Getting a Job
Contents |
Resumes/Applying
There are several points to consider when writing a resume for Japanese employers and workplaces that may differ from employers in the US. Some are cultural in nature and have to do with the purpose and function of a resume when seeking a job.
Things to avoid:
Abbreviations (US states; degrees e.g. BA, MBA, BSC, GPA). Dont assume employers know what GA or TX means or where it is. Its probably not necessary to mention any Honors degrees as it probably wont make much difference to your eligibility. There are no Honours degrees awarded in Japan. Jargon. Keep your language simple and avoid using flowery language, big words to impress, especially if you dont really know what they mean or are not well understood here. Wordy job descriptions. Keep lists of hobbies to a minimum. Employers are not paying you to study manga or karate, but teach English. Keep language simple. the Japanese employer may have beginner or intermediate level of English. Many people tend to use verbose and wordy language,so watch eyes glaze over as a wordy resume goes in the trash. K-I-S-S. Keep it Simple Stupid, but dont talk down to employers or be condescending. Avoid stating goals and objectives in a resume . A CV is a record of your past achievements, not your future and a goals section is superfluous. Goals can always change, anyway. Avoid hyperbole and exaggeration (Its been my lifelong dream to teach in japan and I have been studying manga since I was three and i wish i was Japanese....."Cool calm and collected. Just the facts.
What they need to know:
Your name. Current Age. Birthdate. Gender if need be (some people have bi-sexual names e.g. Kim, Marion. Email address Current postal address visa status (or visa you will apply for, qualify for) marital status (you single or coming with dependents?) Last degree you hold, name of university, year you graduated. Grades and majors or individual courses are irrelevant Where you worked, how long and job title if necessary. Best time to contact you (email preferred, unlikely they will phone overseas) Passport size photo. Clear head and shoulders shot. No cameos or beach snapshots. When you can arrive/ start work in Japan
Certifiable (and genuine qualifications, if any. Be careful not to appear overqualified for the job you are applying to. A Masters or a PhD will put you over the top in a language school as you will likely have more paper qualifications than the guy hiring you. Don't rub his nose in your superior qualifications and many schools here dont like prima donnas or know-it-alls because they have done a CELTA course.
Do not use "adept at Word and Excel and Pagemaker" in an ESl job application as you will go no where near a computer or the Internet at a language school and they wont ask you to design web pages. Useful: Any foreign languages you speak. Japanese is not needed to get a job teaching in Japan but some evidence of FL ability will endear you to students and help you understand what they are going through to learn English. Empathy with students is powerful IMO. Not much chance to use Spanish here though
Anything remotely connected to the job they are asking you to do. You may have never taught English before but you have to think about what you can offer students, not "what's in it for me"? Think about why they should employ you and how they will benefit by hiring you (it may be something as simple as you are cheap to hire and will work for peanuts but thats another story).
Your resume gets you your foot in the door, gets you noticed, so you sell yourself in the cover letter and/or the interview. In the cover lettter you may say where you found out about the job, why you are applying for this position, why you think you are suitable. Give them a reason to hire you e.g. your interest in culture, teaching language etc. they are not paying for you to go sightseeing or learn Japanese at their expense but at least have an interest in these things. Show an interest in your students, in learning about Japan, interest in education.
Avoid 'spamming' employers with a form letter with a 'to whom it may concern' without doing basic research about the job you are applying to. Tailor each resume to the job, use the employers name if you know it and show how your skills match the needs of the job. In all likelihood you will simply be wasting postage if the employer is not actually looking for employees.
This was provided by this post here on these forums. http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?t=8576
Cover Letters
"In the cover letter you may say where you found out about the job, why you are applying, why you think you are suitable. Give them a reason to hire you e.g. your interest in culture, teaching language etc. they are not paying for you to go sightseeing or learn Japanese at their expense but at least have an interest in these things. Show an interest in your students, in learning about Japan, interest in education. Teaching is a 9-5 job, not a one year paid vacation, though many here treat it like one."
