The decline of Japan

[Harp]

I think you are seriously mistaken if you think the majority of resume sent out for uni jobs are either poorly written, from unqualified applicants or those who are poor at interviewing.

I work in HR for an international school, not a university, but the majority of applications that come to me for teaching and administration jobs are poorly written, come from unqualified applicants, have weird formatting and hopeless covering emails.

Getting those right does go a long way.

[Ken44]

OK but how do you get that "in"?

You probably won`t. Your best bet is to spend time in the teacher`s room chatting up that J-teacher who works (hopefully full-time) in a university you want to get into. Maybe if you spend enough time “befriending” the guy (or gal) they`ll help you pick up some part-time classes.

I'd recommend teaching, definitely, but with an MA, so that if a person wants to work here but does find a lot of difficulty in getting a job, he or she has good options at home and in other countries.

You`ve got it backwards. The smart move is to get a teaching job in your home country and come back here if need be later on. You`ll be in a much stronger position job-wise. The last thing the Japanese are looking for is another ex-Alt with an MA from Temple or Colombia. Having taught professionally in your home country gives you a lot of legitimacy in the eyes of the Japanese and a strong leg up on the competition.

I work in HR for an international school, not a university, but the majority of applications that come to me for teaching and administration jobs are poorly written, come from unqualified applicants, have weird formatting and hopeless covering emails.

Getting those right does go a long way.

I`ve actually (quickly) looked through a box full of resumes received by Rikkyo U. and while I can`t recall if they were sloppy I can say I saw a lot of PhDs!!

[Grechuta]

>You probably won`t. Your best bet is to spend time in the teacher`s room chatting up that J-teacher who works (hopefully full-time) in a university you want to get into. Maybe if you spend enough time “befriending” the guy (or gal) they`ll help you pick up some part-time classes.

What can I say, I have to respectfully disagree. I don't think that is anyones "best bet" for really enhancing their career, sorry, and it's not the first or second or third advice I'd give anyone. That sounds like a best bet to be a part-time teacher. I mean, really, do you actually think that the best, most key people to get to know on the university campus are the other teachers hanging out in the part-time teachers room? Not the people on campus who actually have their own offices, for example?!

>You`ve got it backwards. The smart move is to get a teaching job in your home country and come back here if need be later on. You`ll be in a much stronger position job-wise. The last thing the Japanese are looking for is another ex-Alt with an MA from Temple or Colombia. Having taught professionally in your home country gives you a lot of legitimacy in the eyes of the Japanese and a strong leg up on the competition.


I don't have anything backwards. I don't remember advising anyone, ever, to become an ex-alt with an MA from Temple or Columbia. Actually I would completely agree with your statement that "having taught professionally in your home country gives you a lot of legitimacy in the eyes of the Japanese and a strong leg up on the competition". I think that's great advice. One can do that, for example, by getting an MA and teaching professionally in your home country as part of student teaching, which is required during the second year of many MA programs. One can also pick up part-time classes at many community colleges without having completed a master's, especially if it's in a big program in or near a city with a large immigrant population. In that way one can get a masters in ones's home country with the intention of going abroad after a couple of years, while simultaneously making money and gaining much needed experience.


>> Originally Posted by Harp
>>I work in HR for an international school, not a university, but the majority of applications that come to me for teaching and administration jobs are poorly written, come from unqualified applicants, have weird formatting and hopeless covering emails.

>>Getting those right does go a long way.

>I`ve actually (quickly) looked through a box full of resumes received by Rikkyo U. and while I can`t recall if they were sloppy I can say I saw a lot of PhDs!![/QUOTE]


I'm going to agree with Harp here, and it's exactly the same way on the university level. Very few people put together an application, including the resume, cover letter, and interview, without mistakes or odd parts. It's hard to write and present yourself perfectly, but those that do have a huge advantage when trying to get a job.

[Ken44]

.. I mean, really, do you actually think that the best, most key people to get to know on the university campus are the other teachers hanging out in the part-time teachers room?

It`s unlikely that you are going to find a better way to meet J-teachers. Maybe at a school party or a teachers conference.

... Not the people on campus who actually have their own offices, for example?

I know you mean well but you can`t go around potentially annoying people be they Japanese or gaijin in an effort to score points.

... I don't remember advising anyone, ever, to become an ex-alt with an MA from Temple or Columbia.

No but my feeling is sheer number of graduates of Temple may have water-down it`s value in the eyes of some. Now if you picked up your MA back home so much the better.
`

...That sounds like a best bet to be a part-time teacher...

And just what are the other options?

A 3-5 year limited contact position in which there`s a good chance you`ll end up scrambling for p/t work when it ends?

An actual full-time position where you have a chance at tenure? Get real.

You want to earn a comfortable/steady living teaching in Japan then working p/t at J-universities is likely your best bet unless you are extremely well-qualified or have connections in the right place. The problem with p/t work these days is you`ve got too many gaijins are chasing the same gigs which are why I no longer recommend a teaching career here.. I don`t see working conditions getting better and wouldn`t surprised in the coming years if uni p/t teachers are only paid for classes they teach. (read: no paid vacation)

I'm going to agree with Harp here, and it's exactly the same way on the university level. Very few people put together an application, including the resume, cover letter, and interview, without mistakes or odd parts. It's hard to write and present yourself perfectly, but those that do have a huge advantage when trying to get a job.

I`m sorry but when a university receives some 60-70 applications for one position you can bet you`ve got serious competition. You`d be a fool to think otherwise.

[Grechuta]

This is silly. The advice that I suggest is based on a lot of years of experience teaching here and in other places, it has served me well. Plenty of people I know who have tenure and get shokutaku contract after contract without a problem have done similar things to pretty reliably retain employment. I'm not saying it's easy, or there's no serious competition - in what field, where, is there no competition? But in my opinion it's not this mysterious, impossible thing that can't be worked out. I've posted what I think, you disagree and offer people wisdom like you did at the top of this thread - "Oh, you'd be surprised with many ending up seriously trapped as the years roll by. You try and warn the young bucks to get out before it's too late but they won't listen." OK, I respect your opinion, and I also think that your warning will serve some people well. Obviously some people do get trapped and wish they had taken a different path. But unlike your experience, which was apparently "I`ve actually (quickly) looked through a box full of resumes", I've spent a lot of time looking at and helping people edit resumes, so I feel like I know what I'm talking about. There's no speculation at all in the statement that a lot of people make all kinds of mistakes on them, it's very common. What can I say, it's surprising but true. Another poster in this thread agreed with me and works in HR. I respect your opinion and perspective. I also think it's valuable to anyone who happens to read this and is persuing a career in ESL to see something positive once in a while, not just negativity. Obviously, there are jobs out there. We are free to disagree about what is the best path to get them. You think hanging out in the part-time teachers room is the "best hope". I'd say, in fact, steer clear of it at least some of the time and get to know, and then offer your help to, some people who are tenured. That doesn't mean I'm saying "be annoying". That would be pretty bad advice! And I said other things, like perhaps stay a little later, etc. I do believe that job performance can actually matter, some people who do hiring actually do care about that. So, you know, whatever. I respect your opinion and perspective and I don't think it's BS, it obviously reflects your experience here, and is valuable. Believe it or not what I'm saying isn't BS either, it's just a different perspective, and perhaps could also be valuable to someone.

[Ken44]

Well, best of luck to you.

[Grechuta]

Well, best of luck to you.

And you too! And everyone. Anyway, it's a very interesting conversation...!