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CENTROVERT
Joined: 09 Apr 2010
Posts: 12
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 Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:20 am Post subject: Proving previous teaching experience? |
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Hey All,
I taught at the same same private English school for two years in Korea, but that was 5 years ago... and yes... on a fake degree. I have since received a real diploma from a real university. The only proof I have of previous employment are my old E-2 visas, which are legit and verifiable. Is that enough to prove past work experience, or do I need some kind of "paperwork" (Letter o' reco/ref) from the hagwon?
Now that I think about it, how does one prove previous 'out-of-country' work experience to a Japanese employer? I was in the military as well. Would they ask for my service records?
I would like very much to teach in Japan for two years while I am getting my masters online (my BA is in social work... I can make more teaching in Japan than working with hobos in the US), as well as finally going overseas to teach the right way and with the proper credentials. Karma and all... |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:38 am Post subject: Re: Proving previous teaching experience? |
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| CENTROVERT wrote: |
Hey All,
I taught at the same same private English school for two years in Korea, but that was 5 years ago... and yes... on a fake degree. I have since received a real diploma from a real university. The only proof I have of previous employment are my old E-2 visas, which are legit and verifiable. Is that enough to prove past work experience, or do I need some kind of "paperwork" (Letter o' reco/ref) from the hagwon? |
What do you think? C'mon. Do as much as possible to prove you worked there. A visa only means you got a visa, not that you followed through and worked on it.
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| Now that I think about it, how does one prove previous 'out-of-country' work experience to a Japanese employer? I was in the military as well. Would they ask for my service records? |
You prove you worked somewhere by having a letter of recommendation support your claim. If your face was in the school catalogue of classes, even better! |
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CENTROVERT
Joined: 09 Apr 2010
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:37 am Post subject: Re: Proving previous teaching experience? |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Do as much as possible to prove you worked there. A visa only means you got a visa, not that you followed through and worked on it. |
I see where you are coming from generally, but in Korea, your visa is tied to your employer (or at least it was years ago). No workie, no visa... and almost no chance of getting another via transfer. Moreover, I have two consecutive visas from the same sponsor, thus proving at least one year.
The hagwon itself is now out of business, so even if I had something like a Lo'Rec (and I wish I could find the old one), what good would it do as there is no point of contact anymore.
My main point in posting this question was how can I show I have previous working experience as an ESL teacher considering my situation. At this time, all I have are two old visas from the same employer. Am I SOL, or does anyone feel I might be able swing it? |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:41 am Post subject: Re: Proving previous teaching experience? |
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| CENTROVERT wrote: |
The hagwon itself is now out of business, so even if I had something like a Lo'Rec (and I wish I could find the old one), what good would it do as there is no point of contact anymore.
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It doesn't matter if there is no one to contact, a letter still shows that you were working for someone. In Japan the visa is not tied to the job, and you can't really expect employers here to be familiar with the visa system in Korea, so just showing the visas isn't likely to help much.
In your case all you can really do is put the experience on your resume and hope they believe you. |
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CENTROVERT
Joined: 09 Apr 2010
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Proving previous teaching experience? |
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| Apsara wrote: |
| CENTROVERT wrote: |
The hagwon itself is now out of business, so even if I had something like a Lo'Rec (and I wish I could find the old one), what good would it do as there is no point of contact anymore.
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It doesn't matter if there is no one to contact, a letter still shows that you were working for someone. In Japan the visa is not tied to the job, and you can't really expect employers here to be familiar with the visa system in Korea, so just showing the visas isn't likely to help much.
In your case all you can really do is put the experience on your resume and hope they believe you. |
Thank you. I consider the issue now closed as it probably isn't worth entertaining anyway. Not as if any job I might qualify for would really care so much as to give me any substantial pay raise. |
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anneinjapan
Joined: 09 Apr 2010
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:43 am Post subject: |
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Your best bet is probably to get your foot in the door through ECC, GEOS, AEON, etc. because the big guys hire those with little to no experience. And with a degree and cert that's about as good as it gets unless you search for jobs yourself here.
JET program? Not sure of deadlines but they pay better than your standard eikawa and also give a housing stipend I believe.
Good luck, I feel your pain. I used to bartend at this one place where I was also managing the bar staff and in charge of liquor orders. Alas they are out of business (they closed without telling the staff, nice! even I was surprised!)
and I can't prove I worked there unless I show old tax stubs. But really, why would I? Just put it down and hope they believe you.  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:50 am Post subject: |
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| anneinjapan wrote: |
Your best bet is probably to get your foot in the door through ECC, GEOS, AEON, etc. because the big guys hire those with little to no experience. And with a degree and cert that's about as good as it gets unless you search for jobs yourself here.
