Job Discussion Forums

[Ben]

I`ve been offered work with ECC as well... they do sell themselves very well, and seem very professional. I`m a 21 year old, second year uni student, and so I dont have a degree, yet they are still asking me to work in a high school.... Im not sure if this is legal, Im going to call them back and ask them about it... but Im worried that they may lie to me or something... I dont want to end up being deported! Does anyone know anything about this? if its legal to teach in a high school without a degree... see I was at another school today... they seem a little scary actually, its called ZIAC I dont know if anyone has heard of this company... they sell themselves pretty well too, and come on all professional like, but they dont pay very well compared to other schools, (10000yen a day) they actually point this out to you, and try this "do it for the children, satisfaction, watching kids grow up" line on you. They also kind of bully, and push you a lot to get you to sign up... they give you training, but you have to pay them 10000yen security deposit so you dont do a runner they said, when you complete your training, but as soon as you start working for them, they promise to pay 50000yen....but they will ask for it back if you terminate the contract before the date is up... and they pretty much told me that they own my ass as soon as I sign the contract, almost those exact words...heh, they`re my other option besides ECC... I was (maybe stupidly) talking to them about ECC...and they seem to be rivals... this guy at ZIAC was telling me how they have all the junior high contracts, and ECC have all the senior contracts. And that ECC dont have enough teachers to fill all the positions that they have bought, and as a result will end up having to pay heavy fines... (apparently it was in the newspapers or something...yesterday?)and that is why they are so desperate for teachers... and why in turn they will employ me with out a degree... this is where I was stupid, see this guy has all my info on file, he knows I dont have a degree, and he said something like this to me... "You do know if you started working for ECC without a degree that you will most probably end up being reported, not by me of course, I_wouldnt do such a thing, but if this happens you will then probably end up being deported...".......hahaha... it rhymes... maybe I should`ve gone into rap music? it seems like a safer industry even if I do end up dead like tupac, or shot nine times like 50cent! @_@
so in the end, I either work for ECC 3 days a week, right next to my house, 8:30 - 4:15, making 40500yen, and risk being deported maybe? orrrr 5 days a week, for scary ZIAC 8:30-5:00, 1 and a half hours travel away and earn 50000yen a week.... and maybe a 50000 bonus, well 40000 when you take back the dodgey 10000 I have to pay ZIAC...and they own me apparently.... anyone have any advice??????

here`s ZIACs URL if anyone wants to check them out:
http://www.zenken-inc.co.jp/

[Ben]

oh, and I failed to mention that the job with ZIAC is with a sectin called BI-Lingual kids, where I would be looking after 1-2 year olds in an english speaking enviroment..... ? more work then a senior high teacher? with ECC I`d be working in a team with a Japanese teacher....

[Vince]

I worked for ECC for a few years. It's a decent company. It won't make you rich, but the working conditions are good. I don't know what's up with them offering you a job when you have only two years of university. Would you be teaching under a work visa? If not, the university degree isn't that important. Ask them about it. Also, I'd recommend that you don't work in a high school at your age. Japanese kids have recently gotten out of hand, and I don't think they'd consider someone so close to their age a "real" teacher. I suppose it would be okay if you taught only first-year students.

I hadn't heard of ZIAC. From what you said, I wouldn't go anywhere near them.