Job Discussion Forums

butterflies · Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 23

Hi again,

I am plannning to graduate this May and I'm really bummed
because I know that the Japanese school year
starts in April = hiring season

I also know that eikaiwa places hire year round,
but any idea on the chances I will be hired if I tell
them I can't work until after May?

I'm applying to places right now hoping I'll get
an interview, but feel like they might just overlook me.

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

I'd say that if you aren't going to be able to fulfill immigration requirements for a visa until after May, don't apply to places that have openings which begin before then.

PaulV · Joined: 24 Jan 2011 Posts: 7 Location: United States

I have the same problem. Will it make a difference that my wife is Japanese, and I can get a visa through my marriage?

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318

Tuan · Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 38 Location: Netherlands

PaulV · Joined: 24 Jan 2011 Posts: 7 Location: United States

As the OP, I'm worried about my chances in late May early June. How hard is it going to be to find something in the middle of the school year? I've hard that some of the eikaiwas hire all year long. Would an eikaiwa pay enough for me to live?

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

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

The Japan Times and OhayoSensei seem to have the biggest number of ads for teaching positions in February and March. ALTs may be hired earlier, of course, but the bottom line is that April is the start of the academic (and fiscal) year. International schools usually (all?) start in the fall, though.

So, if you are not going to have a degree until May or June, you have to sit back and accept the fact that most jobs will have been taken by then. Not all, of course. Yes, some eikaiwa hire year round. It is probably more accurate to say that you will always be able to see ads for eikaiwas throughout the year (not necessarily the same ones, though).

Realize, too, that there may actually be a danger to applying for jobs that advertise at the end of April or in early May. Those might have opened up because someone newly hired decided to bail out because of poor work conditions. It's hard to say, but be aware.

Yes, a spouse visa will work in your favor. But if you don't even have one yet, despite having a Japanese spouse, you're in the same situation as a person who is looking for an employer to sponsor a work visa. So, if you have serious thoughts about coming here, get the spouse visa soon. It won't guarantee any job, of course, but it will give employers a better sense that you intend to stick around, and you can work at any job, not just teaching, as long as you are qualified. Moreover, if you have a spouse visa, you can take on PT work, whereas a person looking for a work visa sponsor cannot.

butterflies · Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 23

I actually got an interview with AEON, and I'm sure that they read on my application that I'm not graduating until May. They also state that it's okay if you're NOT able to bring proof of graduation to the interview so
I'm guessing there are chances that they hire people ahead of time and dispatch them sometime after May? Only a guess and hoping it's that way ...