Job Discussion Forums

[bluesman66]

Hi everyone! This is my first post, so easy to see I'm a newbie to all this in every sense. I've been following the forum for a couple of weeks now, and feel the need to ask you guys and girls who are out there doing it as to your opinions on my prospects. I am TEFL qualified, and my current job is as a Criminal Defence Lawyer in Scotland. I am on my feet in court all day every day, conducting trials before juries etc..

I have a Degree in Law (obviously!) and also have a background in music and drama. Computer literate also. Downsides are my age (44) and lack of teaching experience (in the TEFL environment). I am single, with no ties, and am totally and completely serious about doing this, as I have had enough of my current job, and want to do something new and challenging; moreover, I want to do THIS. I have only very basic Japanese, but intend to start lessons to improve this. Would be keen and grateful to hear opinions on my prospects, or lack thereof.

[Glenski]

Your age is not a downside. Neither is your lack of Japanese (which can be learned.)

Your lack of teaching experience and a teaching-related degree pretty much puts you in the same boat as most newbies.

I'd say decide on a few things before striking out.

1. Where in Japan do you think you might want to work? Think rural vs. urban, and think about climate that you absolutely cannot tolerate.

2. What is your time frame for starting? Look back 3-6 months from there in order to realize when you should be interviewing.

3. Decide whether you will look for jobs from Scotland or by coming to Japan. If it's the latter, realize the good and bad times of year.

4. Understand that you may end up working for someone far younger than you, at least as an immediate supervisor, and they may have darned little experience in that slot in terms of managing or TEFL.

5. Your law experience may put you in a position better than most newbies for business English teaching. Look in the FAQ stickies for links to employers for that.

6. Depending on your experience with music and drama, you might want to seek out the few positions that actually use both very strongly to teach (usually young kiddies, if you can handle that).

[bluesman66]

Glenski:

I am very grateful for the tips, many thanks! I see you're up North. I hear it's great up on Hokkaido, but winters can be a bitch. That crosses it off my list! I've been to Japan twice and i must say I love it.

Not too fussed about rural/city, but if rural, I guess I'd prefer not to be too islolated. I've sent a resume to Aeon, so fingers crossed there. I think primarily I'll be looking from here, as I am still working and have one or two court cases I'm still committed to, but will be good to go from the beginning of May, so the sooner the better. Also, it will help me accrue some necessary savings before I get out there.

How do you find it in general? How long have you been doing it?
Again...I'm grateful. Thanks.

[Glenski]

[Ikki]

Good grief! A middle-aged lawyer who wants to give up that career to...teach English in Japan?!

Your age WILL count against you! Most Japanese employers want "handsumu/pretty" under 30 year olds. Mind you, since you've never taught/lived in Japan before, that will put you in good standing-nobody wants a barbarian who "knows the score".

Looking for a job? How about Y200K/mo., no airfare, health/pension, start up rent of Y55K, a few grand US, on your part, just to get settled in...sound grand, mate?

Ye Gods, it is to weep to think of who's coming to Japan in 2011 to experience "wonderful Japan."

[bluesman66]

Ikki;

I appreciate your honesty. Firstly though, I am not 'giving up' my profession, but taking a career break for a minimum 2 years, and I'm even open-minded about that being more. My profession has been relentlessly butchered by my government, and due to our taxpayer funded system here, it has become increasingly difficult to make a decent living. That is the truth! So I've decided to take a minimum two years teaching English abroad whilst I assess my possible re-entry into my profession.

I aim to take this totally seriously (as I do everything) and go all out to achieve what I aim to. Secondly, I have done some research about start-up costs, rents and salaries etc so I pretty much have a ballpark on what to expect.

I only want to make enough to get by for the time I'm doing this, that's all. It's not all about "wonderful Japan"; I have been to Japan before and because I liked it so much, it remains my first choice...despite recent events, although just how practical my aspirations are now remains to be seen. But hey, all viewpoints are respected and gratefully received!

[Mr_Monkey]

Get a cert - preferably a recognised one like a CELTA or a Trinity Cert. TESOL. It will make you a better initial investment for any company that takes you on, and will make you a better teacher, initially at least.

You're a lawyer, so you can certainly use that to your advantage. Although your initial visa sponsor is unlikely to really care about your previous experience, you can work it to your advantage with private students and business English groups.

It's easy to be cynical about teaching here, as you've seen. You may like it, you may not; that's ultimately up to you.

[Glenski]

[bluesman66]

Glenski:

It's actually quite easy to re-enter my profession after an absence. I have my own firm anyway, which I'll be putting 'on ice' for the time I'm away. All I have to do in addition to that is to maintain what we call my 'CPD' (Continuing Professional Development), which a can do via things like online seminars etc.. It's only a total of 12-15 hours per year.

The current situation hasn't put me off though. I did apply to AEON on the 5th March. An e mail I got in reply told me that should they decide to extend the offer of an interview, they would contact me within 2 weeks. Thus far....nada. I'm thinking that notwithstanding the fact their website says they are still recruiting worldwide, the quake/tsunami situation may have affected their normal timescales. Who knows? I'm think of maybe sending resumes to schools directly though, but from what I have seen on here, that seems to be a tad over-ambitious. Thoughts there?

[Glenski]

My thoughts:

Realize that unless you are physically present in Japan, you are not as attractive to most employers (who want a face to face interview, and sometimes even a candidate who already has a proper visa), and the fact that very few places hire from abroad. I could name roughly a dozen, plus there have been mentioned a handful more over the years which do Skype interviews. You have to realize how much you're limiting yourself to succeeding when you apply from abroad.

[Dark Machine]

[Glenski]

[Ikki]

I thought WHVs were only for those 30 & under?

[Glenski]

[Dark Machine]