|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Jaradcel
Joined: 02 Mar 2009
Posts: 11
|
 Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:50 am Post subject: In Japan, but am I ready to hit it running? |
 |
|
Hi all, been awhile since I posted (Almost a year good grief) but then again, after getting crushed by JET and having to finish up my degree things ticked on.
Anyway, I've finally saved up enough cash and am ready to do "the big one" of actually banging the street in Japan looking for a job.
I've read Glenski's posts here and here and would just like some confirmation on facts.
a) I'm Singaporean, and male. So far, the only Asians other than some rumored Phillipino's who I know have actually landed a job teaching in Japan are all female. Any credence that they'd really rather have an Asian female over a male?
b) I'm Eurasian, mixed of Peranakan/German/Chinese. Unfortunately for the lovers of blonde hair and blue eyes, I look terribly Chinese rather than anything like my father's strapping Germanic roots. Drats.
c) I have the cash and a place to stay. A friend who's already an ALT there (American) is putting me up.
d) My go date is confirmed - I'll be in there from the 25th of January till around the 23rd of February. Do you think there's enough time in that period?
e) I've begun emailing in the usual suspect places (Ohayo/Gaijinpot etc) with my friend's Japanese mail address as well as a cover letter stating that I'll be in Japan on the dates mentioned above. What do you think my chances are of landing at least the interview (Never mind the job, at least give me a hope of an interview *laughs wryly*)
f) When I do get there, do you think it would be easy/medium/hard for me to call up the companies that are advertising and land a walk-in interview?
g) While I'll be staying in the Saitama region, I'm quite willing to travel and be placed anywhere. Rural? Sounds like a very different change of pace. Sub-urban? Sort of like where I live right now. Urban? I live in Singapore where both are kind of blurred together.
Do you think, therefore, that it's worth nabbing one of the JR Passes that lets you travel all over Japan? I was thinking JR East would be a good bet, but if people say just grabbing a Suica and paying for specialized tickets is enough then I'll look into that too.
h) Oh I near forgot. I have a BA in Journalism and several years of experience. I was also required to train young teenagers while I was working on the youth newspapers. The youth papers also required "dumbing down" the text to baseline, crunch-point bullets that could be easily captured. Does that sound enough like a lesson-plan-similar experience for me to list it as such?
i) Yes, I know that even with my BA I'm only qualified for entry-level jobs. That's fine with me. We all have to start somewhere *grins*
I think that's about it for now. Any help would be much appreciated! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: In Japan, but am I ready to hit it running? |
|
|
| Jaradcel wrote: |
| a) I'm Singaporean, and male. So far, the only Asians other than some rumored Phillipino's who I know have actually landed a job teaching in Japan are all female. Any credence that they'd really rather have an Asian female over a male? |
I doubt it.
| Quote: |
| b) I'm Eurasian, mixed of Peranakan/German/Chinese. Unfortunately for the lovers of blonde hair and blue eyes, I look terribly Chinese rather than anything like my father's strapping Germanic roots. Drats. |
If your nationality is Singaporean, that is what you are. Don't confuse others and muddy the waters and make yourself sick thinking what you don't look like.
| Quote: |
| d) My go date is confirmed - I'll be in there from the 25th of January till around the 23rd of February. Do you think there's enough time in that period? |
A month to land a job? Perhaps. We don't know anything else about you, though. Nor can we predict how you will do in any interview.
