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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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 Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| elkarlo wrote: |
Ok, making sure you have a reason to go to Japan. If it were a random reason I'd say try somewhere else.
As everyone else has said most jobs for March/April have been filled. But you may be able to land something. Not sure if you'll get Tokyo, as you have to earn your way there.
And for pay, yeah 250K is about the best that you can expect. As others have said wages have been stagnant for years. |
First off, most jobs for March/April have not been filled. This is the prime hiring season for April starts. April will still even have a decent number of ads placed. Come May-June its the sloppy seconds season where positions that could not be filled or where a last minute cancellation to work, or additional positions were created comes into to play.
By July its pretty dead with the end of July/beginning of August being where some positions where people are planning to leave during the August break will be advertised or where some are trying to gear up for starts for October(half year mark). This will continue in September as well. Mainly though this is a higher part time hiring season for corporate, community, and intensive courses through various companies.
Higher level University positions start looking for prospective candidates for April starts usually start around August/September on. Next higher level ones start in November.
JET application requests usually start October with a deadline of December and interviews in late January through February(typically just FEB though). Acceptance or alternate status notifications are done typically end of April-May with confirmations required before heading out to Tokyo for their initial orientation training in June.
As for pay, I didn't say 250k is the best he can expect, just that its the average... he could obtain better but he also could obtain worse.
I'm not sure by what you mean with regards to his "earning his way there" Tokyo wise. Its just a matter of his applying for jobs and being hired for such. But I'll say more on that below.
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Turkish,
If you're now also stipulating that you want to be working in Tokyo, consider your job chances/choices to become just that much more limiting. Think on it like you're looking for a banking job on Wall Street and under the current economic climate for that and you'll get the picture.
You also should consider that housing and cost of living will be a bit more expensive, even if you were making 300k a month, living in Tokyo, unless you're not the type to go out n about much, will be tight. That's again not to say you couldn't get a cheap place, in an area that has reasonable prices on most things, but again, you're narrowing your chances of getting close to your expectations.
You might want to broaden your consideration of where you're willing to work in Japan if you can be flexible for that factor too. I don't know how important it is for you to be close to said friends but if you only plan to spend time with them on occasion, then you could easily move within a 1-2 hour distance by bullet train or otherwise and go see them once a month or two. Doing so will then expand your job options and your living expense budgeting. Or due to your intended departure in July, you may just have to end up taking what you can get. |
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elkarlo
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Posts: 240
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:52 am Post subject: |
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[quote="bearcat"]
| elkarlo wrote: |
Ok, making sure you have a reason to go to Japan. If it were a random reason I'd say try somewhere else.
As everyone else has said most jobs for March/April have been filled. But you may be able to land something. Not sure if you'll get Tokyo, as you have to earn your way there.
And for pay, yeah 250K is about the best that you can expect. As others have said wages have been stagnant for years. |
First off, most jobs for March/April have not been filled. This is the prime hiring season for April starts. April will still even have a decent number of ads placed. Come May-June its the sloppy seconds season where positions that could not be filled or where a last minute cancellation to work, or additional positions were created comes into to play.
By July its pretty dead with the end of July/beginning of August being where some positions where people are planning to leave during the August break will be advertised or where some are trying to gear up for starts for October(half year mark). This will continue in September as well. Mainly though this is a higher part time hiring season for corporate, community, and intensive courses through various companies.
Higher level University positions start looking for prospective candidates for April starts usually start around August/September on. Next higher level ones start in November.
JET application requests usually start October with a deadline of December and interviews in late January through February(typically just FEB though). Acceptance or alternate status notifications are done typically end of April-May with confirmations required before heading out to Tokyo for their initial orientation training in June.
As for pay, I didn't say 250k is the best he can expect, just that its the average... he could obtain better but he also could obtain worse.
I'm not sure by what you mean with regards to his "earning his way there" Tokyo wise. Its just a matter of his applying for jobs and being hired for such. But I'll say more on that below.
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Really, I figured a lot of jobs that recruited from overseas had already been filled. I thought a lot of the jobs were already taken.
250k is average, aka about as good as it gets in general.
Earning his way. Well many companies, well at least overseas ones won't place people in Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto till they have put a year or so in.
