Job Discussion Forums

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

I have a friend who works for a language school in Osaka. He was telling me that about 75% of resumes/application letters he gets are terrible! I couldnt believe it! (He is a senior teacher and hires new staff as well).

The resume layouts are terrible, 3 or 4 fonts used, spelling mistakes, people unwilling to do a trial lesson/make some lesson plan, etc. And this from people with BAs, MBAs, CELTAs, DELTAs, etc. One teacher when asked to submit materials for a trial 30 min lesson said that you couldnt expect him to do that because he wasnt a 'performing monkey'.

He clearly advertises his positions in the Japan Times and online as well but seems to get too many applicants with a 'spray and pray' approach to emailing their resumes. The school only does kids. Which the job ads clearly state... so people go on about their key strength in teaching to adult business classes, etc.

Do people proof read their resumes and tailor them to the job...or just don,t care?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I have proofread dozens of resumes from teacher wannabes here, whether they have had zero experience or have upper level degrees plus experience in their home countries. All are in serious need of rework for all of the reasons cited above.

Do people care? Well, they care about getting the job, but some just don't know how to apply, and that means not knowing how to write a resume or cover letter. In many cases, this is their first job post-university. In many cases, this is their first teaching position, let alone first overseas job. They just don't seem to know how to tailor their resumes or cover letters accordingly. Too many slap something together and shotgun it (the spray and pray method), in hopes that numbers will get them a foot in the door.

Sadly, there is very little available information out there on how to apply for these jobs properly. That's why people like me proofread these things and offer advice.

Smooth Operator · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 140 Location: Japan

Yes. I have seen this too. One thing I would add is that sometimes prospective teachers stress their 'native fluency' in their cover letter or email, which comes across as arrogant and then becomes laughable when I see mistakes littering the CV!

Tonester · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:26 am Post subject:

I must admit that I'm not really qualified to comment in this thread but I can understand the disappointment of employers in this case. I once applied for Interac (while I was still a JET alternate before being upgraded- I turned them down once I was upgraded and I'm glad I did after reading all the horror stories about that dishonest oufit) and the recruiter there told me about the terrible resumes that he receives every day. According to him; one person who applied for a job stated in his application that he wanted the job because he wanted a Japanese girlfriend and needs to get to Japan somehow. There are people who may be in Japan for that reason but you'd at least try to hide it. You certainly wouldn't say that in an interview or put it in your application as the reason for applying, would you? Have any of you posters in this thread ever had applicants like the one above? Pretty laughable I must say.

clareh · Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 16

As someone who is in the process of applying for jobs at the moment, I must say that it is hard to know what prospective employers want. Any tips on what to/ not to include in cover letters when applying for jobs. I have little experience so is it best to stress personal attributes?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Clareh
Focus on aspects of your jobs where you trained others as well as your people skills. Proofread your resume and cover letter and get others to look at it as well. It is hard sometimes to see our own mistakes and our own faults, but that is another thread. Don't mention how you want to come to Japan to travel because your employers know you won't have time (or money) to do that. You can say how you are interested in their culture.

I've hired people in the past and was always amazed at how people never followed the guidelines that were set in the advertisement. If I asked for a hand written cover letter, I'd still get 60% of the applicants give me a typed one. Follow the advertisement to a T and don't give more than they ask or it's clutter.

ryuro · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 91

75%? I'd say that's about right- maybe even higher.

As someone he spends the majority of my days recruiting and interviewing teachers I would definitely say that the quality of applications coming through these days is TERRIBLE!!!!!

Everything everyone has stated here is ture. And it's only getting worse. Japan is slowly becoming like other lower-paying, S.E. Asian destinations these days. We're attracting more unqualified 'back-packers' on WHV's looking to make a few bucks while snow-baording in the Japanese Alps.

And more and more companies ARE looking for performing monkeys which just ads to the glut of totally crap applications coming in.

Anyway, I've previously posted a thread entitled "How to get that coveted ESL job" or something to that affect. I won't post it again, but if you do a search for it on this board I'm sure you'll find it and it addresses this issue as well as tips to help those looking for a job in Japan (or anywhere for that matter).

Cheers,
ryuro

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Interesting, however many of the schools offering work are also offering poor conditions and low pay. For example, many schools are looking for people to work for 250,000 yen and below, with a massive teaching work load, limited holidays and little time for planning lessons. The higher quality applicants are looking for higher paying jobs with better resume standards.

