Job Discussion Forums

[haopengyou]

I am pulling together job descriptions, letters of recommendation and diplomas and preparing to scan them. I am targeting the semi-lucrative to lucrative schools in hopes of getting back on my feet financially - and enough $$ to get a masters degree as well.

Now, I am googling and book marking sites that seem like they will be helpful in finding a job. Some sites have a facility to upload a resume, some want it emailed, attached to the email and some have a fill in the blank thingie online. I know that at some point there will (hopefully) be phone call interviews.

How do things "usually" work? What is reasonable? What is the usual time frame? Please throw in any info that might be related to the whole process.

[naturegirl321]

Things work like this, usually. they review your CV, if it's good you'll get an email asking for more docs, or they'll arrange a phone interview off the bat. Depending on that you'll get the job.

Be wary of schools that offer you a job without a phone interview.

Afterwards, try to talk to teachers, do more research and see if you want to accept the position.

The country depends on how long it takes, but I would expect, min one month, as far as visas and stuff go.

[spiral78]

Uh, sorry - but this is very much region-specific.
Where exactly are you targeting?

[haopengyou]

Korea, Japan and a few of the middle eastern countries...looking to maximize the salary so I can retire a school loan and get a "piece of paper" (MA) asap.

[spiral78]

The MA is usually a pre-requisite for decent jobs in the ME. Better concentrate on Asia.

[Glenski]

If you're targeting Japan, read this.

"Lucrative" jobs are not all that feasible for newbies. If all you have is a generic BA degree and little to no teaching experience, you'll get entry level work:

ALT with a crummy dispatch agency, or
ALT with JET Programme, or
instructor job with an eikaiwa (conversation school)

JET offers the best salary of the 3 (about 300,000 yen/month before taxes, paid airfare, and sometimes reduced or free rent), but the application process takes a long time and is only once per year. The others will offer 220,000-270,000 yen/month (figure the low end in most places), no airfare, and no reduced rent. Most of them will not recruit from overseas, so you would have to be here for 2-4 months supporting yourself while you job hunt and wait for that first paycheck.

If you are planning to wait until you have a master's degree, ok, but the market is terribly flooded right now. It's a buyer's market here. Universities usually require as a minimum the master's (but not a generic one; you have to have one in a specific field), plus language ability, publications, and usually experience teaching in Japan. Expect 20-100 applicants per position.

People are going to politely or not politely tell you to "pay your dues".

[haopengyou]

Thanks! I have been teaching for twenty years, half of which was teaching English in China. I have a teaching certificate from the state of California and a Community College credential in Accounting. I know this is all not the same as an MA but I am hoping it will buy me some grace.

[Marcoregano]

If you're a fully qualified primary or secondary teacher with experience why not try the NET programme in HK? It pays better than most.

[haopengyou]

Thanks! I will look into that. Do you think people from Hong Kong and Taiwan are a bit more....anal about teaching and school?

[Marcoregano]

[haopengyou]

by "anal" I mean anal-retentive or overly obsessed with small details, dotting the "i's" and crossing the "t's".

[Marcoregano]

So...more anal than who? I can't speak for Taiwanese but I don't think HKers are particularly anal.

[haopengyou]

Thanks! I love visiting Hong Kong - it would be like a dream come true to live there for a while.