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heathers98
Joined: 18 Oct 2011
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:28 am Post subject: Suggestions? |
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I recently applied and got accepted to two ALT dispatch companies, Borderlink and Heart English School (with more job offers might be coming soon). What one I should pick? I heard all the negative things about ALT dispatch from every corner of the internet. But, I really want to know who is more positive. I don't expect a high paying job (entry jobs aren't the greatest of jobs in the world) but someone to treat me reasonably.
The other problem is that since this two companies are ALT dispatches, they don't get their contracts till next year. Since jobs ALT job dispatch companies are not 100% guaranteed (that's true?), should I be accepting more then one offer and decide later when a non-provisional offer comes (from either company or someone else)? Is it ok to apply for more than one certificate of eligibility?
Thanks.
Last edited by heathers98 on Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:13 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:58 am Post subject: Re: Suggestions? |
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| aisasami wrote: |
| I recently applied and got accepted to two ALT dispatch companies, Borderlink and Heart English School (with more job offers might be coming soon). What one I should pick? I heard all the negative things about ALT dispatch from every corner of the internet. But, I really want to know who is more positive. I don't expect a high paying job (entry jobs aren't the greatest of jobs in the world) but someone to treat me reasonable. |
Considering what extensive negativity has been posted on this and other forums about both of those companies, I wouldn't expect either one to treat you "reasonable".
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| Is it ok to apply for more than one certificate of eligibility? |
No.
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| The other problem is that since this two companies are ALT dispatches, they don't get their contracts till next year. Since jobs ALT job dispatch companies are not 100% guaranteed (that's true?), |
It is my impression that they will have contracts, but that they will not know which ones until nearly time for you to step into a classroom, so you will not be offered a location until about 2 weeks before classes.
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| should I be accepting more then one offer |
No.
(And, if you'll pardon me for making these corrections, it's "reasonably" and "more than one offer".) |
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heathers98
Joined: 18 Oct 2011
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:12 am Post subject: Re: Suggestions? |
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| Glenski wrote: |
(And, if you'll pardon me for making these corrections, it's "reasonably" and "more than one offer".) |
Go ahead. This is what I get for posting after a long shift and at a late hour.
| Glenski wrote: |
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| The other problem is that since this two companies are ALT dispatches, they don't get their contracts till next year. Since jobs ALT job dispatch companies are not 100% guaranteed (that's true?), |
It is my impression that they will have contracts, but that they will not know which ones until nearly time for you to step into a classroom, so you will not be offered a location until about 2 weeks before classes. |
I care more about job security than location. I just don't want to find out I don't have a job in March when they lost a contract.
Should I just wait and see what other schools/companies will offer me in terms of employment? I have applied to other companies and smaller, private eikaiwas. But, I am afraid that if a better offer comes by, I can't accept it because I accepted Borderlink or Heart. But, the problem is that I semi-accepted Heart and they expecting the paperwork by the end of this month.
My story is that I was a Japanese major in college and my advisor told me the only thing to do right now is teach English in Japan. I can't translate or teach Japanese anywhere because with my college education, I can only complete level 3 on the JPLT. And my professor says don't really apply to JET because it has shrunk in size and the job market is really bad right now. Another person told me that they will only accept those who have little to no experience in Japan. Two of my classmates (Japanese majors) failed to get into JET but got into these companies. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Suggestions? |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| aisasami wrote: |
| I recently applied and got accepted to two ALT dispatch companies, Borderlink and Heart English School (with more job offers might be coming soon). What one I should pick? I heard all the negative things about ALT dispatch from every corner of the internet. But, I really want to know who is more positive. I don't expect a high paying job (entry jobs aren't the greatest of jobs in the world) but someone to treat me reasonable. |
Considering what extensive negativity has been posted on this and other forums about both of those companies, I wouldn't expect either one to treat you "reasonable". |
Well, Heart had some major legal action taken against it in either late 2009/early 2010 (which actually resulted in my dispatcher starting a campaign to clarify what GT conditions were with BOEs and clarifying work hours etc for ALTs in the spring training sessions) so you can at least expect them to be more honest about job, pay, conditions, etc, so you can make an informed decision on whether you think what they are offering is reasonable.
Borderlink on the other hand is the arguably the worst dispatch company out there - for the record, no one would argue that Borderlink was in any way, shape or form a good company; but some might nominate other equally nasty companies for the prize spot.
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| Quote: |
| The other problem is that since this two companies are ALT dispatches, they don't get their contracts till next year. Since jobs ALT job dispatch companies are not 100% guaranteed (that's true?), |
It is my impression that they will have contracts, but that they will not know which ones until nearly time for you to step into a classroom, so you will not be offered a location until about 2 weeks before classes. |
Actually, Glenski, the OP is right. BOEs may allow bidding wars and contract negotiations to continue well into the new year before they choose how many contracts to offer to each company.
And if a BOE is anything like my last, it might make some huge decision changes at any time before the new term (mine freaked after graduation, barely 2 weeks before the new academic year).
Fortunately, because my dispatcher is so large, new arrivals who find themselves still without a position at training are simply kept at HQ and will be paid a full salary for studying Japanese, doing office work and/or doing supply work until a proper placement is found for them.
Some Heart ALTs arrive with work visas in hand whilst others are told to come over on a tourist visa and that contract signing and COE processing will be completed after their arrival. So I can't help but believe that perhaps this whole, precarious bidding war is playing a part here; that because Heart is a relatively small company, they can't afford to pay ALTs who end up without placements as my company does, so they don't allow new recruits who they can't guarantee placements to sign employment contracts (which they need to do to get the COE) until after they arrive (when the BOEs have told them how many placements they definately have) because otherwise they would have a legal obligation to pay them (for a month at least) even if they don't have work for them... even if Heart is supposedly better (or more honest) than Borderlink, I wonder what happens to newbies that arrive at training on a tourist visa and then get told, "I'm very sorry, but we didn't win all the contracts that we were expecting to."
@the OP:
There is no easy answer to your predicament. You are going to have to go with your gut.
1. Have you signed an official offer of employment with Heart that gives you actual employment dates?
2. Are they definately processing and sending you your COE before you arrive?
If the answer to both is yes, then at least arriving with a visa in hand means that you would be in a good position to find other employment if Heart does screw up, since you will be in country during the peak time for in-country hiring and it's a relatively quick and painless process to get special permission or switch to a Specialist in Humanities visa if end up getting eikaiwa work... It's not ideal, but it's something.
If you have answered no to question 1 (in which case they couldn't get you a COE even if they wanted to) or are unsure about 2, then I would continue to look for and interview with other potential employers (giving Borderlink an insanely wide berth). If come late Jan/early Feb, Heart was still being vague about contracts or making excuses as to why they haven't started processing your COE, I would consider telling them, "Thanks, but no thanks," and then looking to accept other offers. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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IMO, whether you have accepted or not (or "semi-accepted", whatever that means), you can always back out. Just say something came up. No further explanation needed.
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| Should I just wait and see what other schools/companies will offer me in terms of employment? |
I would highly recommend scrapping the 2 offers you have now and continue applying to other places. Others may have different opinions, but with the reputation of those 2 employers, I can't honestly see why someone would take a job with them. |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:40 am Post subject: |
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Don't do business with either of these companies. You already know the reputation of these outfits. These companies don't support ALTs or schools. Their only interest in education is the bottom line.
Hang on and apply for the JET Program for 2013, or take a job with an eikaiwa that directly hires you. |
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