Job Discussion Forums

naruru-chan · Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 8

Hello,

I'm Naruru and this is my first post Smile

Nice to meet you!

Recently I have applied to eikaiwa jobs that werer posted in O-Hayo Sensei newsletter. A lot of them that I have applied to have said it is preferred to have a TESOL certificate, while a university degree and experience in teaching is much preferred. Suddenly, I don't get a reply from them.

Even though I have a degree in Fine Arts, does this "seriously" affect my resume? I have had experience working with young children during my college years and I'm currently a tutor at my old uni. I also have international experience Shocked

Mr_Monkey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu

Basically, your resume is exactly the same as thousands of other applicants.

A university degree is not preferred - it's a requisite for sponsoring your visa.

Your CV may need tweaked to emphasise your experience with young children, but many employers consider experience outside Japan to be irrelevant.

I'm not sure a TESOL cert will help, although a young learners cert like the CELTYL indicates a basic degree of competence that might make your CV stand out.

Personally, if I were hiring, I'd insist on certs as a minimum criterion for consideration, but I'm not, and I'm not a Japanese eikaiwa owner/manager, so I don't think that's worth much.

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

Haven't looked closely at what employers are advertising recently, but bear in mind that with the bankruptcies of 2 large eikaiwa chains (GEOS, NOVA), there are far more people out there looking for work these days.

Perhaps employers want a TESOL-related certification more than before. That's understandable in order to help weed out applicants, because most newcomers have degrees unrelated to TEFL. Hard to say what they are feeling, but that's a logical concept. You never know what employers feel, though. Add to that some experience, and you can see even more what they might want from applicants.

Your resume otherwise is pretty generic. Do your best to write a good cover letter for each application. Customize.

What is "international experience"?

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318

Mr_Monkey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu

LOL

They do it without warning too.

seklarwia · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:12 am Post subject:

@ Bread and Monkey

You two are mean Laughing

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

You don't mention having a TESOL certificate. Does that mean that you don't? Try to look at it from an employer's point of view. There are a tonne of people in Japan right now with degrees, TESOL certificates (most of which are really just quick newbie deals that aren't really worth all that much, but that's another thread) and speak intermediate Japanese. A TESOL certificate is 'preferred' really means that that's basically what they're looking for.

Experience outside of Japan, means very, very little inside of Japan a lot of the time.

Whether your degree is in fine arts makes zero difference to most employers. It may even count for you, if you can show them how you could use it in class. Some employers have a slight preference for English or linguistics.

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

naruru-chan · Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 8

Woops

naruru-chan · Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 8

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

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

naruru-chan · Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 8

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Well, the living abroad for 9 years qualifies as considerable international experience, but the vacation weeks don't really. I've travelled to more than 30 countries so have untold "vacation weeks" outside my country, but on a CV/application at least I would probably only mention the time I've spent living in Japan and Spain if I wanted to mention "international experience".

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

I'm afraid that 9 years of just living in other countries will only be seen as a good point in terms of your potential to minimize culture shock. Might depends on just where you were, too.

Otherwise, as far as improving your odds for a job, it won't help more than that unless you were teaching during that time, and in some cases not even then.