How can I be directly hired by a school?
This is a question that often comes from teachers who have done a few years in dispatch and feel they are ready to take a more secure position by becoming a direct employee of a school.
At EduCareer, we encourage qualified teachers to take direct hire positions. However, since there are always more teachers than positions, here are a few ways to make your application stand out.
First, do you have teaching qualifications? Private schools aim to hire qualified staff, and a teaching degree, especially in education and/or English, is a large asset. If you've already finished university and don't have a teaching degree, certification in teaching English as a second language can help your application make it through screening. Be mindful that there are a lot of dodgy online "certification" courses, so be sure to look into the authority before taking one.
Next, how much experience do you have? All experience is good experience if it's education related. Don't pass up chances to take on extra teaching work as it will only help you later. After all, if you’re working directly for a school you'll have much more responsibility than as a dispatch employee. Showing that you're not afraid to go the extra mile will help you in the long run.
While it may seem quite obvious, the schools will be calling your previous employers. While those of you working under less than generous contracts might be tempted to run out at lunch or leave lesson planning until the last minute, this will only hurt you when a school calls to find out what kind of employee you were. Don't give anyone any reason to speak ill of you, and you'll have a much better chance of being directly hired. You'd be surprised how many dispatched teachers forget future employers will be contacting both the school and the company to get a total picture of what kind of worker they are hiring. If you're aiming for a direct hire contract next year, make sure you start working now to leave a wonderful impression on your workplace.
How's your Japanese? We've touched on this a little before, but directly hired teachers will be expected to help with a wide range of school activities, including curriculum and homeroom management. Schools want to have confidence in the fact that you can lead lessons on your own, handle discipline problems, and participate in school functions without having to be lead by the Japanese staff. While not every position requires fluency, a high level of Japanese can only help. Taking the time to learn Japanese while teaching English shows initiative and dedication, two qualities schools value.
Do you have that something extra? Naturally you'll be teaching English, but what else can you bring to the table? EduCareer teachers are often called on to use their other talents as well, such as subject specialisation like teaching art, PE, music , etc, in addition to English. If you can teach another subject in addition to English you’ll be doubly valuable, so don't be afraid to share your fluency in a second or third language or musical talent. It's always rewarding to us when we can place a teacher somewhere where their abilities are appreciated!
Lastly, do you really want a direct hire position? We always aim to match teachers to positions that suit their long term goals. While most people will say they want the 'stability' of direct hire, they hate to lose the flexibility and freedom of dispatch. Make sure you understand what the position requires, and always make sure to ask questions and see the school before making a final decision. This could save you from potential burn out later...
There's the misconception that a direct hire means stability and a long term position. Not trying to take down your hopes of finding a long term teaching career in Japan, but be mindful that direct hires:
-are still yearly contracts, and tend to max out at 5 years
-mostly require employees to work on a variable work hour system
-usually requires 'voluntary' work on non-scheduled work days
-generally have set periods in the calendar where you are strongly urged to take holidays and/or paid leave
Not ready to commit to direct hire? We still offer other contract like haken and gyomuitaku - both of which give employees more freedom and flexibility.
Want to have teaching opportunities with EduCareer? Register, send an inquiry, or simply email us. It all starts with getting that first interview to talk about your background, experiences, and work preferences in Japan.
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