Hi all,
A bit about me. For one, I haven't posted on reddit for myself in some time, so bear with me if I sound like an outsider. If you have any experience whatsoever in the International Schools here in Japan, please stay and allow me to pick your brain.
I'm a Teacher from Ireland, I worked in Ireland in 2024-2025 in two different schools during two different academic years (that is 2023/24, and 2024/25) and before that I was an ESL Teacher since as far back as 2019. I moved to Japan in September. My partner is completing the JET Programme so I came to spend her last year with her and to see a new side of the world.
I've been applying for international schools since about a month ago. I've had one interview that I felt didn't go the best, but was informative for subsequent ones. However, despite me applying to everything under the sun on Search or Schrole, as well as directly from international school websites, I haven't heard anything back, besides a rejection from one in Nagoya yesterday.
I'm concerned about a few things. One is that I have one and a half years of formal teaching experience. I had an issue with the Teaching Council of Ireland which delayed my entry into the teaching profession from September 2023 until January 2024. Many applications state "Two or more years teaching experience required". I have been saying to myself that my previous two years, as a student teacher (with glowing reference letters) will allow me to compensate for that. My Masters is a "Professional" Masters, meaning that we are working teachers while completing it. Is this a safe assumption to make? Otherwise I feel I should return to Ireland and work another year before trying again to break into the International space.
I'm also concerned about my experience being in the Irish Educational Sector, obviously it is different to IB and the British System. My last school did actually have IB (in Ireland) but I never taught it. I feel that without experience I look like a worse candidate and perhaps am not hearing any responses because of that. Should I be worried about this also?
Anything that I can do to improve myself as a candidate? I fear it is too late for this year anyway. The hiring season seems to be now. Any advice at all would be highly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
by Caesariansheir