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Finding a Job in Japan
Having had the privilege of spending the last three or so years as a recruiter for a mid-sized company
based here in Tokyo I have seen my fair share of CVs and resumes from applicants around the world. I have then had the pleasure
of interviewed those that made it past the initial selection process. Below I will share my top ten tips for landing
a teaching job in Japan.
Note: The terms resume and curriculum vitae (CV) are interchangeable. For example in the UK the term CV is widely used,
whereas in the US it is resume. Don't get hung up on the terms, it's getting that all-important interview that's important.
Ten Tips for Landing a Teaching Job in Japan
|  | Write a decent resume. Try not to leave any glaring gaps in your employment/ education history. Keep the details concise
and only expand those areas that are relevant to the position applied for. Maximum length 2 sheets of A4. |
| | Write a cover letter to accompany your resume, stating the position applied for, what skills you can bring to this position and any further information that might not be
readily apparent from your resume. Write a separate cover letter for each company applied for. |
| | If possible include a photo on your resume. Rightly or wrongly, Japanese resumes always have a photo attached and even if the recruiter is foreign you can bet that his
Japanese line managers will ask to see a photo. Use a passport photo; try to avoid holiday snapshot type photos. |
| | Be sure to make clear your Status of Residence in Japan (Visa Status) with expiry dates etc. All schools have to operate within the frame of
the Immigration Law so be upfront. Leaving it up to the recruiter to guess what kind of visa you may have will probably result in your application been put to one side. |
| | If using e-mail to apply for a position then send each application separately. Don't create a generic e-mail and then load all the addresses of potential employers into the TO: box and fire it off. Current
Record stands at 42 addresses; needless to say he didn't make it to the interview stage. |
| | Include your contact details, not just a regular e-mail address but also home and mobile phone numbers, plus a mobile e-mail address if you have one. |
| | Read the advertisement thoroughly. If it says must have a valid visa then it means, that you must have a valid visa. If it says you must be living in Osaka then you must be living in Osaka or willing to relocate very quickly. |
| | If you have access to a fax machine, or you can send fax through a computer, fax a hard copy of your resume and cover letter. Hard copies are more difficult to ignore. |
| | If selected for interview make sure you turn up at the appointed time, the Japanese office is renowned for its punctuality, and even if the person you are meeting is a foreigner his Japanese superiors
will notice any tardiness on your part. |
| | Be prepared to answer a whole range of weird and wonderful questions during the interview, especially if interviewed by a Japanese. |
© 2007 www.englishpool.net
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