Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Viaje]

I saw an ad about a company hiring teachers for Japan. They are called Amity, a division of AEON Corporation, and they say they are the leading English conversation educator for children in Japan. No experience necessary and the pay is good. They ask for an essay about why you want to teach to children in Japan.

I'm wondering how difficult it would be to get hired? Is this a desired situation, meaning they receive many applicants? I am 53 years old, never taught before, and looking to find the best situation I can. Considering the exchange rate now in Korea, and my need to send some money home to US each month, the pay in Japan looks attractive. Would I be considered seriously by this company(Amity) or rejected due to age? Would positions like this be competitively sought after?

Sorry for the naive questions, but if anyone has knowledge of Japan, this Amity company or the odds of my being hired for a well-paying job in Japan, please reply. I realize that in general it is easier to find work in Korea, but how difficult is it to do so in Japan? I understand the cost of living is greater but with good salary and good exchange rate it still is better financially in Japan. Also, is the work more demanding in Japan, the employers more difficult or the predjudice from parents and students greater?
Thanks much for any help.

[Ukon]

[Viaje]

I thought the Jet program was not interested in someone my age--53?

[Ukon]

They hire older guys...although there is a age limit I believe.

[cdninkorea]

I think if you want more and better answers to this, you'd best ask it in the Japan forum. Lots of the posters there used to be in Korea, so they can probably give a bit of perspective too. Good luck!

[bassexpander]

When I was looking at JET (2002) the age limit was 35.

[Perceptioncheck]

I think the JET programme is far, far more competitive than AEON. When I worked in Japan, AEON wasn't a particularly desirable company to work for but things may have changed. I don't know much about the company at all but from what I know about private Japanese schools, they will probably be focusing on appearance as much as credentials.

I worked for NOVA which I imagine is quite similar to AEON. They tended to hire inexperienced but reasonable looking people who were usually just out of college, give them three days of training and then throw them in the classroom. The job and textbooks were so repetitive that you'd have to be a few sarnies short of a picnic to struggle with the material after the first two classes. They were very big on appearance; hair must be a certain length, only one pair of earrings (studs, not the dangly ones) for women, men must wear a tie, proper dress shoes are to be worn at all times etc. etc.

In short, the classes were so easy you could teach them blind drunk (and indeed, many people did just that) and, as long as you had your tie on straight and your hair neatly combed, you were a great teacher as far as NOVA was concerned. The only demanding thing about the job was the number of classes a week; thirty eight classes is a lot, even if they are a walk in the park. Again, I don't know about AEON but I imagine it's very similar.

That being said, I think you should go for it. Even if it is a highly desired position, you lose nothing by trying.

Good luck!

[oskinny1]

I have had long talks with a friend that does hiring for an eikaiwa (no, I will not send you his contact information). He said that he gets around 200 resumes a month and that the majority are horrible.

If you want a job, make a professional resume and when they call you stop playing WoW for a few minutes to answer some questions. Don't ask the interviewer to call you back because you just spilled bong water all over your mom's sofa, and how mad she will be when she finds out you have been smoking her stash.

Don't just go with one school. Spread yourself just like you would for job hunting back home. Oh, and sadly you are too old for JET, last I heard there was a cut off at 39. There are other ALT (assistant language teacher) firms out there though.

[Xuanzang]

JET is very competitive and a lot of the postings are rural towns. Download the application pdf package from their website and see for yourself.

[morningmimi]

Not only is JET competitive, they only place you in rural areas where you're the only westerner. (there's only one person placed in the Kanto region and it's on a island) And the locals will be afraid of you. For this reason they hire a lot of people who can speak Japanese.
I'm a Japanese major from Umass and I know a lot of people in JET. If you're into isolation and elitism then go for it. If not then try a eikaiwa.
Just remember in order to get set up in Japan it cost about 6,000 dollars. The schools there don't pay for anything because it's so competitive over there.

[morningmimi]

Oh yeah... sorry don't mean to double post but I forgot...

http://www.gaijinpot.com/ is a good site for jobs.

I agree with the other guy, you're prob going to end up teaching part time at two eikaiwa. It all comes down on who you can get to sponsor your visa.

[Brooks]

ok, I live west of Tokyo. In Kanagawa prefecture.
You are too old for JET. The age limit is around 40.

You really want to teach kids at AEON? Ok, but maybe you could get 250,000 a month.

I think you will have less stress than Korea. The main thing is: do you like teaching kids? If so, then you will do ok. But you won't make much money.

Japan can be expensive. Where would you like to live?

[cdninkorea]

[oskinny1]

[TECO]