Job Discussion Forums

[Boating3]

Hello all! I am a recent college graduate and enrolled to take a CELTA course in the fall. I will complete my course in early November and be searching for a job around that time. How difficult is it to find a job during this time versus the beginning of the school year (Sept/Oct) for a newbie like me? Is it worth considering skipping the CELTA (with hopes to complete it maybe next summer) so I can start a job in Sept/Oct at the beginning of the school year?

[ssjup81]

[nstick13]

So there will be somewhat of a job market in the near future after November?

[ssjup81]

I guess if the schools know ahead of time if they'll need new teachers, they can start at that time. The eikaiwas seem to this. I keep coming across their requesting that if you apply, that if chosen, you be able to leave within at least three months' time from the time you applied.

For the ALT position with JET, they start the application process in the fall, although, granted, those accepted for the position, don't actually go until July/August to get ready for the fall semester.

[seklarwia]

I'm not being mean, but by making a mistake like that right off, it does make me wonder whether you have read the stickies or done any reseach at all.

School year starts in April and the 2nd term starts Aug/Sept, which means you've missed all the over-seas recruitment sessions for ALT positions. If you had done a search for the major over-seas recruiting eikawa like Aeon, you'd also have realised that even they have filled all their positions and are only interviewing for positions starting next year.

But there are other things you need to research too; for one, the climates in different parts of Japan is no small issue. Then you have to consider urban vs rural.

Do you want to apply for jobs from your home country or are you willing to come over here with 500,000 Yen in pocket and pound the pavements in search of a job - something you should do at peak hiring time and that requires a good amount of research and prep in order to succeed.

Basically you aren't getting anything before next Spring. If you don't mind the idea of rural and want to apply from over-seas, then maybe you should consider applying to JET to leave summer 2010. Its a much better deal than dispatch ALT, but you better read up on the process and what you need to apply now since the initial paper work is immense. You can't get the application (that in itself is quite epic) until September-ish time, but you can start preparing the other bits like official transcripts, essay and JET addressed reference... If you are considering this, then read the JET Programme website for the details (they are very specific about what they want!)

Have you saved up the money you'll need to cover start up costs?

Why are you actually doing the CELTA? Is it to get jobs here, or will you need it for something else later? You have time to do your CELTA, but don't be under the impression that it will qualify you for anything more than entry level work. And don't believe it will necessarily give you the edge over all the other fresh-faced uni leavers with degrees in totally unrelated fields.

[Boating3]

Hm, you're right, I should have noticed the start of the school year. I went to the job board and other sources online and came across so many posts for jobs beginning in Sept or Oct that I just assumed that was the beginning of the school year. Sek, you said I'm basically not getting anything til next Spring, does that mean any jobs being offered now are pretty bad working conditions?

As for my CELTA plans, I am new to looking into the area of Japan. I have been planning my route to teaching abroad for over 6 months now, but throughout that time have I was focused on teaching in a different area and just recently thought Japan might be a nice change of pace and environment for myself. That being said, I am planning on a CELTA course because, after much research, it is by far the most recognized certification world wide and the regions I have previously been looking at required more than just a BA (and actually it would be best for me to have an MA in TESOL). So while I am deciding if devoting a couple years to a TESOL MA is right for me, a CELTA seemed to be a good middle ground and a way for me to get my feet wet.

But for Japan, are you saying CELTA is a waste of time and money?

As for the Stickies, most say they were revised 2 1/2 years ago (with a couple posts in later 2007 or 2008). Since that is quite awhile ago and much as changed recently, I was questioning the accuracy of the posts. Would you say this information is still accurate? I've given them a look over, but I'll devote much more time to them if they are thought to still be accurate.

As for JET, I don't plan to be in my home country during the interview time, so it looks like JET is not an option for me.

Yes, I've worked hard to have some money saved up. But everyone knows those darn student loans will kick in soon From what I've read and researched, it seems like first time teachers in Japan make enough to live on and have a little extra to save/pay loans. I'm not looking for anything glamorous as far as living, so would you say it's likely to have extra money for these other expenses?

[seklarwia]

For schools, most hiring tends to be done in the winter for the following spring. In the summer, dispatchers will bring more ALTs, some to fill abandoned posts and some to fill ex-JET placements (you want the latter rather than the former).

Anything outside these two hiring period is: a) likely to want you in country already holding a visa because they need you on short notice and, b) possibly not the best placement (why did the lasy ALT leave: bad ALT or nightmare placement?)

Eikawa tend to have a high turnover of staff and people come and go all the time. So you may very well find a few jobs in conversation schools all year round. But once again, unless you go through the recruitment sessions for the large Eikawa, it will be difficult (not impossible) to get employed from overseas, since they may want you to attend a face-2-face interview or may want you to start immediately and therefore want someone who is in country with a visa already in hand - BTW unless you get a WHV (which you can't if you are from the US) it takes about 2 months to process the visa paper work which is why short notice positions want you to already have one.

CELTA is quite recognised although perhaps not so much in Europe where they prefer TEFL. But for entry-level positions, qualifications other than a BA/Bsc are just not necessary. If you read around the forum, you'll read posts from qualified people getting turned down, certified people not even getting interviews whilst people in their early 20s, fresh out of uni with an unrelated degree and no experience get scooped up by the dozen. Sure some places might actuall want someone qualified, but mostly its all about chemistry and even how sellable the recruit is.
So if you intend to use you CELTA in the future for something else, then go for it. But it might be a waste of money if you are doing it solely for Japan.

MAs in teaching related fields, teaching licences from your home countries, work experience and Japanese ability are what will make the difference when you start applying for higher level jobs.

Entry level work normally pays about 250,000 Yen/month which unless you party or like bars and clubs is quite enough to live off and put some aside. But you most likely won't your first paycheque for 2 months. So not only do you need to support yourself for 2 months, you may need to pay substantial deposits/etc for your apartment then you need aquire a mobile phone... set up costs will eat up a large amount of that 500,000 yen you bring initially.

The FAQs are a good resource when you are trying to come to grips with the basics on working and living on Japan. Definately worth a good read.

[Glenski]

Most of the info in the FAQs is still accurate. If a reader questions something specifically, that would help to update info, but unless a bunch of people shout "Time to change that one!", you should assume they are still valid.

When you (or others) say "schools", clarify. It also shows a lack of understanding of the EFL biz. School could mean HS, JHS, kindergarten, elementary school, public vs. private school, jr college, university, business English school, international school, and a few more including even eikaiwa.

November is a bad time of year to job hunt if you want a job to start during that month or soon thereafter. Not impossible, but pickings are very slim.

CELTA is useful if you want to be a teacher, period. It may not have any real weight in most eikaiwas (certainly starting out), but if you are planning to make TEFL a career, I'd say get it. If you are planning to do this more than a year and have no experience or confidence in a classroom, get one. Just realize the limitations here.

[nstick13]

Would, perhaps, it be best to leave a CELTA off of a CV/application if one is a recent grad?

Does one have the ability to pick and choose at which level they will be working? It seems, in other places, that many are just in it for a "job" at a "school" and aren't really looking specifically for HS or JH or elementary, etc. mentioned above. As in, it's not even really an option. An entry-level person should take the best of the limited offers they'll find, and there's not really a lot of choice.


And, thanks to all for the comments and thoughts, they're much appreciated, and I will surely pay it forward.

[seklarwia]

[Hoser]

[Glenski]