Job Discussion Forums

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

Hi everyone, I have not really written on these boards much so I'm sorry to start on such a low note.

Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

Just curious, but what was more important than your employment interview with Berlitz? It seems to me that, as the applicant, you should be making yourself available rather than the other way around...

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

Hopefully things will pick up for me. Smile

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Berlitz sucks balls but I think if you get a good school with good folks working there you can have a pretty good run. Problem is, you have people coming and going, including J-staff / Mgrs. and foreign teachers, and a good school can go from being a great place to work to a shitty one pretty quickly.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

And you know this because..

All I know, is people at Geos, Aeon and ECC leave to come to come work at Berlitz. Do you know anyone who has done the reverse? I don't.

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Berlitz is a horrible employer.

I wouldn't recommend it as place to teach.

I'm sorry you work there gaijinalways.

Too bad for you.

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

Miyazaki, just out of interest with what companeys do you have experience with in Japan?

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Luckily I'm not sorry. It's a much smaller part of my income now, but it is still relatively easy and close to where I live.

By the way, did you work there before, hence you have knowledge of the actual working conditions?

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Not only have I worked at Berlitz in three different countries, but I've taught at most, if not all, of the LC's in the Kanto region. I taught as a Per-Lesson Instructor.

Berlitz isn't a very good employer but you might say that it's arguably the 'best' of a bad lot.

Eikaiwa in the Big 4 or 5 his a tough gig.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Okay, it sounds like you've changed your tune a little.

Have to wonder though, if they were so awful in your opinion, why did you work for them in two other countries after the first?

And why did you work at so many schools in the Kanto area?

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

He needed the experience to become a "Professor"

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

Advice is very welcome. Thanks.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

You should apply to any place that you feel you have a reasonable chance of getting a job and you'd be willing to put up with as an employer for at least until you find another job (but preferably one year) .

As they say, beggars can't be choosers.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

If they say they are starting the visa application, should I be applying to other company's? Although by starting the visa application, it sound as though they just mean the letter of eligibility?