Job Discussion Forums

vallillo1983 · Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 194

I was at work thinking today, what happens when you get old in Japan. I mean, most people are on yearly contracts and I was wondering, is there a certain age limit when companies and schools won't renew your contract? I mean, just say a person starts work at a school at the age of 30 and ends up really liking it and wants to stay, this person marrys and makes their home in Japan. Are they always going to be offered work if they're a good teacher? I mean, is it possible to get work up unitll retirement age or does there come a point when a teacher reaches a certain age when schools will say 'sorry you're too old' leaving you unemployed?

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

I replaced a seventy-something-year-old instructor at a public high school in Tokyo.
Enjoy,
s

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

I definitely think it gets more difficult.
For example, my school doesn't descriminate on age, but it does normally limit teachers' terms of employment to three years. At my previous place of employment, I am now considered to be "too old", even though I was, in their eyes, an excellent teacher and left on good terms.
Unless you have an advanced teaching degree, or are fortunate to find one of the good schools/agencies who offer teachers long-term employment, you are likely to find this line of work to be a poor choice for a career.