (they are not paying you to learn japanese and tour around the country, they are paying you to teach English)
Too much detail on past job experience which is irrelevant to the job you are applying for.
Sometimes past EFL experience, CELTA, linguistics degrees can make you overqualified for some positions. In schools like NOVA the trainer may have nothing more than a BA and 12 months teaching experience. The fact he got there sooner makes him your superior.
Not including a photograph, or is inappropriate
Contact details - how and when to ring (do you want someone ringing New york from Japan at 3 am local time becuase of the time difference?)
Clearly stating your qualification for a work visa, your degree etc. If you can not get a work visa to work here, everything else is just gravy, regardless of age, experience or teaching experience.
Minimise hobbies or things that dont have anything to do with the job you are applying for. you will not use Internet or computers when etaching English.
Emphasise what you can do for the school and their students, not what the school can do for you. Dont adopt a 'whats in it for me? ' attitude but gear your skills and abilities to the schools needs, not vice versa.
I am currently working in Japan, teach at a university and often proofread resumes for people.
If you want to send me a mail I will have a look at your CV for you
[email protected] |
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KarenMarie
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Where can I find good examples of resumes and cover lett |
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| PAULH wrote: |
Karen
sending out your CV like spam to lots of different employers will probably yield you low results, |
PaulH,
What do you suggest I do?
I have a journalism degree and a CELTA. I have some teaching experience as a T.A. in graduate school.
Time to search the board... 
Thank you very much for your response. I'll take you up on that offer of proofreading my CV when I finish it.
Much thanks again,
KarenMarie |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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Karen,
Shotgunning resumes is time consuming, and in the case of sending them to a foreign country, it is also expensive. You have pretty much the basic minimum requirements that hundreds to thousands of applicants have, so it will be on your shoulders to show how you stand out, as Paul indicated with his remarks on customizing resumes and cover letters.
Look on the boards to see who is hiring. Then send to them.
www.eslcafe.com
www.gaijinpot.com
www.eltnews.com
www.ohayosensei.com
www.jobsinjapan.com |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 10:59 pm Post subject: Re: Where can I find good examples of resumes and cover lett |
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| KarenMarie wrote: |
What do you suggest I do?
I have a journalism degree and a CELTA. I have some teaching experience as a T.A. in graduate school.
KarenMarie |
Karen Marie
You dont say where you are at the moment, but if you are livingf outside of the country, the most common route to getting a job here is through once of the large commercial language schools (NOVA, AEON ECC). Some other schools do recruit for teachers outside the country but generally speaking, if they are not advertising they are not hiring and you are wasting time and postage by sending your CV to them. It is unlikely they will hire and sponsor you without first having an interview and meeting you first. They know that you will be applying to half a dozen other schools and that you may drop them if they get a better offer.
If you dont wnat to go through the large chain schools your only other alternative is to fly here with $4000 in your pocket and start looking for work. That was not your original question but here are some things you should consider when making applications:
What kind of teaching do you want to do- adults? kids? high school? teaching companies? Some of the large schools you will be required to teach kids for example.
Where are you interested in working? Tokyo or Osaka? In a rural/ provincial area?Do you have any preferences?
When can you arrive in Japan to start work? The best time to look for jobs is February March as the new school year is in April.
Most of the initial contracts and work visa are for one year- most schools will note expect a commitment of no longer than that in the beginning. Do you have any short or long term goals?
There are thousands of teachers here already with degrees and experience who are looking for jobs. What can you offer an employer that they can not provide and would encourage an employer to 'take a chance' on you? Many (but not all) schools require Japanese residency, but as I say, a few do recruit from overseas, and I have known of people hired for high school jobs while still in Canada. Its not impossible to get work, but much harder if you are out of the country, and dont go through the large schools. Your CV is obviously important, as its the first impression that an employer here will get of you. Many of them are non-native speakers of english, are very busy and have 20- or 30 resumes to wade through, and dont have time or energy to wade through a 5 page life-history, which is why I recommend a succinct, brief, to-the-point record of your experience and qualifications. CVs here are not really meant to 'sell' the person as that is done in the interview. The CV is more to whet their appetite and let them know whether you would make a good candidate for an interview, and give an accurate record of your educational background, rather than a 'sales pitch'.
I will have a look at your CV and add some comments. |
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KarenMarie
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2003 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you, Paul H. I'm still working on it. 
For anyone else interested in this topic, I found a site with a lot of resumes posted on it.
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/ |
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