Job Discussion Forums

[jc03wj]

Hey everyone,

I was good enough to pass the initial phase of the AEON interview process and now have a personal interview with them in a couple of days. I was just wondering about interview questions. If anyone could shed some light on the process and the pop demo that would be great. So far I am looking at the following questions. Please add some:)

1. Why do you want to go to Japan?
2. Why did you choose Japan?
3. Why do you want to be placed in Kyoto?
4. How will you deal with leaving your friends and family?
5. How will you deal with culture shock?
6. What are your strengths?
7. What are your weaknesses?
8. Describe a time you were in a difficult situation, what did you do?
9. What you think you did well at your last lesson, things you could have improved.
10. Why you want to work for AEON as opposed to any other school.
11. What do you expect from life in Japan?
12. Why are you a good fit for AEON

Thanks.

[Glenski]

What others have written about the AEON interview.

Interview experience 1 (April, 2003)
I was just hired by Aeon last week and I'm heading to Japan in a couple of months.

I found that the essay never once came up again during the 2 day interview process. Try to do a good job, but don't sweat it too much - make sure of your spelling and grammar though. Spellcheck isn't enough.

The interview process is two step. One group day and one individual day. For the group day I was one of 8 applicants. You'll have an info session and then be asked to teach a 5 minute lesson. You are expected to 'just go'. You can't be stopping to say: 'And now the students will do such and such' You can't stop the charade and ask questions. So just do it with as much confidence as possible.

On the second day you'll do another lesson, but this time, instead of applicants acting the role of students, the recruiters will. This is not as stressful as it sounds.

Remember that the recruiters are under pressure to find qualified candidates. I can't say for sure but I think the odds are stacked in the teachers' favor if you think of supply/demand at the present time.

Recruiters want:
Lack of immigration issues.
Lack of health issues.
COMMITMENT to do it for a year at least.
Some understanding of English grammar (there is a light quiz)
The ability to make small talk/be personable. -

I hope this helps. I researched a bunch of companies and interviewed for a few. I was offered employment by all of them and I chose Aeon because by all indications, they have the best official record, the best reputation and most importantly, the least disgruntled employees. Good luck. No need to be nervous. Let them know that you made an effort (such as by bringing teaching materials to your lesson) and that will go a long way.

Interview Experience 2 (March 2003)
My boyfriend just got a job with AEON, and I think he was hired because he showed that he was a 'people person' - He didn't have any teaching experience or TEFL qualifications or much knowledge about Japan, but he made sure that he showed an real interest in living in a different culture and learning about it whilst he was there.

When they asked him to do the on the spot lesson plan he messed it up but still got hired - because he didn't panic and admitted he had failings but expressed an eagerness to learn and become good at the job. He was friendly and open and I think that worked in his favour.

Interview experience 3 (March 2003)
I went through the lengthy interview process about 6 months ago.
Just go on the internet and pull up a lesson plan, maybe format it to the allotted time, level you choose, etc. Then, take 5 minutes of it and just practise it. Maybe make a handout or something. What's more important is to SMILE. Sad, but true. In my group of eight, I saw some truly sad performances and I'd bet they got a second interview. And I'm sure they understand if you're nervous. Plus, you don't necessarily have to teach them grammar -it can be another skill - speaking, for instance. so maybe type in your search engine - 'conversation lesson ESL' and see what comes up. Also, vocabulary lessons are very interesting.
Also, be prepared to write a short grammar quiz. They leave the room though, so you can cheat [though the stick in the muds I was with didn't talk].
But I'll warn you of something which caught me by surprise: at the second interview, they give you their textbook and five minutes to prepare a section to present to the interviewer. One of the only criticisms I got was that I wasn't smiling like an idiot [not their words].
Relax, have fun, and don't forget to SMILE!

