Job Discussion Forums

gkg40 · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

Does anyone know if there are age restrictions, written of unwritten, on hiring ESL teachers in Japan? I thought I read that some places dont want to hire teachers over 30. Is this the norm or a rare cae?
Thanks

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

I've known quite a few people who were hired for the first time to teach here in Japan in their 30's. I actually know of two people hired in their 50's.

Hey, fatChris, didn't you say you were 33 when you got picked up by JET?

drifter13 · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 124 Location: Fujisawa

I know people that have been hired that are older than thirty, and also one person in their fifties. But as always, with the flood of current teachers in the market now, schools now have the pick of the litter, and can really choose as they please. Still experience and the right look can probably compensate for any over 30 age issues, unless the school is dead set on hiring 20 somethings.

dreamtolive · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

HI there, I remember recently hearing about how statistics really have nothing to do with individuals. Yes the majority of teachers are probably in their twenties, but it doesn't mean you won't find a teaching position if you are older....

Good luck!

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

JET programme has a limit of 40 on its ALTs, but even JET says that might be flexible, depending on circumstances.

Universities have usually set an age limit (often at 35, but sometimes at other ages). JRECIN, a prime web site for uni jobs, has just declared there will be no ads on its site with age limits in them.

Working holiday visa holders have to abide by a certain age limit.

Other than that, the notion that you can't get a teaching job if you are over 30 is an urban myth. It comes from the fact that many of the more popular eikaiwa want to portray (usually in their ads) images of youthful, exhuberant, exhilarating, exciting, and interesting teachers. They don't show the fact that they still hire people in their 50s and 60s (not that such ages don't exhibit any of those previous adjectives, of course).

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

Glenski wrote, quite rightly:

"...more popular eikaiwa want to portray (usually in their ads) images of youthful, exuberant, exhilarating, exciting, and interesting teachers"

(ie trying to sell sex appeal in the absence of a good curriculum and teaching experience) -- 'cause that worked so well for Nova.

There's a new law that prohibits job ads with age limits. About time!

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

silvercat · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Nagoya

I recently applied for a job (with ECC) which required a group interview and found that there were actually many people over the age of 30, one or two were even over forty. Of those who were eventually hired, there was only myself and one other guy that were actually in our twenties. The interviewer even remarked that I was very young at the age of 22. So from this experience I would say that it is very possible for older people to be hired in ESL Eikaiwa positions. This may depend on the company though...

Lyrajean · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 109 Location: going to Okinawa

In my 30's and on JET. Met several at orientation who are over 30.

gaijin4life · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 11:46 pm Post subject:

- Oh my goodness ! Could this possibly mean that some employers are actually choosing to look at the 'skills '(heaven-forbid) or 'qualities' a person can bring to the job, rather than just the image ... ! Shocked

And what J. said -