The TS seems to want to get a job before moving to Japan. So that means going dispatch, right? I think the RCS or whatever is a Saitama dispatch company, but in general they can get ALTs easily in Tokyo and the such, so getting a placement there is a bit hard to get I would think. |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| elkarlo wrote: |
Really, I figured a lot of jobs that recruited from overseas had already been filled. I thought a lot of the jobs were already taken. |
No. Check out many of the known websites that advertise jobs and you'll see.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| 250k is average, aka about as good as it gets in general. |
Again, see above response.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| Earning his way. Well many companies, well at least overseas ones won't place people in Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto till they have put a year or so in. |
Not true.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| The TS seems to want to get a job before moving to Japan. So that means going dispatch, right? |
No.
All sectors of the hiring markets do hiring from outside of Japan. Certain companies/schools may even say they will only exclusively hire outside of Japan(yet push comes to shove will and have hired from in Japan), others will want to conduct interviews and hire those only currently in Japan. Too many factors to list but suffice to say he's not limited in your frame of thinking.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| I think the RCS or whatever is a Saitama dispatch company, but in general they can get ALTs easily in Tokyo and the such, so getting a placement there is a bit hard to get I would think. |
Getting a job in Tokyo is a roll of the dice with the time he's coming and his qualifications/demands. Since many people tend to want to live/work in the Tokyo area, the competition is more pronounced. However, its all supply and demand and timing. He could apply for an ad for a teacher in Tokyo in June for a July start that was vacated by someone in May for some reason(or let go) and because there's not too many looking at the time he sees the ad, they like his resume/interview via webcam/phone or some other factor, he gets hired. A long shot but the example is to exemplify that your understanding of the hiring markets and trends is limited. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:09 am Post subject: |
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Wow! I see this thread has been quite active since I posted initially. Thanks to bearcat, mostly, you have gotten the fairest, most accurate assessment of your situation (in addition to what I posted). elkarlo has only joined this forum, and I really wouldn't put a lot of stock in what he has voiced here. Bearcat and I are much more spot on. No offense, elkarlo.
Here's more.
Don't expect anyone to pay your rent. It happens, but only rarely.
Want 300,000 yen/month right out of the blocks and coming in May/June? Not likely. You seem to do a lot of research, and that is good, but you're only going to be applying for a handful of positions if that's what you want, not to mention in only one city.
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| 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. |
This is a norm for most eikaiwas. As for the ALT dispatchers you were looking at, nope. Get a guesthouse (gaijin house) and cool your heels for a while, learning the lay of the land. Then, if you like the job and area, look for an apartment. Many employers not only serve as guarantors, but they either have places already lined up from previous teachers, or they otherwise help teachers look for places. Not all, but lots.
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| I have heard that in-house instruction for businesses can offer decent compensation. However, I have not found too many positions advertised online |
Have you looked at the FAQ stickies?
You don't want to move to "poor working conditions", and you want "respectable" employers. I see you really didn't answer my original question, so let me combine it and ask again with the above. What do you consider poor working conditions and a respectable employer? (Please realize that most dispatch agencies here operate illegally, although the government turns a blind eye, and they are pretty much considered in a negative light.)
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| I have seen a few offers for 300000/month salaries, mostly on Gaijin Pot's website, and most of them were for high schools. |
Solo teacher or ALT?
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| 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. |
You cannot get initial work visas with only PT employment. Perhaps your friends meant that after you get a FT job, string a PT one on that, and a year later, switch to "self-sponsorship" of your work visa with all of your work as PT. Can be done, and it certainly makes more than a lot of FT jobs...
...however...
you will end up working a lot of hours and traveling a lot to the different locations.
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| 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. |
This gets asked practically every week here. It's easier to tell you which ones to avoid. Few people, especially these days, are going to give up the name of a good place. (P.S. avoid GABA) By the way, have you looked at the FAQ stickies? |
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elkarlo
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Posts: 240
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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| bearcat wrote: |
| elkarlo wrote: |
Really, I figured a lot of jobs that recruited from overseas had already been filled. I thought a lot of the jobs were already taken. |
No. Check out many of the known websites that advertise jobs and you'll see.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| 250k is average, aka about as good as it gets in general. |
Again, see above response.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| Earning his way. Well many companies, well at least overseas ones won't place people in Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto till they have put a year or so in. |
Not true.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| The TS seems to want to get a job before moving to Japan. So that means going dispatch, right? |
No.
