Job Discussion Forums

zbird · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

I'm pretty clueless as to how to get an ALT job besides the JET route, I've heard the other options being dispatch agency and direct hire but I don't know what exactly one must do to get hired through each method.

Could someone break down how to apply to become an ALT through:

1. Dispatch agencies
2. Direct hire,

Including where to find the agencies/listings, how to apply, what agencies there are, and anything else you might think is relevant.

I will be going to Kobe/Osaka at the beginning of next month and would like to be well-prepared in understanding the approaches to finding a job.

Big_H · Joined: 21 Dec 2013 Posts: 115

You could browse the forum to find what you need, like this thread on its first page:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=105268&sid=d6089c7957c6233f2950ed263832ae0f

steki47 · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka

Check out Interact, Altia Central, Borderlink, W5 and a few others I can't think of right now. Some of them conduct interviews overseas.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 3:38 am Post subject:

Interac are getting increasingly bad press, W5 are time wasters, and I'd very strongly recommend that people avoid Borderlink.

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

City halls that practice direct hire are generally not set up to hire from overseas. In my experience, they advertise by putting a small notice, in Japanese, in the city hall newsletter that is distributed to local residents. In any case, you've missed hiring season, and they won't consider you until you have a visa.

I know of people who speculatively dropped off their resume at city hall and lucked out, but they weren't exactly fresh off the boat.

steki47 · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka

zbird · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

When is hiring season for ALTs? I was told February to March would be the busiest?

Anyone have any information on how to go through dispatch agencies? Do they post their positions on job search websites like eikawas? Or do I have to know the agencies in each area and go directly to their websites to apply?

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

When I said you'd missed hiring season, I meant for direct hires.

Dispatch Agencies generally have websites. When I said you'd missed hiring season, I was talking about Direct Hire. I don't know much about Agency hiring schedules.

You also need to consider the visa processing time. The school year starts in April!

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

To answer your question - best to get started with a dispatch to get your feet on the ground and start pounding pavement to find a direct-hire job. I had a friend back in my time in Japan who worked as ALT for a while and he had a class observation. Apparently he did well enough that one of the observers actually approached him for a position getting directly hired for a cool 100,000 extra a month!

zbird · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

Thank you Rusty. The question still remains though. Do dispatch agencies post on job listing websites or do I have to know the ones that operate in a certain area and apply directly through their website?

ssjup81 · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 6:51 am Post subject:

stumptowny · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 310

luck and timing. its out of your control. dead serious