Job Discussion Forums

[neko_maui]

Hi everyone, I have a question about a company (ALT dispatch co.) hiring an Assistant Human Resources Manager. This co, as far as my search here tells me, does not have a good reputation. Some people even said it is to be avoided. Please tell me if I am being naive. But if I am hired as the assistant manager, is it possible for me to make things better? I know I won't be able to get them a pay rise or change rules. But I can help the ALTs with daily living problems, because I speak and write Japanese. Would I be able to make a difference? Should I even bother working for this company if I get hired, because it is such a "vampire co"?

I apologize if my post sounds retarded. But it is what is on my mind. And I appreciate any feedback. But please be kind. Thanks a bunch.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Almost any job comes down to the relationships you have with the people you work with. If there is someone at the dispatch company who is willing and able to help ALT with day to day life things, and they know that, then they will be much, much happier with their lives, and often may even stay on to recontract simply because of it.

A big chunk of the problems with big dispatch companies is that foreigners are basically treated as stock to be sold, upgraded and traded in for a more stylish colour.

Of course the other big problem with them is that their very existance enables schools and BoEs to force down wages and conditions and, although Japan as a country badly needs people who will stay for the longterm, dispatch companies (at least the way they are allowed to operate right now, so that regardless of years of service there is never a permanent job offer and rarely even a meaningful pay increase) keep people in a sort of temprary worker situation- the same kind of thing that the the Japanese government is now trying to deal with when it comes to Japanese people (except that our contracts are for a year, not a week or whatever, and we are paid more, though it won't go up, so if you plan to stay forever, then it's possible that you may be looking at never getting much beyond what amounts to entry level salary, if you rely on your 9 - 5 alone). But this problem is not one that you working for a particular company can have any effect on at all.

My advice, for what it's worth, is to take the job if you're offered it, and work your way through trying to find the cracks that may make it a bit better. But basically, little is likely to change unless the heads start retiring, because of the heirarchal system.

Also remember that people who post on the internet about specific companies are rarely the people who enjoy their job or like their company- it's only the people who don't like it, and some of them wouldn't be happy ANYWHERE (there seems to be a lot of foreigners like that in Japan, I'm not really sure why, unless it's just because so many showed up after university but before they ever had a real job and even decades later still have a sort of juvenile attitude towards some things).

[ripslyme]

In an ideal world, yes as an assistant manager you would have a chance to make things better for all parties involved with the dispatch company.

However, the human factor comes into play. If this is the company I think it is, it seems they're always hiring for an "assistant manager" (@ 260,000 a month, right? ), so that right there should tell you something....

[Vince]

I was in HR at an eikaiwa for a short while. It was nice to have a title that indicated that I rose above eikaiwa TEFL, but the big wigs understood that benefit and used it to justify no increase in pay. I didn't stick around long.

My guess is that assistant manager is probably a glorified title in comparison to what the job actually entails. But if being there to lend support to struggling foreigners is your motivation, you'll probably find opportunities to do that.

[neko_maui]

Thank you all for your feedback.

I like teaching English and intend to continue further education like a MA in the future. So the HR staff route may not be the most direct way to go. This co is most likely the one ripslyme thought it was. And as a private co., I can understand that they want to use you to the max.

So far I am at the interview by phone to overseas stage - I am in Hong Kong. They said they would call me which surprised me because I thought they would ask me to call at certain time since I am the one looking for a job. So the vampire image is shaken a bit.

[wayne432]

Actually, when I interviewed (from overseas), only 1 company of many asked me to call them. Every other company called me.

And yes, it's the one ripslyme is thinking of. I have also seen that specific ad for quite some time. When I interviewed with the company (not for that position, but for an ALT), the HR staff seemed to be all from overseas. They spoke Japanese well, but I never spoke or emailed with anyone Japanese.

They all seemed nice though, but it's not like I really had any bad experiences with any companies when interviewing.

[neko_maui]

Wayne432,

Did you take a job offer from them in the end? I only started my job search three weeks ago, so I have no idea how long the ad's been around.

I have also seen some small eikaiwa schools advertise on their own websites that they are always looking for people, even from overseas. One of them is supposed to be very good (according to the posts). So not just the people who'd had bad experieces post here. That good school has quite a few good recommendations from previous employees. Which puzzles me - if it is such a good place to work, why are they always looking for people???? Am I reading too much into this whole thing???

[wayne432]

No, I didn't end up with them, but that was just because I found something more to my style. If I hadn't, I probably would have gone with them.

You may or may not be reading too much into them. People drop out of things a lot I think. Also, most people don't do teaching abroad for long term, so they always need fresh blood.

[flyingkiwi]

Is this company called RCS?

Just curious. I have nothing good or bad to say about them.

[markle]

[stevenbhow]

I agree with markle. I worked for a dispatch company for two years and our assistant manager was basically a barrier between the ALT's and the Japanese managers, they he worked very hard to help us.

Even though he really seemed to want to help improve our situation, at the end of the day he pretty much had to side with the company or risk being fired himself.

Dispatch companies really only care about keeping the BOE's happy so they don't lose their contracts. Unlike the JET Program, they are only in it for the money. Improving the education system, foreigner worker's living conditions, and legalities, are pretty much only given lip service. The bottom line is what ultimately counts with these guys.

Despite all this, the two years that I put in as an ALT weren't all that bad.

[Weezer]