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Romonofu-kun
Joined: 01 Jun 2010
Posts: 8
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 Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject: How saturated is the Japanese EFL job market? |
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Last week I posted this on Gaijinpot in regards to the general belief that the Japanese EFL job market is horribly congested. It's good to get a second opinion, so if anyone has anything to comment in regards to my issue below it would be much appreciated.
- Is the entire job market saturated or just the low/entry-level jobs (such as eikaiwa)?
- How are business English and standardised test preparation jobs doing compared to the market as a whole?
- Are there niches that are doing well now despite the overall decline?
- To what extent do people with TESL certification, an appropriate undergrad degree, and a few year's experience stand a better chance at gaining meaningful employment?
- Do you think we've seen the bottom of the this or is the worse yet to come? |
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flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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No, one can answer all these questions with any certainty. Things are not good, we all know that. But, all it takes is one job and you are happy!
So, yes, obviously the general situation is important. But, it sounds like you know it not good.
If you really want to try, just come and try, after all many others might not come over (or stay here) because of the worsing situation.
I suppose it depends on how bad you want to teach in Japan |
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ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 12:39 am Post subject: Re: How saturated is the Japanese EFL job market? |
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Last edited by ShioriEigoKyoushi on Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:19 am Post subject: |
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- Is the entire job market saturated or just the low/entry-level jobs (such as eikaiwa)?
Most of the market is saturated.
- How are business English and standardised test preparation jobs doing compared to the market as a whole?
I don't know.
- Are there niches that are doing well now despite the overall decline?
Maybe, but only very small ones (as you read on Gaijinpot).
- To what extent do people with TESL certification, an appropriate undergrad degree, and a few year's experience stand a better chance at gaining meaningful employment?
Depends on the employers and type of job and the qualifications of the other candidates.
- Do you think we've seen the bottom of the this or is the worse yet to come?
Things can always get worse. |
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mushroomyakuza
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 1:39 am Post subject: |
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You know, looking at the internet, everything is doom and gloom and the end is coming. But in reality, almost everyone I know who's been looking for a job teaching English has found one.
Even my girlfriend, who has no degree nor ESL certificate, has found a teaching job in Tokyo. So in my opinion: don't believe the hype. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:51 am Post subject: |
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| mushroomyakuza wrote: |
You know, looking at the internet, everything is doom and gloom and the end is coming. But in reality, almost everyone I know who's been looking for a job teaching English has found one.
Even my girlfriend, who has no degree nor ESL certificate, has found a teaching job in Tokyo. So in my opinion: don't believe the hype. |
Nobody, said it was impossible to find a job, just that it is a lot harder than only a decade ago when a pulse and a foreign appearence could score you a pretty well paid job.
Now jobs are at such a premium that people often rolling over and accepting crazy hours for awful pay. You only need to look at job listings to see the joke of conditions people are putting up with just to survive over here.
And you only need to look through a couple of threads to see lots of people being rejected at or not even getting interviews and often searching for over a year before getting hired.
Then there were the hiring freezes for many of the big overseas recruiters last year. There were threads full of people who were hired and then told "Sorry, we no longer have a job for you. But if you wait until..." and then some reporting that even after waiting they never received a position.
Just because you, your gf and a few people that you know got jobs doesn't mean that job market being tight is hype. That would be like me turning around to the millions of people in the UK currently without jobs and saying the fact that most of my friends and family had good jobs that the unemployment crisis that is all over the news is just hype. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| mushroomyakuza wrote: |
| You know, looking at the internet, everything is doom and gloom and the end is coming. But in reality, almost everyone I know who's been looking for a job teaching English has found one. |
And, just how many is that? A dozen at most? There are thousands looking, and if this site is any indication, there will be far more ASAP:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/04/jobless-california-grads_n_600404.html
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| Even my girlfriend, who has no degree nor ESL certificate, has found a teaching job in Tokyo. So in my opinion: don't believe the hype. |
No degree? Pray tell how. With such scant information, you only hype the reality of opportunities here.
Working holiday visa?
3 years of previous experience?
student visa?
And, just what did she get for what salary? |
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greenwing
Joined: 31 May 2009
Posts: 13
Location: Liverpool, UK
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| There were threads full of people who were hired and then told "Sorry, we no longer have a job for you. But if you wait until..." and then some reporting that even after waiting they never received a position. |
Think this could be about to happen to me... |
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ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by ShioriEigoKyoushi on Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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PO1
Joined: 24 May 2010
Posts: 136
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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It's true, the Japanese market is crowded, but that doesn't mean to give up hope. It really is a case of luck, experience, and education normally. In a lot of cases it's really being in the right place at the right time. Or applying in the right job opening window.
I'm just working in America, staying at home until something pops up in Japan. It helps to save up money in case I have to come over and interview in person. Everything generally works out one way or another. Just have patience and something will come around eventually if you have the credentials (or connections). |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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| PO1 wrote: |
| I'm just working in America, staying at home until something pops up in Japan. It helps to save up money in case I have to come over and interview in person. |
I think it's very likely that you won't hear from anyone that way. There are thousands of potential applicants already here beating down the doors of employers. Why should anyone wait for you to book a flight to come for an interview, return to the USA, and then wait even more for you to clear up your affairs (apartment, car, current job, etc.) to prepare to return here? I think you are being far too hopeful. |
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PO1
Joined: 24 May 2010
Posts: 136
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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Well my girlfriend is Japanese so that helps me as far as a place to stay if I have to do that. We'll work out something, one way or another. I'm hopeful because there's no point in being defeated about it. And believe me, I'm not an overly optimistic person. I think too many people think "I have to get to Japan RIGHT NOW." I don't think that way anymore.
Last time the first place I applied to hired me. This time I've only had two interviews. Have two more coming up soon. It's hardly the end of the world yet.
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 1:16 am Post subject: |
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| PO1 wrote: |
| Well my girlfriend is Japanese so that helps me as far as a place to stay if I have to do that. We'll work out something, one way or another. |
But are you willing to pay extra to get on a flight immediately? That's the point I'm making. If the employer wants to see you next week, it's going to cost you more. |
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PO1
Joined: 24 May 2010
Posts: 136
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 1:48 am Post subject: |
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Luckily I'm in the best position in my life if I just decide to do that. About 2 months ago, not so much. Too bad the job I'm doing now isn't permanent, or I'd just stay here and get my girlfriend to move here honestly.  |
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ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:22 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by ShioriEigoKyoushi on Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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