Job Discussion Forums

KatiePowers · Joined: 01 Oct 2014 Posts: 16 Location: Niagara Falls

Has anyone heard of them? After looking them over a bit, they might just be my first choice. It seems they mainly do ALT work, but also have opportunities for eikaiwa and/or corporate stuff on the side. They're also located in a really cool area, not too rural but not downtown Tokyo. Apparently they're really easy to get hired with. And as the icing on the cake, their name and logo are adorable!

Just wondering if anyone has worked with them before?

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

Tudor · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 339

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

Heart is all kinds of awful. Stay away. They make interac look legit for crying out loud

RM1983 · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 360

Probably have a shot at Interac before them, you tried yet?

marley'sghost · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 255

No personal experience with Heart, but the boards are full of horror stories.
I have worked for Interac for a long, long time now. No horror stories. They don't bend over backwards to rip you off. They just thread the loopholes in the labor laws to keep you permanently part time. You have to remember all these dispatch companies are really nothing more than temp agencies. They manage foreign staff for schools who don't want to be bothered with it.

The job itself is great, once you get your feet on the ground and find your rhythm. Just jump in, do all the fun teacher stuff (play with the kids), and skip out on the grueling, tedious paperwork and meetings.

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

I have a friend who works for Heart. His experience is basically "Eh, it's okay." He likes the job and the company hasn't particularly screwed him over. Had a nice place in Utsunomiya. Not as cushy as JET and doesn't even bother paying lip service to professional development from the sounds of it, but it gets your feet on the ground.

He know he's just kinda hanging around and using the job as a way to earn a living, be in an interesting place and fund his video game addiction. He's a cool dude and I respect him, but he knows exactly what he wants.

You seem to be aiming higher than that and your attitude comes off as a little more ambitious or, at least, you'll get hungry for something not too long after coming to Japan.

Do some time with them to get on the ground and up your skills for greener pastures to clock in some experience. The background you posted (CELTA) elsewhere plus your seemingly upbeat personality will make you a boon, especially with international schools who may be looking for a female staff member. I also knew someone who went directly from their CELTA to a very challenging and responsibility-filled private high school position.

Heart? Sure, I guess. You have more qualifications to be something a little higher than that, though.

Just something to keep in mind.