Job Discussion Forums

bosintang · Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 23

I had an interview with an ALT dispatcher. It was just an informal chat in her car, and she said she would mention me to the Board of Education, and if they were interested, I would have to go in front of them for an interview and demonstration.

The salary was amazingly low: 2.2million/month! A salary I definitely cannot accept.

She mentioned to me that it was not acceptable to go for the interview in front of the board of education, and if they accepted me, to change my mind.

This seems very unreleastic to me. Is this just a ploy to not get me to bargain for more money, or is this common practice? Her English was shaky, so it could have been a misunderstanding, as well.

I guess my big question is, if I'm accepted for an interview, should I wait until after the interview to ask for more money, or should I mention it to her beforehand?

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

bosintang wrote:

I had an interview with an ALT dispatcher. It was just an informal chat in her car, and she said she would mention me to the Board of Education, and if they were interested, I would have to go in front of them for an interview and demonstration.

The salary was amazingly low: 2.2million/month! A salary I definitely cannot accept.

She mentioned to me that it was not acceptable to go for the interview in front of the board of education, and if they accepted me, to change my mind.

This seems very unreleastic to me. Is this just a ploy to not get me to bargain for more money, or is this common practice? Her English was shaky, so it could have been a misunderstanding, as well.

I guess my big question is, if I'm accepted for an interview, should I wait until after the interview to ask for more money, or should I mention it to her beforehand?

This has got to be a joke! 2.2 million yen a month Question

No teacher in the world gets that much! If that is the case, I would quit my job on the spot to take the position and I love my job!

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I think that was a typo... The OP must have meant EITHER: 220,000 a month (which is low but common nowadays) or 2.2 million a YEAR (which amounts to 183,000 a month roughly).

Either way, that's a pauper's wage and I wouldn't even dignify a job like that with an interview. Tell them sooner rather than later.... People who know anything about teachers' salaries will tell you that a direct-hire position SHOULD be paying you a minimum of 300,000 a year. For 250,000 you can get a job working for any old eikaiwa... A BoE should be a step up from that.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 4:37 am Post subject:

It doesn't sound though like this BOE is interested in hiring directly, hence "needing" to go thru the dispatcher to get the job; after they've taken their cut, obviously the wage will be lower, with few if any benefits or perks.

bosintang · Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 23

Yes, I meant 220k yen a month. Basically they are paying 240k/month, but don't pay you salary for August.

I think I'll take JimDunlop2's advice and tell them sooner rather than later, rather than wasting my time at an interview for a position I'll probably not be offered at a salary I want.

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

Is the position full time? What time do they let you leave the school. If early like around 15:00 then the salary is not too bad. Except for not being paid in August.
I also think you should tell them as soon as possible. The dispatch company does not sound too proffesional having an interview in a car. You have to be careful with some of these dispatching company. One company still owes me a month and a half salary from 2003!

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

I wouldn't accept the job either but 220 000 yen is totally normal these days for a dispatch ALT position.

The reason they tell you that you can't decline the offer if the BOE accepts you is that in order to win the contract they have bul$hitted the BOE by telling them they already have teachers lined up to fill the positions. If you decline, their bull$hitting is exposed. The competition is so fierce for those ALT contracts these days... They're paranoid they'll lose it.

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

Sounds like just another dispatch company taking the piss. You'll earn more at an eikaiwa for less work.

Unless you really want the experience and don't have time to find something better don't take it. There are plenty of dispatch companies offering 300,000 yen + for a teacher with a bit of experience.

In my opinion for the hours you put in that's the absolute minimum for 40 hours a week at a school.

I was teaching twice the amount of lessons as my Japanese co-workers and had no health/lost job/pension. It was 300,000 a month but what with the 90 minute travel to work (3 hours a day!) I've never felt so much like an unappreciated slave-drone.

If you'll be doing the same for 220,000 then tell them to stick their job and find some drunk fruit picker with a working holiday visa to do it.

I frickin hate dispatch companies. Sitting on their arses and making a fortune as their teachers work themselves to death with no health insurance. If you dropped dead in the street they'd just stick you on the burnable gommi and get someone else Evil or Very Mad

Rant over. Very Happy

yamanote senbei · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 435

ALT outsourcing is illegal. Fight back!

http://nambufwc.org/issues/alt/

LSL Art 6: Unless permitted by law, no person shall obtain profit by intervening, as a business, in the employment of others.