Job Discussion Forums

[OneJoelFifty]

Hi all,

I wanted to PM a person or two but don't have the posts, although I have been reading this place a while now...

I know some of you have worked and are working for Interac, and I just wondered how much difference your stated preferences made in where you were placed. I have the seminar/interview coming up shortly, and everything going well I hope to go to Japan in March 2010.

I'm English, I have no teaching experience but I do have an English Literature degree and the basic TEFL qualification. I'd like to work in a high school in an urban area. I've spoken to Interac staff and I've been told Tokyo is almost certainly out of the question because of the high demand, and I'd imagine Kyoto and Osaka are similarly inaccessible to someone with little experience. I was told that Yokohama might be possible.

So, how closely did you find your placement matched your preferences? I'm completely prepared to be flexible, but I'm also curious to know if by being firm when stating my case I may end up with favourable circumstances.

Thanks.

[Glenski]

[seklarwia]

It depends on what your preference is.

Tokyo is pretty much out of the question for you. Tokyo goes to people already in Japan first, then the remaining spots go to people with JLPT 2 and above and teaching experience/qualifications.

Osaka is pretty much the same story.

Urban and highschool is going to be quite difficult. People who have already completed a contract will always get first pick over new overseas recruits. And many people who came in March and summer 2009, accepted less than desirable placements in hope of being transeferred this coming spring.

I got exactly what I wanted only because it wasn't a common request. I didn't want to be in a big city or highly urban area. I wanted suburban but needed to be close enough to a big city that I could travel there for the day. But my main concerns were climate and elementary school. I don't do extreme heat and I don't do little kids. I told them I would accept any placement including inaka isolation if it allowed me to avoid the two.
So I did get my suburban, cooler climate, JHS and am only an hour out from central Tokyo by shinkansen.

It's not so much a case of being firm as it is being able to justify why you want the placement. I really needed to be within shooting distance of one of the major cities for a completely practical reason.

If your reason for wanting urban is simply that you want to live in Tokyo, Osaka, etc, then don't hold your breathe and I wouldn't advise being too firm about it either.

With your lack of teaching experience, etc, you'll probably find yourself getting turned down for somebody that is totally flexible. The market is saturated and even bottom of the barrel jobs (including dispatch) have lots of competition these days.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Just thought I'd mention that the market is saturated now (and there are reports of GEOS possibly going the way of Nova). Keep in mind that a lot of people will likely leave starting next year when they discover that they need to pay up to $9000 in current year and back health insurance.

Of course, when that happens, then salaries offered by dispatch companies will suddenly seem a lot lower than they do now (and they already seem pretty low now).

[flyer]

[Amarok]

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

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[Glenski]

[Apsara]

[OneJoelFifty]

Thanks all, and especially seklarwia - very useful information. I'm willing to take whatever I can get, and I'll find the positives in whatever situation I end up in if I get over there.

The job rather than the area is more important to me, so I'll try for a high school and see what happens. I live in London and I've travelled a little in Japan; the city culture definitely appeals to me more, so fingers crossed I can get a place somewhere close by a major city.

[Inflames]

[Glenski]

[seklarwia]

[Apsara]

[quote="Glenski"]

[Glenski]