Job Discussion Forums

[superstevieg]

I should be arriving into Japan around early-to-mid March time and have applied to AEON, Gaba and Interac and secured interviews whilst still in the UK. Hopefully I can secure a job via one of these chains before leaving but I�m worried about what I�ve read in the Interac information booklet regarding ALT positions in Tokyo and Osaka. This has been taken from Interac:

�Candidates that have neither Japanese ability and previous teaching experience should not expect to be placed in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka since these are highly competitive placements and the Boards of Education usually require at least intermediate Japanese ability and one year of previous teaching experience in Japan.�

Would anyone know if this is true or does it solely reply to full time ALT jobs? Having no Japanese speaking ability and previous teaching experience, I am worried I may struggle to find a job in Tokyo or Osaka if I have to enter Japan on a working holiday visa and search for work myself. I can't really afford to be picky with the type of job I'm applying for, so I would consider full time or part-time work in an ALT or non-ALT role, but I have to admit location would be a very imprtant factor.

I guess most people search for work in Tokyo. If I arrive into Japan mid March, do you believe there would be more job opportunities in Yokohama or the Osaka region, compared to Tokyo?

Many thanks for any help provided,

Steve

[Glenski]

Is Interac's policy just policy or is it reality? That is what you are asking.

You don't have to know much if any Japanese to be an ALT. Any bit will help, though. There's the reality.

Interac seems to say you have a slim chance of getting placed where you want because of your lack of ability. Reality #2.

[Apsara]

Yokohama is only around 20 minutes by train from Tokyo and part of the same Kanto urban area, so can't really be considered different/separate from Tokyo as far as possibility of employment goes. Plenty of people live in Yokohama and commute to Tokyo and vice versa.

[superstevieg]

Yeah what I was really trying to establish was whether this policy is just for Interac or if it applies to all schools with a Tokyo or Osaka address,

Would love Yokohama, and I believe travel expenses can be paid for by some schools so perhaps I could still live somewhere near central tokyo. I would rather save money and stay in Gaijin house and I guess there are far more of these places in the Tokyo area as opposed to the wider Kanto region unless you think I'm wrong

[Kimura]

Hey superstevieg, I think you might find it challenging to secure employment as an ALT in Tokyo. I say this based largely on your own admission of having no teaching experience or Japanese speaking ability.

I myself managed to secure an ALT position in Odaiba, but I already had one year of ALT experience and rudimentary Japanese speaking ability. Moreover, several of the positions I interviewed for were looking for an intermediate speaking ability and above, which I didn't have. At times I felt that prior teaching experience was worth less than Japanese speaking proficiency.

My recommendation is to maybe go for an ALT position somewhere outside the highly competitive Tokyo area. Once you have a year or two ALT experience, I think you will be a much more employable candidate.

[flyer]

yes, while they say the Japanese ability is not a requirement for ALTs, in reality you are not in the interact office all day but in the schools.
And very often basic Japanese is almost a must (as few teachers speak fluent English) Usually, you will have very little contact with interact on a day to day basis (??)

and almost the same can be said for teaching experience, while not 100% necessary, if 10 people go for 5 jobs and all being equal excpet experince etc, obviously they will get the job (??)

I would also imagine that mid March would be far too late to look for a job on your own. Most BOEs (etc) advertise months earlier and with no Japanese ability and experience they wouldn't be interest (??)

I hope I am not too negative?

speaking for myself, I can't imagine not being able to speak Japanese. I use it all the time (no choice) but I know some teachers that can't speak much Japanese ... so ...?

[anne_o]

[superstevieg]

Yeah I was worried that Mid-March might be too late but I believe this is still better than arriving until Feb next year. I've been led to believe that some schools have no choice but to recruit at the last minute because of admin issues or due to teachers letting them down. I'm not going to be picky, I just thought an ALT job might be the best option given the current economic climate. I have a WHV so worse case scenario, I hope to find at least a part-time job. I'm not desperate for money and its not really my intention to teach as a long-term career, so I'm going for the experience, learn new skills, as opposed to making money and embarking upon a career change.

[Apsara]