Besides, if you do get hired within that period, and apply for the COE/visa, what are you going to do about your plane ticket? Go home, then pay to fly here again? What if they want you to start work on April 1st?
| Quote: |
| e) I've begun emailing in the usual suspect places (Ohayo/Gaijinpot etc) with my friend's Japanese mail address as well as a cover letter stating that I'll be in Japan on the dates mentioned above. What do you think my chances are of landing at least the interview |
Impossible to say.
| Quote: |
| f) When I do get there, do you think it would be easy/medium/hard for me to call up the companies that are advertising and land a walk-in interview? |
Impossible to say. Do you have any kind of teaching/tutoring experience, a bachelor's degree, publications, etc.? Help us to help you.
| Quote: |
| g) While I'll be staying in the Saitama region, I'm quite willing to travel and be placed anywhere. Rural? Sounds like a very different change of pace. Sub-urban? Sort of like where I live right now. Urban? I live in Singapore where both are kind of blurred together. |
Are you asking for the best place to look for work? I'd say forget that. The market is crowded here, so don't limit yourself unless you absolutely cannot tolerate the weather/climate in a place.
| Quote: |
| Do you think, therefore, that it's worth nabbing one of the JR Passes that lets you travel all over Japan? I was thinking JR East would be a good bet, but if people say just grabbing a Suica and paying for specialized tickets is enough then I'll look into that too. |
Maybe. Deal with that after you get here and see how many interviews you are called to.
| Quote: |
| h) Oh I near forgot. I have a BA in Journalism and several years of experience. |
Finally! But what exactly was your "experience"?
| Quote: |
| I was also required to train young teenagers while I was working on the youth newspapers. |
Train them to do what? Doesn't sound like EFL related, but you might as well put it on a list of teaching-related experience.
| Quote: |
| The youth papers also required "dumbing down" the text to baseline, crunch-point bullets that could be easily captured. Does that sound enough like a lesson-plan-similar experience for me to list it as such? |
Not to me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jaradcel
Joined: 02 Mar 2009
Posts: 11
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: In Japan, but am I ready to hit it running? |
|
|
Heh thanks Glen. I'll reply here.
| Quote: |
A month to land a job? Perhaps. We don't know anything else about you, though. Nor can we predict how you will do in any interview.
Besides, if you do get hired within that period, and apply for the COE/visa, what are you going to do about your plane ticket? Go home, then pay to fly here again? What if they want you to start work on April 1st? |
As far as I understood the COE/Visa, I thought I had to be back in Singapore to get it done. Singapore doesn't have a working holiday visa in Japan, but I'm willing to pay for the no-show return to Singapore flight back if needs be and I can work. I know it's illegal, but it's not like we haven't seen that posted in the forums before. I'm ready for it if needs be.
I'm working freelance, so any start time is good for me.
| Quote: |
| Impossible to say. Do you have any kind of teaching/tutoring experience, a bachelor's degree, publications, etc.? Help us to help you. |
As mentioned below (Sorry, I know it came late in the post =\) I have a BA in Journalism. I've got about 8 years of experience doing freelance journalism - primarily in the field of technology and gaming, but with extras all over the place from youth education to politics.
I also have unofficial public relations experience working as a club's public relations head for about 10 years as well. Mostly, this meant dealing with sponsors and handling the community we serviced.
In terms of teaching experience, nothing official. As mentioned later, I had to teach teens (aged 13-16) how to approach newswriting for newspapers. I essentially taught them the basics on everything - the who, what, where, when why, how, fact checking, etc - and helped oversee their work. Their articles were published in a youth newspaper distributed to both junior and high schools in Singapore.
I don't think it counts, but no harm in saying it, had to train younger staff while doing public relations. Essentially, I had to guide them and train them on how to handle the community, meet their needs while also remaining civil. Yeah, looking at that it doesn't seem very relevant.... Drats.
| Quote: |
| Are you asking for the best place to look for work? I'd say forget that. The market is crowded here, so don't limit yourself unless you absolutely cannot tolerate the weather/climate in a place. |
Nope, I've looked at everything, and everything has its pros and cons. I'm perfectly willing to go anywhere, from complete boony rural to urban sprawl is what I meant. Don't intend to limit myself at all. (Beyond financial reason during my trip that is)
| Quote: |
| Maybe. Deal with that after you get here and see how many interviews you are called to. |
Will do.
| Quote: |
| Finally! But what exactly was your "experience"? |
See above.
| Quote: |
| The youth papers also required "dumbing down" the text to baseline, crunch-point bullets that could be easily captured. Does that sound enough like a lesson-plan-similar experience for me to list it as such? Not to me. |
Drats. It was essentially a full proper article (say, on binge drinking) followed by boxouts with bullet points that listed the "key points" for children/teens to take note of from the article.
