Job Discussion Forums

neoviva · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 1 Location: United States

I am brand new to researching teaching positions abroad. WHat're the best sites to look for jobs in Japan? Thanks in advance!

Celeste

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

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

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Maybe I'm thinking of Gaijinpot.

I'm not taking any chances anyway.

PS Glenski, I think I have mentioned before but the KSC website link is defunct, dead, has ceased to exist but you continue to post it. The admin disbanded KSC as a social group about 4 years ago.

The mcentyre link is also dead.

http://mcentyre.com/forum/index.php

Better re-check your links.

wangtesol · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 280

A warning to you that none of these job websites have any standards. Any illegal company can post a job on these sites and many do. It is usually the advertising dollars from the schools themselves that funds the website, so the owner of the website will be very reluctant to ban an unscrupulous school and lose this source of money.

The private language school industry in Japan is unregulated, so anyone can open up a "school." There is no one to check to see if the "school" even has a business license. Many school owners have no background in education.

If the "school" only offers a cellphone number and has no landline, it is probably not even registered as business.

Then there is the issue of dispatching schools, who send out teachers to kindergartens or public schools to teach. Many of these do not use a proper dispatch license, and the use what are called "gyomu itaku" (service) contracts. This is also illegal (a violation of Dispatch Law).

The Japan Times newspaper does require schools that want to advertise in their classified section to obey the laws of Japan. If a business is not following the law, they can be prohibited from advertising in the newspaper. Job websites do not require outfits to follow the law.

Metropolis magazine in Tokyo also has some safeguards about who advertises with them.

Look out for small schools. The owners are often unaware that basic laws do apply to foreigners. They often violate Labour Standards Law such as withholding wage for quitting and unfairly deducting wages. You can find out what your labor rights are in Japan at this Tokyo union...

http://www.nambufwc.org

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Seeker of truth · Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 146

Here are a few links to companies with good reputations:

www.phoenixassoc.com
www.jesjapan.com
www.simul.co.jp

Please share your experiences.