Job Discussion Forums

seklarwia · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:25 am Post subject:

Actually there are a couple of groups but they seem quite specific.

This one is a group for the Hiroshima ALTs:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=7dc7d8adbbc65204ac5eb3790daae266&gid=2314587118#/group.php?sid=410a3324787709793b3b77e0b046445a&gid=4725262247

And this is the one I saw for the lot that came through Narita:
http://www.facebook.com/s.php?ref=search&init=q&q=narita%20alt&sid=99b59f538d9d19f05c77ed6614b4f5ee#/group.php?sid=99b59f538d9d19f05c77ed6614b4f5ee&gid=21603439245
But as you'll see from the last post, it is only for the people who arrived last summer.

MTR · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Tochigi

Hey,

Might be a bit off topic here but as this thread will no doubt be read by newly contracted INTERAC staff...... I was wondering if anyone could tell me how long after their interview they got a job offer?

I was interviewed almost two weeks ago and so far have not been given a decision. Starting to wonder if I should accept an offer from another company I applied to as a contingency. Confused

seklarwia · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject:

Me personally... I had my offer in about 6 days later. My interview was Wednesday Jan 7th and I received my acceptance in the early hours of the following Tuesday. But they told us that it could take up to three weeks for them to make their decision.

Of course, you could always get in contact with the Interac rep who sent you the interview invite. Perhaps they typed your email addy wrong or something. If you are going to do that though, you should do so now rather than later since there is a 10 day deadline to accept an offer. After that, they offer your place to someone else. Sad

Its up to you though as to whether you start looking else where. Its getting a bit close to beginning of the new school year, so you might not have time to get interviewed, accepted and start visa procedures in time for then, but it couldn't hurt to keep your options open. Afterall, you should get a decision within the next week. If you are accepted, then congrats. If not, perhaps you'll have some other interviews lined up.

EDIT: Just re-read your post. I didn't notice that you already have been offered something else. Get in contact with Interac and find out for sure.

MTR · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Tochigi

Thanks for the info and good advice seklarwia! You must have done well in your interview, six days is fast! My interviewer probably spent twice that long in therapy after being subjected to me singing. Embarassed

I will drop the lovely recruitment lady (hope she reads the forum) at INTERAC an email right now. With a bit of luck I might be able to post a message on here closer to the intended subject matter before long.

seklarwia · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:12 am Post subject:

If you were brave enough to sing it can't have gone so bad Very Happy

. They need confident and outgoing people willing to do things like that especially for the elementary kids. I don't sing (well I avoid it whenever possible) but I'm really good at voice projection, correcting whilst saving face and gesturing or acting out what I'm saying. As long as you were loud and happy in the video, I'm sure you did fine.

What type of questions did your interviewer ask you?
I had completely different questions to some of the others at my session. The others had things like what makes you think you are suitable for moving away for a year? Or, why did you first become interested in Japan? But since she already knew te answers to those, she asked me things like: Explain a few "faux pas"s in Japanese society. And, how did I spend my free time in China?

Anyway, keep me posted on what happens. Who knows, maybe we'll be meeting in Japan this March Wink

MTR · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Tochigi

Sounds like you were given some interesting questions! My interview (along with the interviews of the five other applicants) was limited to a 20 minute time slot as the recruiter was unable to start proceedings before about 3pm. I was asked for three reasons why i should be given a job, how I would define professionalism, another question I cant remember right now (probably because I have just got home from the pub) I think relating to previously working abroad and what news headlines I had recently seen on Japan. I was honest with my answers so if im not successful then at least I can be content that maybe I am just not what they are looking for.

Whether or not INTERAC offer me a contract I will be heading to Japan as I have been offered a 'semi-full time' contract with another school. Anything less than full time hours is not exactly ideal but I would still earn enough to cover my expenses and I have been very impressed by their recruitment staff. I emailed a girl who was interviewed at the same time as me who also hasn't had a decision but it seems both our references have been contacted so I am still hopeful. Might well see you in the far east two months from now.

seklarwia · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject:

20 minutes?! Our time slots were 45 minutes! But mine went on for about an hour. I did have the professionalism one as well but I forgot about that one. I don't even remember what crap I spewed in response to it either. I think my interview kind of slipped into general conversation about train perverts and the likes after a while. We did have a bit of a chat about things that could be conceived as racism since I am Indian-mauritian/Jamican (horay for mongrel ethnicities! You get to tick loads boxes on those questionaires). To be honest though, I'm no stranger to eastern Asia and most of the behaviour I received was more REALLY open curiosity than racism. I did become quite camera and touch phobic around men though since at least woman and kids tried to talk to me before sticking cameras in my face or stroking ANY exposed skin. But I'm digressing again... Very Happy

Just out of interest, are you coming from the US or UK?

elkarlo · Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 240 Location: Maryland

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:00 am Post subject:

*shudder*

A thread about Interac.

I got this image of lambs to the slaughter.

seklarwia · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:06 am Post subject:

Similar things happened in China, HK and Macau and Seoul. I'm a freak magnet.

elkarlo · Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 240 Location: Maryland

elkarlo · Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 240 Location: Maryland

MTR · Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Tochigi

Sorry im a little late with the reply Seklarwia (trying to give false impression I have a life away from forums). My interview was maybe the shortest I have ever experienced, the interviewer said she may have to call the following day to complete the questions but she never did.
In answer to your question I am coming over from Scotland (trying hard to neutralize my accent). After two weeks waiting I gave up on receiving an offer from INTERAC and emailed the other school to accept their job, sending the mail refreshed my in box to reveal an offer from INTERAC. What are the chances? I think I am now going to go back to the other school and tell them I have changed my mind but I feel quite bad about it because they have been excellent to deal with. Sad

Think I will leave the decision making until tomorrow.

Im suprised this thread got through nearly two pages before anything negative was said about INTERAC. As far as I can see they are no worse than any of the other big overseas recruiters (could be that I am just very naive). JET would perhaps be better but I am not really prepared to wait until the next intake and from what I gather they will only place people in very rural areas which isn't my thing