Tips for the job search in Japan

May 10th, 2010By Category: Uncategorized

For a variety reasons documented elsewhere, the job market for language instructors in Japan has been on the side of employers in recent years. In wake of the GEOS debacle, a further tilt in that direction seems likely. Consequently, if you’re looking for teaching work in Japan, you need to be sharp. If you’re looking for full-time teaching work with above average conditions, you need to be really sharp.

Starting the job search

Most people in Japan looking for teaching work are aware of at least some of the resources available. On-line job listings such as Gaijinpot, and print media such as Kansaiscene and the like are common options. Find out what days of the week or month print editions are released and make a point of grabbing them then – a day’s jump on other applicants can make a big difference. For on-line listings, see if it’s possible to subscribe to electronic updates or listings of new jobs.

Use your network

While the quality of your network may vary in comparison to others, just about everyone has a network without even trying. Networking is not about schmoozing with people you otherwise wouldn’t talk to or about getting your friends to hook you up with jobs. Networking can simply be about giving people around you the opportunity to help. Let people know you’re looking for work, ask them to contact you if they hear of leads and talk to people about the kind of work you’re realistically in the market for. A friend of mine recently posted a humorous note on his Facebook page about his need for a job. Coincidently or not, he had one within a couple of weeks.

Follow application directions

Sounds simple, right? But to the ire of many a recruiter a surprising number of people don’t. If the job ad asks for a cover letter and resume, submit a cover letter and resume. If it asks for a statement of interest of no more than 250 words, submit a statement of interest of no more than 250 words. Vomiting a slew of documents, photos, certificates and reference letters toward an employer may not be appropriate at the outset. Just carefully follow the directions in the ad for what to submit, to whom, when and how. Remember in many cases these are not simply idle instructions, but an initial screen to see how well you follow directions. If no specific instructions are offered, a tailored cover letter, updated resume and passport style photograph are good bets in Japan.

Avoid generic applications

Does your initial contact with a prospective employer begin “Dear School”? Do you fail to make any actual reference to the position or company you’re applying to in your application? If so, let me stop you right there. I’m not saying you’ll get NO responses from such approaches, but addressing your e-mail or cover letter to the specific school or company you’re applying to will radically improve your chances. For employers that receive a lot of applications (i.e. most employers) generic approaches amount to applicant spam (and we know where spam ends up). Address correspondence to the school or company you’re applying to. Where possible, address it to the person in charge of recruitment. Check back next week for tips on cover letters and resumes. But in the meantime, good luck! Edward Baker has been working in human resources, recruitment and career coaching for the past eight years in both Japan and Canada.

Author of this article

Edward Baker

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Comments

  • John Smith says:

    hi,this title is very nice.

  • noname says:

    Maybe you need to rename this article of “How to get a teaching job in Japan.” Most of us just get an English teaching job just so we can get our foot in the door of Japan, and also work on becoming fluent in Japanese. Other people whose native language is NOT English need to find other ways to find employment in Japan. What kind of advice to you have for these people?

  • Mr.Walter says:

    This article is useless.its extremely hard to get a job now especially a dead end teaching job, your better off finding your own students like find a student.net Also if your a black American you can forget about getting hired by Teaching Companies the percentage of hires for blacks are staggering low in Japan…I'm just talking facts only.Type your comment here.

  • duceduc™ says:

    I am one of those who are still seeking for a job. Not much luck on my end.

  • Guest says:

    I find that most of the jobs are for people who are currently residing in Japan already… 🙁

  • Chhaya Yadav says:

    Dear All,
    I wish you good luck for finding a job in Japan, all I can say is stay focused and motivated, keep trying you’ll surly get lucky, or you better make your own luck – at the end its always handwork that pays off. Thank you Edward for sharing your thoughts, I agree with others that they are generic, but the fact is that I have realized that I am making a copula of mistakes, I am also HR by profession but due to urgent need and desire to work their I had bean applying vigorously avoiding all the minor details that you have mentioned. Also I have realized it’s very important to have passed JLPT level, so that’s my first priority. I would appreciate if you could share some more thoughts and guide us in the right direction, you can write to on mechhaya@gmail.com.
    Regards
    Chhaya Yadav
    HR Telecommunications (Chinese MNC)
    India

  • Chhaya Yadav says:

    Dear All,
    I wish you good luck for finding a job in Japan, all I can say is stay focused and motivated, keep trying you’ll surly get lucky, or you better make your own luck – at the end its always handwork that pays off. Thank you Edward for sharing your thoughts, I agree others they are generic, but the fact is that I have realized that I am making a copula of mistakes, I am also HR by profession but due to urgent need and desire to work their I had bean applying vigorously avoiding all the minor details that you have mentioned. Also I have realized it’s very important to have passed JLPT level, so that’s my first priority. I would appreciate if you could share some more thoughts and guide us in the right direction, you can write to on mechhaya@gmail.com.
    Regards
    Chhaya Yadav
    HR Telecommunications (Chinese MNC)
    India

  • Jim says:

    I think there is a huge luck factor in jobs. My ex-coworker has been looking for work in US for the last 6 months. Very experienced but just unable to find employment. He mentioned that he went to the canton fair by luck during one of his interviews. And that just caught on, the not so very interested HR now became keen and all over his resume… So he tells me, it was a stroke of luck that he mentioned it.

  • AO says:

    Sure mate, aren't we all. I send out Resume's every single bloody day here on gaijinpot and careercross and a few other places and nothing. I'm in Portugal. Also, I want to study in Japan, but living in a country where 1 year's wage won't cover 1 year's tutoring fees, I'm kind of screwed.

  • florencediana says:

    some one should help me get a job in japan, am desparate for sure.

  • KJ says:

    Ed,
    How about writing about how to get a job doing something other than a dead end job like teaching?

  • rasika says:

    great article……….. Waiting for next part………
    Thank you very much Mr.Edward Baker

  • malachi says:

    exactly, may I add with ¨Marbella Syndrome¨ like dear John up there. who is the spoiled exported rubbish?

  • Byron says:

    Look Out He's got a keyboard!!!

  • Edward says:

    Don't bother reading this generic twaddle – a waste of the minutes it takes to read that could be better used watching paint dry.

  • jack says:

    dear school, you get what you ask for: part-time working holiday college grads from the uk and australia, mate.

  • keiko says:

    I could have written this article. Nothing special learned here. Too generic. Reads like a how-to for newbies.

  • John says:

    This country is getting worst, part-time, teaching and nothing else. It's already spoiled and not interesting at all

  • yoshi says:

    And where are the tips for job hunting “in Japan”? These tips are so generic they could be for anywhere in the world.

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