This was provided by this post here on these forums. http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?t=8576
Interview
Employment Contracts
Work contracts serve a different function in Japan than they do in western countries. Contracts here are not regarded as set-in-stone, tablet from Moses that many people are used to back home. Primarily a contract is needed by immigration when an employer sponsors a visa. Terms written out in a contract are not in themselves enforceable by the employer and an employee is protected by the Japanese labor standards law when it comes to what an employer is and is not allowed to make an employee do in his job. Employers will often have a more fluid interpretation of the contract (and in worst case, will disregard his obligations all together) while making the employee stick to theirs to the letter).
A typical teaching contract will list the working hours, salary, overtime, the term of employment (typically one year, the same as the visa). he may include other conditions such as the provision of accomodation, transport allowance, any expenses that the employer may cover as well as any holidays that the school offers.
It is incumbent on an employee to read their contract with a fine tooth comb, know what his or her rights are and dont simply expect an employer to spell it out, or be working in the employees interest, nor should one assume the employer will give you a 'fair' contract'. Past experience shows this is definitely not the case. Once you sign a contract then you essentially become a hired employee and are required to give required notice if you want to quit your job for example. You cant 'really' cherry-pick which terms you like and dont like in a contract.
Red Flags to watch out for in a contract:
The maximum number iof hours one can work in a day is eight hours. Any hours over 8 hours is considered overtime and should be paid at 1.5 the normal rate. Avoid working long hours for the same pay.
Summary dismissals.
An employer can not just toss you out on the street but must either give you 30 days notice of dismissal or severance pay in kind. If he pays you severance you can leave that day. The employee must also agree to the dismissal in writing and can contest what they believe to be an unfair dismissal or summary firing on spurious grounds.
Some employers demand 3 months notice if you want to quit and by law you are supposed to serve out any notice written in your contract. In practice 30 days notice is usually sufficient if you want to leave your job or 2 weeks if you are in a contract with an unspecified time limit.
An employer can not punish or fine you if you want to quit your job though they may threaten to dock your wages if you give insufficient notice, They can NOT withhold wages or your salary however.
Territoriality clauses. Once you quit your job you no longer work for them and any contract between you automatically becomes invalid. they can not threaten to sue you because you get a job offer down the road or decide to set up a school next door. All your employer cares about is you poaching his clients. Its also called Free Enterprise and dont feel beholden to employers that want to tell you where you can and cant work.
Any rules where an employer says you can not work at other schols, have multiple employers or teach privates. Once you knock off work your time is your own and a sponsor or employer ahs NO claim over what you do in your own time. As long as it doesnt interfere with your main job then you can do what you want, within reason.
Avoid contracts where you are not an employee or a 'subcontractor'. technically its illegal and it gets your employer out of having to pay health insurance, paid vacation periods, unemployment insurance if you are considered an 'independent' contractor and not a regular employee. Look out for contracts that are (itaku gyomu', haken gyomu').
For more information on contracts visit the site at http://www.generalunion.org/law/ or http://www.efl-law.com/Japan.php#labcont
Benefits
Teaching jobs in Japan may come with a variety of non-salaried 'perks' attached to the position, that are either required by law or may be offered by the employer as an incentive or 'carrot' to entice teachers to come and work for the school.
Typical benefits that a teaching job may include are:
Transportation allowance to enabe teacher to get to and from work is paid for by employers. Its not guaranteed by japanese law but in most cases an employer will reimburse traveling costs
Accomodation allowance or subsidised housing is provided. This is especially the case in rural areas where it may be hard for the teacher to find housing on their own nor can they afford key money.
Return airfare provided. This is given when the teacher completes a given contract, typically a year.
Health insurance. If you are considered to be full time the employer is required to pay 50% of your monthly insurance premiums and you pay 50%. Healthy insurance is generally expensive in Japan (up to 10% out ones paycheck) but more expensive if you get sick and have no cover.
National Pension. By law all adults working full time over the age of 20 are required to be enrolled in the Japanese national pension (Kokumin nenkin). Pension is usually included in the Shakai Hoken for full time employees.
Paid vacations. By law the employer must guarantee at least up to 10 days paid vacation for a new employee but may also provide days off unpaid if it doesnt disrupt the operation of the school.
First day at work
Some content adapted from Wikipedia.org.
