I got my application decision email from Gaba Corporation yesterday informing me that I was unsuccessful.
It was disappointing and definitely discouraging - as I did get the impression from other ESLers that getting a job with Gaba is like getting a job with McDonalds. Paul said that he sees advertisements for Gaba all over Kyoto, and they're all over the web...so it really looks like they're vamping up their recruitment and their business.
I can only hope the rejection is due to lack of positions in my very specific placement request (I wasn't very flexible with that), and not something about me personally as an applicant.
What I will learn from this interview process (though they didn't say anything to me about it) is I NEED to learn not to talk too much. I am a fast talker and I say a lot more than I need to get my point across. That's probably not too admirable in an ESL teacher...though I don't think it's detrimental to my abilities in getting a job.
Hopefully once I get to Japan I will be able to have much more successful job hunt. I will keep on applying to jobs while I'm here, but I have only TWO MONTHS!
I'm so excited!! Wish me luck in my future job search endeavoring!!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Gaba Corporation - 2nd Interview
The first interview with Gaba went quite well, though I know I gaffed once and I was a little worried about it for a while. She had asked me "Why choose Gaba (1-on-1 lessons) as opposed to a more traditional classroom setting as your career?" and I responded that since I was not formally trained as a teacher, I felt I would be more at ease in private lessons (way to point out your faults, Sarah!). She sent me an email nonetheless with an "interview task" which is basically a written assessment of my teaching and English skills.
I was then invited to a 2nd interview, which will be tonight. It is expected to last 40 minutes to an hour. My 1st interview was expected to last 20-30 minutes and it lasted 40 minutes...so I am not sure what to expect tonight.
Tonight is more of a formal assessment, and I'm terrified of what they will ask me to "put me on the spot". I have determined to rest well, eat well, and breath deeply all day...so all I can hope for tonight is that I am pleasant and have my wits about me.
Wish me luck!
I was then invited to a 2nd interview, which will be tonight. It is expected to last 40 minutes to an hour. My 1st interview was expected to last 20-30 minutes and it lasted 40 minutes...so I am not sure what to expect tonight.
Tonight is more of a formal assessment, and I'm terrified of what they will ask me to "put me on the spot". I have determined to rest well, eat well, and breath deeply all day...so all I can hope for tonight is that I am pleasant and have my wits about me.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Gaba Corporation - 1st Interview
I have been sending in resumes to different companies and finally got a response to one. I already know quite a bit about Gaba, and have considered all of the warnings against working there. The thing is, if they're going to sponsor my Visa, then I'll take it. Right now my prospect is going to Japan without a job and hitting the pavement. OR I can take a job with Gaba, have the Visa, and have something of an income. Here's how Gaba works:
-You are an independent contractor - meaning they don't pay any insurance or benefits. They won't even pay for your transportation (virtually unheard of in Japan).
-You submit your availability every month and then their "clients" (your students) will book lessons with you. If you don't get booked, you don't get paid. So basically the income is not guaranteed.
-They pay you so little that many consider it below their dignity: 1500 yen/lesson. Unpaid mandatory training, unpaid vacation, unpaid overtime.
Okay, so negatives aside, I see two shining beautiful opportunities:
1. Visa Sponsorship!!
2. Flexible Scheduling!!
So I might not get a lot (any) benefits and my pay is scraps. The good news is, if they hire me, I'll be legally able to work in Japan. That means I can use that visa to apply for part-time kindergarten jobs at small schools (the kind of job I really have a hankering for!). If a school hires me, I simply tell Gaba I cannot work during the hours the school needs me. I still fulfill my obligation to Gaba, and I have supplemental income.
People also complain about unpaid training. I'll just call it FREE training. I have paid for a TEFL certificate, which I am still working on and very grateful for it...but at least with Gaba I'll have additional training that I don't have to pay for, experience in a field of which I have a measly 3 months (in Chile), and it's a way to get to Japan.
I would, of course, like to hear from Epion, Kohgakusha, or Interac. It hasn't happened yet and I have turned in resumes a week ago. I want to "weigh my options", but I'm a beggar...not about to be a chooser!
So I have my first interview via Skype with Gaba tomorrow night. I plan on preparing but as this is my first interview for a job of this kind I'm kind of lost. I plan on having my notes from when I taught in Chile handy, studying my resume and cover letter, and perhaps journaling some answers to questions they might ask. I've heard that almost all of them ask "why Japan?" and "why this company/methodology?", two questions I've kept myself up at night thinking about. I really have faith in myself and hope they will see some potential in me.
Well, wish me luck!
-You are an independent contractor - meaning they don't pay any insurance or benefits. They won't even pay for your transportation (virtually unheard of in Japan).
-You submit your availability every month and then their "clients" (your students) will book lessons with you. If you don't get booked, you don't get paid. So basically the income is not guaranteed.
-They pay you so little that many consider it below their dignity: 1500 yen/lesson. Unpaid mandatory training, unpaid vacation, unpaid overtime.
Okay, so negatives aside, I see two shining beautiful opportunities:
1. Visa Sponsorship!!
2. Flexible Scheduling!!
So I might not get a lot (any) benefits and my pay is scraps. The good news is, if they hire me, I'll be legally able to work in Japan. That means I can use that visa to apply for part-time kindergarten jobs at small schools (the kind of job I really have a hankering for!). If a school hires me, I simply tell Gaba I cannot work during the hours the school needs me. I still fulfill my obligation to Gaba, and I have supplemental income.
People also complain about unpaid training. I'll just call it FREE training. I have paid for a TEFL certificate, which I am still working on and very grateful for it...but at least with Gaba I'll have additional training that I don't have to pay for, experience in a field of which I have a measly 3 months (in Chile), and it's a way to get to Japan.
I would, of course, like to hear from Epion, Kohgakusha, or Interac. It hasn't happened yet and I have turned in resumes a week ago. I want to "weigh my options", but I'm a beggar...not about to be a chooser!
So I have my first interview via Skype with Gaba tomorrow night. I plan on preparing but as this is my first interview for a job of this kind I'm kind of lost. I plan on having my notes from when I taught in Chile handy, studying my resume and cover letter, and perhaps journaling some answers to questions they might ask. I've heard that almost all of them ask "why Japan?" and "why this company/methodology?", two questions I've kept myself up at night thinking about. I really have faith in myself and hope they will see some potential in me.
Well, wish me luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)