Interview experience 4 (April, 2003)
If you would like a job in Japan, go for it. But choose a different avenue than AEON. Their two-day interview process is an adventure in tedium. The first day consists of an informational session during which they tell you what a wonderful company they are and what an honor it would be for you to work for them. "Experience Japan," they say, though they don't tell you how you're going to find the time to do that with their 36-hour-a-week work schedule. And of course, that's 36 hours a week wearing a little AEON pin: another warning sign that this is another purely financial endeavor that likes to use dedicated, intelligent people as stooges for their K-Mart version of language teaching. The second day consists of an additional ambush lesson you must give on a topic the interviewer will choose before you walk into the interview. The interviewer acts "like a Japanese student," trying to trip you up with obdurate questions and behavior. Never mind that they are engaging in the Mother of All Stereotypes. Questions from the interviewer will then consist of every question out of the blue you can imagine; "Well what do you think about working for a Japanese company?" A little bit difficult to answer since I've never worked for one before. "What other companies have you applied to?" Like that's any of their damn business! "Are you financially able to take on this experience," referring to the 1200 USD they recommend you bring with you to Japan to tide you over till the first check. Gee, I didn't know I needed to be rich in order to get a job! And of course, "Why do want to go to Japan," which I thought I had answered in their silly 1-page essay about WHY I WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN JAPAN!!!!!! I guess they forgot what I had written! Another way they try to trip you up and find the slightest inconsistencies.
And all this for a job that pays 12-14 USD with outlets inside subway stations. Yes, "Experience Japan for 2 Minutes on a Pittance" ought to be their slogan. And in the end, they denied me while selecting an acquaintance with a lesser degree and no language-teaching experience. So if you don't care about wasting your time and money (especially if you're flying to an interview from a distant location), then go for it. But personally, I'd recommend searching Japan on your own and making arrangements individually, rather than relying on a snobby sweatshop to smooth out your journey to Japan.

[jc03wj]

bump

[poohbear]

i think glenski's post is a good starter dude. when i did mine, i got the impression they were looking for someone who was committed and serious about completing their contract. the recruiters get rated on the quality & attitude of the employees (NOT their teaching skills, there simply isnt enough time to asses that) they send to japan, so put yourself in their shoes. your teaching skills are supposed to be learnt in japan, they just want someone w/ the right attitude. they've rejected full time public school teachers before simply cause the teacher had an "arrogant holier than thou" mentality. they wanna know how is this kat gonna be w/ the manager at his branch school? is he gonna be a headache for him/her, or will he help his school progress smoothly?

w/ that said, during your demo lessons bring some props to show u put some work in your presentation and that u're taking the interview seriously. nothing elaborate, just some props the students can use to make the lesson fun and more interactive. have THEM talk more than u talk, the 80% student 20% teacher talking time is something to aim for but even experienced teachers have trouble getting that, just make them speak english w/ each other, that's what they wann see u can do. don't be like the tit in my interview who read an article from a newspaper for 3 minutes and then asked us questions about it for 2 minutes. we practically fell asleep and i couldnt even remember what the hell he was talking about. cheers and good luck.

EDIT: lol u can see from the tone of the april 2003 guy in glenski's post that he didnt get the job. they DONT want people w/ an attitude like that. for a first time teaching job Aeon takes care of u and they're quite fair w/ u. i was fortunate to have an awesome school there, and most folks in my training group did too. cheers.

[DaleC]

I do not know about others. My interview was very pleasant. The personal interview was straight forward. I was asked various questions about the kind of places that I was interested in living in, why I wanted to go there. I was asked to do two short demo lessons with the recruiter as the student. I was also asked to pretend to introduce myself to a current student. All in all the only tip I can really give you is be friendly and polite and try to relax as much as possible. As the others have pointed out, your people skills are the most important thing. Also, be ready for some interesting questions that might surprise you. You never know what you might get asked to see how you can demonstrate flexibility.

[bish]

Are you able to request to work in a specific place such as Tokyo or is that frowned upon with Aeon?

[humancartography]

You can request to work in a specific area, but that doesn't mean you'll be placed there.

[bish]

Is the dress code at the interview business or casual?

Does "business" mean a full suit or shirt, trousers and tie?

