Job Discussion Forums

[EvilBunny]

I was so excited when it clicked in that I could teach English in Japan, I was very excited. And I even got some schools to respond to my CV. However, my excitement turned to dread when I read all of the horror stories about scams, terrible treatment of teachers, etc. that do end up working in Japan.

On top of that, a lot of "advice" is clouded in witty anecdotes and tongue-in-cheek sarcasm that does nothing but befuddle the issue.

Basically, I wanted to know if someone can recommend a good school to apply to, or go with. I have heard the BIG recruiting schools in Japan usually spell trouble, but I am unsure. I am not looking to bash a company or anything; I just want to have a really good experience. Can someone please help me? Thanks!!

(Oh, I am sure this is discussed in a previous thread, but I couldn't find one. If there is a CURRENT one, I would love to be directed to it.)

Thank you so much for your help.

[Glenski]

Are you willing/able to come here and job hunt, or will you do all your hunting from your home country? The latter limits you to about a dozen places.

AEON seems to get relatively high ratings of the top 4 or 5 eikaiwa chains. I seem to recall that there was some mention of whether the east or west branches had the worse reputation for managers. Anyone?

ECC has about the same reputation as AEON, depending on who you talk to.

JET Programme is not a school, but a government-sponsored program for ALT work. It pays more than most eikaiwas and pays airfare (something that is rare anywhere here), plus rent can sometimes be subsidized or free. Case by case.

IMO, that's about all you can really hope for in the way of recognized good employers who hire from abroad. GEOS may be included, but some people are just going to have to chip in on that one, otherwise I'll just keep them on the "B pile" because of stories of paperwork and managers.

If you come here, you open more doors, but you need to tell us where you prefer to work and how soon and what you hope to get out of teaching.

[fluffyhamster]

My definition of genuinely bad advice would be any review of a school so glowing that it left potential teachers completely unprepared for the practical realities, or indeed genuine problems, that they might well face in the position (you could bet that it was recruiting propaganda). I am not saying that every employer is bad, but I doubt if there are any that are 100% without bad points (and then, much depends on each teacher's wants and needs, preparedness to suck some things up etc). I cannot think of any employer who has satisfied me at least so completely that I could relay their details to you absolutely confident that you would bloom and prosper there beyond even my wildest expectations; then, people are not always too keen to dish dirt (or, on the other hand, invite an influx of applicants for their fantastic job). Chances are, you won't hear nearly so much about the good jobs as the bad.

In fact, you haven't really been offered any direct advice yet, because you have only made the one, single, hackle-raising post. You could at least tell us where you'd like to go - Japan is a big place, and there'd be no point in recommending some isolated but wonderfully "cosy" school in Wakkanai if you hated the cold, for example. Throw the good folks here a bone.

Of the three employers that you mention, Glenski, JET is surely the best. ECC and Aeon may not get as bad a rap as Geos or the now defunct NOVA, but that is hardly a glowing recommendation (and certainly no guarantee of a great job).

[Quibby84]

Just to tell you...I felt the SAME way as you about Japan. I was so excited and then I read these boards and was super worried. I have been here for one year and I will admit that I dont know everything, but I do have some experience. A lot of what is said here is true, companies suck, they use you and abuse you...but...you can handle it. If you get here and hate the job, then find another. Once you are here you can go and visit the school and you will get a better idea of what it is like. You could also talk to other teachers that have had experience with that certain school.
Once you are here you will be fine, Japan is beautiful. It is safe and clean and has all the qualities that you would want in a place to live. So even if your job completely sucks, you can still go out and enjoy Japan.
We had a pretty sucky job this past year (we are moving to another one in March) but we have still really enjoyed the year. We traveled to many places in Japan and have seen many things. Most of the people that you meet are very friendly, and if you get involved in a group or something you will feel just like you are back at home...
Anyways, dont give up on Japan, its a great place to live.
Also remember that people will be faster to post about bad things as oppossed to good things....so that would be the reason that you see so much negativity...

[mimimimi]

Your experience in Japan will also greatly depend on you, not just which company you are employed with. As my father often says, the only thing in life you can really control is your own attitude. That being said, research in advance as much as you can about living and working in Japan to facilitate a more seamless transition. Once you arrive, use the energy that you would have spent on learning how to just survive in Japan towards more enlightening pursuits.

[fluffyhamster]

I love Japan. It is the land of cherry blossoms and the rising wage. <<GUSH>>

[BobbyBan]

There are far too many variables to give a definitive answer to your question but I think it is safe to say if you get yourself a job with one of the large remaining schools such as AEON, ECC or GEOS you will get your visa processed for you and won't have to go through all the incredible nightmares that some people get themselves into.

