Job Discussion Forums

[Yakamo]

Hello everyone. I am currently working as an ALT at a junior high school in the Ibaraki prefecture. This is my 2nd year in Japan, and for my 3rd year, I would like to work at a Japanese High School. The reason being is that I feel that I could better connect with an older group of students. Does anyone have any insight into gaining employment at a Japanese high school?

Any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Glenski]

As an ALT, you go where the dispatcher sends you.

If you want the ability to choose where you go, I'd say either try for a direct hire position (not sure if even that ensures anything), or see about getting into a private HS. I used to work at one, and that was a direct hire. Most private HS's don't use ALTs.

[seklarwia]

Good luck connecting with HS students. Unless you end up in HS specialising in foreign languages, you're likely going to find the students incredibly unresponsive and you'll wish that you never left JHS.

But that aside, who is your employer? Are you a JET, dispatch, direct hirer? Are you happy with your relationship with your employer?
If you don't have any issues with your employer and simply want to change to a HS, why don't you ask them if a transfer to a HS is possible. If a dispatcher is large enough and they like you, they will likely try to get you a transfer since recontracted ALTs tend to get better picks on placements with newbies getting the left overs.
I hear that JET will try to accomodate requests within reason.
Direct hirer... that will depend on your BOE.

If not, or you don't like your employer, you're going to have to job hunt and scour the adds like the rest. If you have managed to drag yourself away from the binge-drinking ALT crowd long enough to whip up some Japanese contacts, you might ask them for a heads up on any HS positions about to become avaliable.