[Bugsy]

[DaleC]

Tie is deffinately the way to go. Considering the standards expected while working for Aeon if you don't have a tie, I think you will be a bit underdressed.

[Amadruada]

It's probably well after your interview, but I thought I'd post my own AEON personal interview experience for the sake of anyone else who comes looking for tips!

From the moment I arrived, I felt very rushed. It was as if the interviewer wanted to get rid of me from the moment I was in. She cut off everything I said. I wasn't giving long, rambling answers to her questions, either. This put me on edge and made me nervous, which I wasn't at first. The questions at this point were very standard, like the ones the OP wrote.

The sample lesson part is really not too difficult. I was asked to do two, one for a high school student and one for a four-year-old. Each time, I was given materials and told that I could supplement them with a sign or something, but not to write anything down. The recruiter left the room at this point. All I can really say, if you are asked to give this kind of lesson, is to be enthusiastic, cheerful, complimentary, and not to get too caught up in detailed explanations. The recruiter pretended to be Japanese, accent and all, and I can only assume she did a good job of imitating a tired high school kid at lessons.

Directly after that, I was asked to teach another lesson, this one aimed at a toddler. The recruiter did not leave the room while I prepared that lesson, and I was given only three minutes. Be prepared- the recruiter will ACT like a four-year-old, including having a short attention span and slipping into Japanese quite often.

I was told that I had done well with my sample lesson at the group interview, so I think I did all right with those two. Despite having been a bit flustered from being hurried through my every statement, the interview was going well.

That's when things started getting weird.

I was asked, once again, about my location preferences, start date, and so on. The recruiter pressed me about my preferred start time, and I explained (for the third time since the entire process began) that due to my graduation date, I could not submit my diploma any earlier. I offered to get a notarized letter from my registrar or something else, but was met with another query about the date. I told her the date was fixed and immobile, and she let things be.

Then, she brought out a laminated chart and began grading my outfit, right down to the shoes. That was fine, even a little amusing, but she then informed me that I needed a "more conservative" hair colour. I was asked directly if my hair was dyed, and I said that it was. I was then asked if I had highlighted. My hair, even when dyed, has natural highlights. They are very subtle; it's not something you can really even see unless the sun is shining directly on me. I replied that my hair was not highlighted. She then told me that she could see all these different colours in my hair, and that I would have to dye it a "more natural shade." Keep in mind that my hair is dyed a natural-looking strawberry blonde- it is the same exact shade as my roommate's natural haircolour.

Following this, I was asked point-blank if I had a tattoo, then if I had any piercings, then if I had a significant other. These questions are in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Still, I answered them. I was then told to keep in mind that AEON is a business and asked if I had any problems with corporations, business, and so on. Although she hadn't said anything about it, I knew about the sales component of an AEON teaching job, so I answered honestly and told her that I understood AEON's position and that I was certainly prescient of how eikaiwa are businesses.

I ultimately did not accept this job because I was so put-off by what happened in my personal interview, in addition to some information I was already aware of. However, this is just my experience, and I wanted to share so that you know what you might be facing. Just remember to look very professional and conservative, smile constantly, be encouraging, and try to have fun!

[Glenski]

[Amethyst99]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm also sure other people searching for AEON will find it, because I found it and read the information.

It sounds like I was incredibly lucky with my interview. I did have to drive 4 hours to get there (Halifax), but that wasn't a big deal. My interviewer was a friendly, personable young woman from Toronto. When I showed up at the hotel, she greeted me, asked if I was there for the interview, then told me where I needed to go and said she'd be up there herself, shortly. The room had 4 guys and 1 woman aside from myself, and another woman showed up not long after. We were provided with water, mints, pens and paper.

She was friendly in explaining what was going on, what would be expected of us at AEON, and showed us the video. We talked about things like contracts, the dress code (as a note, AEON is moving away from black, they don't want you to have black suits. It's fine for the interviews, but not for Japan. If you have a dark jacket, you need to have a light blouse. I wore a black blouse with dark grey pants/jacket, but that didn't get any comment). The first interview is actually an information session, too, it went from 1pm to 5:30pm, and that's only with 7 people.

