Job Discussion Forums

[ironclad80]

I'm a good-looking, CELTA certified, JLPT 3, 30 year old male halfway through a 1 year teaching contract in Korea. I've had my heart set on Japan for a while now and once my contract ends Feb. 1, 2011 I'm ready to try my luck (or lack thereof) at Japan again.

Many say CELTA, JLPT, experience in Korea means nothing and that might be true, but I'd like to think it increases my odds over any other schmoe off the street. I landed an interview with JET two years ago with none of those things but was unsuccessful (but I'm not bitter because I'm not too keen on the strong inaka likelihood). This time I'm thinking eikaiwa route (or is Univeristy possible???).

After a year in Korea I'll easily have enough money to "pitch a tent" in Japan and try to find a job, I've been unsuccessful in all overseas attempts at Japan. However, if I don't find anything after 3 months or so I blow a large chunk of money I worked very hard for and may go home empty-handed. Is it worth it?

I do like Korea, I like east Asian culture in general but my heart has always been on Japan. After I made a visa run to Fukuoka in May I realized again why my heart has always been set on Japan. It has something Korea lacks.

So my questions are:
1)Would I be better off "pitching my tent" in the greater Tokyo region (I imagine the ratio of employers there is higher than most other regions)
2)Would any job I come across involve most likely involve teaching very young children? It's not my strength but if I could also teach adults too I would be happy. On the other hand, I'd be happy just being able to know I made it to Japan.
3)Would I be crazy from walking away from a country where I can make enough to save (apartments are paid for in Korea) and indulge at the same time to live a more frugal life in Japan with a higher cost of living?
4)Is there a very real chance I can leave Japan empty handed and burn all my savings in a failed job-finding attempt?

I think many can also testify that there is an explainable aura about Japan. I liken Korea to a poor man's Japan. Many things are similar and imitated but just don't make the cut.

Do I dare risk it all for a chance to live in Japan?

[genesis315]

I agree. Just something about Japan.

[Glenski]

Looks mean nothing.
Your age is medium for entry level work.
CELTA means nothing these days in most cases.
A measly year in Korea counts for nothing.
JLPT3 is almost nothing.

You're pretty much a generic newcomer.

Eikaiwa or ALT. Forget university completely!

[ironclad80]

I humbly confessed that a CELTA, JLPT 3 and year in Korea are weak in today's market, but I don't see how it can put on me on the same level as Joe Smith with absolutely nothing.

University was a longshot but I figured I'd just throw it out there.

Almost all job posts do involve kids but I was curious if there were strictly adult schools, apparently not.

Money isn't everything, right. My post should imply that I'm looking for the "experience" not the money.

I guess my overall question is, what exactly ARE employers looking for? I do believe I have SOME credentials. Is it really THAT fierce?? Who is a shoe-in?

[seklarwia]

[PO1]

I think the above post covers the whole spectrum of what Japanese employers want. It's a complete crap shoot. Just like any teaching jobs all over the world, some employers want teachers they can mold, others want ones they can let loose and just do their thing.

Trends I've noticed is that Japanese employers may be getting sick of hiring arrogant, difficult prima donnas at their schools. We hear lots of horror stories about employers on these forums, but we rarely hear the many untold stories of nightmarish teachers hired who have no business teaching or doing anything else with the public. So it's a good idea to be flexible and understanding with their requirements if they are not too outlandish. For entry level positions anyhow, don't rock the boat too much. It could cost you in an interview or even result in losing an offered position (which is a distinct possibility).

I also noticed more schools are wanting experience in Japan. It's like the old adage "you have to have money to make money." How do you get experience in Japan without experience in Japan? I don't know if I can answer that question. It's the Rubix-cube of teaching abroad, I suppose.

Culture shock drives away more and more novice teachers every year. People who bail on their contracts or are surprised that their life isn't like Naruto. So my suggestion is to start at the top (AEON, ECC, etc.) and then work your way down. Have distinctive reasons you want for living in Japan, not just because it's cool. That will lead employers to believe you won't freak out two weeks after being hired because you can't find a good hamburger! (which I freaked out a bit myself the first time )

Luck and timing. Those are "X-factors" with getting any job. People post about peak hiring times constantly on the forums. Scope out the threads and find what people suggest there.

Those are my suggestions anyhow. I don't have much experience myself but I have credentials (Master's, teaching license in English, experience in Japan) so maybe that helped me get some kind of leg up.

[Glenski]

[southofreality]

[yangyoseop]

I kind of disagree, I was hired by a private high school in Japan and one of the main reasons was because I already had worked with high school students in Korea. They said they liked the fact that I had experience teaching that age. Don't think it mattered between Korea/Japan/China/whatever.

[ironclad80]

PO1, sek, Glenski your responses guided me more in the right direction in terms of what my options are and what I think I should do....

[kotoko]

The JLPT tests have changed, you'll probably want to take the new N3.

In any case, your Japanese ability means nothing. If anything, it's a bad thing because companies don't want John-sensei coming in to teach the students but whipping out his J-skills for an ego boost instead of teaching English.

When I was studying in Nagoya I worked part time at a small english school, team teaching with a British guy with zero Japanese (but, again, liked to whip out a few words every now and then to amaze the students' mothers) and who was completing a masters in TESOL. I speak Japanese and was told to hide this at all costs from the kids.

I may be wrong but I think that the only case where Japanese is useful is if you are working as an ALT/real teacher in ES/JSH/HS situations.

[ironclad80]

i might just leave language ability off my resume altogether, unless i apply to JET.

i understand the new tests have changed. if i got JLPT 3 when it was 1-4 how can i make the distinction? JLPT 3/4 ?

you're right, i'm going to take the new 3 which would have been the old 2. so if i pass would i say i have JLPT N3? is that the proper name now?

[PO1]

[ironclad80]

[OneJoelFifty]