Job Discussion Forums

[ryuro]

I posted this same topic some months ago on the general forum, but now tis the start of the heavy recriuting season (acutally moving into December and the beginning of the year for April positions) I thought it was due for a "re-release". And being that I'm in Japan, I decided to put it on the Japanese forum this time. I'd welcome anyone else thoughts or comments on these points- or anything you have to add that I might've forgotten.
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Having recruited and interviewed ESL teachers for several years in Asia (mostly Japan) I would like to post a bit of advice for prospective ESL teachers that I think applies to an ESL position anywhere in the world (probably to any job for that matter). My apologies in advance if I tend to go on and the sarcasm starts to get thick, but please remember this is NOT a PERSONAL ATTACK on anyone. If you take it as such, perhaps you�re guilty of some of the �crimes� listed below. Regardless I hope it�s of use to some of you out there.

1. LEARN HOW TO WRITE A PROPER CV/RESUME!!!!
- I CANNOT stress this point enough. I�m truly shocked at the number of resumes that- excuse the language- are pure CRAP that hit my inbox/fax. They go straight into the rubbish bin. There are literally thousands of websites out there that will give you free advice and tips on CV/resume writing so I won�t get into any details. However, I�ll give a couple general tips- the CV/resume should be concise and the experience/education listed should be relevant to the position sought. You may have done a six-month stint as an underwater basket weaver in the Himalayas, but how that relates to teaching English to children may be a bit lost on the recruiter. And make sure the spelling and grammar are correct- if you�re applying to be an English teacher- come on, get it right! You are SELLING YOURSELF and the resume is that foot in the door- if it�s a smelly, dirty foot you�ll see the door slammed shut on it.

2. LEARN HOW TO WRITE A PROPER COVER LETTER
- Again, thousands of websites exist to help you with this and the same things I mentioned about the CV/resume apply here too. My general advice for the cover letter is to be sure you craft it specifically to the position sought and address it to the appropriate person. I want to know why you want THIS PARTICULAR POSITION and why you think you�re the best candidate. Cover letters that go straight into my trash can start something like, �Dear Director�� Sounds nice, but my name is actually listed as the contact in the ad so address it to ME. This is not an egotistical thing, but for those of you using the shotgun approach to applying for jobs (the same general cover letter sent to a number of prospective employers) try again! How lazy are you?! Is it really that difficult to cut and paste the name and organization to which you�re applying into the cover letter. Be warned though, be sure you send the right letter to the right person/organization. I�ve lost count of the number of times I�ve received letters saying something like, �I�m very excited about the opportunity to work for ABC English School and believe I have the experience and qualities necessary to make a positive addition to your teaching team at ABC School.� Great sentiment, except that I�m recruiting for XYZ English School- oops! Click, drag into the trash. Finally, the cover letter is not the forum to ask a hundred questions about the job. You are SELLING YOURSELF as the best candidate. If you get an interview, that is the appropriate time and place for any lingering questions.

3. READ THE AD CAREFULLY
- Know what you�re applying for and the terms/conditions listed in the ad. Also, be sure you�re actually qualified for the job. Many ESL positions have only basic qualifications (e.g. a degree, a pulse and an outgoing manner), but they are usually necessary to obtain the proper working permits. Many positions, particularly in Asia, request a certain gender/nationality/age limit. By western standards this may be judged discriminatory and unfair (and often I agree) the harsh truth is that it is perfectly legal and acceptable in most Asian countries to make these kinds of preference statements when recruiting teachers. While I have never outright told potential male or British female candidates not to bother applying when asked about �PREFERRED: NORTH AMERICAN FEMALE� however you should realize almost every position for which I�ve recruited over the years has brought in a couple hundred applications each and the chances of not finding the �preferred� candidate are almost zero. So use your energy and time wisely when choosing which positions you�ll go after.

4. SEND ALL THE INFORMATION/MATERIALS REQUESTED- NO MORE, NO LESS
- Send EXACTLY the application materials that are requested and in the form in which they are requested (e.g. MS WORD files, jpg files for pictures, etc.). This is the first chance you'll get to show the recruiter how well you can follow instructions/directions. Incomplete applications go straight into the trash can and conversely PLEASE don't stop up my inbox with HUGE files of your degrees, letters of reference, etc... When I need them, I'll ask for them. If the ad requests a cover letter, CV and picture- leave at that for the time being. Also, if they request a picture, don�t get into some self-righteous huff about how this is �discrimination� and �why should a picture matter, blah blah blah.� I�m sorry, I may agree with you completely but you�re not applying for a job in your home country where certain laws forbid such requests and the truth is my bosses want to see the person they may be hiring. Pictures should be professional looking, (smile- please!!!) passport style, head shots. Sending additional pictures that show-off your happy-go-lucky personality can back fire. The interview is the place to let your personality come through.