All sectors of the hiring markets do hiring from outside of Japan. Certain companies/schools may even say they will only exclusively hire outside of Japan(yet push comes to shove will and have hired from in Japan), others will want to conduct interviews and hire those only currently in Japan. Too many factors to list but suffice to say he's not limited in your frame of thinking.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| I think the RCS or whatever is a Saitama dispatch company, but in general they can get ALTs easily in Tokyo and the such, so getting a placement there is a bit hard to get I would think. |
Getting a job in Tokyo is a roll of the dice with the time he's coming and his qualifications/demands. Since many people tend to want to live/work in the Tokyo area, the competition is more pronounced. However, its all supply and demand and timing. He could apply for an ad for a teacher in Tokyo in June for a July start that was vacated by someone in May for some reason(or let go) and because there's not too many looking at the time he sees the ad, they like his resume/interview via webcam/phone or some other factor, he gets hired. A long shot but the example is to exemplify that your understanding of the hiring markets and trends is limited. |
I've looked at a good many. I looked to see what postions were still open in Interac, and just to see what others were hiring. A lot are for people already in Japan. So Visa sponsorship may be an issue, right?
250k does seem to be the norm though I'd say. Some are higher, while some are a good bit lower. Not sure what an MA does in Japan, as that really doesn't come up al that often it seems. Well not as often as it does for education in the States.
Ok I understand, just from some of the jobs I looked at, that a whole bunch were in country hires only. Seems like eikaiwas and dipatches are the ones who go and hire from abroad. Not to be argue, but about 2/3 of all job listings I have looked at are for in country hire. The ones that aren't are mostly dispatch/eikaiwa, MOD EDIT this search seems to be the nrom.
Oh yeah too many people want to go to Tokyo, which makes it really really competative. I think it's realistic to say that it's hard to get in there straight from abroad. Now if he wants to be in Chiba or Saitama, he may have a better chance. Heck I'm potentially not that far from Tokyo. Is there not a hiring spike in August for the school year starting in Sept? Evena little one? Interac hires a good amount of ALTs for Sept, I could imagine some others would as well. So if he misses the MArch/April window, the spet one if it exists, may be a better time for the OP? |
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turkishlover25
Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 142
Location: Charleston, IL USA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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When I think of "fair working conditions" at an ESL-related school, I have in mind no more than 30 contact hours per week, assistance for lesson planning, and extra compensation for working over a certain number of hours in a month. The list could go on, and should, but these are pretty important.
I have checked out a few of the FAQs... but this forum has proven to be most helpful, if discouraging. And yes, my friends mentioned getting FT sponsorship and then working part-time as well: two claimed they finally relied only on part-time jobs only and were making near 400000 yen/month, though this was towards the end of 3-year stay in Tokyo.
As for "where" I want to teach, you have correctly assumed Tokyo. I am not against living in Osaka. However, I have this fear that--no matter where I move--if I lower my expectations and accept a salary of 250k, I'll be voluntarily subjecting myself to a hermetic lifestyle as Japan is not the cheapest of countries.
Ok... moment of truth: having pretty much heard my story, and taking into account I am willing to lower my expectations, what's the verdict? Go to Japan or not? I only want to stay for a year, more for cultural and linguistic acquisition than anything else. I'm not looking to get rich, though I do have student loans to take care of, and who doesn't want to put back a little extra? As I mentioned, I've been mentally preparing for a move to the Far East for months now, and it would be very disappointing to have such a drastic change of heart.[/b] |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| turkishlover25 wrote: |
| When I think of "fair working conditions" at an ESL-related school, I have in mind no more than 30 contact hours per week, assistance for lesson planning, and extra compensation for working over a certain number of hours in a month. The list could go on, and should, but these are pretty important. |
1. 30-40 hour work week should be expected. Teaching hours could be close to that in hours as well or could be less. Anticipate the higher and then be pleasantly suprised if you get the lower.
2. If you end up working for one of the larger chains that involve more scripted teaching, you'll have little to no lesson planning, and you'll be given no such time while at the school. Most institutions here at the ALT or Eikaiwa level do not necessarily give you such time for prep.
