Job Discussion Forums

[gallerygirl]

Hello,
I received an e-mail from Interac letting me know I had qualified for a phone screening (I feel so special now ). I'm wondering if it's even worth pursuing based upon all the horrible things that are written about them online.

Let me explain why I'm putting so much stock in internet chatter. Four years ago I applied to NOVA. About 10 minutes into the group interview my BS meter went off - it seemed less an interview than an attempt to sell us on their company. Later I went online and joined the NOVA teacher's yahoo group and read about all the horrible experiences people were having with them. I immediately withdrew my application and went on with my life in the US - a little over a year later the news broke out that NOVA was closing, and I was happy I had dodged that bullet.

Well all these years later I'm still researching ways to teach in Japan, and Interac did seem like a good solution as JET is receiving more applications than ever and they only have one application process per year. Though I'm seriously doubting Interac now based on what I've been reading. I'm wondering is if anyone can tell me their experiences with Interac, either good or bad?

Also, is it possible to save any money these days teaching in Japan, or the compensation mostly the "experience."

Thanks for your time.

[gwynnie86]

If you search for "interac" in the forums you will see that your question has been asked many times.
In short, they seem fine. I am flying out with them in 2 weeks, and although they leave you wondering until what feels like the last minute, there have been no problems so far. There are some reasons why they are better than JET - you will never have to work weekends and you are allowed to teach privately to earn extra cash (which JET forbids). If you keep your wits about you and go out there with a positive outlook then I'm sure you will do fine. Interac are a company out to make money at the end of the day, some people will have great experiences and others will have awful ones. (I'll let you know what mine is). It's down to luck, partially, and a lot of it is down to how you perceive your experience.

[fluffyhamster]

IMHO Interac are one of the better dispatchers around. Reasonably professional and a nice balance of personal but not too personal, if you know what I mean. (They certainly don't pretend to be your friend and then start cheating you too much). Large and established enough that they shouldn't have quite the cashflow problems that smaller competitors can have (e.g. the big-boss-in-small-pond's-new-car-aka-embezzlement); and dispatch AET work is ultimately from the public purse and therefore budgeted for/reasonably assured for the term of the contract (unlike eikaiwa which can as we've seen with NOVA have really madcap schemes and very irregular finances operating under the surface).

One thing I would caution against though is making it known that you intend to do any private work. I don't know quite what their contract now says, but it is probably best to make everyone feel that the AET work is your top priority and more than sufficient in terms of income (even if it isn't).

Oh, and I don't know about never having to work weekends either - even if there is a clause in the contract "guaranteeing" that, schools do have a variety of events that fall at weekends (e.g. sports days), and it isn't unusual to be asked to work a Saturday every now and then (and with no guarantee that there will be a day off in lieu, if the next week you are at a different school that didn't have the Saturday event!). Just speaking from my general experience of dispatch than from any exact recollections about Interac specifically though (I only worked for them for a term/semester, before an ostensibly better job with housing arranged came up).

[gallerygirl]

Thanks for your responses guys. They are quite reassuring.

I suppose I should have done a board search, but then again I am selfish and like having my own thread

I have a question for you Gwynnie86, as you are about to ship out with them - what are you doing for housing? Did they offer you any assistance, or are you left on your own to look for something? And are you getting something furnished or do you have to buy everything?

Thanks for your time!

[Stark]

Interac is by far not the worst choice you could make for employment. Other then waiting for the BoE to get back to them right now about contracts in my area for next month, I have no major complaints with them. Well that and the 60,000 I'm paying for my shoebox apartment in the middle of nowhere, but I digress . My boss and the people that I regularly deal with in the company are all great and do their best to assist me with whatever problems I have.

You may have to work weekends sometimes. I've done it a few times, although if it is put on the schedule, you'll get those days off later on a week day at some point. I was given choices in regards to when so I'd make it so I had an extra four day weekend. Sports days and such are highly encouraged that you go to, but that is your choice. Since its your choice you won't be paid to go, but they are a ton of fun anyways.

I do know some friends in other areas that work for Interac have run into problems dealing with management and schools, but for the most part it hasn't been major.

As far as saving money goes. I've only been able to break even really with sending money back home to pay for school loans. Of course, I know some people that manage to put away 50000- 100000 a month, but they don't really do much.

All-in-all, you could do a lot worse for a job.

Edit: They find you something for housing (Leopalace), and its usually furnished. These apartments come with a fridge, microwave, washing machine, TV, and free internet. Some people even get lucky getting subsidized housing, where they only have to pay around 5000 for a house every month.

[Mr_Monkey]

JET also pays �50,000/month more (�3,600,000/year, or �300,000/month) than the (what used to be) standard salary for an ELT in Japan - �3,000,000/year or �250,000/month.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it, dispatch agencies don't pay you for days you don't work - so you lose public holidays. Japan has lots of them. Furthermore, you don't work during scheduled school vacations, and are paid a "holiday rate" at best. In short, you're getting royally screwed working for Interac.

[ILoveCov]

I'm the same as Gwynnie, and I'll be going out in March too.

So far they've not been that bad to deal with, always prompt and pleasant in answering any questions. I think as long as you go into it eyes wide open you shouldn't have any unpleasant surprises.

Be careful of that phone screening, though! I didn't get notification that I was through to a phone screening and received a random call from an unknown mobile phone number. It was Interac who then fired off a load of difficult questions at me It was about 9am in the morning and I wasn't at my brightest...

Where I'll be going doesn't have any leopalace apartments, so I have no idea what I'll end up with yet!

[Shiggy]

I have an interview with Aeon and Interac next month. I'm excited and don't really care about the negative stuff.

The way I see it, life is hard no matter what country you're in. Happiness is achieved by having the proper attitude and perspective.

If available, everyone should use these teaching positions as opportunities to connect with people around the world, and to promote good will and diplomacy.

But, if you're just focusing on negative aspects, then you shouldn't be surprised if your experience is unsatisfactory.

[gallerygirl]