5. IF YOU GET AN INTERVIEW- BE PREPARED
- Again, re-read the ad carefully (take some brief notes). Try to research the company for which you�re applying and the area in which the position is based- this actually does impress interviewers. Be sure to make yourself available at the INTERVIEWER�S CONVENIENCE. Be prepared for what we westerners would consider personal and private questions- asking about health, family and relationships is very common. I�ll be honest I don�t like asking these questions, but if I don�t my boss certainly will. Basically they�re looking to see if there are any issues that might result in a teacher having to break a contract early so the best way to approach these questions is in a manner that conveys you are definitely committed to the contract for the duration (typically one year) baring some tragic unforeseen event. Often I have very little time in which to interview candidates and my BS meter is very sensitive so do us both a favor and make sure you ACTUALLY ANSWER the question asked. Elaborate only when asked and don�t be afraid to ask the interviewer �did I answer your question adequately?� Also choose your words and tone wisely- smiles can be �seen� even through a phone and if you�re going to be teaching English to non-native speakers it would help you to avoid colloquialisms, slang and to SPEAK CLEARLY. Finally, although not everything can be covered in a small ad and it�s always a good idea to reconfirm certain points or get clarification on anything that�s not clear, NOTHING earns the biggest black mark in an interviewer�s notebook than asking a question about some aspect of the position that is CLEARLY STATED in the ad. �So, is airfare included with this position?�, when the ad states ALL TRAVEL EXPENSES WILL BE BORNE BY THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE. Read between the lines and you tell me. Finally, DO think of some thoughtful questions for the interviewer to show you actually have an interest in the position. I�ve rarely had an interview in which every stone has been overturned by me.

6. WAITING TO HEAR/FOLLOW-UP
- This is the nasty part. You sent off the winning resume and slam dunked the interview now it�s wait-n-see. Any reputable organization will give you a time frame as to when a final decision will be made, but an exact date may be difficult after one brief interview and often there may be follow-up information/interviews needed. If anything more is requested of you and you want the position, it is in your best interests to submit any information/materials ASAP when requested- this is when you'll probably be asked to supply copies of your degree(s) and reference information. Nothing moves a candidate to the bottom of the short list (for me usually off the list) than a recruiter actually having to �chase down� requested materials from a candidate. Again, you�re selling yourself and the deal ain�t closed yet.

That covers most of the problems I�ve experienced when recruiting over the years. Again, I apologize for the heavy sarcasm and occasionally condescending manner- most of it is meant to be tongue in cheek though. I do hope some of you find it helpful.

Cheers,

ryuro

[Glenski]

I will heartily second everything ryoru has written, but I would like to point out a couple of things that I disagree with (or at least have a question about).

[fat_chris]

Cheers Ryuro-san.

Your advice is highly treasured even among those in the States looking for positions (such as myself).

Best wishes to ya.

[Sadebugo]

It's hard to disagree with the above tips about putting together a professional job application packet. However, I hope the writer has time to offer some equally valuable tips to employers concerning unprofessional dealings with potential employees. Most employers (excluding the one above) in the EFL world do not handle the hiring process in a professional manner. Some things that come to mind are:

*Incomplete advertisements

It's difficult to follow the author's guidelines on personalizing the cover letter when the ad is a two sentence blurb. Such ads deserve nothing more than a generic CV.

*Inconsistent communication

You've spent hours personalizing your packet for a job you're immensely qualified for. You send the packet to the employer in a timely fashion. At that point, a number of things can go wrong. The worst is that the employer fails to even acknowledge receipt of your packet. After all that work, you hear nothing because the employer is not discerning and hired the person whose CV arrived first in the inbox. Even worse, you're contacted one month later and offered the job if you can be there in a few days. The possible permutations are limitless.


*Bait and Switch

Well, due to your perfect packet, you got the job. But, on arrival, things aren't exactly as promised and you realize all that preparation was for naught. Has this ever happened to anyone on the board?


