Job Discussion Forums

kanjizai · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 69

has anyone ever worked for zenken. If so,what is ity like?

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

I would suggest you click on the dispatch-related link at the top of http://www.generalunion.org. A bit of info on Zenken there.

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

A friend of mine worked for them in Osaka. He said it's horrible, absolutely horrible. Stay away.

capper · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 61

I had an interview at Zenken in Tokyo a couple of months ago. I was required to write a test and fill out an application form. The form asked for my expected hourly rate of pay. I wrote 5000 yen per hour down. The gentleman interviewing me said that while he did not set the hourly wage himself (his boss apparently did it), there was no way I would be able to get 5000 per hour or even close to it. He said that based on my qualifications and experience, I'd be looking at 3000 or 3500 at the very most. I politely told him that I would not be interested in working at that rate as it would clearly be the lowest paying teaching job I had. Never heard from them again and I don't expect to either.

Some companies are after lesser quality teachers that they can get away with paying lower hourly rates to. Generally, the companies that pay a higher rate attract more experienced and / or educated teachers. These companies also tend to have a lower teacher turnover rate because the teachers are usually more satisfied with their compensation and / or working conditions. Just look at companies like NOVA, GEOS, ALS, and many others that pay a lousy wage. They rarely keep their teachers for long periods of time. I suppose Zenken is right in that mix.

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

A friend of mine just finished a year with these bozos. The only reason why he gutted it out was because of the bonus they promised him at the end of the year. He was in an accident, unable to work for 7 school days. He called in, and even helped them find a replacement for that time. They often needed someone to substitute for jobs on Saturdays, at the last minute, and he did.

Then when bonus time came, the reduced his bonus by 11,000 yen for each of the 7 day he was absent and unable to work (basically in the hospital for the majority of those days)

Just a warning for anyone thinking about working for this crap company. BEWARE!