How do y'all feel about Aeon?

[Crispy]

I have been invited to an info session next week (here in Seattle), and I have to have a test lesson plan and such cooked up by then. Anyone have any advice or feelings about this big ESL school? Reading through the contract, it sounds like the typical one year ESL teaching gig.

[AssKissinger]

You'll have to wear a suit. I know a couple workers there. I think it's just a standard job. Let's Japan has oodles of opinions, of course.

[Crispy]

Do you mean to the interview, or to the job itself?

[AssKissinger]

The teachers there have to wear a suit everyday.

[Crispy]

Yeah, I knew that, but I didn't hear about what I should wear to the interview.

[Taro Toporific]

Do you mean to the interview, or to the job itself?

That's always a problem in any interview.

I have few Japanese SCHOOL clients like SIMUL Japan and even the gaijin employees there demand that I show up full drag--a suit, tie, stiletto heels. Sheesh.

Solution:
--Wear a blue blazer, tie, etc. and CARRY the blazer jacket over your arm into the interview area.
--Look around see what everone else is wearing, chat-up the receptionist about what the interviewer is wearing.
--Adjust what you're wearing to match the interviewer(s).

In Japan on many occasion, I've had to lose my jacket and necktie making client visits at software houses like SoftBank and TrendMicro. So you see, it's best to 'Be Prepared'.

[Taro Toporific]

Also, in addition to the above clever advice, make sure you carry a virtually useless, but fairly good looking briefcase......

....the key to getting hired by Aeon is to demonstrate to the recruiter that you can totally manage a class in a professional and suitable way. You'll see others who don't have any ESL experience at all...

Real Pongi English Lesons--Amazing great fun!!! :P

Yes, the "briefcase" is a great prop. No backpack, please. Be a good salaryman wannabe and fill it with useless crap like a Japanese dictionary. Digging around in your briefcase for a handout is the BEST stall in Japan when you need to think up the real answer.

"EFL/ESL experience", hmmm. You could go down and voluteer to ESL teaching to immigrants at your local ed center for even 4 weeks. Dang, that would make your resume look better.

[Crispy]

Rob, what you discribed sounds like what they told me to expect in the emails I got, so I am guessing that their procedures are the same.

A briefcase, eh? Hm, good idea, I normally walk into interviews with a clipboard, but a briefcase would look more salaryman-ish.