3. By law, overtime is supposed to be paid. However, whether the school/business you work for compensates you for that and you are willing to wade through the labor office complaint/followup system and or small claims court is another thing. It is important to realize that worker exploitation is -not- uncommon in the ALT and Eikaiwa industries. Thus it is up to you to investigate prior to working for any one what you can expect. You can't necessarily avoid exploitation here but you can at least prepare for/against it.
| turkishlover25 wrote: |
| I have checked out a few of the FAQs... but this forum has proven to be most helpful, if discouraging. And yes, my friends mentioned getting FT sponsorship and then working part-time as well: two claimed they finally relied only on part-time jobs only and were making near 400000 yen/month, though this was towards the end of 3-year stay in Tokyo. |
Essentially it sounds like they came here, went to work for a school or two, learned what students need/want, and then set about build a private student and pt work base. Takes time to do and with the privates, its also risk management. Done right 400k a month total income doesn't sound unreasonable, but I highly doubt you'd be able to hit the ground running in that manner.
| turkishlover25 wrote: |
| As for "where" I want to teach, you have correctly assumed Tokyo. I am not against living in Osaka. However, I have this fear that--no matter where I move--if I lower my expectations and accept a salary of 250k, I'll be voluntarily subjecting myself to a hermetic lifestyle as Japan is not the cheapest of countries. |
It really depends on what sort of living arrangements you create, your utility consumption, and your lifestyle. If you're wanting to live in some of the more expensive areas of Tokyo with a 3LDK(3 rooms plus a living dining and kitchen deal) then much of your paycheck if not all will be consumed by just that. Or if you lived in midsized town in a 1DK but liked to go drinking and entertaining others on your wallet, then you'd be just as poor in that case too. Thus I can't give you a definitive answer as to whether you could live off 250k a month or not. But obviously many people do since it is the average for the ALT/Eikaiwa folks. Take that for what its worth.
| turkishlover25 wrote: |
| Ok... moment of truth: having pretty much heard my story, and taking into account I am willing to lower my expectations, what's the verdict? Go to Japan or not? I only want to stay for a year, more for cultural and linguistic acquisition than anything else. I'm not looking to get rich, though I do have student loans to take care of, and who doesn't want to put back a little extra? As I mentioned, I've been mentally preparing for a move to the Far East for months now, and it would be very disappointing to have such a drastic change of heart.[/b] |
I feel still that your expectations/perceptions match the reality for which you would subject yourself to. The adage "beggars can't be choosers" comes to mind. You're essentially going to have to prepare yourself to consider that you're going to have to anticipate that the best you can do is an ALT/Eikaiwa entry level position, pay between 230,000-260,000 a month, 40 hour work week, after your expensive possibly being able to save 500 a month or less depending on lifestyle, and living in a small/modest apartment.
If you can come to terms with those basics, feel clear and not at odds with the myriad of other issues and things you encounter as part of living and teaching here (ie education/edutainment for profit as an example) then I think you'll do fine. You could get fortunate and get better than all that but not expecting it would be wisest thing.
I will say this though, your willingness to research and reflect on yourself with regards to your situation and adapt accordingly is a trait that will server you well here. That puts you in much better standing than many who come on here seeking similar advice... |
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bearcat
Joined: 08 May 2004
Posts: 367
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| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| elkarlo wrote: |
I've looked at a good many. I looked to see what postions were still open in Interac, and just to see what others were hiring. A lot are for people already in Japan. So Visa sponsorship may be an issue, right? |
Yes and no. The percentage of positions that desire the person to be in Japan already is higher, yes. But it is not exclusively so. As well you can see the same ad for a job across various websites and see some times they say "must currently reside in Japan" and in others they do not. This is because on some sites, there is a field that can be selected for that purpose. It doesn't mean though that they are exclusively hiring from in country.
Your experiences with the job trends and living here, etc is limited elkarlo. I just advise caution with thinking you understand them as readily as you seem to want to indicate and thus impart to others.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| 250k does seem to be the norm though I'd say. Some are higher, while some are a good bit lower. Not sure what an MA does in Japan, as that really doesn't come up al that often it seems. Well not as often as it does for education in the States. |
The adage "its not what you got but what you do with what you got" fits here. I know people with MATESOL's working for peanuts in the States. I know others with the same MATESOL working in other countries making a very good living with it.
