Job Discussion Forums

[audyen]

Hi all. Just wondering what the ESL job situation is like in Nagoya at the moment? I am considering moving there with the family next year and would appreciate any information on recommended eikaiwas/schools/unis that may be hiring for suitably qualified teachers. Thanks very much

[Rezz]

Lots of opportunity if you're willing to commute 30-60mins each day inside or outside of Aichi. Gifu and Mie have plenty of ALT jobs or there's always Berlitz in Sakae/Meieki who recruit almost every 2-3 months.

AEON/GABA/ECC usually have jobs all around Aichi too but you probably have more chance being recruited abroad than domestically (maybe with the exception of GABA.........). Overall definitely easy to get work, probably the next best place after Tokyo imo.

[Rooster_2006]

I just landed a gig 40 minutes outside of Nagoya about three months ago, after job hunting in Japan for less than 12 days. I was hired after a Skype interview. I have been working about 40 minutes outside of Nagoya (in Yokkaichi, Mie-ken) for the last three months and things are going great. 250K yen per month (i.e. over $3,000 a month at the current exchange rate) and a large key money-free apartment. I have been banking over 100,000 yen per month after living expenses without living like a monk. Much better conditions and pay than the trolls, flamers, and doom merchants on this forum had led me to believe before I came here!

I have had success so far in the Greater Nagoya Metropolitan area. Maybe you will, too.

Good luck.

In my case, I found my job through an (old) ad on Ohayo Sensei. Lots of people had applied, but most of them were weirdos. Apparently one guy who was applying from Thailand asked my boss for her picture and then he sent her a picture of himself in nothing but a bathing suit!

Of course, I came to Japan suitably qualified (degree, CELTA, 1.5+ years of experience teaching in Taiwan, and some Japanese ability with a JLPT score to back it up). If you have similar or better credentials, decent job-hunting skills (i.e. the ability to make professional-looking cover letters and a decent resume), and are willing to take any reasonable job offer, I think you will be fine.

And mostly importantly, don't let the trolls/flamers/doom merchants get you down. Many of them are just trying to keep out newcomers. I suspect that most of them are either very bitter or they're working for a union/organization to keep new teachers out of the "guild." I had plenty of interview offers when I came here, including one interview arranged before I even stepped off the plane.

[Inflames]

[deadzenpoet]

Rooster thanks for keeping us updated! It's nice to see someone with firsthand experience looking for work on the ground and then sharing it.

[seklarwia]

Just remember Rooster:

You came in during the perfect hiring time and obviously did some prep and had some good luck... believe it or not, not every employer is being faced with nothing but crazys.

Besides the OP is asking about the situation now.

Big difference between people claiming doom and gloom and those who are telling people not to come unless they come at the right time, having done their research and have a decent amount of money in their pocket.

I'm glad things worked out for you, but you write as if your situation is the perfect norm and what everyone can expect to encounter... have you not read about any recent plights such as the one right near the top of the first page of threads?

A decent salary with saving opportunities, large apartment with no key money, (I'm assuming, since you are speaking so positively) a decent workload... I'm in a similar position, but I know more than a few friends who are not. And all anyone has to do is read the current issue of Ohayosensei to see that not all positions are great at the moment, many of the better looking ones are requiring more in the way of qualifications than the average newbie has and there are even stinkers such as this:

ENGLISH TEACHER.
Full-time, 5-6 hours/day, M-Sat. 180,000yen/month. Teach English conversation to students 2-13 years. Teaching location... Native English speaker, BA/BS, and conversational Japanese ability required. Two years experience, and computer programming skills preferred. Sponsorship available. National holidays, school vacation days, and transportation allowance. Position begins January, 2012. Two-year contract... - Edited to remove school and location details (I'm sure anyone with an ounce of computer skills will be able to easily find this ad for themslves if they are curious )

Even I was thinking, "WTH! 180,000 for a 6 day week!!!"

I've been a regular on this forum for long enough to confidently say that whilst some of the posters can be a bit blunt (verging on rude) in how they word their info, most are 'keeping it real' not doom merchants, and the number of trolls/flamers is quite low since the mods do a good job at sending them packing.
I've also seen more than a few posters ignore negative responses to their queries only to come back a couple of months later asking for help when the poop hits the fan.

[jcook77]

If you're interested in teaching, hard-working, persistent, ambitious and reliable, there's no way you shouldn't be able to find a decent job at 250K/month in Tokyo, Nagoya or Kansai. I've done it, plenty of friends have done it. Put a little time in, and a lot of opportunities will open up.

Nagoya is a big enough Metro to have jobs available right now. Do some research and jump right in!

[Rooster_2006]

[seklarwia]

[the4th2001]

[Rooster_2006]