Hi! My name is Cait Hoffmann and I graduated from UVM with a BA in Japanese in 2010 and moved to Matsumoto, Japan (Nagano prefecture) in August of 2010 to teach English in public junior high schools. I went through a company called Real Communication Solutions, stayed for eight months, and absolutely loved it.
RCS is what we would call a “public”. There a public and private companies in Japan. A public is a company that puts teachers in the public schools. A private is a company that has its own language school, its own buildings, classrooms, etc. There are many differences between publics and privates. See below:
Public
-Teach during the day (7ish-4ish)
-Generally teach in more than one school (I did 3 rotations of 2 weeks).
-You get to eat japanese school lunch!! (I advise giving up vegetarianism before moving.)
-You don’t interact with your employer (your employer is the company, not the school itself. This can be good and bad. It is good because it gives you some freedom and you feel more relaxed. It is bad because you feel a bit disconnected from the school and you are not permitted to discipline your students.
Private
-You will likely make more than working for a public.
-You will likely always go to the same place for work everyday.
-You will likely have to work nights and might have a weird rotating schedule.
-You will likely have to work more.
These are good websites for looking for a job in Japan:
-eslcafe.com;
-esljobproject.com
-jobsinjapan.com
-gaijinpot.com (general website with jobs, apartments, etc.)
These are well known companies that you can apply to:
-Amity/Aeon/AtoZ/ECC – privates – good to have experience working with children
-Interac/JET/RCS – publics
In my experience, the interviewing process for privates was more intense. I applied to Aeon, ECC, and RCS. My Aeon and ECC interviews were in person, in Toronto. I had to arrive in a business suit and make a lesson plan on the spot. My RCS interview was conducted over the phone and was much more informal and laid back.
Once Job Has Been Landed
Once you have a job in Japan, I advise saving as much money as possible before you go. I experienced a very expensive start up cost with my apartment. My company found it for me, and helped me fill out the paperwork, but it was a ton of money. Also, your first paycheck takes a while to get to you, so I had a week or two when I had very little money to go out and experience Japan with. The more money you go with, the better.
Additionally, different companies will give different amounts of support to their new employees. This is an area my company could have really worked on. I had very little help settling in and figuring out what I needed to do to get by, day by day. Fortunately, I had a very kind principal at one of my schools who spoke excellent English and he assisted me in furnishing my apartment (unfurnished in Japan means no stove OR fridge), helping me acquire a bicycle, and teaching me how to deal with my trash and recycling. Anyways, the point is that different companies are more supportive. JET is well known for their support.
Suzuki Sensei’s Questions
1) how did you find the job? (did you ask for a specific region …to be near Zach/Nagano?);
I’m pretty sure I found the job through a google search. Something like “ESL companies in Japan”. I did specifically want to go with RCS because they had schools in Saitama and Nagano prefectures and Zach, my boyfriend at the time, was working in Nagano. Fortunately, I ended up in a city fairly close to his.
2) what was the interview process like?
See above. Intensive for privates, less so for RCS.
3) what was it like to work in Japan?
Very tough and very awesome. Some days were amazing, some were very difficult. The bureaucratic stuff with my company, the city municipal, etc. was never easy. The actual teaching part of the work was usually enjoyable. You quickly discover that some schools are better than others, and some classes better than others as well. I had my favorites and least favorites.
4) what was it like to live in Japan?
Absolutely awesome. I love the culture, the language, the food, the people – everything! I also made a lot of friends with the other English teachers in the area and we did fun things together.
5) recommendations for UVM students who will be going to Japan.
Save as much money as you can before you go. Never, ever, be late to school. Remember this golden rule: In Japan, on-time is ten minutes early. Go with an open mind and willingness to try everything. Japanese people love sharing their culture, and if you are open and eager to learn and experience, everyone will be happier and have a great time.
E-mail me with any questions! Cait.Hoffmann@gmail.com
UPDATE November, 2013
Right now I am in my first semester at the SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont. The degree program is an MA in International Education and prepares students for jobs ranging from program coordinators of ESL departments to study abroad advisors, and beyond. I must complete two semesters of coursework, a minimum 6-month practicum, and successfully present my capstone before receiving my degree. With my degree, I hope to work in international student services/recruitment in higher education in the U.S.
Further Suggestions
– Work at maintaining/improving your language proficiency. It will help you if you plan on living in Japan and/or working with Japanese companies/people in your future job. Additionally, businesses value intercultural competency, and your Japanese language and culture skills may make or break your application.
– It depends on whether or not you are applying to a Japanese company, or a foreign company based in Japan. In either scenario, the appearance of professionalism is crucial in interviews. As suits are commonly worn on a daily basis in the Japanese business world (that includes education!), they are a “must” for the interview process. I recommend Banana Republic for a good starting suit for both ladies and men. Additionally, piercings and tattoos are looked at quite differently than they are here in the States. If you have several ear piercings, you might want to think about taking out your earrings for the interview. Generally, presenting yourself conservatively is a good way to go (that includes hair color!). Also, save un-related questions until the end and listen intently during the interview.
– Don’t skimp on the prep! Whether or not you are applying for a job in Japan or the States, preparing yourself for the interview is crucial. This includes submitting an impressive resume and cover letter. Tailor the resume to the position, and don’t include irrelevant information. You can count on the fact that you are not the only person applying for the position, and so it is important to learn how to effectively market yourself so that you are asked for an interview, and, hopefully, are offered the position! Also, utilize your career coach. I know when I was a student working on my cover letters and resume, I google searched “how to write a cover letter.” While I got a lot of useful information off the web, career coaches are there to help you polish and refine your applications and they know what’s up. Your tuition money is paying for their services – so make the time to set up an appointment. It will help you.
– Think outside the box. I know that many of us feel like we don’t have a lot of professional experience coming out of undergraduate – and we usually don’t! But that doesn’t mean we don’t have the life experience and skills that companies are looking for! Self-reflect and look beyond your professional experience to find moments in your life (study abroad experience; class projects; volunteer experience; extracurricular club activities; etc.) that can highlight your areas of competency. Good luck!
Update: currently working at Saint Michael’s College (administrative work)
Advice for students: https://prezi.com/ehho6tvjx6ns/ddddddd/