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createdculture
Joined: 12 Nov 2010
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:41 am Post subject: ADVICE:First teaching job (while avoiding the big schools). |
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I've been reading quite a bit on the forums and it seems that most of the experiences involving the big chain schools are rather mixed. Does anyone have advice on how to land an entry-level teaching job while avoiding the big schools? Advice on a good recruiter to use?
Sorry if this is a near re-post of other threads but there is an overwhelming abundance of information on the web and on this website. I'd appreciate any responses! |
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rascalking
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:37 am Post subject: |
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First off, it depends on your experience. Don't expect a cushy teaching job without much teaching experience. Lots of people looking for jobs out there right now.
Second, don't be so sure that non-big schools are that much better. Many, if not most, independent schools offer very little in terms of benefits. At least with a school like ECC, you get everything you're legally supposed to get plus lots of vacation. Not so bad comparably speaking. |
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sabina
Joined: 11 Nov 2010
Posts: 75
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 3:15 am Post subject: |
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Do a lot of internet research. Find English schools and inquire about employment there, then send off your resume and cover letter. I know this sounds quite simple, and almost everyone says that it is incredibly hard to get a teaching job in Japan nowadays, but this is what I did and I found a job extremely fast (and it's a great job, too!).
I don't have any info on recruiters....I don't even think they are widely used to find employment, like in the Korean ESL market. It would also be a good idea to get some kind of teaching experience in; if you can't teach ESL now maybe teach a class (crafts, dance, music) at a community center in your area. Any experience working with kids is a plus. Hope this helps a bit!!  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:05 am Post subject: |
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Big chain schools advertise to snag most applicants from outside Japan. What remains is the group of schools that cannot afford to do that. Some (a rare few) will advertise for Skype interviews or the like. The vast majority must be found on the Internet, in J newspapers (including the English ones like The Japan Times), or by word of mouth. You will have to interview in Japan for those.
No recruiter needed.
| createdculture wrote: |
| it seems that most of the experiences involving the big chain schools are rather mixed. |
That depends on your POV. Most of the time, such reviews are fairly negative.
Realize that most newcomers aren't educated for teaching, and most just want to come to Japan to enjoy the culture, not work. So, when they arrive and are told to show up in an office, wear a suit and tie, keep regular hours, prepare their lessons, do interview tests, write reports on student progress, etc. they freak out.
Most eikaiwas are in it only for the money, so they don't really try to produce solid educational experiences for their customers. They just want them to come and return with cash. That means having entertaining, amiable, likable foreign teachers. The sad thing is when the employers also think they can skirt the law on certain issues. Sometimes it's just a "business as usual" attitude they have; sometimes it's a rebound effect from having hired foreign teachers with a no-care attitude.
rascalking is right in saying that the big guys are not necessarily any worse than the small ones. Some of the branches of the big eikaiwa have problems, some don't as much. Many have teacher unions. At least with the big guys, you can almost guarantee that you will have housing provided, a slight discount on airfare possible, comfortable working conditions, relatively steady clients, and even a teaching format provided. The advantage of the big guys over the smaller ones is that they can afford to interview you outside of Japan, so you can stay in your home country comfy and cozy until/if you get hired. |
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 1029
Location: BFE Inaka
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| rascalking wrote: |
Second, don't be so sure that non-big schools are that much better. |
Seconded. My first job in Japan was at Nova and it was a bastion of organization and professionalism compared to some of the small schools I've worked at since.
Some small schools here and there are willing to hire from overseas. And they advertise here.
Or PM me for a (very short) list. |
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