As English spreads globally, one of the hot spots for aspiring English teachers is Japan. Japan pays good money to those willing to teach English in its schools and learning centers. Interviewing for a teaching job in Japan is similar to other situations, but with its own details that are part of the standard contract between the teacher and the host country.

Emphasize your qualifications. An English teaching certification like a CELTA or a TOEFL goes a long way. These are 1-month certificates where teachers are trained for international classroom experiences. Another good qualification is an English or journalism degree: even a 2-year associates can be a good thing to have at interview.

Show your commitment. In a job where a host employer flies an employee halfway around the world, turnover is obviously a big issue. That said, Japanese employers don't generally expect a lifelong commitment: contracts often come 1 year standard. Talk up your commitment to a year to galvanize your chances at interview.

Demonstrate your people skills. Rather than being just a "technical" job where specialized knowledge is traded on, your job as a teacher in Japan will draw on social skills. Show these off to the employer at interview, demonstrating you can run a classroom.

Be ready for grammar questions. International employers like to "haze" potential English teachers with tricky interrogations about the gerund, the infinitive and the dangling participle. Prepare yourself to answer intelligently; as an English teacher abroad, it is your knowledge of the language, as well as personality skills, that makes you valuable.

Smile. Employers respond well to a positive attitude. If it's a phone interview, as is generally the case, make your positive attitude come out of your end of the line, and you'll see returns.