Job Discussion Forums

[zlzabayle]

Hello everybody. I've been seriously inquiring about teaching in Japan for the past several years. And I feel like I'm ready to take the plunge. I'm finishing my Masters in teaching ESL in spring 2012. I have no teaching experience. I was a tutor for six months. And I am also going to do a practicum where I teach at a communitycollege for about three months. This is a requirement for my degree. I have two questions:

One, am I in a solid position with this Masters degree and having limited experience?

And most importantly, question two, for those of you who went to Japan first and found a job while you're over there, where did you live? How did you sustain yourself with no job? How much money did you bring? I mean am I supposed to go there with like $3000 and hopefully land a job within two weeks? Did you stay in a hostel? What was your plan of action?

Your advice will be greatly appreciated. Really

[Glenski]

Are you in a "solid position"?
Most newcomers to EFL in Japan have a BA in a degree unrelated to teaching AFAIK. So, in that respect, yes, you are good to go.

IMO, you should still expect to get only entry level jobs at first, meaning ALT with JET or a dispatch agency, and eikaiwa instructor job, perhaps a business English teaching slot.

Can't speak for coming here to job hunt, as far as accommodations go, but the usual advice is to stay in temporary housing like a guest house (sometimes called a gaijin house). People usually recommend bringing US$4000-5000 to sustain themselves (for 3 months) before they actually get a job and get the first paycheck 4-6 weeks later.

You might land a job in 2 weeks, or it is IMO more likely that it will take 4-6 weeks minimum. Bear in mind that legally you can't start work even if hired on day 1, until you get a work visa, which can take 2-8 weeks. Some employers ignore that and ask people to work while the visa is in process, paying them substandard wages cash in hand, so be careful.

I would advise coming at a good time of year, Feb/March, but plan way ahead of that (like right now) for what employers you think are viable, and to contact them to say when you will be in town (to minimize any down time once you arrive).

[zlzabayle]

Thanks Glenski. Thank you for your prompt reply and the useful information.

You mentioned February and March as a good time to look for position. Unfortunately I will not be receiving my degree until May or June. Are there no job prospects at that time?

Secondly, you mentioned becoming an ALT for JET. That would be a dream. With my particular credentials, am I a solid candidate for that position? I've read that sometimes a Masters degree can work against you. I've read they're usually looking for somebody who is young and green without any kind of experience. What do you think? Thanks again.

And just to give you a little bit more background info, I am a 31-year-old Filipino-American male. Is age and race working against me for either the jet position or non-jet positions?

[natsume]

[Glenski]

zlzabayle,
Most hiring takes place for April start dates in Japan, and it seems that most ads for teaching jobs appear in Feb/March. Eikaiwas hire year round, so there will always be openings, but that is the peak time. JET ALTs have a hiring scheme different from dispatch ALTs. With JET, there is only one chance per year, and the deadline for applications is imminent for the 2012 start time (August). Other ALTs, so I'm told, can see ads or contact dispatch agencies late in the year (like now), but they will usually be hired to start in April, I believe. There may also be a slight blip in hiring for Sept/Oct start times.

I cannot speak for the JET Program reviewers. JET does not list a master's as a requirement, and I have heard that nowadays JET is looking for people who are more serious than the typical applicant, so having a teaching-related MA should be helpful. It certainly can't hurt, IMO.

Get advice from G Cthulhu (I think that's how it's spelled), who posts here, on JET matters.

Oh, don't use hyphenated expressions like Filipino-American to describe yourself. If you are American, you are American. Hyphenated expressions can confuse some employers, and some may not care for Filipinos anyway (or they may have a negative image of them). Your age is not a factor here, whether for JET or non-JET positions.

[pnksweater]

The applications for the 2012-2013 JET Program are out now. There�s a lot of paperwork involved, so if you�re serious about applying, do it now. You don�t have to be a graduate in order to apply, just prove that you will have a four year degree before you have to submit your paperwork for the working visa.

As a grad student, you should be fine. While it�s not a requirement, teaching experience, and a background in EFL/ESL will push your application toward the top of the stack. Then it�s up to you to screw it up in the interview stage. They still want someone who can demonstrate grace under fire and flexibility to deal with the stresses of living and working in a foreign country. I have met couples that applied to the program and the professional welder got in, while the teacher with 10 years of experience didn�t. It seems crazy until you meet them in person and realize one is upbeat and enthusiastic, the other is a total wet blanket. So attitude still counts for a lot.

One last point, the salary scale has changed for JETs. The pay quoted is now pre-tax, which means that the pay may or may not be near the rate of other dispatch or direct hire ALT positions. However, we�re still expected to put in extra effort and give back to the community, help out with club activities� so unless you�re really gung-ho about rural living and �internationalization� you may skip all the hassle and go with another position that grants you more free time and freedom.

[zlzabayle]

Wow you guys have been amazingly helpful. It's touching that there's still people out there who want to help you instead of tear you down. Thanks guys.

[G Cthulhu]

[Glenski]