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Thread: The Unbiased Truth About Nova

  1. #126
    運動不足 Buntaro's Avatar
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    I worked at Nova and I have a Master's degree (quite rare, as noted above.) I was actually paid a little more just because of my Master's. If you have one, tell them.

    There is a danger of being "over-qualified" at Nova. Do not be waving around a bunch of high-falootin' theory in your interview. That is exactly the kind of thing they do not want to hear. We had one lady in our training class who had taught at the college level in Japan, and she brought a lot of her "own stuff" into the classes. She did not survive training.... The main thing is, just stick to the text, and do not get fancy.

    Age: Not me, but they hired one fellow at age 65.
    Tada yori, takai mono wa nai.
    "There is no such thing as a free lunch."

  2. #127
    Five times to Japan. ArmandV's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buntaro
    Age: Not me, but they hired one fellow at age 65.

    Me neither...yet! But it may be something to consider doing after retirement. It may be a good gig to do as a retiree. Heck, I wouldn't mind moving to Japan after retirement and get a job teaching English, even part time to supplement Social Security and 401k savings. Thanks for the info.

    Armand's Rancho del Cielo

  3. #128
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    Question new to Nova!

    O.k. I understand that if you have a degree that it is very easy to get a job at Nova, so my question is... I am currently in the NAVY out of Yokosuka and will be getting out soon and I have a Certificate of completion in the Culinary Arts so in that respect I am certified but can I get a job at Nova w/out a degree? I have can speak japanese pretty good because of the fact that my fiance` and soon to be wife has helped me to to learn the language and living with her family has helped me alot as well.Can someone help me?

  4. #129
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fablewarrior View Post
    O.k. I understand that if you have a degree that it is very easy to get a job at Nova, so my question is... I am currently in the NAVY out of Yokosuka and will be getting out soon and I have a Certificate of completion in the Culinary Arts so in that respect I am certified but can I get a job at Nova w/out a degree? I have can speak japanese pretty good because of the fact that my fiance` and soon to be wife has helped me to to learn the language and living with her family has helped me alot as well.Can someone help me?
    I seriously doubt it with a large franchise operation like NOVA. They probably wouldn't even know what you're talking about with a Certificate of Completion. That's their way of filtering down a pool with thousands of applicants and if you didn't show a degree, no problem, we'll move in to the next person who does. To anyone with language skills and particularly teaching experience, though, smaller schools I'm sure would be willing to offer much more flexibility. Good luck !

  5. #130
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    I know of 2-3 cases in my 5 years Nova history where teachers have not had degrees. In all of the cases NOVA didn't have to sponsor the instructors, and they only worked part time. It all depends on how needy they are for teachers and who is the area manager.

    If you want to stay in Japan I would start taking some university classes!! There are several Foreign Universities that offer degree programs.

  6. #131
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fablewarrior View Post
    O.k. I understand that if you have a degree that it is very easy to get a job at Nova, so my question is... I am currently in the NAVY out of Yokosuka and will be getting out soon and I have a Certificate of completion in the Culinary Arts so in that respect I am certified but can I get a job at Nova w/out a degree?
    I know of 2-3 cases in my 5 years Nova history where teachers have not had degrees. In all of the cases NOVA didn't have to sponsor the instructors, and they only worked part time. It all depends on how needy they are for teachers and who is the area manager.
    Yeah, that really sucks that there isn't even a military exemption. It's like telling someone you have the drive and determination to make it into the US
    Navy but we're not sure you can withstand the pressures teaching at an eikaiwa. Which is of course, insane.

    BTW, how well you speak Japanese isn't going to matter to them either since you wouldn't be using it at all in the classroom or to socialize with students during off hours. Unfortunate in a way since mine is also pretty good and I'm thinking of going the same route as a means to live in Japan to study the language...

  7. #132
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    Hello everyone I am new here and I am planning on getting a spouse visa when I come back to japan, I am currently in the NAVY and will be out soon and want to come back to japan to teach English for a few years and then move on eventualy but can I get a job being that I only have my Naval certification as a Culinary Specialist? I checked with the Diahai Mall here Yokosuks and the pay is 1800$ yen a month and maybe more if you impress them a lttle and they want you.

