Job Discussion Forums

tobiascurious · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 8 Location: England

Hello,

I understand that the academic year starts on April 1

Yet companies like AEON and ECC seem to stay they recruit all year round.

Therefore is there any reason for me not to apply now for a February start, or wait until July for example?

(I'm not in Japan and want to go through one of the big companies for help with Visa and accommodation)

Basically I don't want to be twiddling my thumbs until April and I can get a 6-month work contract at home hence waiting until July

Thanks

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Aeon and ECC are eikaiwa, private language schools. Their businesses are largely unaffected by the academic year and they operate a system of rolling recruitment replacing teachers as and when their contracts expire. They are Japanese companies. Application processes are thorough and lead-times are long.

Applying now is almost certainly already too late for any start in February, or March for that matter. Aeon organise group interviews at regular intervals at various centres. If you miss one you have to wait for the next, then wait for a decision, then decide upon a posting, then wait for J immigratiojn to process your application for a CoE, then wait for the next training session in the area of Japan you wish to work in, then fly out and start work. So you need to apply at least 3-4 months before you are ready to leave.

Take your 6 month contract and apply now while telling EEC/Aeon that you are available to fly out in July/August/whenever.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I disagree with stillnosheep about eikaiwas being unaffected by the academic year. Actually, to get technical, it's the fiscal year they run by, and that also starts April 1.

So, they do most of their hiring for that time frame. Yes, they (and others) seem to hire year round (not everyone does, though, so don't take this as a blanket statement), but they get their most for April.

They usually announce a few months before the start date because they know it takes time for visas to be processed (and for people to get their stuff together in preparation for the move overseas). So, watch for recruitment schedules, too. Don't assume they hire any and every day of the year.

So, tobiascurious, you'd better hurry if you want to join the April crowd, IMO.

tobiascurious · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 8 Location: England

Thanks stillnosheep and Glenski

The Aeon website has closing dates in the range Jan 12 to Mar 8, depending on location, with interviews a few days after in each case.

I assumed that this was for an April start, but elsewhere on their website it says that visas take 3 months from the date of hiring. Therefore it looks to be already too late to apply for an April start at Aeon

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

For Los Angeles, the closing date for applications is Jan. 12, yes. But the interviews are on Jan. 17. What's the problem with that?

Similar timelines for other locations. Go for it!

tobiascurious · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 8 Location: England

Well I'm in the UK and the closing date is Feb 9 for an interview date of Feb 21. Add on a few days to be hired, plus 3 months for a visa, and it becomes a June start.

Or are you suggesting applying to Los Angeles and hopefully be in time for an April start?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

No, of course not (unless you have the resources to go there!).

If you get interviewed in that week of February, and they decide within 2 weeks to hire you, then you will get the paperwork started by early March, and with luck, you can have the visa in 4-8 weeks, not 3 months. So, it is actually possible to start in April or May, not June.

This is an optimistic view, of course, but my main point is that if you can interview in your home country, then the sooner the better. You're very likely NOT going to get your feet in Japan before April, but even if you have to wait the full 3 months, then what is the difference between June vs. July?

The sooner you apply and interview, the sooner you will know if you are even hired. Not everyone is, and the sooner you know, the better your chances are of knowing what other options you have.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Aeon operate rolling recruitment and start throughout the year. Whether or not there is a spike in April I don't know but they can only train so many teachers at a time in Japan and so they recruit start new teachers throughout the year.

Their website may will now be advertising the interview schedule for January-March. Come April it will shopw the schedule for April-June. And so on.

I would have thought it more sensible to take 6 month contract, interview London and start in July if successful than go to huge expense of flying to and staying in LA in hope of success in interview and April start, which may well end up being May anyway, forsaking 6 months salary and and paying return costs to LA just to get out to Japan a few weeks earlier. But it's your call.