After six months of fruitless job hunting, Esteban-Villardo’s motivation had hit rock bottom. That was until a LinkedIn notification came through, potentially altering the course of his life.
- Esteban-Villardo during his first trip in Japan in 2016.
Disillusionment Sets In
After six months as an ALT, Esteban-Villardo began to see the cracks in what he once thought would be a fulfilling role. There were no prospects for career advancement, and the lack of respect from his dispatch company’s managers left him feeling increasingly undervalued. “It’s like they see us as disposable tools, not professionals,” he reflects. To make matters worse, at one of his schools, his role was reduced to that of a glorified CD player—repeating the target language and lesson content in “real English” while the homeroom teacher took full control of the class. “I wanted to teach, to inspire students, but I quickly realized that wasn’t what they wanted from me. It was demoralizing,” he admits. This experience only deepened his desire to find a role where his skills and efforts would truly be appreciated.
It was 11 a.m. when Esteban-Villardo, an ALT in Tottori Prefecture, checked his phone. Discouraged by the lack of replies to his countless job applications, he wasn’t expecting much. Then, an intriguing LinkedIn notification caught his eye: “Your profile has appeared in three searches this week.” For Esteban, it was a moment of disbelief. “At first, I thought it must be a mistake or some kind of dream, but no—it was real,” he recounts. “What struck me the most was the number—one person looking for me would have been enough to make my day, but three? I felt like my heart was going to burst!”
The identities of those potential employers only added to the excitement. They included a collaborative learning strategist, a facilitator of collective intelligence, and a coach for consultants specializing in personal development.
Bright Horizons Ahead
Esteban was cautiously optimistic: “It’s not exactly my field—my real passion is creative writing for language education—but when I checked out their profiles, I noticed they seemed open-minded and innovative. It could be a great match!” His hope soared further when, just three days later, LinkedIn sent another message: “Hi Esteban-Villardo! We’ve noticed a surge in job opportunities tailored to your skills. Want to try Premium for free to explore these opportunities?”
Now, Esteban is certain that this marks a turning point in his life. “I’m on LinkedIn every day now, soaking up inspiring posts. Sure, they haven’t helped me land a job yet, but they’ve reignited my drive. In a way, I think I’ve already found my path.”
Good job 👍 Jean-gode!
Bringing inspiration and hope!