  8. #133
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fablewarrior View Post
    Hello everyone I am new here and I am planning on getting a spouse visa when I come back to japan, I am currently in the NAVY and will be out soon and want to come back to japan to teach English for a few years and then move on eventualy but can I get a job being that I only have my Naval certification as a Culinary Specialist? I checked with the Diahai Mall here Yokosuks and the pay is 1800$ yen a month and maybe more if you impress them a lttle and they want you.
    You may want to start a new thread to get more exposure for other types of positions. Many people have an allergy to reading anything NOVA-related.
    I know of 2-3 cases in my 5 years Nova history
    Man, I bet they were sorry to see you go. Five years at Nova ! Good Heavens ! What was your secret where so many others have failed ?

    And to think you could have had a career with them...
    Last edited by Elizabeth; Feb 17, 2007 at 08:22.

  9. #134
    Regular Member senseiman's Avatar
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    Here's a News Flash about NOVA:

    http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/399281

    Looks like the company might be in trouble. First they had teachers getting busted for drugs, now the whole company is under investigation for ripping off students.
    祇園精舎の鐘の聲、諸行無常の響� り。娑羅雙樹の花の 色、盛者必衰のことわりを� らはす。おごれる人も久し からず、唯春の夜の夢のごとし。たけき者も遂にほろび ぬ、偏に風の前の塵に同じ。

  10. #135
    Just me Glenski's Avatar
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    fablewarrior,
    If you have a spouse visa, you can work at any place that thinks you are qualified. That is the key, not whether you have a degree or not. (Of course, some employers may want you to have a degree regardless of your visa status.)

  11. #136
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    Quote Originally Posted by Elizabeth View Post
    You may want to start a new thread to get more exposure for other types of positions. Many people have an allergy to reading anything NOVA-related.
    Man, I bet they were sorry to see you go. Five years at Nova ! Good Heavens ! What was your secret where so many others have failed ?
    And to think you could have had a career with them...
    The secret to lasting that long at NOVA is being flexible and being at good schools (find them and transfer ASAP!!). Most of the students were super cool so it out weighed the company politics and Bull_hit. Except for the last year at NOVA I got nice raises, but then they started to cutback and were being very anal about sick days etc. I think that's when they over expanded and were having money problems. I used NOVA, NOVA didn't use me is the way I thought about it. They helped me meet a lot of cool people, funded my drifting habit, and helped me pay off a lot of my debt. The only thing they got from me was someone that went to work and had a good time.

    If/When I go back to Japan I probably wouldn't work for NOVA full time. If i HAD too, i would only work part time.

  12. #137
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    What a great article, Brooker! I think you are right on. My boyfriend is doing the program now and what you have described is right in line with what you described here. Thanks for a great article. I signed up for an account just to post my appreciation.

  13. #138
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ET_Fukuoka View Post
    The secret to lasting that long at NOVA is
    being flexible and being at good schools (find them and transfer ASAP!!).
    You mean if your manager is a lying tyrant and the other instructors are total freaks who couldn't get a job anywhere else, that's a bad place ? lol

    I used NOVA, NOVA didn't use me is the way I thought about it. They helped me meet a lot of cool people, funded my drifting habit, and helped me pay off a lot of my debt. The only thing they got from me was someone that went to work and had a good time.
    As long as you don't put this on your application and don't get any student complaints anyone could be there to set up their own business for all they probably care...lol

    Sounds like you had a blast,ET_Fukuoka!!! I'm sure I would love the students too and I'm older than average but what better way to stay young than being in a cubicle with 20 somethings at NOVA all day !!!

  14. #139
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by senseiman View Post
    Here's a News Flash about NOVA:
    http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/399281
    Looks like the company might be in trouble. First they had teachers getting busted for drugs, now the whole company is under investigation for ripping off students.
    A very interesting read. Thanks for posting, senseiman ! I didn't realize the lesson fees at NOVA were cheaper than their competition (assuming this refers to other large eikaiwas), but the company deals with dozens of lawsuits every year and by doesn't seem to lose very many of them. They'll most likely find a loophole to exploit in this case as well that allows them to continue undercutting their clientele.

  15. #140
    Regular Member Sukotto's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by senseiman View Post
    Here's a News Flash about NOVA:
    http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/399281
    Looks like the company might be in trouble. First they had teachers getting busted for drugs, now the whole company is under investigation for ripping off students.

    coke is foolish,
    cannabis is less harmful that beer or cigarettes.
    (try to prove cigarettes or beer are less harmful, you won't be able to)
    (and no i don't smoke or other things)

    But that's not the Nova's fault.
    People can hide their nasty habits pretty darn well.
    You know, uncombed hair and wacky tshirts don't mean anything (these days). Maybe 30-40 years ago?
    check out this awesome shirt.
    If You're Really a Goth, Where Were You When We Sacked Rome?
    no, i got nothing against goths. just think the shirt is neat.