For ALT and eikaiwa positions, an MA is over qualified and with some of those institutions it may be reason for them not to be considered.... this is usually the case with schools that use scripted teaching which is where the teacher is given a lesson that has some sort of script by which the teacher follows to the letter. The reason they employ this method is because it allows the school to standardize the lessons and the teachers so that the level and quality(I use that term loosely mind you for this) can remain as close to a constant as possible. This is to ensure that when a teacher leaves the students dont leave as well because the instruction doesn't alter(though this is in theory and not always in practice).
So teachers with MA's or backgrounds steeped in pedagogical skills are percieve by some schools to be high maintenance because they balk at their method of instruction and end up being either unhappy/bored, refuse to follow the script, or fighting/arguing with the management to change it... or all of the above. Thus the management of those schools tend to just avoid the potential for such and not hire those types.
But let me make it clear, that is not to say that all schools practice this. Again there is just a higher chance of it with the ones that follow scripted curriculums or that market themselves on some sort of "method" or "approach" that expects teachers to follow to the letter. But some dont care if the teacher has an MA or not. And some do care but wont pay any higher(or only a sliver higher) than those do not have such.(Those tend to be the midsized or mom n pop set ups).
Thus an MA really doesn't matter in name but more in what you take from what you learn and are able to put to practice to better your situation in the teaching position.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| Ok I understand, just from some of the jobs I looked at, that a whole bunch were in country hires only. Seems like eikaiwas and dipatches are the ones who go and hire from abroad. Not to be argue, but about 2/3 of all job listings I have looked at are for in country hire. The ones that aren't are mostly dispatch/eikaiwa, MOD EDIT this search seems to be the nrom. |
Again, ALT(teacher sent to assist or teach in public or private schools), and Eikaiwa(conversation schools) hire both in country and outside of it.
Peppy Kids Club in the past has tended to hire mainly outside of Japan for example and I've over the years known them to not consider people in Japan already. Yet I know for a fact that they have advertised and hired people inside Japan already. (They're a branch of an educational materials publisher with an inhouse ALT/eikaiwa amalgam which would be a whole seperate post of explaination as to their workings and marketing).
Eikaiwa such late(in is last vestige) Nova, ECC, AEON, GEOS, etc etc etc all have have hired both overseas and in country. Interac, Edaj, W5, and many ALT's have done the same and still do.
***Please note Im just naming companies off the top of my head and in NO WAY endorse or encourage the applying to any of them in any shape for or manner, this is just to make my point.***
| elkarlo wrote: |
| Oh yeah too many people want to go to Tokyo, which makes it really really competative. I think it's realistic to say that it's hard to get in there straight from abroad. Now if he wants to be in Chiba or Saitama, he may have a better chance. Heck I'm potentially not that far from Tokyo. Is there not a hiring spike in August for the school year starting in Sept? Evena little one? |
Again put into perspective that you can perhaps come to better understand:
Jan-April= 85% or so of the jobs(Full time mind you) advertised and hired for in the market
May-June= The sloppy seconds of what wasn't filled or has to be refilled from the April starts: 7%
Late August(after obon)-Mid October= The mid year hires. Eikaiwa and conversation schools: 3%
Note: There is no "school year starts september" for these... lol.
The rest of the months of the year all together comprise and spread out the remaining 5% of hires.
| elkarlo wrote: |
| Interac hires a good amount of ALTs for Sept, I could imagine some others would as well. So if he misses the MArch/April window, the spet one if it exists, may be a better time for the OP? |
But it still is relatively 3% of the year's hiring share. Also, Some of the jobs you will see at that time are actually the same ones they've been trying to fill for the entire summer. Others are for school systems that only do half year programs so since contracts for the teachers are offered for half the year they simply say they can be evaluated for renewal at the end of the year. Whether they are renewed though is another things. Also as I said in another post, many teachers use the long break(as ALT's tend to have longer summer breaks(with little or no pay mind you) than their conversation school counterparts) to pack up and notify the school/company they are working for that they are returning home and not coming back.
And the list of reasons goes on... all in all though the numbers still are small when you compare them to the sheer volume of the spring. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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A hermetic lifestyle? Well, figure that from a paycheck of 250,000 yen/month, you will spend about half that on basic necessities (rent, food, utilities, phone, insurance). So, just how would you plan to spend the other half? Doesn't sound all that "hermetic" to me. People here come in all flavors when it comes to finances. Some spend every penny of that remainder, some sock away a chunk the day after payday so they can't touch it, and others are somewhere in between. I've given average figures on many details of finances for the past decade, and it comes down to all that and what you want for a lifestyle. Average drinkers will probably end up with about 50,000-90,000 yen per month to play around with or save.