Matador, post the school your friend interviews for, along with the conditions for employment. Then maybe some higher qualified people can apply for the jobs or we can also see why his school isn't attracting people who want to make the effort to tailor a resume and cover letter for the job.

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Cover letters. I have not seen any 'standard' cover
letter but you have to tailor it for the person you
are writing to, beginning with their name and address,
what you are applying for, why you are applying and
what you have to offer them.

Give them a brief introduction and the best way to
contact you to set up an interview. Then you can go
into all the details they require

they simply want to know if

1. You are in Japan or when you will be here to for an interview
2. You are qualified (i.e have a visa) to work here
3. When you can start work
4 You are reliable and not a closet serial child molester.

Some problems with resumes I have seen:

1. They try and 'sell' themselves and their
achievements- lots of awards, volunteer activities. "
Best this" and "Best that". Those kinds of things are a
little irrelevant as CVs here are simply a record of
your education and work background. Save the hype and self congratulations for the cover letter.

2. include a photograph- not a shot taken at the beach in Hawaii
but a portrait passport type. First impressions are
important and they want to see what you look like. As
far as I know most employers do not discriminate based on race
or ethnicity but they want to see that you dont have
nose pierce, tattoos etc.

3. If you put your phone number put the best time to
ring. US has 3 time zones and unless you want someone
ringing you at 3am work out what time is best, JAPAN
time. Don't assume your future employer has nothing better to do than chase you down across 3 time zones in a foreign country and will likely be hesistant to speak English over the telephone, if a non-native speaker, or wary of going through a switchboard or an answering machine. I have rung the US on occasion and give up after the second try if i get an answer phone or those auto-reply machines.

4. many times the person reading your CV here is not a
native speaker of English, perhaps reads and understands English to a
medium high level. avoid abbreviations, Americanisms
(SAT, GPA etc) slang, being overly familiar. This is a business
proposition and they are not your friends you will mull over a beer with.

5. Japanese employers and head teachers are usually
very busy people. A resume any longer than 2 pages they will throw
it away. Try to keep it under 1 page, no more than 2. KISS. Keep It Simple, Stupid.

6. IMO. Mention hobbies but really they are irrelevant
to the job you are being asked to do. If it has
nothing to do with teaching EFL I would leave it off
as it takes up space. You can mention languages if you
know any others and speak them to any degree.

7. In a typical conversation school you will not use
computer software or use the Internet so saying you
know word, Excel etc is incidental and
irrelevant to what you are being asked to do as an EFl teacher.

8. I have seen resumes where people talk about why
they are coming to Japan and want to learn the culture, get a girlfriend
and learn the language and everything else except what
they are supposed to be doing- teaching English. What
do you have that the school and students want, what
can you offer them? Schools are not paying you to
learn or study, but helping their students to learn.
Knowing about Japan and Japanese culture, speaking
Japanese can sometimes be a disadvantage, because you
deprive the student of the chance to teach you
themslelves. that is why they prefer 'green' teachers
with no experience and qualifications. (Again find out
what your employer is looking for and show hime how
you satisfy his needs)

E.g. if you speak a foreign language you can
understand how hard it is to learn languages, you can
teach them pronunciation etc, teach them about U.S.
culture etc.

Make sure you record dates accurately, there are no
'holes' or employment gaps in your resume.

You dont need to go into intimate detail about every
job you did (sometimes it can make you look as though
you would get bored with the routine of EFL teaching)
so play down your achievements becuase you may over-achieve
yourself out of being offered an interview)

Best just to say what you did and when, and when and save the nitty-gritty
details for the interview.

melirae · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 145 Location: Korea

Just a note to those who are new to TEFL and don't have any teaching to put on your resume- if you're interviewing in the states, it's fine to have a Western-style resume. Just do try to emphasize any training work that you may have done.
I totally changed mine to the above suggestions and the guy who interviewed me (in the US) told me he thought that my resume was weird- well not exactly in those words, but he said it should have been more Western since I was interviewing in the US.
But now, it is redone to match the above advice of Glenski and PAULH (thanks guys!), so when I get to Japan, it will be useful if and when I want to look for a another TEFL job.

clareh · Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 16

What is the rationale behind not including references on your resume? When should you supply this information?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I agree with Gordon about references, and would like to add this.

If you put references on your resume, there is a chance that they will be called by everyone you apply to. Do you really want to inflict that on the references, or would you rather choose the employer to give them to?