Job Discussion Forums

[BrytSyde]

Hello all

I am a 22 year old student that will hopefully complete my degree in about 8 - 9 months and would love to go to japan as soon as my degree is complete. I will have 3 years of experience working at the university of phoenix by the time im done with my degree..My questions are:

1. When applying for a postion at like Aeon or Geos, or even NOVA, is the fact that im a so young a strike against me.

2. Can i start applying before i a done with my degree. for instance i graduate in june can i apply in april?

3. Is there really a diffrence between all the diffrent schools, i heard Aeon is the best out of all of them.

Thank you for your help

[canuck]

No, yes, yes.

1. They hire and have hired people between 20 and 70.
2. Apply all you want. If they want to hire you, they need your degree for the immigration/visas process. The three year crapshoot is not something to rely on.
3. All the eikaiwa school suck for something. Some have better holidays, some pay a little more etc. You will hear different things from different people. They all have you teaching many lessons a day to drive you bonkers.

Try the search function.

[japanman]

I think taht at those big schools, being young may be a help to you. they love fresh young energetic types.
people always slag off the big schools but it is a starter. They help you out when yo first arrive and loan you money etc. Do that until you are settled for a bit and then think about moving on.

[Glenski]

1. no

2. yes, just provide certified evidence that you are going to graduate.

3. Depends on who you talk to, and their interpretation of the question.

The big four eikaiwa all recruit overseas.
They provide housing (different costs).
They have their own format for teaching.
They provide a modicum of training.
They sponsor visas.

Differences lie in subtleties.
NOVA's apartments are shared. AEON pays a certain amount of your rent, but if you choose to rent on your own, you still have to pay the AEON housing (~42,000 yen/month).
GEOS seems to have more paperwork to fill out than others during the week.
NOVA has the least vacation time.

[BrytSyde]

Thanks everyone for the help....

[Sweetsee]

No.
Yes.
Depends on you Niceusername!

Enjoy,
s

[Atlas*]

don't worry about your age at all, i am 22 and working in tokyo now. by the time you will graduate and apply you will be older than i was.
i think maturity is more important than age anyway, they will see that in your application and interviews.
good luck

[seastarr]

I applied to work for NOVA and AEON when I was 21....I went to Japan when I was 22...there was a guy at my branch on a working holiday visa that was only 20. If you are applying with a Uni degree, then you are qualified. The oldest teacher at my school was in his 40s. Age doesn't really have much to do with it. After working for NOVA for a year, I am really unsure why they choose who they do, there is a huge range between the people they hire. The differences between personalities for the same job blew my mind.

[fion]

Age, no problem. Not graduated yet, probably ok, so long as you have a degree by the time they are trying to process your visa. Regarding the big eikaiwas, I have the impression (hearsay) that ECC are somewhat better than the others. But in the end, it gets you to Japan, gives you a bit of teaching experience (in Japan - that's important) so in the course of time you can move on to other things. Good luck!

[BrytSyde]

[seastarr]

good and bad...good in that there were a lot of people with really unique backgrounds....bad in that there were people that really weren't cut out to teach anyone anything....I guess thats probably Nova's biggest issue...their endless demand for anyone with a pulse that speaks English. I made some amazing friends, both Japanese and Western while I was in Japan, but there were also a good number of people that I would be happy if I never ran into again. One good thing about Nova's size is that if you live in a medium or large city, there is no shortage when it comes to people to hang out with after work or on your days off...If you don't mind the English bubble...Most of my Japanese friends worked for Nova, with the exception of my hairdresser there. Most of my teacher friends were in the same situation when it came to Japanese friends. I had a really great year with Nova though, despite all of the company's shortcomings (I'm sure you can find many people that are willing to discuss this part of Nova)....it all depends on the school you end up at. I had a great manager and AT, which makes all the difference.

[prof]

You are making a McDonalds wage in Japan with a lot more pressure than flipping burgers.

Most chains are similar.

Perform or out.

At least if you flip patties you can get by with a few burnt ones.

Not so with paying students.

Wake up.

[Like a Rolling Stone]

[seastarr]

I disagree with the perform or out comment. In the year that I worked for Nova, I saw teachers do everything that was a no no in the contract with little to no reprocussions. Its a shame that Nova works like this, as there were some really good teachers and some awful ones... Unfortunatly, we all get lumped into the crappy chain school teacher group. As for the McDonalds comment, I agree that its pretty assembly line like work, but its all up to the teacher to make it into something interesting for the students. Some do, some don't.

[Synne]

Well I was 17 when I started work in Japan!! so there all you!

250,000yen for burgers would be nice, I'd take the switch haha .