Thanks again Glenski! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: In Japan, but am I ready to hit it running? |
|
|
| Jaradcel wrote: |
| As far as I understood the COE/Visa, I thought I had to be back in Singapore to get it done. |
No. You can apply for it from home, or apply for it in Japan and stay in Japan if you like until it's finished. Processing no longer requires that you leave to finish it.
| Quote: |
| I have a BA in Journalism. I've got about 8 years of experience doing freelance journalism - primarily in the field of technology and gaming, but with extras all over the place from youth education to politics. |
Ok, so "experience" is not teaching experience. Thanks.
| Quote: |
| I also have unofficial public relations experience working as a club's public relations head for about 10 years as well. Mostly, this meant dealing with sponsors and handling the community we serviced. |
Neither that nor the journalism experience will mean much, if anything, to teaching employers here. List them on your resume, but don't take up more than 2 bullet points to describe them.
| Quote: |
| In terms of teaching experience, nothing official. As mentioned later, I had to teach teens (aged 13-16) how to approach newswriting for newspapers. |
Mention this, especially the fact that the work became published, but I wouldn't overly emphasize this experience. Most employers won't consider it relevant to teaching a language (and shouldn't).
| Quote: |
| I don't think it counts, but no harm in saying it, had to train younger staff while doing public relations. |
Yes, no harm, but essentially irrelevant.
| Quote: |
The youth papers also required "dumbing down" the text to baseline, crunch-point bullets that could be easily captured. Does that sound enough like a lesson-plan-similar experience for me to list it as such?
Glenski: Not to me.
Drats. It was essentially a full proper article (say, on binge drinking) followed by boxouts with bullet points that listed the "key points" for children/teens to take note of from the article. |
Look, you're going to be hired for entry level jobs at best, and they usually want people to teach conversational English, not anything for journalism, and certainly not writing. All I can say is put some aspects of tutoring/training down, so people can see you are familiar with working in such an environment, but don't try to pass it off as teaching a language.
Best of luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jaradcel
Joined: 02 Mar 2009
Posts: 11
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 8:00 am Post subject: Re: In Japan, but am I ready to hit it running? |
|
|
| Quote: |
| No. You can apply for it from home, or apply for it in Japan and stay in Japan if you like until it's finished. Processing no longer requires that you leave to finish it. |
Ahh I see. I'll keep that in mind then. If I do get a job, I'll see how that will work and then play it by ear from there. If there's enough time then I might go back to Singapore, though I suspect I'll probably be spending time laying the groundwork for job location etc.
| Quote: |
| Neither that nor the journalism experience will mean much, if anything, to teaching employers here. List them on your resume, but don't take up more than 2 bullet points to describe them. |
Will do.
| Quote: |
| Mention this, especially the fact that the work became published, but I wouldn't overly emphasize this experience. Most employers won't consider it relevant to teaching a language (and shouldn't). |
*nods*
| Quote: |
Look, you're going to be hired for entry level jobs at best, and they usually want people to teach conversational English, not anything for journalism, and certainly not writing. All I can say is put some aspects of tutoring/training down, so people can see you are familiar with working in such an environment, but don't try to pass it off as teaching a language.
Best of luck. |
No intention of passing it off as such, and yep, I know all I'm qualified for is entry-level work.
Thank you for all the help though Glenski. I know it's tough reading all the threads and replying to the same stuff over and over (Seeing as I see your name near everywhere both here and in the Gaijinpot forums *laughs*)
Thanks, and I really appreciate it  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 11:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Text deleted |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
