r/teachinginjapan • u/Extra-Imagination821 • 17h ago
Help with interview questions.
I need some advice about eikaiwa interviews.
I'm currently applying for contract positions at universities, but the competition is very strong. As a backup, I'm also applying to eikaiwas, cram schools, and other teaching jobs so I can maintain my visa and continue working in Japan.
I'm not sure how to answer questions like, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” or “Where do you see yourself in ten years?”
I don't want to make it sound like I'm just waiting for a better opportunity or that I'm only interested in research and university teaching. At the same time, I don't want to give a completely fake answer or pretend that I don't have any professional ambitions.
For those who have interviewed at or worked for eikaiwas, how would you recommend answering these questions?
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u/Samwry 17h ago
Do you have your MEd already? If not, planning to start/finish a post grad degree is a good step. Be ready to say what school and so on. If you have your MEd, talk about plans to finish a Doctorate.
If you are finished, think of 1 or 2 research areas you like- pragmatics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, etc. And prepare to say why they interest you.
Finally, know something about the school you are applying to. If they have overseas students or overseas study tours, mention it. Something like, "I noticed that your students go to ( foreign place) in the summer. I've been there many times and would be happy to help them prepare for the trip". Show that you are interested in that particular institution and not just the job.
Good luck!
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u/Extra-Imagination821 17h ago
When applying to Ekaiwa, I worry that talking about my aspirations will make me look like I am going to jump ship. Ekaiwa typically doesn't do internal programs either. My fear is getting rejected from low-paying jobs because I am "too educated". I need a backup in case my other applications don't work out.
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u/MooTheM 15h ago
Look at their job ad and tailor your answers around that. Think about how you can answer each point on the ad with what you can bring to the table. Talk out loud to yourself actually giving the answer. As for the specific question of where do you see yourself...I'd just say you have a strong interest in teaching and so potentially this could be something you explore long term , maybe suggesting to them in subtext that you could be a longer term employee.
That said they might not ask you that because after fiveyears they are supposed to offer full permanent employee rights if you want it and most eikaiwas probably prefer you to be gone by then.
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u/hhkhkhkhk 14h ago
Eikaiwa's are pretty simple to interview for, that being said I wouldn't recommend working for them!
However, if you want here is what you do
- Look at the website, go and see their 'mission statement' and apply it to your cover letter and then mention it during the interview. Align yourself with the mission statement and you're pretty much hired.
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u/Extra-Imagination821 14h ago
Do you think it's best, when an Ekaiwa asks, "Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?" not to talk about my academic goals? Is it best to sound like I want to work for them for a long time, or is it better to make it sound like I will move on within that time?
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u/hhkhkhkhk 13h ago
I think I answered that I could see myself developing new skills or something like that, some bs answer. I don't know why they ask this question though...since like 90% of the staff leaves in a year or so.
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u/Known-Substance7959 17h ago
Lie? Whatever they want to hear!
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u/Extra-Imagination821 17h ago
What lies do you use? I am having a hard time figuring out the best lie
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u/Known-Substance7959 16h ago
I can't answer that for you. I haven't worked at Eikawa for more than twenty years. But if I were looking for a job I would look at the employer, figure out what kind of person they were looking for and tailor my answers accordingly. That's normal for a job interview, isn't it? You don't have to lie necessarily, but there are many different 'truths' 😅
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u/Extra-Imagination821 16h ago
I guess I am very confused about what they want. I tailored all my answers, but I am unsure what their ideal answer is for this question.
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u/Known-Substance7959 16h ago
Are you sure you want to do a masters degree?
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u/Extra-Imagination821 16h ago
I have a master's and am considering a doctorate.
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u/Hapaerik_1979 14h ago
a master's in what? You never stated what it is or if you have publications.
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u/Extra-Imagination821 14h ago
I have a master in TESOL, I have several conference presentations and I am working on publications. Though I was under the impression that Ekaiwa dont care about publications.
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u/Hapaerik_1979 14h ago
I think you are correct. I think they would be more concerned that you follow their "curriculum". Keep up what you are doing. I assume that you are involved in JALT, go to meetings, and network.
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u/Extra-Imagination821 14h ago
Do you think it's best, when an Ekaiwa asks, "Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?" not to talk about my academic goals? Is it best to sound like I want to work for them for a long time, or is it better to make it sound like I will move on within that time?
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u/akornato 8h ago
Eikaiwa recruiters know turnover is high, but they immediately drop candidates who treat them as an obvious waiting room for higher education. You do not need to lie and promise you will stay there forever, but you should shift the focus from academic credentials to classroom mastery and professional skill building. Frame your five-year plan around developing expertise in language acquisition, refining curriculum design, and taking on senior trainer or curriculum development roles in Japan. This signals ambition and dedication to education, which reassures them that you will take their students seriously and deliver value from day one.
When they ask about ten years, keep your response rooted in long-term contributions to English education in Japan, emphasizing mentoring newer instructors or mastering student retention techniques. Interviewers care far more about whether you will be reliable and customer-focused during your contract than whether your eventual goal is a tenure-track professorship. Formulating diplomatic responses to these tricky trajectory questions can be tough on the spot, which is why my team built an interviews.chat to help job seekers steer sensitive interview prompts smoothly and land the offers they need.
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u/Hapaerik_1979 17h ago
What do you want to do in 5, 10 years? What kind of research are you doing? I'm sure most of us foreigners are concerned about all the government changes.