Job Discussion Forums

[vindie]

I'm looking for a little guidance avoiding pitfalls in Japan. I have read a lot of conflicting information, but basically what I want to know is the best way for me to get a decent teaching position in Japan. My qualifications:

BA English / Native English Speaker
33 years / Male
TEFL Certification
1000+ hours teaching experience (over 1 year at a reputable language school in Thailand)

I like hands on approach to getting a job, but if I must I'll go for something from Thailand. What I REALLY want to know:

If I sign up with one of the typical companies that secures contracts from overseas, will it be a problem for me to change jobs before the contract expires? Basically, I don't want to be stuck someplace like Nova (which I have heard bad things about) for one year just to earn the right to teach elsewhere. On the flipside, I don't want to spend 3 months in Japan, flying to Korea several times, or what have you, in order to secure a position on a tourist visa.

I'm a good teacher. I have experience. I'm dependable... I just don't happen to have any expat teacher friends in Japan right now!

Any advice would be great (including schools to avoid, and schools to pursue).

Cheers

[Glenski]

Vindie,
The best way to get the "decent" teaching position is to work here a little, then get some experience and supplemental training, and move up the chain.

You have some good credentials. What sort of position do you consider decent?

With a BA degree, you probably won't get a FT university position.
With no experience teaching in Japan, you probably won't get a high school position (FT, that is, not ALT).
By staying in Thailand (I assume that's where you are now), you won't get many, if any, employers to recruit you. A rare few do phone interviews, but that's about all. With your experience, you could go with Westgate Corporation as an example, but they only offer 3- and 7-month contracts (for university and kiddie teaching slots, respectively), non-consecutively.
Business English schools may look at you, but I suspect they would have to see you in person. Look up Simul, Sumikin, and Phoenix Associates for some good names.

To get recruited by the big eikaiwas, you will usually have to attend their interviews in native English speaking countries. Contacting them in Japan might be one avenue if they are willing to interview at their headquarters, but the majority of hiring takes place overseas.

To find work here, search through the usual ads online and in The Japan Times, plan on a flight here at the appropriate time (March is the prime hiring season), and send out inquiries to those ads telling them you will be in the area then, so you can line up interviews.