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24601
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 75
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 Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:07 pm Post subject: Nova Interview Tips |
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Okay since I got the "yes we want you" call I feel comfortable sharing some insights I have not yet seen posted here.
One thing I picked up on in the interview process is they are big on customer service. Surprised? Come on people this is Japan, world reknowned for customer service, no?
I was questioned extensively on if I'd dealt with irate consumers before. I had, and explained how. My interviewer asked me how I responded to them. I explained I tried to soothe them. I explained why (in my instance the woman had a very legitimate complaint) and how I empathized with her and tried to soothe things without trashing my incompetent employer. He asked why I did this. I said well on a human level I felt bad for her, she got screwed. I also further explained that's just what you do in business, you make the customer feel good. (Note, I used the word customer. I never went in assuming I was applying for a "teacher" job. I have always seen this adventure with searching for a job with the big 4 as looking for a job as a conversationalist). I also explained I didn't trash my employer altho I agreed with her because you just don't DO that, it's not professional. I think this won me points.
Another thing they were on about: Praise. As in when giving a lesson praise any darned thing the students do. He asked how I felt about that. I said there were two schools of thought as far as I knew. One, that giving false praise is condescending and makes people feel like dogs. "Good boy!" The other is that it motivates students. I said I would feel comfortable doing whatever was closest to the Japanese culture model.
Anyway who knows in the end. Perhaps my alabaster skin and professional business suit and extensive bustline got the job, perhaps it was my good voice skills and hind end kissing, but those were two key things I picked up on. The praise issue and the customer service. A good luck to anyone else applying! |
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wolfman
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: Nova Interview Tips |
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| 24601 wrote: |
| Perhaps my... ...extensive bustline got the job |
Since I'm a dude, I doubt having an extensive bust-line would help me too much.  |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:05 am Post subject: Re: Nova Interview Tips |
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| 24601 wrote: |
| Anyway who knows in the end. Perhaps my alabaster skin and professional business suit and extensive bustline got the job, perhaps it was my good voice skills and hind end kissing, but those were two key things I picked up on. The praise issue and the customer service. A good luck to anyone else applying! |
I guess they have you pegged for assistant manager material at NOVA. Brown-nosing to higher-ups while you step on others as you climb the ladder to success is considered a vital requirement for the job as well as voluptuous bre-asts. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:12 am Post subject: Re: Nova Interview Tips |
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| 24601 wrote: |
| "Good boy!" The other is that it motivates students. I said I would feel comfortable doing whatever was closest to the Japanese culture model.! |
I've been here a very long time and its the first time I have ever heard of a Japanese culture model. A first for me.
Students can tell when they are being patronised by the teacher or whether praise is sincere. they are not stupid. they may not speak English well but they know when you are talking down to them.
the best policy is to simply be yourself. Dont be afraid to criticise them or point out mistakes. You dont have to barrack or harass them but give praise where its due. Don't give praise like you would to a dog you have taught a new trick. Treat students as people, not as guinea pigs. Its only an English lesson for crying out loud.
teachers also have this idea that they have to be loud, talkative and "genki" and constantly babbling and showing encouragement. Maybe thats fine, but I think if the teacher treats a lesson like a mini-performance of self promotion it can get in the way of learning if the teacher constantly feels he has to shower praise or say something to keep the conversation moving along.
Anyway just from my experience- raw beginners may need a lot of handholding and i suppose praise to boost their confidence, better students I will try and draw words and sentences out of them and compliment an honest effort. I will try and get them to make an honest effort, get out of their comfort zone, but if you praise them just for the hell of it without them making any real effort it can come across as insincere. |
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24601
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 75
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| Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:24 am Post subject: Re: Nova Interview Tips |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| 24601 wrote: |
| "Good boy!" The other is that it motivates students. I said I would feel comfortable doing whatever was closest to the Japanese culture model.! |
I've been here a very long time and its the first time I have ever heard of a Japanese culture model. A first for me.
Students can tell when they are being patronised by the teacher or whether praise is sincere. they are not stupid. they may not speak English well but they know when you are talking down to them.
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Keep in mind. I was trying to get a job and tell him what he wanted to hear. I was not saying what I actually thought.
I agree with everything else you said. I was just sharing what I perceived in the interview that they wanted to hear to get a job.
As far as pegging me for management... sppppeeeeeeewwww.... They'd be about as far from right on that as if they asked wangtesol to do so. While I know how to walk the barfo corporate step on your fellow comrades walk, it's not my heart. I'll pm to tell you more as I don't feel comfy sharing TMI here but I do laugh if that was their idea for me. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:49 am Post subject: |
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By the way you dont happen to resemble anything like these two?
http://www.crisscross.com/jp/newsmaker/25
These two well-known Japanese women are well known for their ...um, appendages and its maybe what NOVA needs to turn the company around. |
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