The reason I'm making these comments is not to criticize the author's opinions above (especially since her caveat makes it clear that any criticism results in being guilty of her negative points). But, the reason is to show that professionalism is a two-way street. Whose fault is it that the profession is in the state it's in today? Is it the employers' fault or the young teachers heading to Asia in droves? I choose to blame the employers.

Oh, one more point . . . what exactly is meant by a 'coveted' job? Do you mean a job with earning/promotion potential, retirement benefits, and any labor disputes subject to the rule of law?

I have yet to locate such coveted jobs in the EFL profession in Asia.

Any comments welcome!

[J-Pop]

From a professional viewpoint, as far as trying to truly be--and do--your best when searching for a position, the comments of ryuro are right on. Nicely written, though slightly biased IMO toward the employer; her suggestions do assume the employer & the position sought are in fact worthy of this kind of effort.

However, as Sadebugo points out, it is indeed a 2-way street. Nice job, Sadebugo.

Some (many?) of these would-be-employers seemingly are operated by people no more knowledgeable & professional than the (sometimes) ameuterish, disorganized people that might be looking for work! In some ways, I think, ryuro's problems are (partially) encouraged, albeit indirectly, by the non-professional actions (or non-actions) of these types of sloppily operated (downright sad, in some cases) establishments.

Having said that. For those who are applying for a position that is professional, I think ryuro's guidelines are excellent. For almost any position one is applying for these are good practical suggestions & warnings of what to avoid.

Too, Glenski's comments & questions are really good & valid, concerns; I hope ryuro will take the time to respond to them.

[Sadebugo]

However, as Sadebugo points out, it is indeed a 2-way street. Nice job, Sadebugo.


Thanks for your comments J-Pop! As I hope I made clear in my last post, I totally agree with the principles she suggested for any hypothetical job search. However, the part of me that's been subjected to the nefarious behavior of employers over the last several years resists such suggestions. Anyway, all of this would be a moot point if Asian employers would recruit the best and do what it took to retain the best. Then, the non-professionals would be forced out of the market be they employers or employees and Ryuro's wish would be granted.

[Glenski]

I think Sadebugo makes some good comments. For what it's worth, here are some devil's advocate replies that I think seem fairly reasonable.

[ryuro]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. You all raised some great points.. That�s the great thing about this board- really helps ya to find the holes in some of the ideas or advice you try to give.

So here are a few responses�

Glenski: You�re spot on! I�m guilty! It didn�t really occur to me that all those helpful websites are indeed geared toward �the western� CV/resume formats- d�oh!. And to answer your question, I�m not aware of any websites that are helpful in writing for a Japanese employer, although I�ll be on the lookout for one now and if I find I will certainly post it. However, that being said, many of the resumes/CV�s I�ve seen over the years don�t hold muster even by �western� standards. Oh, and I think your absolutely correct about �writing paragraphs and including stats/details�- useless and a waste of space. Stick to bullet points. Maybe it�s time to compose a �how to write the killer CV/resume post�.

Sadebugo: You also make some good points. Professionalism is definitely a two-way street. However advertisements will always be �incomplete�. Many ads in western papers are also one or two lines, of course some are complete panel ads, but I think that�s a very subjective issue. Anyone who relies on info from the ad only isn�t doing enough homework. As I stated in the original post, if someone�s really interested in the job, they ought to do a little research and if the ad really is that skimp and the interviewer doesn�t cover all the concerns, the applicant should be armed with a wealth of questions to ask.

As to �inconsistent communication� unfortunately this does happen. However, there�s a difference between that and the way any given hiring process functions. To be honest, I haven�t the time to respond to EVERY applicant to let them know that I received their application. It just isn�t done. Most ads these days generally have a line like �only successful applicants will be contacted.� And if they don�t, I think it would be wise to assume that�s the case these days. Once you�ve interviewed, I would definitely agree it�s not just professional, but common courtesy, to let the applicant know whether they�ve been successful. Again, not everyone does- this as you point out.

I�ve found when dealing with Japanese companies �Inconsistent Communication� is sometimes a function of cultural differences. Often Japanese do not have clearly delineated job functions or functions that in no way relate to what their actual stated job title is. Of course you think they could at times make it a little more clear with English teaching (not that difficult to figure out what the teacher�s supposed to be doing) but again, I�ve found that many Japanese like to keep even the teacher�s �defined�� role rather fluid.

