Job Discussion Forums

[JBgroovy]

I noticed on a thread on here a person that was dissatisfied with ECC because they offered them a job, but never placed them, which of course worries me, because I just was offered a position with ECC. I guess I am just wondering if this is a common occurrence, or if it is an anomaly. People working for ECC, on average, how long did it take you to get placed?

[MarisaMP]

I honestly don't know the answer to your question but I'm (well hopefully) in the same boat as you. I just interviewed with ECC and they said it should be around March 27th that I should be finding out whether I was accepted or not. The way John made it sound was that if I do get accepted they will probably not place me until the time I designated to go (Aug/Sept)
So I guess my question to you is, when did you specify you wanted to arrive in Japan??

[Glenski]

My feeling is that it was an anomaly, based on the current flooded state of the market in Japan.

[projectrook]

I interviewed for ECC at the end of January and was offered a position a few weeks later. Right after that I had to start preparing my documents for processing my CoE. After they received my documents, I got an email saying that said docs had been received and sometime early April I should know my placement and date.

Based on this, I would have to say that ECC has been very professional and helpful throughout the entire process. Also, I would have to say that there is nothing to really worry about in terms of them over-hiring and putting people in a strange situation, waiting for placement.

I don't believe it is too common for such companies/orgainizations/ect to over hire. Now there has been some stuff going on with Heart, as Im sure you have seen the long thread. But I would have to think that is quite rare.

Now in terms of the others you spoke of who were hired by ECC and never received placement, I really cannot speak for them or their situation. Of course I am curious as well.

[JBgroovy]

Ahh, all right- that makes me feel a little better The post I was talking about was this one: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=79568&highlight=ecc

And Marisa- I indicated that I could go anywhere from May on out, but I wasn't taking into account how long it takes to get a visa, and the fact that they need my complete college transcripts before they move to the next step (I graduate in April). They asked me to submit all of my stuff by mid May, at which time they will begin to search for placement for me- hoping to have an arrival date in June, but I doubt it will end up being that early. You'll have to keep me updated!

[Rakis]

I interviewed in Nov 09 (SF) and was offered a job in December, I turned it down (for stupid reasons), the job would have me there sometime in March. I got a little disappointed in myself and looked elsewhere. But early this March I got a second offer for placement, and I took it.

I'll be going over in May (if everything works out well). Hope you the best of luck. ECC has been very professional and accommodating to me throughout the process. I did have to wait a while (such is the nature of this business, and perhaps the economic climate), but the waiting that individual went through could just have been from bad timing, bad economy, or a whole host of other unknowns.

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

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[ingrey]

Yeah, I made the mistake of waiting on ECC after being hired during the San Francisco 2008 session. Every month they'd send me an update on the hiring situation, but no placement ever materialized. After well over a year of waiting, I was finally told that if I were still interested in working for them, I'd have to reapply. Needless to say, it was a rather frustrating experience, and I regret the significant waste of time and money.

I have no idea how common this is, but I'd recommend any people in the same position to apply elsewhere, just in case ECC decides they don't have a use for you after all.

[zenbone]

nice to meet you Ingrey, i was at that hiring session as well. i was starting to think i was the only person that got hosed.
bottom line is that i was very loyal to them, each month i would re-affirm that i was their hire. i paid a lot of money to go to San Francisco and i passed all their tests. The day i was hired by them was one of the happiest of my life. Little did i know my dedication would be rewarded by having a year of my life and my dreams stolen from me. They could have done the right thing and extended positions to candidates like me and ingrey but they didn't. The company decided why bother caring for those that were so dedicated to them, we were discarded like trash to make room for all their shiny new hires (all those above that mentioned that is was just a hop skip and a jump to their new paradise).
it is a little hard to not be bitter. take your hire with a grain of salt and don't make the same mistake as I did. there is no loyalty, there is no concern. these are facts.

[askiptochina]

Why on earth are some of you putting all your eggs in one basket. Flood the recruiters with your resume, give contact information, visit the schools in person. You will have a job within weeks.

I have only been in China for 2 weeks and I have 2 offers to work in Japan, an interview today, and in late April I plan on visiting a university which already wants me to decide on a position for September.

If you spend your time waiting, others will snatch your opportunity. This isn't a dry season for employers anymore.

1. Don't take any tests
2. Don't spend any money until you are hired
3. Be available immediately

[projectrook]

To those who were hired and didn't get to Japan with that position.....I really don't know what to say about that.

I had my interview and was hired a few weeks later. Everything has going according to plan thus far. I have been given my assignment, location, and just about everything I need without a hitch.
It could have been a number of things that caused those to not get the job in the end.
One of you mentioned having the interview in SF. It could have been right around the time that the hiring office in SF went down and Toronto became the only North America hiring office. And during the transistion and confusion, those hired at that time were left out.
It could have been that while being put on hold, some people said the wrong thing and didn't show understanding for the circumstance. This is a sure way to get black listed.
Or it could have been just a freak occurance that within a 6 month period there were some people that it just didn't turn out.

However, to call ECC unprofessional and whatnot is not fair at all. They have been around for decades and are still one of if not the biggest and most successful eikaiwas in all of Japan. Sure, it sucks that it didn't work out for you. But that happens in just about every profession (teaching or otherwise). And until you learn that this is an aspect of life as well as being a member of the working class, you will always be disappointed.

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

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[zenbone]

oh believe me i learned my lesson... i am going to keep applying to schools until i am stepping off the plane with visa in hand. I know it might seem foolish or silly for me to put "all my eggs in one basket" but i come from the old school, you know the old school mentality that means when someone hires you it means you have been hired. So, to those ends yes... i guess i learned my lesson.
Nowhere in my posts have i made any claim as to the professionalism or quality of ECC. I merely stated the facts surrounding what happened to me and a few other unlucky candidates that were hired and then cut loose. Do i think what happened was right? of course not but if you were one of the chosen ones that actually got to work for them hey great. I am jealous because i am still fighting and applying while you are there.

[projectrook]

@Shiori

Now while I agree that it was not exactly a professional thing to do and of course unfortunate, some of what was said is going a bit too far, don't you think? Because if that were the case, then it is quite possible that every company in every country and in every city is unprofessional . Issues ranging from overhiring, salary cuts, and layoffs is just a sad part of the business world. And not to mention letting go of a valued employee who has been with the company for 30+ years for someone fresh out of college who will do the same job for a fraction of the pay. It happens. It happens more than we know.

Yes, I agree that what has happened to some people who applied and were offered jobs with ECC was unfair, Im not saying its not.

As for being an indication of "professionalism", well if a company is known for being so crooked and unprofessional, it would be safe to assume they would no longer be in business. I can think of at least 3 different eikaiwas/dispatch companies that are no longer in business for crooked activities. Companies/organizations that are well-known for being unprofessional tend to fade away (with a few exceptions).


@zenbone

I can understand your frustration. I in no way am I saying you have no right to feel bitter. However, this is a public board with many many people looking for advice and information on different options to teaching in a foreign country. And your previous post (while perhaps justified in a way) was a tad overboard. What you post will be read by a large number of people, and there are some who will take your opinion without forming one of their own and run with it. Then that 1 person turns in to 3, then 10, then 50, ect....
Anyways, I do wish that things would have turned out better for you in regards to ECC and I also do wish that you keep working hard to find a position in Japan, because while we may not agree on some things, I can tell that you really do want to work in Japan.

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

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