Job Discussion Forums

jamo22 · Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 47

I am interested in an ALT job in Sano city with fifth wings. Has anyone lived in this area? I would very much appreciate your opinion. Ie what is Sano City like, how far is it to other major cities, is it possible to have a social life there, etc...

If you have experience with fifth wings, I would also like to hear your take on them. They want me to send them my original degree so they can process the visa, is that normal?

Thanks

sabina · Joined: 11 Nov 2010 Posts: 75

No, I don't think that is normal. I would never send anyone my original diploma. A copy was all it took for me to get my C.O.E. (and visa).

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

If a company needs proof of graduation, send transcripts or a letter that demonstrates you are a degree holder from that institution. There is no way any company should ask for an original degree of any kind.

When applying for jobs, I have always sent copies, and once I attended on site, I carried my documents with me and had a secretary copy them in front of me. You don't let those goodies out of your sight!

EmowshinallChicken · Joined: 25 Jun 2010 Posts: 26

awful awful awful...dont go near them...!! wish i had never sent them my original degree last year - nobody has lasted the year with them and they're only 3/4 of the way through....no wonder, so they keep recruiting...contracts are woeful, pitance pay/zero pay in the holidays and contract just stipulates what you owe them, will owe them should you leave...and they offer you very little.......the worst decision of my life...go elsewhere...anywhere else.....unemployment would be a better option!! THIEFwings, a former colleague told me, would be a better place to work..!

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

seklarwia · Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 10:42 am Post subject:

Yes, there is nothing sinister about the request in itself. But as Apsara pointed out, it is not the only option.

My employer was against the idea of copies (their choice probably to avoid the possibility of rejection by immigration) but I was given a choice between sending the original cert, a set of original transcripts or an original, official letter of confirmation on uni headed paper stating my course and date of graduation. I used the letter for my visa application and got my COE without any issues.

Tara2117 · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gunma, Japan

Fifth Wings has a reputation for being rather shady. My boyfriend applied with them, and had an interview. They told him, "Oh, sorry, we like you but don't actually have a position for you... but could you appeal to the Board of Education on our behalf?" (In our region, companies have to apply for the oppotunity to hire ALTS for schools.) That was all kinds of shady.

I also know two people freshly arrived in Japan, who got hired by Fifth to work at a local NPO and some kindergartens. AFTER signing their contract for a normal, 5-day work week, Fifth told them, "Oops, actually you have to work six days a week, every week. If you won't do that, then we won't hire you after all." This was quite soon before they were due to move to Japan, so they really had no other option. Plus, they get paid much less than any ESL teacher should... AND Fifth is making them live in the same Leopalace apartment. They are a couple, but still... Leopalaces are TINY, like barely bigger than a school bus...

I'd steer clear if I were you. I've heard nothing but shady stories about them during my 3.5 years in Japan...

Tara2117 · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gunma, Japan

Also, do NOT send your original diploma to any company. Just get an official statement of graduation from your school. Sending an original diploma doesn't even make sense... I mean, mine is HUGE, I wouldn't trust it to some faceless visa office worker...

Oreally · Joined: 23 Nov 2008 Posts: 39

Thiefwings are on another level. Contract signed and everything settled almost 3 months before the arrival date. Against my best judgment, I sent my diploma. 6 weeks before they asked me to be in country, I sent them my travel details and was looking for consolidation. I am not there with them now because after months of dialogue and questions, they come up with this bulloks of the immigration being busy and they need me to come over on a visit visa. When I said no, I was suddenly not "deserving". I never got my Diploma back.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Although you can always buy a new diploma/degree from your institution, it is really not necessary to send the original to any employer. I'm sorry to hear you didn't get it back from Fifth Wings.

Certified copies are just as legit.

Nobody should send their original just for an application, if that's what happened. A well-respected university told me they wanted mine just for application. Ha! I phoned them and explained that if I sent them the original, nobody else where I applied could get it. They saw the logic (and their own stupidity) in about 2 nanoseconds and willingly accepted a copy plus transcripts.

Oreally · Joined: 23 Nov 2008 Posts: 39

Well, it is the price I pay for not respecting what was said here. Even dealing with them the warning was there. Anyway, I have already sent our email correspondences to the Education Ministry. Skype will soon send me the audio file of the conversation we had. It will be forwarded. I hope whoever they tricked to work illegally don't get in too much trouble, but I am going to make things difficult for them. They should have just sent the diploma back to me. to me.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 1:18 pm Post subject:

FWIW, I'm pretty sure that Sano is where the writer Bruce Feiler was during his time on JET. He wrote a book about it all (Learning to Bow) that's worth reading generally.

mhard1 · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 54 Location: Japan

sano sucks and fifth wing sucks. Avoid both.

You are welcome Very Happy