Avoid dispatch companies as the work for them is often irregular and underpaid.

Don't turn up without a visa. Some people will tell you that you don't need one before you turn up to work in Japan, this is probably one of the worst kinds of advice you'll get as you'll be back on the board within a few months stressing out about your illegal status and how your boss doesn't "seem" to care.

The large eikaiwa chains are not exactly "sexy" but they are relatively dependable. I would go with one of them and then use your first year with them to get to know the place and feel around for better potential offers.

Good Luck!

[fluffyhamster]

Good advice, BobbyBan (it's easy to forget that there are some people stupid or "keen" enough to be willing to risk working illegally). You really need to have a legit visa in your hand (and some savings or credit cards too, it must be said) so you can move on if things don't work out with your first employer/sponsor.

I'd just like to add (before Quibby or mi x4 perhaps get back to me) that, whilst it may be possible to have a good first year in Japan (especially if you land a position through JET), I really do think that reality starts to bite from the second year onwards: most people get tired of eikaiwa work, but will then be responsible for finding their own accommodation (which can be pretty pricey to set up); probably have to pay completely, if they can afford it, for their own health insurance (which skyrockets after the first year) or do without/make do with dodgy minimal non-Japanese insurers; and become liable for local taxes (substantially higher than the national tax rate).

The problem is, the likelihood of finding better jobs (beyond the cautious first) to meet these mounting costs and responsibilities seems to become less the longer one stays in Japan. One could, of course, try to stick with the first employer, but this assumes that things will remain rosy enough for them to retain your services.

Heh, just cautioning people to be realistic about not only their first year in Japan, but any subsequent ones. If you do find a good job, work hard, save as much as you can, and don't assume that there will be better jobs (and even if they look better on paper, they are often in reality worse).

[mimimimi]

Fluffyhamster has many good points. Going beyond company-provided accommodations and dealing with transportation limitations can be significantly more complicated and costly (ie. getting your own place and a vehicle). A suggestion would be to acquire a good network of friends and connections while in Japan . . . and DON'T burn any bridges. Often rules and minimum requirements are bent for these connections. This applies to job-hunting as well.

[ripslyme]

[Glenski]

[fluffyhamster]

Good for you if you've got a job that allows you to easily afford and fulfil all your responsibilities in Japan, ripslyme. I just know that I for one got a little tired of demands for local taxes from those same City Halls that refuse to hire directly and pay more than an indirect, late and subsistence salary (but I suppose it is partly my fault that dispatch AET jobs are so widespread, seeing how I "accepted" several over the years). As for health insurance, I seem to recall that it's the health insurance only that some "shady" employers enrol you in (how many really want or will need a Japanese pension too? Or, more to the point, could afford to be paying so much right from the start, apart from JETs on a "gross" 360,000 pcm, of which they end up with "only" about 260,000 (bear in mind that they can then claim back the pension payments in a lump sum repayment after leaving Japan, even though their net salary wouldn't've left them exactly short)), and for the first year at least, the costs are very low and could be easily borne by just the teacher (but as Glenski points out, even the fresh young eikaiwa newbs get shafted when it comes to this health insurance issue: they aren't encouraged to enrol even in their first year, just so the eikaiwa can save a few yen and pass the responsibility and expense entirely onto the teacher, even though very few remain in the job long enough to become a burden in any sense. (I'll leave other teachers and/or companies to decide for themselves how ethical or legal it is to opt out of the system and find cheaper alternatives from the certainly far more expensive second year onwards)).

FWIW I was on JET, have worked in a small eikaiwa with accommodation provided (i.e. responsible for the rent and bills only), and then arranged my own apartment (money down the drain basically), which I struggled to keep in a succession of ever less financially-rewarding jobs.

[Quibby84]

Reality does set in after a year...but for us, reality has gotten better. Starting in Jan. we have begun to break away from the mostly illegal and screwed up ways of our company to be on our own. Now everything is organized and is in my or my husbands name. We are no longer doing illegal things (we got health insurance and now have to back pay, our company told us that health insurance was only if you want it, not that it was required..but its ok! we are finally not breaking the law). We got our own place, and we were really lucky because there was no key money and we found all our furniture from a nice sayonara sale. We will be saving money in our second year. THe school will no longer be sucking what little money we have out of our checks on all sorts of expensive bills (such as cell phones and over-priced apt rental). We are finally on our own. So when we start with our new company (one that I have had months to learn about) all will be clean and new. It is a good feeling to be free from the hold of a dirty company.
Anyways, it differs in every situation...but I really think that if you try hard enough and work hard enough you can manage here...it may take a huge amount of money but you can do it.
Oh, and do try and find a good job...it will make life easier...

[ripslyme]

[ripslyme]