Job Discussion Forums

[turkishlover25]

Okay... I'm graduating with my MA in English in May and I already have my BA. I taught TEFL in Turkey for two years, and I have been teaching English Composition at my university for two years. I would like to put all this experience to use and move to Japan in July-ish toteach for about a year. I'm having trouble, however, coming across "respectable" jobs--I was hoping someone out there would be able to help! I'm familiar with schools and practices in EU and Middle East, but Far East Asia is out of my league. Please contact me with any and all information that you think is relevant to my job search.

[Glenski]

[turkishlover25]

I am not really interested in the ALT program offered by organizations like JET. I would be fine working with a dispatch agency, eikaiwa, or university. Perhaps my expectations are a little high, but I have education and classroom experience that many lack. I want to earn 300000/month, apartment through the school, etc--I don't think these are particularly arrogant desires, but I realize the market is not at it's strongest right now. I'm hoping someone will have at least a shred of good news.

[bearcat]

Your lack of experience teaching in Japan and lack of Japanese ability will make your chances to work for a number of university positions slim. If you lack publications within the field of EFL that will also drop down your chances.

ALT positions (being sent to work at private or public schools from J-kinders to HS), eikaiwa(conversation schools) etc will be mainly your only options. There's an off chance a private school at one of those levels might direct hire you but most likely not.

If you have a teacher's licence from the states for one or more subject areas, you may be able to get on with a private international school using a US curriculum.

JET isnt an option for you anyway. Their application deadline was in december for June starts.

That said:

Your chances to get a 300,000 a month pay are slim but not impossible.

Unfortunately, your choosing to come in July will prevent you from getting most jobs as the bulk of positions in Japan are for April start dates(since the education/business year starts/ends april/march respectively. The likelyhood one such will be in the 300,000 yen a month pay range is next to nil. June is considered the sloppy seconds season. July is the take-what-you-can get season.

You chances to get an apartment supplied by said schools/businesses is extremely unlikely as well.

Thus when you factor all things you want together and compared with all things available to you. My feeling is that you'll most likely not get what you want and have to settle for something far less.

However, if you alter or improve your situation, your chances to get more(not all) of what you want may increase.

If you're currently in the states and have the chance to head to Denver for the TESOL conference, I suggest you go. There's usually a plethora of institutions from around the world, including Japan, that have interviews. When those positions would start, pay, and other considerations I couldnt say. Depends on the institution.

[turkishlover25]

Thank you for your extensive reply bearcat.

I do realize that mychances of getting hired by a university are very slim, so I haven't really put all my hope on that path. I taught at various conversation schools in Turkey for two years and am aware of their general positives/negatives. I quickly made my peace with that particular system of education and employment and I am not adverse to stepping back into it.

According to my research, the average starting salary is around 270000 yen/month. This, however, does not take into account experience and education for the most part. I would be willing to work at a eikaiwa that will pay me what my background is worth, so that is why I think 300000 isn't exactly shooting for the moon. And when I mentioned apartment, I meant that I really don't want to hunt for accommodations on my own and would prefer to sub-lease (or whatever the system may be) through my employer.

I do not have a USA teaching certificate, though I am TEFL-certified, of course.

You mentioned altering/improve my situation would help in the job hunt--did you have suggestions for such changes? Thanks again--you've been extremely helpful.

[Apsara]

Unfortunately the majority of eikaiwa in Japan prefer to take the less experienced/qualified person and pay them less, especially in the current economic climate. People with teaching experience in Japan are likely to be given precedence for any better paying positions. Jobs paying 300,000 yen or more right from the beginning must be rarer than hen's teeth these days- have you seen any advertised? There is also far less room for negotiating over salary in Japan than in some other countries- if you don't accept what's offered, they will give the position to someone who does not cause them extra trouble, i.e. try to negotiate over the salary.

Good luck with your job hunt, and please let us know if you do manage to find what you are looking for.

[bearcat]

I edited my above post to contain some more information but I'll respond to your post here too.

The problem is that typical eikaiwa or ALT positions do not negotiate salaries. They are fixed and entry level positions. In many cases your having an MA or certification is not relevant and with some it could be actually a point of contention due to the feeling that you may have conflict with their education for profit/entertainment model of instruction.

Anything that would be hiring at a 300,000 yen a month pay scale at ALT/Eikaiwa level would be easily in the top 1% only of the ALT/Eikaiwa hiring market regardless of the hiring time period. Its just not that common. Add to that a desire for an appartment supplied as well and you're talking an even smaller market.

Your percieved average for hiring is also rather high. Typically ALT's are 210,000-270,000 and eikaiwa tend to be 230,000-260,000. Thus a more safe average would be around the 250,000 mark... which hasn't changed in 20 odd years either mind you.

