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ohdannyboy
Joined: 23 Jun 2004
Posts: 18
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 Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:00 pm Post subject: Can I resign from JET ??? |
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Hello
I would like to know if it is possible to resign from the JET program. If you go to Japan on the JET and get a better job offer is it possible to leave. Are their financial penalties????
Cheers |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: Can I resign from JET ??? |
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| ohdannyboy wrote: |
Hello
I would like to know if it is possible to resign from the JET program. If you go to Japan on the JET and get a better job offer is it possible to leave. Are their financial penalties????
Cheers |
You can resign from the JET program as long as you give a months notice. I think a lot will depend on the reason too e.g. sickness, as the Board of Education has to fly in a replacement. Timing is also important too.
What job offer is better than the JET program? I dont Know of any, when you consider you have airfare paid for, long holidays and cheap accomodation provided.
If you leave the JET program you also have to change your visa as well as the visa is different for conversation school instructors. |
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Nismo
Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Good luck finding a better offer than JET. I really mean it, it's about as easy as winning the lottery. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:14 am Post subject: Re: Can I resign from JET ??? |
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| ohdannyboy wrote: |
Hello
I would like to know if it is possible to resign from the JET program. If you go to Japan on the JET and get a better job offer is it possible to leave. Are their financial penalties????
Cheers |
Dannyboy,
I will try to be nice to you, but keep in mind the JET program is a government run exchange program, where your salary is paid by the local Board of Education i.e. the tax payer. You are being paid as a cultural ambassador to work in high schools and help students have exposure to English. You should be keeping this goal in mind, rather than just seeing it as a chance to get your foot in the door to a job, at government expense. It costs a lot of money to hire and interview JETS, fly them over and train them at taxpayer expense (not that many new JETS complain at feasting on the public purse i.e. my taxes) . The JET contract is only a year, which is not a long time by Japan standards and by quitting mid-contract all you do is deprive someone else of a place who is perhaps more deserving yet who was rejected in your favor. Dont forget that JET will have to fly out a replacement for you as well. They will probably ask you if you want to renew your one-year contract at the end, but my feeling is that quitting in the middle of a one-year teaching contract to find a new job is not a wise move as it will probably mean quitting in the middle of a school term.
If you have a death in the family, you become so mentally and physically incapacitated by sickness or mental distress they may let you leave (but then again they may not), mental fortitude or 'gaman' is usually expected here. If you hand in your notice to get another job JET they can not financially penalise you, but it's possible the Japanese English teacher(s) you work with, your CLAIR supervisor or the Board of Education can make life totally miserable for you before you actually leave as they will just see you as a self-absorbed free-loader. teachers on JET are routinely required to work even though they get sick and may or may not get sick leave or days off. I hate to think what they will say when you say you want to quit because you want to get a better paying job.
Social ostracism or harassment, being routinely or totally ignored in the teachers room. Not told about important meetings or functions and scolded for not turning up or missing out on important information. Being made to come to school on weekends or holidays and given no work to do. There will be a cost to handing in your notice, not necessarily a financial one.
I have not been on JET myself, but a lot depends on the BOE and your supervisors, but if you basically make out you are not a team player and not abiding by the spirit of the JET program (seeing it as a well-perked job, basically) , you are just using JET to jump ship and you are only interested in looking after No 1, you may end up worse off.
As I mentioned JET pays more than most conversation schools (about 3.6 million yen a year vs 3 million at NOVA) and you would be lucky to find anything over 230,000 yen a month these days, on JET you get 4 or 5 months vacation and your airfare to your home country. They will also arrange your accomodation as well. Can you tell me job offers apart from the JET program these days top this? |
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Celeste
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 814
Location: Fukuoka City, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:22 am Post subject: |
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| If you resign from the JET programme (or are incapacitated in some way and cannot work while on the JET programme) you will not be replaced. One of two things will happen. If you are in an area with other JET ALTs, they will have to take your classes. If you are in area with no other JETs, then your students will be without a foreign teacher until the next year. (Either way, expect people in the area to badmouth you to any and all who will listen for having left them in the lurch.) |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:26 am Post subject: |
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| If you think you may not last the year, don't take the job. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 9:53 am Post subject: |
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Maybe some one can correct me, but if you quit the JET program within the first year they will make you pay back your airfare that brought you here.
Believe it or not Japanese cities are like small villages and people talk. If you dump on your employers and leave them in the lurch you can be sure that you will have problems finding work in that prefecture or surrounding prefectures, as many Japanese high school teachers belong to teaching groups and network with other teachers and principals from other high schools. I'm sure there is an informal 'blacklist' of troublesome foreigners and JETs that JTEs know about. Your reputation will follow you especially if you get your name or photo in the newspapers. Your better job will want to know why you want to quit the JET program as well. Stick it out, its only a year and it'll be over before you know it. |
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homersimpson
Joined: 14 Feb 2003
Posts: 569
Location: Kagoshima
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:34 am Post subject: |
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| Actually, working for JET can assist you in finding a Uni job down the line (if you play your cards right). You will have quite an opportunity to make contacts in local community. If you do a good job w/the JET Program in your city/town you may be steered in the direction of an opening. But Paul and Gordon know more about university positions. It's my understanding that uni jobs are becoming harder to get. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:46 am Post subject: |
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| homersimpson wrote: |
| . But Paul and Gordon know more about university positions. It's my understanding that uni jobs are becoming harder to get. |
My experience of a university job search last year (I have Masters in TESOL and publications and experience)
30-40 or more (lost count after a dozen) resumes sent out to schools from Tokyo to Hiroshima between October and January (2002-2003 and 2003-2004)
Number of candidates for each job varied but for jobs in English-language postings/magazines expect a large response, 30-50 people for one position.Less competition for Japanese-language postings.
