Job Discussion Forums

SA_Massive · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Aust

Im in Australia and about to be interviewed by NOVA and I'm a bit unsure as to whether I want to work full time as I gather 38 hours a week providing 'edutainment' could be quite draining.....

Questions.........

Is the flexi-time pay enough to live on?? I hope to be posted to Kyushu.

I dont really understand the salary ranges on the NOVA site.. I will definitely choose the 23 hour/week schedule.. is that top end of the range?

Is Overtime available to Flexi-schedules?? I read somewhere NOVA banned overtime for flexi's... Does anyone know if this is true?

I like the idea of doing flexi-time (working Holiday Visa) and getting another part time job or private lessons.. .... Is this a reasonable plan?? And what is NOVAs likely opinion on this?

Basically I'm prepared to work full time if I have to, but it seems like with Flexi time + overtime/a little part time work I could achieve a full time salary with more free time.

What do you guys think?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

When I worked there our "flex-time" teachers would usually work 10:00-1:20 0r 5:00-9:00. We had one fellow who would call up and volunteer to cover mornings at reachable schools and make it to our school for his afternoon shift.. turns out he had more hours than the regulars and the gates shut down.. It is illegal for people with WH visas to work over a certain amount of hours. However, he did make it up by doing private lessons. Nova does not mind teachers doing that (unless they pull Nova students away). Some other schools will not allow it. I was told by AEON, when I interviewed, that under no circumstances could I teach privately, because I would be under contract to teach exclusively for AEON.

I think Nova workes out okay.. you do get Nova housing if you want it. (usually shared)

SA_Massive · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Aust

AAAh! I was under the impression that there wasnt any working hours restriction on the W H Visa.

Well I think I am leaning towards the full time sponsered position..

At least I wont have too much time to spend my hard earned yen!

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Canuk girl · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 60

Just to let you know.. Nova told me to come on a WH visa, that they weren't hiring full time staff until January. I watched four staff, fresh off the boat, prance into my branch between August 01 and January. I put in a request for full time in January. I was told March, then April, then told I had to wait for my WH visa to expire, but then that that wasn't right, that I had to renew it, and then they said May, and then June. I sat on the phone today complaining to head office about it. They said that they have to make sure teachers can handle the pressure of the change (seeing as its such a mind numbing job), that type changes come only after six months, when people have "proven themselves", but as I have a good record, that a change will be approved once they put through the request, and then I apply for a working visa, which will be about 4 to 6 weeks from that point, and then I have to wait until the beginning of the next month, as they start only on the first of a month. (Meaning that I will be full time 7 months after my request, and 11 months after I arrived in Japan with a plan to stay here for one year) I said I'm not sure exactly why I have to prove myself, seeing as I could have come full time to begin with, and not sat and waited. Added to that, I don't know what the heck I have to prove, besides the fact I'm not willing to kiss anyone�s arss. Add that eight people have left my branch in less than two months time, and they are being replaced with new staff makes a nasty equation Evil or Very Mad

to me. If it was me I'd say to heck with anything they tell you, and get a Working visa, and if you hate it.. leave em. (By the way.. I am flexi-time and the money is enough to send a little home every month, but NOTHING compared to what I'd hoped for.. and I thought my hopes were pretty realistic Rolling Eyes

.)

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Canuckgirl

Just a rumor but...

I heard that the average working life of a female NOVA employee is about six months while its 8 or 9 for males. No idea why though. You might be getting past your use-by date with the company and ready for a change.

Either that or you are dealing with some pretty chauvinistic managers who see you headed out the door anyway.

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Canuck girl, that's just one story of many I've head concerning how NOVA will aribrarily choose someone to jerk around for no apparent reason. It's not financial or managerial - full time teachers make them more money and as you said your school can hardly keep up with teacher demand - it's soley because they're a bad place to work.

Canuk girl · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 60

Wolf - Oh yeah.. I believe it. I heard a story today from a guy who taught a lesson the way it SAYS to do in the nova book, but when a student complained, he had to, ON HIS OWN TIME, visit the area manager, then write a one page report on what a student needs to level up from one level to the next, and prepare ten new lessons to show the area manager. If I was him my first lesson plan would have been ; lesson point: spending fourty mins learning as many profanities as possible to call your supervisor at work. Lesson two: how to get severance pay out of the suckers who fire you.

And PAULH, you're right... the shelf life on this one is way past its expiration.