In Search of the Sensei

There are times when I think about resurrecting the Ask the Sensei column. Today is one of those times. There appears to be an endless supply of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed university graduates desperate to work in Japan. The latest request for work to land in my inbox comes from Josh.

I found your site through google by typing in "I want a Japan job". I'm in Canada right now and I've been trying to get a Japan job teaching adults for a while now. I have over 4 years of English teaching experience in South Korea. I also look good with a smile and a suit on me. Plus, I have the CELTA certification.

Can you find it in your hearts to help me through your various connections?

If you want, I can send you a recent smiling, suited up photo and my resume.

Thank you for your time

Josh, thanks for the note. Glad to hear you found Let's Japan by typing "I want a Japan job" and scrolling passed all of the job advertisements until you hit LJ.

I'm glad to hear that you can smile and that you look good in a suit because these are two crucial qualities that make an eikaiwa instructor. It's also good you appear to be motivated because that's perfect for teaching seven classes in a row in a highly competitive environment where you need to sell, sell, sell! Might I suggest investing in a plastic hammer and adding a ball toss game to your repertoire if you haven't don so already?

Sadly you've come to the wrong place. LJ isn't in the business of helping people find jobs. You say you have CELTA. Any qualifications or certificates you have will be wasted teaching eikaiwa. Anyway, it sounds like you missed 2007. Not only has the teaching English market been contracting for the past two years, it's flooded with teachers fighting for low-paying jobs. May I ask why do you want to teach in Japan? You need to seriously think about that question. Eikaiwa is drudgery.

PS. No need to send me a picture of your smiling mug. I don't swing that way.