Job Discussion Forums

[Gus3]

What are the differences between applying for a job in Japan at the beginning of the year, as opposed to any other time of the year? Are there more opportunities for people looking for a job overseas? If so, how many more jobs are offered on average during this time period?

[Glenski]

The academic year for mainstream schools begins in April. International schools start in the fall. Eikaiwas generally start in April, too, more as a matter of fiscal year beginning then, and you might stand a better chance of catching an eikaiwa opening throughout the year than at a mainstream school.

Fall sees a blip of hiring activity for October starts. Those seem to be openings from people who have completed a 6-month stint somewhere and are leaving/changing before the semester begins.

The largest number of ads for eikaiwa are seen in Feb and March. ALTs get hired then, too, so ads for them go up, but ALT ads are also seen a few months earlier in long-term preparation for the April start.

Look from overseas, and you can expect far fewer opportunities than if you were here. Maybe a dozen or so places have the resources to recruit from abroad, and those are usually in native English speaking countries. A very few will opt for phone/Skype interviews.

[Cool Teacher]

I've been looking for jobs on Gaijin Pot and I get a regular mailed message form them about jobs but recently not so many jobs seems to be advertised for its a bit annoying because I want to get a new job and I'm worried that the school I work for now might say they don't need me to continue working for them.