One of the things that worried me was when she started talking about vegetarians/vegans. I'm vegan, and there's a social aspect to AEON where the staff go out to eat in groups. Usually they order many platters, mostly meat dishes, and it's a cultural thing in Japan that you pitch in an equal share of the money, even if you just sat there and drank water. Not really an AEON thing, of course, but I wanted to make a note of that here. It's hard to get veg things in Japan, even the tofu tends to have fish flakes on it.

Oh, we also did something before the video where we all got up, paired off, and had to make small talk. Then she'd ask us to change groups/people and talk to others. It wasn't bad, a little awkward.

We did our presentations. Mine involved props, students repeating words and phrases, then a conversation game where they had to group off and do questions/answers in a round. I tried to be smiley and positive (which they look for) and occasionally said things like "Excellent!" and "Perfect, everyone, you're doing great."

We did a questionnaire/grammar test, in which I later realized I misspelled two words. She left the room while we were doing this. At the end of the interview, she came to give us our results in an envelope, and I opened it when I was in the car to find that I got in for the second interview.

Now, because I traveled further than anyone else, when she had called me to begin with she said I would be allowed to go first in the interviews if I was called back for a second one. Mine was the next day at 12:30, she welcomed me in, asked how I was and if I had found a nice hotel to stay in (I had said the day before that I was doing that). Very friendly. We started the interview.

She was testing me to see how well I remembered things talked about the day before. She asked what the responsibilities of the teacher were, and how I felt about certain things, particularly about the vegan thing since she asked about food, and I brought that up. We agreed that it would be difficult, and I said that I don't tend to eat out a lot anyway, but if I did go to a group thing, I would do so with the understanding that I was to pay my fair share even if I didn't eat. We also talked about the dress code. We talked about tattoos and piercings (she didn't ask if I had a tattoo, and my lack of visible piercings is obvious. I just have one in each lobe. I do have a tattoo on my ankle, but I didn't offer that information). Nothing much about hair (I asked specifically about hairstyles), she had said the day before that if someone is naturally, say, a brunette and dyes their hair blonde, that is fine. If they want to dye their hair pink, that isn't fine. Also, no bangs in the eyes, no super-distracting hair, if it's long, don't play with it while teaching, etc.

The part where she asked me to teach for 5 minutes threw me for a loop. She left the room for 10 minutes, I took a few deep breaths and prepared. Then I asked her to come back, she pretended to be a Japanese woman, and we pretended to go over homework. I think that went well. Then she asked me a few more questions, and suddenly I was pretending to teach a pretend 5-year-old. I really felt like I was dealing with a 5-year-old, too, and I didn't do quite as well.

Let's see, what else. Oh, she asked me if I would prefer to teach adults, and what ratio of adults to children. Then we talked about location. I'm from a back-woods sort of area. I think the population of my city right now is 19,000, and I told her this when asked. I want to live in a city in Japan, and I think she was wondering if I could handle it. She wanted to know if I had lived in a big city before (I have, though admittedly my idea of a big city is NOT Japan's idea of a big city, and she asked for the sizes). I think she was a little doubtful, still, but she was polite. Oh, and she asked about climate. I had written "warm climate", and she asked if I would consider a place with a Canadian style winter. I said I would if I had to, but I'd rather not.

It ended pretty well, she said she'd either call me or send me a letter through the mail in 3 weeks, and that if I'm hired, the job starts in February. My first interview was Nov 1st.

[stillnosheep]

Business formal and you can specify where you want to be. You do not sign the contract until you have agreed on a school. However the chances of getting central Kyoto are few.

[gaijin4life]

- DONT DO IT !!!! or, do it if you are prepared to accept what you may get - a good deal or crap, basically. They are good enough as a starter co. - if you are actually interested in 'teaching' rather than 'selling' & making the monthly targets - (I wasnt ! )

If you really 'want' to be in Japan, then good luck to you. I hope your experience is a good one ..