shortlisted on 2 of them.
beaten by guys with PhDs, some who were not always hired as they had book knowledge, unrelated PhD but little experience or no Japanese, depends on school needs)
Interview was sometimes partly or all in Japanese. They will ask you about your publications and research (in Japanese) or what you will do to increase student motivation or deal with a failing student.
Need to send copies of publications/articles.
Schools are now asking for more qualifications for jobs at lower-ranked universities. PhDs for freshman classes or publications for part time jobs.
Term contracts are getting shorter, number of classes per week and related duties are increasing (making and writing tests, proofreading Japanese professors English, making teaching materials)
Pay is decreasing year by year. Research budgets and travel allowances are being trimmed.
Present job by personal referral and interview in Japanese.
Age is a big factor as salaries are tied to when you graduated university and how many years experience you have.
Much easier to get a job if you know someone at the school or get an introduction. Lots of mutual backscratching goes on and many insiders have their personal favorites they want to see hired. Best qualified candidate does not always get hired. |
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Smooth Operator
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 140
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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I quit JET to get a university job. However, I was coming to the end of my 3rd year (had under 4 months left), and I was going to work for the local municipal university connected to the same BOE I was working as an ALT for. Thus, it was a special case. My boss was very understanding and even invited me around to his house to meet his family after I told him my decision...
What Paul says is largely correct about universities. One thing he didn't say is that some places like to hire younger, less experienced candidates to keep salary costs down. Of course, some experience is required... |
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ohdannyboy
Joined: 23 Jun 2004
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your informative relys to my message. Firstly I am very awear of the ethical issue of leaving JET, it is this in fact that inspired me to post the message in the first place. I certainly don't want to be seen as dumping on anybody, so perhaps JET is not for me.
I understand advice about the University job climate in Japan, and in one of your messages you advise against anyone trying to make a career of university teaching in Japan. However, I'd like to make the point that after living in Japan for 2 years I came to the conclusion that I wanted to build a future for myself in Japan, so I decided to return home to do my masters. I adore the country and am continuing to study the language. At the moment I have san-kai, but hope to be ready for ni-kai by this december when I return to Japan. I have a couple of contacts at Japanese universities who keep me posted of openings, and, although I realise it is a dificult task, I will try to get something published this year.
Since uni's don't recruit from overseas, the question I am asking myself is 'do I turn up Jobless in Japan and hope I find a job, visa etc when I get there or should I try and pre arrange somekind of job (Jet or even Nova perhaps) so at least I will have a visa and some income. I'm sure you'd agree there are less ethical issues leaving Nova than Jet.
My goal is to teach at universities, of course full time is preferable, but if that's not possible, then part- time. I certainly don't want to be seen as taking advantage of anyone, I dont know a great deal about the JET program (only what I've read on their website) but if leaving Jet before my contract finishes causes difficulties for people then I guess it's better not to go with them in the first place.
Many thanks
Danny |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Smooth Operator wrote: |
| IWhat Paul says is largely correct about universities. One thing he didn't say is that some places like to hire younger, less experienced candidates to keep salary costs down. Of course, some experience is required... |
All young teachers get older, some get married and they have kids once their income starts rising. Then you fight like hell to stay employed and have enough money coming in. I started part time at the age of 27, worked for ten years till i got a Masters and a full time job and am now 41. You can expect that you will also move around the country every couple of years as you will not always find full time work in your area. More competition in the big cities and Tokyo is the worst for seeking jobs.
many jobs now ask for guys who are 35 with PhDs (regardless of whether they can teach or not) as salaries are tied to your age. An experienced guy of 40 is much more expensive to hire than someone of 30), maybe by a couple of million a year in salary. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:04 am Post subject: |
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Going by what you've said about your qualifications and experience of Japan, I'd say you're very unlikely to be hired for JET.
But anyway, leaving JET during the contract period is not a good idea. It is, as others have said, only a year and it's surprising what you learn over the course of the year. It's well worthwhile staying the whole of the first year.
One months notice is standard on most JET contracts. If you leave within the first (or, in some extreme cases, two or three) month then you will *probably* be replaced. This is still a huge expense for your contracting organisation.
The earlier you leave the more likely it is they will invoke the penalty clause and charge you for the costs they've incurred in bringing you over. And make no mistake, it is *very* expensive to bring each individual over. I know of BOE's that have done this, just as I know of BOEs that haven't bothered. It's luck of the draw.
If you have valid reasons for opting out of the contract then that's all good and fine. Leaving during your first year for another job won't be seen as valid, IMO. |
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