I agree with bearcat again on how little support/training you will get from eikaiwa or dispatch. Practically nil. But for someone who is experienced and trained with a CELTA, that shouldn't be much of a problem, except that you may find yourself pressed for time to make those lesson plans. Depends on the employer's schedule. It may be so busy that you have 8 lessons back to back with barely 5-10 minutes between to do paperwork and run to the toilet. Or it may be a few hours in between! As mentioned, many employers will not give you those 30 hours in the classroom, so beware of that. The rule is that 29.5 hours per week or less qualifies you as a part-timer, and that gives employers the loophole they want to exclude you from corporate health insurance (and pension)plans where they have to cough up half the copayments. You may still be expected to put in 40 hours a week, but they count only the hours you spend in the classroom, not in lesson prep, in the lobby attracting customers, in placement interviews with potential students, or in paperwork processing.
I also agree with bearcat that you do seem mentally prepared to come here and put in hard work. So, plan when is best for you, and figure out how to apply even before you get here. The vast majority of employers don't hire from abroad, and many (not all) consider it a positive sign of commitment if you are on Japanese soil when you are job hunting.
You sound like a very serious teacher, turk, which can be good and bad over here. I hope you know a little of what to expect from students and employers. Here is some good advice/info about eikaiwas (manager perception vs. that of a real professional teacher): http://www.eltnews.com/features/special/2004/01/the_power_of_perceptions_a_loo.html |
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turkishlover25
Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 142
Location: Charleston, IL USA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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I really never expected to receive this much of a response. I certainly have more than a few things to contemplate over the next month or so--I won't wait much longer to buy my ticket, no matter where I decide to go. Money is not the BIGGEST factor, but it certainly matters. I have, however, been a poor grad student for a few years and I know how to pinch pennies if needs be.
I AM trying to be a serious teacher, which I know is a bit of a hazard/rarity in the ESL field, where, as you have pointed out, "edcutainment" and lack of nerve holds more appeal than degrees and certification.
I have heard several people suggest waiting to find a job until I am actually on the ground in Japan--hiring practices in Japanese culture favor face-to-face contact, interviews, etc. What sort of risk would I be running if I just showed up, mid- to late-July? Scratch that... you've all basically answered that question many times over. Ah... the risk, huh? I guess that is one reason people choose to travel. I've done this all before, though it was certainly easier finding a job the first time around because I had no "standards" or "expectations," and I certainly did have the experience and knowledge I do now.
If any of you come across a job/school that you think might appeal to me, I would really appreciate a heads up--I know this is a lot to ask, and you have already donated a lot of time and effort to my questions. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:26 am Post subject: |
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| elkarlo wrote: |
| Interac hires a good amount of ALTs for Sept, I could imagine some others would as well. So if he misses the MArch/April window, the spet one if it exists, may be a better time for the OP? |
Where did you hear this? Interac does "seem" to be employing many for september but most of them are on standby. Summer is when the JET contracts finish, so Interac may pick up some of these ALT some spots as JET has been letting some go in recent years. Interac does not know at this time how many more school contracts it will win so nothing is certain yet for Autumn starts.
But many JETs will decide to stay on and JET will also be brining in more ALTs, so for the few placements that do become avaliable, Interac will be competing with other dispatchers to get them.
So if anything this is the worst time to apply as yes he may be offered a job but only as an "alternate". If you had an honest interviewer as we did, you'd know that if you volunteered to be an alternate you would be offered 1 man extra a month pay but that you were effectively signing your life away as one of the conditions is that you must accept whatever placement they require you to fill (i.e. most certainly not Tokyo) |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:18 am Post subject: |
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| turkishlover25 wrote: |
| If any of you come across a job/school that you think might appeal to me, I would really appreciate a heads up--I know this is a lot to ask, |
You have no idea! Good luck. |
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tonyukohi
Joined: 24 Dec 2008
Posts: 22
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:54 am Post subject: |
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| You could check out American Language School in Chiba. it's an eikawa, but used to be pretty decent. I'd recommend doing the edutainment for a year, then when you have your MA, cert, and a year of Japanese teaching experience, I'd be willing to bet you could get an excellent "real" teaching job. Hopefully the market will pick up by then too. |
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