Job Discussion Forums

[Ehmstar]

Heya guys and gals,
First time post... long time follower of posts.

Was just wondering (after many of you have gone thru the process) what you found the best way maybe was? I hear the Jet Programme is awesome but unfortunatly I won't have time to apply for that and don't wanna wait to see if there's a "maybe" chance.

I have two interviews coming up with ECC and Interac and was wondering what you think of the two... or vs. some other means of teaching in Japan.

My background in education is pretty good and just want to have the best time while in japan for how ever many years that is to come... I've done alot of Search's and just want to hear more updated posts =D

Again thanks to all,
Eugene

[Quibby84]

I dont think that there is an absolute best way to come to Japan. I depends a lot of what you want, how much research you do about the job, what you know about a good job, etc etc.
So to start why dont you tell exactly what you are looking for in a job, such as amount of money, time spent teaching, location, etc etc.
Then we can go from there.
You can find lots of jobs in Ohayo Sensei and GaijinPot but from there you have to decide which are good and which are not.
So first tell what you are looking for in a job...ok?

[Ehmstar]

Well I have my certification in teaching elementary education... but have been doing summer camp counseling with older kids and have kinda grown more attatched to that.

I think thats why both forms of teaching (ie Conversational and ALT) sound appealing.

I've been looking into cities vs. rural placements too... and both seem appealing aswell, although I like the idea of possibly being able to snowboard in my spare time (up north?) or at least being able to longboard around town (is this common?)...

I have a few friends or contacts rather near osaka area which seems definatly awesome aswell. I guess I'm just really stoked to go to japan... learn a new language/culture.... but need to make up my mind on how/where?! /sigh

[Quibby84]

Does Osaka have snow? Isnt it hot there?
If I were you I would do Junior High ALT; Yesterday I was looking through the jobs at Interac (they dispatch ALTs) and they have jobs everywhere. What you should do is find a job, research the town, and then go from there.
But most places even near the north are going to be close to snow. If not super close, close enough to go by train or car.
Oh, wouldnt it be super awesome to work in a ski town?? You should goole ski towns in Japan and see what you get. Then look for jobs in those towns. Those towns probably wont have many foreigners ,but wouldnt it be beautiful??

[Apsara]

Osaka gets a bit of snow in winter. Yes it's hot there- in summer...

Nagano could be a good place to look in- some medium sized cities and proximity to all the ski/ snowboard areas you could want.

[jademonkey]

Hokkaido as well. Sapporo's a nice little place, and not too far from ski fields. Also, pretty much anywhere in northern Japan; Aomori, Nagano etc.

[Ehmstar]

cool thanks guys... so it looks like Nagano/Hokkaido would be the best...

In terms of teaching it seems ALT schools would be easiest eh? cuz they are more secluded rural areas?? Besides the JetProgramme is Interac the best ALT dispatch to go through... until you can land a 'direct' job anyways??

Also about how cold does it get in northern japan? I lived in Jackson, Wyoming last winter and it got down to -30*F... which was a little too cold for me... but then again the powder was amazing!

[lisa111082]

You wouldn't happen to have an interview in Atlanta on October 13th by any chance, would you?

[Ehmstar]

October 11th in Toronto with ECC... and the Interac one hasn't been confirmed yet... probably Toronto, Chicago or Orlando. Lemme know how your interview turns out though.

[lisa111082]

Thanks!!

Mine's with Interac. I called the recruiter the other day with a question and he mentioned just having had a phone screening with a guy from Florida who would be flying up for the Atlanta interview on October 13 so I was curious if it was you.

[johanne]

Since you have a teaching certificate you might want to contact the International School of Hokkaido. The salary is likely to be almost double an Interact ALT position, plus about 14 weeks of paid vacation and I hear Sapporo is a great town and the skiing is decent.

I don't know if you have any classroom experience in Canada, but if you have at least 2 years, there is a good chance they would be interested if they have any openings. I've met a couple of teachers from there and they say it's a good place to work. You would be teaching a class a full curriculum, not just English, same as if you were in a Canadian elementary school, so it's not an ESL job, if that's more what you are looking for. If you are looking for an elementary classroom teacher job, however, it might be worth a look. There are also a number of international schools in Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto and over 20 in Tokyo/Yokohama.

I don't know your timeline, but if you are interested in international schools they hire in January and February for jobs starting in August. Early December is a good time to get your resume in there and then follow up in mid-January if you haven't heard back. Most international schools have finished hiring for the upcoming academic year by the end of February.

[Ehmstar]

hey thanks johanne i'll definatly look into that...

Unfortunatly i don't have any 'paid' teaching experience here in the states as of yet... just 4yrs of camp counseling, my 1000+ practicuum hours of student teaching, and a few months of afterschool-care around Melbourne, Australia. But, I guess it never hurts to send off a resume to what sounds like a great job opportunity.

Well, (a summary more for myself than others i guess lol) I think i'm definatly leaning more towards the Nagano/Hokkaido area of japan... and thinking it'd be easier to establish a new life via the so called Eikawa's i.e. with all the socializing that seems to go on in citylife (possibly good or bad)

But, the hours of being an ALT sound much more reasonable and possibly less demanding... plus i think i get to pick more of the area I want to be in... where-as an International school job would be better in the long run in the ways of career progression.

hrmm. time to think some more i guess lol