Job Discussion Forums

[Rooster_2006]

I'm thinking about maybe teaching in Japan (not definite yet). If I teach there, I'd prefer a three-year Specialist in Humanities visa to start. Much less headache than the one-year one.

Would signing a 13-month contract with an eikaiwa increase my chances of getting a three-year visa instead of a one-year visa?

How can I increase my chances of getting a three-year visa?

Thanks.

[therock]

I think it depends on what kind of day the immigration officer processing your application is having.

[Rooster_2006]

[ciccone_youth]

I came here with a 13-month contract but they just had me on a one-year visa, then renewed it at the very end.

Doubtful you'll get a 3-year visa right away.

When I re-applied for mine last month, I asked for a 3-year visa and they granted it. I was lucky. Most of my friends who also asked for it only got the 1-year one...

[Rooster_2006]

[southofreality]

A while ago, every first-timer at our office came over with 3-year visas while I kept getting only one-year renewals. I didn't get my first 3-year renewal until I used the Shinagawa office. With the minimal amount of data I've gathered (lol), it seems that the people I know who have used the Shinagawa office get the 3-year renewal with greater frequency than people I know who've used other offices.

[Glenski]

[Rooster_2006]

[Rooster_2006]

And to people who couldn't find a job in Japan, I have to ask the following questions:

1. Are you a native English speaker?
2. Do you have a degree?
3. Do you have Cambridge CELTA, a Cambridge CELTYL, or a Trinity CTEFLA?
4. Do you have at least a year of experience teaching English for pay?
5. Did you come to Japan and apply in-country (NOT just applying though overseas recruitment agencies, but actually showing up in Japan)?
6. Did you spend at least a month in Japan looking?
7. Did you send/hand out at least 50 resumes?
8. Do you speak Japanese at at least a JLPT Level 4 level?
9. Did you dress up for at least 75% of your interviews?
10. Are you under 30?
11. Do you have a North American accent?
12. When you did your demos for the job interviews, did you prepare or bring any tangible games/prizes/visuals for at least 75% of your interviews?
13. Were you willing to accept 180 ~ 220K yen per month?
14. Were you willing to work outside of Tokyo?
15. Were you willing to take a rural placement?

My guess is that people who didn't find jobs answered "no" to at least one of the above questions.

And my guess is that someone who answered "yes" to all 15 DID manage to find a job.

[Glenski]

Nice list of questions, Rooster.

But answering no to 3, 4, 8 and 10 are definitely not necessarily problems.

[Rooster_2006]

[Glenski]

Not necessarily. There was someone posting here not long ago about a simple eikaiwa job (I think, at least it was entry level), where a few hundred people applied. The person who got the job was a highly qualified/experienced French person, I think.

Moreover, personal chemistry is something employers look at. If your personality suits them, that seems to be half the battle because you are essentially in the service industry, and they want their clients (whom you see every day) to be happy with you, regardless of the quality of your actual teaching performance.

[Yawarakaijin]

[Mr_Monkey]

On the other hand, it should be noted that personality and social skills are a fundamental determiner of the quality of teaching.

If your students like you, it's half the battle. The other half - actually knowing what the hell you're doing - takes education, training and, to a lesser extent, experience.

[Rooster_2006]