Job Discussion Forums

[rwnorman]

I was interviewed in Canada by GEOS. They've offered me a position. I get the impression from other postings that I might be better off just showing up in Japan and finding work in a private school as opposed to a franchise. I know there's the deal with work visas, etc, but I could get a work visa for small fee from SWAP Canada. I've never been to Japan and I don't know anyone there so this idea seems risky. Can anyone assure me or advise against it or give me any general information? I'd appreciate it.

Richard

[Glenski]

Richard,

I think you are a bit confused on visas. Japanese immigration gives work visas, not some organization in Canada. They are based on the fact that you have an employer in Japan willing to sponsor you. Perhaps you are thinking of a working holiday visa? (I don't know what SWAP is.)

Coming to Japan blind poses many risks, yes. The biggest one is finances. You should be prepared to come with US$3000-4000. If you can't, then you really should reconsider. Even if you have a job in hand before you come, I'd suggest having US$3000 when you arrive.

Other risks are pretty obvious. No knowledge of the language or surroundings makes it hard to job hunt. Housing is expensive, and you will probably have to stay in a gaijin house until you get hired. That means you will probably have no insurance, too, until you get hired.

A lot also depends on just what kind of person you are and where you choose to look, as well as your credentials and what type of place you are looking to work at. I've recently read about some people who have spent 2-3 months looking for work here, only to end up going home emptyhanded. I know nothing about their background, hunting strategies, or locations, but this is just one example of what could happen.

Write me for a full list of advantages and disadvantages of job hunting from overseas vs. from within Japan. [email protected]

[PAULH]

"I was interviewed in Canada by GEOS. They've offered me a position. I get the impression from other postings that I might be better off just showing up in Japan and finding work in a private school as opposed to a franchise"


Sorry to be picky here but you are also confused about the types of schools you will work for.

NOVA GEOS, AEON and ECC are privately run and owned language schools operating as FOR-PROFIT businesses. GEOS is a private language school.

Franchises are like MacDonalds, where an entrepreneur for a fee will buy a turn key business and have access to the name, product line and pay a royalty fee to the mother company. Pizza Hut, Burger King all operate under this system.

GEOS schools are owned and operated, to my knowledge by the one company and rent their own premises with a branch manager. Staff are paid directly by GEOS and dont work for individual owner-operators. Large language schools like GEOS are NOT Franchise companies, but branch schools of one large language chain.

[PAULH]

I have just read that a companyy doing recruiting teachers for NOVA in Australia is charging people AUS$450 an administration fee for them to process their application. This fee is apparently non-refundable. Now you have a company called SWAP in Canada who is charging fees for visas which you can get free of charge (there may be an embassy administration charge but nothing more) from the Japanese embassy to get jobs at GEOS.

Be very careful about what you are paying for when applying for jobs here.

[Guest]

PAULH is right on the terminology. GEOS is not a franchise. It is a profit driven corporation.

As you've already had your interviews I presume you're under no illusion of the fact that GEOS expects a lot of it's teachers. You could easily find yourself teaching seven classes a day, as well as doing all the paperwork that doesn't seem to have any kind of purpose to it. You are also expected to be a sales person for lessons, books, trips abroad, more lessons, and more books. These are the major downsides.

On the plus side, as you've already mentioned, they do give a lot of support in terms of organising your visa, meeting you at the airport, providing accommodation and everything you need to go in it, key money on your apartment (this is really expensive, but they take care of it). Your manager will probably also help you with the bank, phone company and will always deal with the landlord and utilities companies.

GEOS texts are both student friendly and teacher friendly. You can be as creative as you want to be. If you don't want to be, you don't have to be.

Of course you might get to Japan, and find a smaller school which also supports you really well, but it is a bit of a gamble.

If I went back to Japan now I would not work for GEOS. However as a newbie with no contacts or experience of Japan I would not want to put you off working for GEOS. You could do a lot worse.