Job Discussion Forums

[AEON2007]

On recent threads ESL in Japan has repeatedly been described as a dead end job with little prospects. While this has occaisionally been challenged, this fact seems to be accepted by most people. I wanted to find out exactly what people thought of this as teaching with a big company was a big attraction for me exactly because there seemed to be opportunities for advancement both in terms of teaching and in areas such as HR. I'd want to live in Japan for a while anyway but it'd be nice to know what the chances are of building a career there or maybe in other countries.

[Chris21]

If you're going to stay with an eikaiwa company, then I'd probably agree that it's a dead-end. There may be a few possibilities for Manager or Teacher-trainer, but you'd probably only be limited to two or three rungs up the corporate ladder. Ultimately, I don't think a foreigner can get very high at a conversation school - unless they speak perfect Japanese (and even then I'm skeptical).

However, with teaching qualifications, there are plenty of jobs out there that can be very satisfying. Lots of folks say that it is next to impossible for a foreigner to get tenure as a university prof, but I've seen plenty of tenured jobs being advertised this summer - so they are out there. An older professor at a university can make close to 15 million yen per year, with 4 or 5 months off. Granted, there's not much chance for promotion beyond full professor, but this is a "dead-end" I can live with.

[Glenski]

Eikaiwa is dead-end. Some rare people end up working there for 8-10 years, but I have never heard of anyone making a longer career out of it.

Want to actually make a career out of EFL? So something to improve your credentials and/or consider starting your own business. Not all businesses make tons of money, so learn what mistakes not to make.

You may have to take on several PT jobs throughout your life instead of looking for the holy graille of tenureship or lifetime employment. Nothing wrong with that, but it takes the right mentality.

Think of something else, too. If you want to make that career in Japan, start putting thoughts into what sort of pension plan(s) you want. There's a guy posting on here that has been in Japan for 20 years and has not contributed to a pension plan. Unbelievable to me, yet it happens. Also think about retirement savings. Careers are not just what work one does.

[womblingfree]

[AEON2007]

Thanks for those imformative replies. Yes, I will be working for AEON and your descriptions don't quite tally with what they told me! As i said though, I'd still have taken the job knowing I'd only work in Japan for a year or two- I'm not too disheartened. I guess it would have been good to get a role with extra responsibilities even if that was only useful in terms of finding a different career back home. Its always good to talk about management experience etc in interviews.
Anyway, thanks again for the info.

[womblingfree]

[JU!]

I was thinking the same because I would like to spend as long as I can in Japan provided I find living in Japan as good as I think it can be. I also realise living is very different to the holidays I've been on to Japan as well, so trying to prepare for this. I also start with Aeon soon and think I know what to expect from an Eikaiwa hopefully. I was thinking of prospects for the future and above seems sensible enough advice. But also just have a great time, but it is a good idea to think of the long term. I'm definatly going to start a savings/pension as soon as poss.

[Dipso]

I have known brand new Aeon teachers to be put straight in to Emergency Teacher positions without ever having worked at a branch school. Not that Aeon is often in desperate need of Emergency Teachers or anything...

I would agree that the prospects for advancement at Aeon are low. There are only a couple of teacher trainers per region and their jobs seem pretty unenviable, to be honest.

[sallycat]

you can advance to managerial positions in some eikaiwa as long as you put money aside to deal with the inevitable nervous breakdown caused by the immense rift between your principles and the things you are called upon to do for your job.

[Nagoyaguy]

Another common path is;

a/ eikaiwa like AEON

b/ ALT position (usually through a dispatch company)

c/ directly hired ALT by a city

or

c/ work for a private elementary/ Junior high/ senior high school

or

c/ part time university work, hopefully followed up by full time.


University jobs are getting harder and harder to come by. Many have term limits for foreign staff, as they dont want any "stale gaijin" cluttering them up. The money can be good, though, and if you do manage to get tenure you will be set.

Me, I work in a private JHS/SHS. It is a rewarding job, and I really enjoy teaching students who are (for the most part) motivated to learn. The pay is also good (close to 6 million a year)- not fantastic, but good considering my work load. I teach 14 classes a week, plus supervise a couple of study periods and help out 2 afternoons with a sports team. My classroom is my own and is totally wired- dvd player, stereo system, projector and screen, wireless LAN connection, air conditioned, etc.

I'm content and could stay here forever.

[KCorv100]

[Alberta605]

[Chris21]

KCorv100

[zignut]

[TK4Lakers]

I worked as an ALT for about 1.5 years and just resigned in July. I moved out to Tokyo with the goal of finding a "real job" with a Japanese company (or even a gaishi-kei, or international company).
I was lucky enough to find a pretty good job...will work here in Tokyo for about 1-2 years, then be transferred back to my homeland.

There are other jobs/career prospects out there, but not only do you need a solid understanding of both the Japanese language and culture, but you need to sell yourself (I'm sure that's not news to anybody). I came to Japan with the mind that I wanted to find a decent job, or even a career. They are available out there, but unless you build up your skills teaching English or headhunting is probably the majority of jobs out there.