|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Atricks
Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Japan
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:10 am Post subject: Questions on applying in Japan/ and resume. (Long!) |
 |
|
Hello! I'm new here. I turn 25 next month and just got my B.A. in Psychology from UNLV. Not TESL certified, no teaching experience.
I've been living in Japan for the past year and a half because my husband is stationed at Misawa Air Base, but is going to be getting out of the service in August, which is when we will be flying back home to Arizona temporarily to visit family and put our belongings in storage.
But I'd like to line up a teaching job before we leave here, preferably finding a Tokyo position, because I really liked visiting there. I'm a bit concerned about being discriminated against because I'm asian american (half thai, half white). Also would like to apply for positions in Thailand because I've never been. I don't speak much japanese, just bare basic vocabulary and greetings, and can't read it either.
My husband would like to stay at home finishing up his degree full time online, while I work. I think this would be doable with the $800 monthly income he gets from the GI Bill. But, money really is not the reason I want to teach. I think it will be rewarding, and give me an opportunity to enjoy living in Japan or Thailand, or wherever country I end up.
I'm working on my resume and notice that scans are recommended for my picture and of my passport and diploma. I don't own a scanner, don't even know how to use one. Can I just take pictures of these with a digital camera and save those pics to send in emails? Is there some sort of preferance for scanned picures? Also, I was a bit confused in where it actually is placed. In the upper left corner, with my bio info to the right of it? Or bio info first, with the picture to the right? Is there anywhere where I can see an actual resume layout, instead of just the instructions of how to make one? Should I also scan or send letters of recommendation or awards I've gotten?
Also, since I'm on a U.S. territory in Japan, I'm sure which one to put as my country of residency. If I put the U.S, then they will not know that I am able for a face to face interview. If I put Japan, then they might assume they won't need to pay travel expenses for me to fly from the states to here.
How do I go about applying for these jobs here? I'm going to send in my resume to their websites. But is it a matter of just finding the nearest school or company (like AEON, NOVA, JET) and walking in and saying I'm interested in applying for a job? Would that better my chances in being hired?
My husband just sent the paperwork today to get his passport, so it will probably be 6 weeks. How does it work out for him if I get hired by one of the companies? Would we need to pay for his flight over? Would they help in getting him a visa as well, and would they need his passport at the same time they would need mine? Would he be allowed to stay in the housing with me?
How's that for starters?  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I'm a bit concerned about being discriminated against because I'm asian american (half thai, half white). |
I take it you didn't work off base much or at all. Regardless, the most important thing you have to realize is this...there WILL be some people who will discriminate against you because you look Asian, and to some (employers and students), this means perfect native English cannot come out of your mouth. Ignore those slobs and keep looking. Secondly, you should try NOT to refer to yourself as "Asian American". You are American. Period.
| Quote: |
| I don't speak much japanese, just bare basic vocabulary and greetings, and can't read it either. |
That's pretty much most conversation school teachers, too. Don't fret. You won't be expected to use it in the classroom anyway. Just learn it for survival in daily life.
| Quote: |
| My husband would like to stay at home finishing up his degree full time online, while I work. I think this would be doable with the $800 monthly income he gets from the GI Bill. |
"From home"...does that mean your home in Japan? If he doesn't work, you will find it very difficult to make ends meet on a conversation school teacher's salary.
| Quote: |
| I'm working on my resume and notice that scans are recommended for my picture and of my passport and diploma. I don't own a scanner, don't even know how to use one. Can I just take pictures of these with a digital camera and save those pics to send in emails? |
Yes. Just paste your photo onto the top (right or left) corner of your resume. Styles vary on how to lay out personal info. I suggest your name in largest manageable font against the left margin, beneath which is your personal info, and off to the right in the corner is your photo. Make it a professional pose, neutral background, from the shoulders up. As for your passport, I have never heard of anyone needing to scan it. When the time comes to provide documentation for your work visa, a photocopy is acceptable.
| Quote: |
| Should I also scan or send letters of recommendation or awards I've gotten? |
No. If your employer wants them, he'll ask for originals or photocopies to be sent by regular mail.
| Quote: |
| since I'm on a U.S. territory in Japan, I'm sure which one to put as my country of residency. If I put the U.S, then they will not know that I am able for a face to face interview. If I put Japan, then they might assume they won't need to pay travel expenses for me to fly from the states to here. |
State the local address where you are living now. If you continue the application process after you relocate to the USA, change your resume accordingly.
Basically, the resume should show your current address so people can send you mail. Just because you are American, it doesn't mean you live in the USA.
| Quote: |
| How do I go about applying for these jobs here? |
Find the ads and send a cover letter and resume. I don't recommend sending inquiries to places that aren't advertising. The major Internet job ad sites for teachers are...
www.eslcafe.com (yup, right here, updated daily)
www.eltnews.com (also updated daily)
www.gaijinpot.com (also updated daily)
www.ohayosensei.com (updated twice monthly)
http://www.fukuoka-now.com/forums/forum.php?forum=tech
http://www.teaching-english-in-japan.net/
http://www.kansaiscene.com/classifieds.shtml
http://www.kfm.to
http://www.kto.co.jp
http://www.eol-japan.com/
http://www.japanjoblink.com/japan/index.asp
| Quote: |
| My husband just sent the paperwork today to get his passport, so it will probably be 6 weeks. How does it work out for him if I get hired by one of the companies? |
He can stay on one of 3 types of status.
1. a tourist, which would mean leaving the country every 90 days. Not cool, and certainly expensive.
2. a dependent, which means he gets a dependent visa when you apply for your work visa. This allows him to stay and work PT if he wants.
3. an employee, which means he must also apply for a work visa. It's up to you to decide which option, 2 or 3.
| Quote: |
| Would we need to pay for his flight over? |
If you get hired while you are in the USA, don't expect an employer to pay for EITHER of your airfare. They rarely do. If you get hired and move to Japan, leaving him behind, and he later chooses to join you, your employer will not pay for him.
| Quote: |
| Would they help in getting him a visa as well, and would they need his passport at the same time they would need mine? |
Your employer would likely not help your spouse in getting a visa unless he is going to work for them. You could explain that he is going to apply for the dependent visa simultaneously, however, if you choose that option, and they will probably file your two loads of paperwork together. That means needing both passports, yet. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
moot point
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 441
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Since you're making a move in a few months why don't you try to pick up some private lessons just to get your feet wet. I'm sure your U.S. military base has some sort of setup to help you meet potential students. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Atricks
Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 7:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
Glenski- Thankyou for that very thorough response! It was very helpful.
[quote="Glenski"]
| Quote: |
| "From home"...does that mean your home in Japan? If he doesn't work, you will find it very difficult to make ends meet on a conversation school teacher's salary. |
Yes, I was speaking about my home in Japan. Hmm, maybe it would be better if I applied to Thailand then, where the extra income from DH would go a lot farther? I guess I was thinking it was possible to do in Japan because I was reading in another post here about a single mother who was able to teach here, and I figured if she was able to support herself and the kid with just her salary, that I might be able to do it too. But I could see how it would be difficult to do.
I was just in Sapporo for the Snow festival. I really enjoyed the city, but froze my a$$ off. Also enjoyed the Sapporo factory beer garden.
moot point- I was definitely planning on looking into teaching some private lessons here to see how I like it (and how the students like me as a teacher). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