As for altering things:

1. Lower your pay expectations or expectation of an apartment or both.

2. Start applying now for April starts and come in April. 85% of jobs hired for the year are applied for from Jan-March for their thus starting in April. It really is that high.

If 1 and 2 arent options you can do, then:

1. Consider either taking a slow and patient process to get what you want that could mean waiting much much longer and run the risk of not getting what you want.

2. Upgrading your skills (getting licensure, publishing, learning Japanese etc).

3. Consider other jobs that would come closer to your expectations outside of Japan.

[bearcat]

I failed to mention another English teaching sector that is often overlooked and you may not be qualified for:

Corporate English Instruction

If you have background in various business sectors, engineering, travel industry etc, there are some companies that do in house and dispatching of teachers to businesses to teach English to various corporate entities. Their English needs could be anything from the typical eikaiwa level instruction to TOIEC preparation courses, to relocation/survival English for personnel being sent abroad, or various ESP(English for special/specific purposes) needs.

Their pay ranges can be usually closer to the 300,000 mark but dont count on an apartment being included and be most likely prepared for extensive, ever-changing daily and weekly travel requirements as most of those jobs entail short term instruction for a few days, weeks, months at said companies.

But, the only major deterrent to your getting those jobs as well will be a lack of Japanese language experience for the better ones. Some of the lower quality companies may hire you without but then you're going to suffer on the pay scale.

As you can hopefully start to see, you're not as well off for what you want as you believe you are. Im not saying you'll not get what you want, but if you do, count yourself rather lucky.

[turkishlover25]

I had a fear of being "over-qualified" for 90% of jobs in Japan and not qualified enough for the other 10%. I tried to do as much research as I could to ascertain the current situation. I have seen a few offers for 300000/month salaries, mostly on Gaijin Pot's website, and most of them were for high schools.

I realize the hiring period is now, but I am finishing up my MA in the USA and simply cannot leave until the end of May, at the earliest. I am really trying not to be greedy or idealistic, but I want to be comfortable while I am in Japan. I keep checking job boards/forums, hoping to suddenly come across something missed (sounds idealistic, I know).

Some of my former colleagues in Turkey had work experience in Japan and suggested I move and then look for a position. They even encouraged me to find 2 or 3 part time jobs, claiming they paid better in the long run. If I were to go the eikaiwa route, what are some schools to look for? I know of some of the the bigger one -- GABA, AEON, GEOS -- but not many more.

[turkishlover25]

I have heard that in-house instruction for businesses can offer decent compensation. However, I have not found too many positions advertised online so I have been unable to formulate any opinion on them. And I am currently taking an intensive Japanese course and hope to be able to carry on basic conversations by the time I leave the US.

Getting a job in Turkey was very easy a few years ago, and moving to the Far East has always attracted me--I never counted on the job hunt being so difficult for Japan. I would hate to abandon my plans, but I haven't exactly received any good news.

[bearcat]

Your former coworkers arent doing you right by not explaining to you a few things.

If you come to work, you have to have a visa that allows you to work. If you are an american, your pretty much stuck with the specialist in Humanities visa. If you are canadian or from england, australia, etc, you're able to potentially get a working holiday visa but they have other requirements that have to be met.

If you come here first on a tourist visa, you are not permitted to work on it. If you do, and you're caught, its jail time... and trust me, just look to what Japanese immigration did to the late eccentric chess player Bobby Fischer in that regards (7 months in jail before release).

In otherwords dont do it.

Second, most companies you listed will not hire you without you having a proper work permitting visa. This includes part time positions of course.

Thirdly, they will not sponsor you for a visa for working only part time... they basically cant.

I understand that you are not trying to be greedy or idealistic perse, but I do think that your percieved worth with regards to the teaching industry/profession(notice the order I put that in), doesn't match the reality of can accomodate you.

[bearcat]

[elkarlo]

I did a search to see what I could find for you as for the future of ESL in Japan. Dude, 'm going next month, and I got lucky to get with a questionable company. It seems as though the ESL business in Japan is shrink a lot. Unless you really want to go to Japan in particular, I'd say go somewhere else. It's a declining industry with more and more people wanting to go. As many people have a thing for Japan. You were in Turkey, maybe some East Euro or ME country would be better to go to?

http://www.mutantfrog.com/2009/02/18/english-teaching-in-japan-by-the-numbers/

[turkishlover25]

I've certainly considered returning to Turkey--I speak the language, understand the culture, have friends and contacts. However, some close friends from university will be moving back to Tokyo this summer and I have been mentally preparing myself for the move. I might have to lower my expectations, but I really don't want to move across the world for poor working conditions and insufficient pay when I can get both of those closer to home.

All of this information is very helpful, especially your posts bearcat. I figured the market would be tough, but I seem to have misjudged the situation.

[elkarlo]