JET program? Not sure of deadlines but they pay better than your standard eikawa and also give a housing stipend I believe. |
The OP is going to have to come to Japan or apply from home for all of the above. JET accepts applications usually at the end of the calendar year, but it only interviews people in their home countries. Those major eikaiwa will not recruit from Korea. |
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anneinjapan
Joined: 09 Apr 2010
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:21 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| anneinjapan wrote: |
Your best bet is probably to get your foot in the door through ECC, GEOS, AEON, etc. because the big guys hire those with little to no experience. And with a degree and cert that's about as good as it gets unless you search for jobs yourself here.
JET program? Not sure of deadlines but they pay better than your standard eikawa and also give a housing stipend I believe. |
The OP is going to have to come to Japan or apply from home for all of the above. JET accepts applications usually at the end of the calendar year, but it only interviews people in their home countries. Those major eikaiwa will not recruit from Korea. |
Ok fair enough. Is the OP in Korea? I thought he was home and trying to get a substantial pay raise (or something to that effect) as he now felt entitled to more pay due to experience and actual qualifications. Indeed this post is about proof of previous employment (his experience), and I only meant to encourage him to try but realistically he can't prove it. He can list it and hope they believe him. Employers do go out of business, I've been there. That's all I meant.
Good info on JET though, thanks. |
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CENTROVERT
Joined: 09 Apr 2010
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:42 am Post subject: |
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No, the OP (me) is in the US and looking to make the about the same money overseas with out a masters as he could here in the States. Japan is little more than a place to quietly earn my master's online and work in a field that I once greatly enjoyed. I don't feel entitled to anything. I know what it is I might be getting myself into here... post-modern 'slavery' in the ESL industry. I liked it becuase of the fact that I had the chance to live overseas and experience all that comes with it.
And as far as applying to the JET prgram is concerned, but for a CIR job (which I know I am unqualified for), I would rather apply to any number of the private schools advertising online first. Be they through one of the big hiring firms or the smaller 'mom & pop' type establishments (of which I have found many a good lead from schools which I have found no horror stories about). I know that the contact and even prep hours will be less which works toward my advantage with regards to maximizing my time toward continued education. However, before I do, I would like to make sure I am maximizing my chances of being hired.
I would like to think that legitamate visas (which were facilitated from a corrupt hagwon owner who encouraged me to buy a fake degree so he could keep me on 'ligit' full time with out worrying about the 'cops') might count for something... but alas... a good point was made: who am I to expect a Japanese employer to know Korean law.
So it is all a moot point. I can apply saying I have experience working illegally if I so choose (visa or no visa as the graduation dates give it all away), or I can say I have none and shock the pants off my potential next employer when I (hopefully) seem that much better than the average new guy/gal. Either way, since I have a legit, 120 hour classroom based TESOL cert, I know I am better off than most people trying to find a job from their home nation.
Now here is where Glenski makes a valid point. As I am not broke, I could get to Japan and start to look for work. Moreover, as I am not looking to live/work in Tokyo or Osaka, what are my chances of finding a decent job in that kind of scenario? From my understanding, the job market is really tough right now for you all. I would rather shoot the dice from home and see what happens. Frankly, there seems to be many a good lead in the Chiba area as well as Northern Japan when it comes to decent smaller schools.
Discuss... |
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CENTROVERT
Joined: 09 Apr 2010
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:51 am Post subject: |
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| Or I could just stay in the US and work with homeless drug addicts for $13 an hour while getting my MSW state-side. Hmmm... tough choice. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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For goodness' sake, don't tell an employer you worked previously with a "legit visa" under false pretenses!
You might want to just claim the work experience there and leave it at that. No need to volunteer information. You currently have the qualification (a degree) to get a proper visa legally.
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| I would rather apply to any number of the private schools advertising online first. Be they through one of the big hiring firms or the smaller 'mom & pop' type establishments |
How many of those smaller ones will hire you from the US? Most don't unless they can do a Skype interview. You wouldn't want to be hired blindly, either, I hope; if it were me, I'd want to see the school, meet the staff and teachers, etc. first.
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| As I am not broke, I could get to Japan and start to look for work. Moreover, as I am not looking to live/work in Tokyo or Osaka, what are my chances of finding a decent job in that kind of scenario? |
You said it yourself: the market is tight. There aren't that many places that interview from abroad (most will put you in rural areas, so don't worry too much about central Tokyo/Osaka; those employers will probably be overjoyed that you don't want urban work!). Coming here to look around is good if...
1. you have enough money
2. you have enough time
3. you arrive at the right time
4. your resume and cover letters look good
5. you interview well
You ask what are your "chances". I feel like Yoda telling Luke Skywalker, "There is no 'try'. Only 'do'."
Your turn to discuss. |
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my_way
Joined: 16 Feb 2010
Posts: 72
Location: tokyo
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:53 am Post subject: |
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| Put down your work experience like you would on any resume......it's most likely they won't check. |
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