Job Discussion Forums

flyingcolours · Joined: 04 Oct 2011 Posts: 73

Being a country bumpkin I would be interested in working in such an environment.
Any schools or recruiters for this kind of place?

Thanks a bunch.

lyonhead · Joined: 25 Nov 2011 Posts: 4

I used this guys service once before. I didn't make it to Japan because the timing wasn't right, but I plan on using him again in the next few months to find an Hokkaido job. He sends you a daily email with schools in Hokkaido looking for teachers. Other jobs too that might apply to foreigners. It's well worth the $50 bucks.

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hokkaido/kenhartmann/

Good luck!

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

Ken's service is indispensable.

Avoid the following schools: CIE in Kitami and Alpha in Kushiro. Horrible reputations.

What are you looking for? ALT? Eikaiwa? University?
What are your qualifications? When do you want to start?

There are more countryside places than just Hokkaido. Perhaps you would work well in the JET Program (application deadlines are either over for 2012 or extremely close to being over).

flyingcolours · Joined: 04 Oct 2011 Posts: 73

Thanks Glenski.

I have my MA and have been teaching for many years in Korea - hakwans and universities. I did some volunteer teaching for Japanese students at the college in my hometown back in the USA.

I'm willing to start anytime. I would like to teach all age groups.

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

macandcheese · Joined: 06 Oct 2011 Posts: 19

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

The fact that CIE advertises every 6 months or so for the same position is a huge red flag. I also have it on firsthand authority they are worth avoiding. Let's leave it at that. Alpha, too. Just trust me on this one. There are a LOT more fish in the sea, so concentrate on them.

Are you also a hopeful for work in Hokkaido? If so, why? Sapporo has the most jobs, FWIW.

macandcheese · Joined: 06 Oct 2011 Posts: 19

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

Most employers in Japan don't recruit outside the country. About a dozen advertise widely for that, and most of them have people stationed around the world in most native English speaking countries to conduct interviews at their discretion and at your expense. Sapporo has a few of them. There are also a few other employers (nobody on forums seems to name names) who do Skype interviews.

For eikaiwas, now to end of March is prime hiring time. Academic year, even for eikaiwas, begins in April.