Job Discussion Forums

[Glenski]

flyingcolours,
There are actually many employers in Japan that require an essay, or if not that specific an item, then a cover letter (which amounts to roughly the same number of words).

Are you hoping to get your foot in the door with just a resume, or do you also intend to add a cover letter? If the latter, I hope you make something more than just a few lines, because I can guarantee you that most employers will probably not even look at your resume without knowing more. I'm not saying this from one side of the hiring desk. I've been on both.

This also begs the question about what your resume looks like. Without posting it here, would you mind describing it (contents, format, bullets vs. paragraphs)?

Thanks.

[Tsian]

[flyingcolours]

my resume has where i used to work....japan, philippines, usa, korea
a couple of academic recognitions as well as a few sports honors
i have a cover letter.

[Tsian]

I think both Glenski and I were more interested in the type of work you had engaged in and the time frame of your employment.

Is this your first experience having to supply documents other than a resume and cover letter?

[flyingcolours]

yeah that's why i don't want to do it.

[Glenski]

The sports honors do not even need to go on a teaching resume, so my first recommendation would be to lose them.

Second, you wrote that you "have a cover letter". To me, this implies that you have made a standard form letter that you give to everyone. I would strongly suggest ditching that idea in favor of what most people do; that is, take elements from that template and customize each cover letter to suit the employer and his ad. This might sound like extra tedious work, but if you want the best chance to get accepted for an interview, you will go this tiny extra mile. By the way, what's on your current cover letter?

Third, I asked you to give details on whether you use paragraphs or bullets in your resume, but you didn't say. Considering you have 4 teaching experiences (at least, that is what I assume), you should have plenty of information to fill a page of a resume. Please explain how you describe each one.

May I ask what you mean by "academic recognitions"? That is kind of vague, and I don't want to guess. Thanks a lot.

Now, despite all of these necessary things for a resume, assuming the formatting isn't to off-putting (one never knows, and I've proofread several dozen in my lifetime), I would still say that a resume is not enough.

[Tsian]

Then, in all honestly, I suggest you look for work outside the teaching field in Japan.

Almost all companies (and certainly the reputable ones) require of their teachers some or all of the following:
-demonstration lessons
-sample lesson plans
-letters of intent / interest ("why i want to teach")

You may see the essays as meaningless, but they are especially important to companies when trying to evaluate people with limited teaching experience (and when trying to evaluate whether a perspective employee would be a good fit for the company).

And do note, that these sorts of requirements are not limited to English conversation schools or K-12 education, but are even more widespread when you look at more advanced teaching positions.

May I ask what kind of positions you've held up until this point?

Though to be honest, your responses make me wonder if you aren't trying to simply get a rise out of some of the regular posters here.

[flyingcolours]

i taught for some uni's in korea and a little in the philippines.
on my cover letter is stuff about how important it is to learn english and the fact that i have lived in many different parts of the world etc.
i keep the sports honors because i have taught pe before.

[Tsian]

Flyingcolours,

You still haven't really answered in any detail the questions that Glenski and I have put to you.



Of note, it is still not clear what position / how long you have taught for.
Whether those jobs required demonstrations or lesson plans (etc)
Whether you are sending a "form" cover letter or not.

I think we are all happy to help and give whatever input we can, but if you are actually interested in help or advice, it would be rather kind of you to at least put as much effort into your responses as we are in our replies to you.

May I also ask why you left those positions?

[Glenski]

Clearly, you are in a weak position to negotiate for teaching positions here. I would like to let you know that university positions in Korea and the Philippines are not considered (by Japanese employers) to be on par with Japanese universities much/most of the time.

Keeping a PE-related item on a resume for teaching a language is your prerogative, but IMO it won't help your chances.

[Pitarou]

Glensi & Tsian,

Have you checked out the other threads this guy started?

[natsume]

Ah, a slippery troll. That is enough of that.