Job Discussion Forums

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Dark-coloured ballet flats is exactly what I wear. It's a matter of opinion whether they are appropriate or not, I suppose. I just think that no-one should feel pressured into wearing heels- wearing ballet flats is unlikely to lose you a job.

Lyrajean · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 109 Location: going to Okinawa

I think ballet flats would be fine. Do be aware though that many places want you to wear seperate indoor and outdoor shoes. Or outdoors shoes and slippers.

I have the same non-standard sizing issues when it comes to footwear. I wear a US 9-11. The size is soo inconsistant becuase I am looking for a EEE width. I fit pretty good into men's dress shoes from back home in a 9 1/2.

I wear dress sandals with heels (easier to fit, thank god for Okinawa's warm climate!) or doc martens to work. I am very lucky my workplace is relatively casual. Becuase I can't wear ladylike shoes ever, my size just doesn't exist. I do get strange looks in the ladies room because I can't fit in the 22cm bathroom slippers. With 3 schools I can't provide my own slippers for all the bathrooms.

Fina1 · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Philadelphia, PA

Ah, I'm glad that ballet flats do work for you.

AEON specifically says "no ballet flats", so I figured that maybe this was going to be pretty much the same at most places.

bre_anna · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:05 am Post subject:

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

The rule of educational jobs is that the worse the job the more you teach and the smarter you have to dress.

For an eikaiwa you're expected to dress like you work in a bank. For a high school more comfortable teachery clothing is fine, think cardigans, pullovers, casual shirts/slacks. For universities it's similar, although more eccentric attire may be possible depending on the department, jeans are usually fine.

Dressing professionally is usually to compensate for the fact that the job you're doing isn't at all professional. No one looks smarter than the the girls giving directions in the malls. Wink

EDIT:

During my Aeon years I slowly dressed down. First to go was the tie, then the jacket. Next I switched to some smartish carhartt trousers. During the winter I actually ended up wearing a black polo-neck sweater and chinos.

Of course it also depends on your particular manager, and if anyone from head-office turns up you should have a shirt and tie handy! Those head-office guys and gals...What a crazy bunch. Laughing

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

I think this thread would almost certainly benefit from some photos.

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826