  16. #141
    Regular Member senseiman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Elizabeth View Post
    A very interesting read. Thanks for posting, senseiman ! I didn't realize the lesson fees at NOVA were cheaper than their competition (assuming this refers to other large eikaiwas), but the company deals with dozens of lawsuits every year and by doesn't seem to lose very many of them. They'll most likely find a loophole to exploit in this case as well that allows them to continue undercutting their clientele.
    I think this is a cut above the run-of-the-mill anti-Nova lawsuit, Usually the government doesn't get involved. Its definitely not the end of the world for NOVA but this time they are getting way more bad publicity and may face administrative action by the government (as opposed to just paying damages to aggrieved clients). I read that NOVA's stock dropped about 14% the day this story came out.

  17. #142
    Just me Glenski's Avatar
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    They want you to pee into a cup man! Is that too much to ask?
    If they test everyone
    Let's stop right here. They DON'T ask everyone. The discrimination is made because the JAPANESE employees don't have to go through this. NOVA has been called on this (in court, I believe, too), and it is ILLEGAL to have such drug testing only for foreigners. The fact that they haven't had the actual testing done in years shows that they know this, but they STILL keep the illegal clause in their contracts.

    If someone wants you to pee in a cup, tell them you will if they will, too. THEN, see what they say.

    I have not visited this thread much, but a quick glance shows that there is a TON of misinformation here. I wish I had time to straighten things out.

  18. #143
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    Hi there, this is my 1st psot here and i got a few questions,

    1) While working in NOVA, the min salary of 250,000 does it already include the rental fee for the place you are staying at? or must you pay for that yourself from your salary?

    2) I live in Singapore, i have not attended University yet but i have got a diploma in engineering, is a diploma counted or must you still have to attend and get a degree from a Uni?

    Thanks

  19. #144
    Villain Iron Chef's Avatar
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    Rent is not included in your base salary and must be deducted accordingly. And yes, you must have some sort of accredited University degree in any academic discipline. Not sure what the credentials are on your Diploma but it probably wouldn't be enough.

  20. #145
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    ahh, may i know how much on average is the rent?
    Thanks for the reply

  21. #146
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    55000-59000 I think is what I paid for a NOVA apartment. Thats sharing too. It's a good place to start but I would recommend getting out as soon as you can if you plan on staying in Japan for any longer than a year.

  22. #147
    Just me Glenski's Avatar
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    Rent depends on location. If ET Fukuoka is living in Kyushu, he will probably pay less. Most people I have seen on the forums will quote you roughly 70,000 yen/month per PERSON in a shared apartment, but as much as that is highway robbery, it includes utilities (up to about 8000 yen/month, I think).

    Look at NOVA's web site. It clearly lays out how much you get paid depending on location (and bear in mind the early months are lower because you are on probationary salary).

  23. #148
    Banned Mike Cash's Avatar
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    Putting several teachers into a Nova-sponsored apartment and then charging each of them the full rent for the place (while acting like they're doing the teachers a favor) is a time-honored Nova tradition.

  24. #149
    遠いから行きません GaijinPunch's Avatar
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    The discrimination is made because the JAPANESE employees don't have to go through this. NOVA has been called on this (in court, I believe, too), and it is ILLEGAL to have such drug testing only for foreigners.
    It is? The same way it's illegal for the police discriminate by doing 'random' ID checks only on foreigners? The same way a real estate agent can simply stop a foreigner at the door and say, 'sorry, we don't have any places that rent to foreigners'. This would also be the discrimination found in Onsens in Hokkaido I would assume. Despite it's legality, it is painfully clear that protection against such practices is non-existant. Nova isn't going to get in trouble to ask it's employees for proof that they're not doing something very illegal.

  25. #150
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    Hi everyone,

    I have a few questions for all the Nova experts in the house. I rather whimsically applied on-line to Nova the other day and they contacted to come on in for an interview. I am living in Japan (7 years), married to a Japanese National and study at a Japanese University. I only want to work part-time but can't work out if they actually employ part-time or not.

    One other comment: from the tone of this thread, I may be far to qualified to work at Nova (even if it is basically only for some Yen). I have an M.A. and I'm chewing my way through a Phd. Seems like a recipe for disaster!....

    Cheers

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