Job Discussion Forums

[acornrevolution]

Hey all,

I was wondering about good and reliable dispatch companies for ALT/Public School positions. I know of JET, Interac, Heart Schools, and Altia. What others are there? I am especially interested in ones that don't require an interview in the States (Since I'm in Korea). Are positions available only 2x per year? Are there other ways to land a public school job?

Thanks!

A

[fluffyhamster]

Just to clarify, JET is not dispatch, it is direct hire (even though the interviewing and selection prior to actual placement is not done directly, but by the organizations and embassies or consulates in various countries).

If you do a search of the Japan forum for keyword 'dispatc*', granted, there are many (over 500 threads/11 pages of) results, but you should be able to glean a few more names (not necessarily recommendations!), and some of those threads could well be essential reading for you (you can narrow things down by adding author 'fluffyhamster' right away!).

Anyway, I'd say that IMHO Interac is one of the better dispatchers around (larger and more successful, so they don't have that much time spare to give their AETs grief), but I don't know how willing they are (or "desperate" they might get) to hire people who aren't in Japan already (but I am sure that the smaller dispatchers at least DO consider such people, rather than start to lose out on the labour-income, because I had colleagues - FWIW when I was working with RCS - who were indeed working in Korea only the previous semester or even month prior to that academic year beginning- so yeah, it's worth you applying to whoever and seeing what happens).

As for exactly when to apply, obviously the months prior to March/April are best/prime, but there will be some positions that need filling again, for whatever reason, after the summer break, and perhaps even into the New Year too (but if you don't land a job right at the start of the year, I wonder if you will actually land one later either...but dispatchers may continue to contact you with offers even if you were unsuccessful i.e. they may keep at least your email details in a database). I'd approach any job that a previous AET had left mid-contract with caution, though.

[Glenski]

http://interac.generalunion.org/stop-illegal-dispatching-to-boards-of-education/
http://interac.generalunion.org/dispatchchart.pdf

[Squire22]

I believe ALTIA does recruitment trips to south korea and interviews people there.

[AgentMulderUK]

[acornrevolution]

So then, what is a good and reliable way to get a job in a public school? Other than JET, as I could never be able to make the interviews, not living in the US.

[Glenski]

Don't count on public schools if you write off JET and dispatch agencies. Only rare cases get direct hires.

Live with JET or dispatch situations, or look for work in other sectors.