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Thunderpick
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 10
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 Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:03 am Post subject: Three years experience in lieu of a degree ?.... |
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Hello comrades.
I'm hoping to find some advice, and people who can share their experience on this subject.
I have worked as an EFL teacher for 3 years in SE Asia, and now I'm hoping to come to Japan. I don't have a degree, but I have three years of solid experience. I have researched and found that having 3 years will get me a work Visa. Has anyone gone through this? Is it a easy/ rough process? Better to apply in Japan, or from the UK? ( My homeland ) I have all my contracts, references, a striking CV and proof of everything I have done, and can do.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Kind regards,
Thunderpick. |
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Great Teacher Umikun
Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Posts: 63
Location: Back in Japan
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| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:39 am Post subject: |
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| Well, some employers only count experience in Japan as acceptable, and experience anywhere else might be ignored. Also, it�s better to be in Japan, because they wanna make sure you don�t bolt on them and leave them stuck with the work permit expenses. |
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Denizen
Joined: 13 Nov 2009
Posts: 110
Location: Tohoku
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| Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:38 am Post subject: |
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Although my personal experience teaching in Japan is from the late 80s/mid-90s, I found that an undergraduate degree was pretty much necessary to get one's ashi in the door. The current market in Japan has tightened considerably since then, with an apparent surplus of teachers making it even more competitive. The result is that you may want to consider pursuing a CELTA certificate and a couple of decent Letters of Recommendation to bump your stature up. I concur with Umikun...do it from Japan to demonstrate your sincere desire. It may help!
Good luck!
Dennis |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:43 am Post subject: |
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| Denizen wrote: |
| Although my personal experience teaching in Japan is from the late 80s/mid-90s, I found that an undergraduate degree was pretty much necessary to get one's ashi in the door. |
In the past 3-4 years I've helped a couple of people without degrees to spruce up their resumes and get jobs. Degrees are not always necessary. Immigration accepts experience, as stated earlier.
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| The current market in Japan has tightened considerably since then, with an apparent surplus of teachers making it even more competitive. |
Still, anyone with 3 years of experience beats out someone with zero, provided that the employer is looking for an experienced person and that he accepts the type of experience the candidate has. These aren't always the case. The degree-less person also needs to make it clear to the employer that a visa is no problem; some employers may not know.
The problem really comes in when a narrow-minded employer wants badly to announce to his students that John/Jane Doe has a certain degree beyond anything else in their qualifications. Not much one can do about that.
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| The result is that you may want to consider pursuing a CELTA certificate and a couple of decent Letters of Recommendation to bump your stature up. |
The letters won't improve stature unless an employer is willing to contact them. Not all will, and I'd be willing to bet that most won't due to the language barrier. Perhaps time, too. A cert will help, as long as the employer wants someone who has one. Not all do.
Some just want the greenest greenhorn off the boat, with a certain personality. |
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Thunderpick
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:08 am Post subject: |
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Thank you all for your help and advice.  It's great.
Glenski also - that is some good information. Makes me feel that little bit more confident about it. I know it will be hard work, but I'm not afraid of that. I will keep an eye on the posts on this site, and I will post again if I have another query.
Thank you again all.
Kind regards. |
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