I think this also often leads to many of the �Bait and Switch� situations which are also all too common. Sometimes it�s a true bait and switch and sometimes it�s a perception that stems from these communication/cultural differences. And sometimes it�s just not the right �fit�. Occasionally you�ll bring someone over who just doesn�t cope with all the necessary adjustments and changes- happens.

Whatever the case whenever I�ve worked for a Japanese employer, I�ve ALWAYS stressed to them the importance of giving the perspective teacher as much info as possible upfront (warts and all). This doesn�t mean having a HUGE ad (which can be cost restrictive) but throughout the hiring process get them all the info they need to see if they�ll be a good fit. Let �em talk to/email other teachers that currently work for the company. If there�s nothing horrible to hide, this is THE BEST recruiting strategy. Conversely I try to be as honest and forthright as possible with the applicant about the conditions of the job, including things they may not like or inconsistencies that WILL definitely occur simply due to the cultural/linguistic problems inherent in living abroad.

I guess in all my ramblings what I�m trying to say, is that often times �professionalism� can be very relative to the culture your dealing with. This doesn�t mean that employees shouldn�t have basic rights and protections, but often we project how we think things �ought to be run� onto these situations.

I guess I�m a bit biased because I have had COMPLETE control and discretion in hiring at the company I currently work for and I do everything possible to make myself and the company look like a professional outfit, trying to avoid the things you point out as much as possible. Consequently (not trying to be a braggart) we get well qualified, well-informed and happy teacher. There will ALWAYS be little niggling issues between the teachers and the company, but just got roll with it sometimes.

Oh, �coveted� was just a bit of literary license. Your point is well made, even at the best ESL jobs in Asia, we ESL teachers are often considered (for lack of a better word) �disposable� and not really here for the long haul. I know that�s not always the case- god knows I�ve been here long enough, but I think that�s a fair assumption of how many of the Japanese employers view us at times.

And to your final point- in many cases �the best qualified� and the �best fit� for the job are often two different things and what�s required to retain the �best qualified� isn�t something a Japanese company is willing to do. Again, this doesn�t mean companies should be free to abuse their employees, but given a choice between retaining a �highly qualified� and able teacher who may expect higher compensation, promotional opportunities, etc. and a relatively new teacher who will cost less and offer the company more flexibility- well, I�m sorry but generally the company�s gonna go for the latter. It�s not fair, but again, many of the positions we deal with simply won�t offer or the company can�t offer what we�d all like- c�est la vie.

J-Pop: Thanks for the comments. Good point, as I mentioned when responding above, there are indeed many �Cowboy� schools out there that are perfectly willing to employ just about anyone with a pulse who won�t put up a fuss. As you rightly pointed out, I am a bit biased. In my defense though, the people I work for ARE GOOD people. In fact, they�re the best Japanese company- hell they�re one of THE BEST companies (Japanese or otherwise), I�ve ever worked for so I do go to the mat for them to find the good people. Doesn�t always mean we need people with heaps of experience or MA�s in Linguistics (that�s not a slight to anyone who has those assets) it�s just I KNOW that those types would not really be happy with the positions we offer (teaching primarily to children). So it�s a balancing act between finding teachers that �fit� what the company wants and those who will be content with what we can actually offer them (conditions, pay, benefits, etc).

Ok, I�m gonna let it go here, because I think I�m starting to beat a dead horse. Thanks again for the input- it�s always welcome and appreciated.

Cheers,
ryuro

ps. I�m a �he�, but no worries.

[Sadebugo]

Thanks to Ryuro, Glenski, and others. It's nice to have a mature conversation about these issues. I appreciate your candor and views. I guess, in the end, I just wanted to make the point that the employer must also demonstrate professionalism in the hiring process and that the standards of the field need to be raised.

Looking forward to discussing other issues in the future!

[Smooth Operator]

Just reading this 2 things spring to mind:

1) There are Japanese sites which have the CV already formatted in Word for you. Sorry I don't have any addresses. On the CV, generally information runs in chronological order and ends with the most recent. Dates are very important, especially regarding entering and graduating from university. As you probably know, in theory they should be hand written but I type mine for convenience.

Also, initiative! Ask a local for advice. Having a CV in Japanese is, of course, very useful for dealing with a Japanese manager, especially at a high school, college or university where they may not be another foreigner to check the English.

2) You have got me curious, Ryuro what company do you work for?

[PAULH]