In Japan/Job Search/Job Offers

Okay, okay, it's been a long time and I'm done neglecting this blog-ready to let everyone know how AWESOME it's been since I've gotten to Japan!

Arrival: December 2nd
The first thing that I had to do before I could do anything else is go through about 5 days of horrid jet-lag (wherein I woke up at 1-3 AM every day), and then get a pretty nasty cold (transferred to Paul). That all lasted about a week.
...Did I say I had to do that BEFORE I could do anything else? My bad. Though I was dog-tired and a little sick, it didn't stop Paul and me from running around Kyoto and seeing a lot of amazing things. That first weekend we were downtown checking out temples and retail areas. Paul's friend Pablo (otherwise known as "Paul") stayed the night with his friend Ibuki - with whom I made fast friends. Ibuki took me out in Kyoto with her friend Eriko and I got to see Pontocho Dori (where the Geisha/super powerful business men do their meetings), Nishiki Market (a famous and very Japanese market), and Yasaka Shrine. They were truly invaluable tour guides!

Down to business: December 10th-ish
After the initial sighting-seeing fun-time, I started spending my days finishing my TEFL certificate, studying Japanese, and getting accustomed to my new surroundings. I applied for several jobs through gaijinpot.com and got some interviews! Then I got some second interviews!

I was only invited to interview at two schools, both private schools for children and both fantastic companies. They both offered me a job (about which I was honestly surprised)!! I really, really hate turning down a job offer - but what choice did I have? I chose to work with Kyoshin Company-Universal Campus. It is more of a corporate type of school, but I felt at home when I interviewed and when I sat in during a lesson. I would have been very happy with the other company, but not AS happy :). I'm relieved, excited, and eager to get started. I will be teaching children aged 0-10 in groups of 4 to 5. I will have two months of training, very good benefits, and I get to go school trips!! I can't wait to share my experiences with this school with you all.

So to the people who've seen my blog by searching for how to find a job in Japan, here are my tips:

1) If you, like me, will be in Japan and able to interview in person, set up interviews before you arrive, telling recruiters you're in the area. If you let them know you're in the area, they usually contact you within a day to set up an interview.

2) Figure out which industry you really want to work for (Children's English, Cram School, Business English, etc) and make a killer cover letter for it.

3) Put a really spectacular profile on gaijinpot.com, with a unique title like "Enthusiastic and friendly native teacher with 2 years experience" - make sure you vamp up ANY experience you have with children, teaching, and training - no matter how small the experience

4) If you're in Japan already, get a phone number. Whether that means getting a phone or buying a Japanese phone number through Skype ($18), both recruiters called me directly (on Skype) and didn't email me.

5) If you're going to be in Kansai area (Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, Shiga) there are some other good places to look for job listings such as Kansai Flea Market (kfm.to) and KansaiFreeAds.com. Also look at Ohayo Sensai (google search it, it's a really valuable newsletter). I know there are tons of other resources, but these are the ones I used. Gaijinpot.com is how I got my job.

I know there's lots of other tips - these are just the ones that helped me personally. I don't know what made it so difficult for me while I was abroad, maybe I just don't look so good on paper. When you interview, make sure you have a super friendly and concise but excited personality.

More posts to come, I'm going to try and get my photo stream working so you can see what I've been up to!

Ciao for now!

Gaba Rejection

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!!

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!

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!