Interac opinions

[HelloKyoto]

I had an interview with Interac and I am wondering what you all think about this company?

The money seems real low (there are months when the pay drops significantly) and I will be going to many different schools every day.

When I do the math, the pay seems downright frightening. During the interview presentation, I was told that I could do private tutoring on the side to sublimate my income.

I read many opinions on the web about Interac. Some say to keep away, others say that there are no big problems.

What say you all?

 

[Emoni]

Check on Japan Times. They have a bad reputation already. A friend and I, both being former presidents of our University's Japan Club warned members about the company as we began to hear more and more things.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080105f1.html
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/rc20080110a1.html

Interac is a screw over from everything I have seen. There are better methods out there. BEWARE.

 

[Glenski]

The pay for working months is pretty standard if not higher than most EFL jobs in Japan, for entry level work anyway.

Because you are an ALT for Interac, you will have to take a cut when school is out. Many/Most dispatch agencies do that. Sucks, doesn't it? Especially if you realize that Interac continues to collect its fee in full then!

Interac used to have many complaints about paying half the salary late. Have not heard of that for a couple of years now. Chief complaint beside the above is that Interac doesn't really provide much in the way of teacher support. You're on your own.

If you want to be an ALT and get better pay, go with the JET programme.

 

[HelloKyoto]

I know that this is an old thread, but I came across this recently about Interac:

Michael Collison Case: "Fired from Interac after death of infant daughter" | debito.org

What a horror story.

 

[let`s talk]

Yes, it is a famous story now.It was published in other forums but it was deleted because Interac is a sponsor there.Good that at least debito`s website is free to publish it .

 

[MeAndroo]

JET here, I have a few friends in Interac that don't seem to mind it any more than the average JET, but we never really get deep into discussions about money. Perhaps the biggest factor in them being happy with their jobs is the fact that they're based in Osaka and we're based in the country.

That said, not all JETs are in the country. Some are plunked down in the heart of major cities. The money is indeed better than most of the ALT jobs out there, but it's a very long application lead-in (app submittal to job start is about 8 months) and pretty competitive.

I like JET for what it is, and I find myself having enough fun with the kids every day that I don't mind most of the crap that pops up. I'm also pretty happy living in the country, despite having lived in Tokyo and growing up in LA.

 

[username5433]

I have been working for Interac for a while and it is fine. You may get placed in the country though and be required to drive to many different schools. Or you can do what I did. Tell them you don't want a driving position. You will have fewer schools and they will be close to you. Expect to at least teach at 2-3 schools though.

They are pretty good about placing you it towns that you may like and you can always request anouther one. Just don't expect Osaka or Tokyo. They try to give those positions only to people who have been with them for at least a year.

 

[lullemans72]

i have read the article and comments on debito.org
i think this is disgusting. i have been through something similar as well, not related to work though.

i wonder whether it's not just that company that behaves like that, but the japanese society as a whole.
does this tell us that there is just NO place for foreigners in japan, and that no matter how hard you try, you will get rejected? what i found particularely disgusting was that the guy had seemingly been working there for 3 years and even got a letter to thank him for his efforts after which they just wrote him off for the slightest error. the next question is also whether japanese nationals would have been treated in the same way.

 

[lullemans72]

Rick Sprit Says:
April 19th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Time to go home, brother.
I'm sure you didn't grow up in a developed Western country and get a better higher education than most Japanese people could ever dream of so that you can go move to some country where you're going to be treated like some slob who snuck in on a turnip truck.
Japan is a blast for a few years when you're in your 20's, but the B.S. gets too stale to stay there long term. I had my fun there for a handful of years, but your story is an extreme example of the same Japanese sentiment that woke me up from the fun and sent me back home where I ultimately belong. They don't really want us there long-term anyway. They want us to come over for a year or two, sip some green tea, visit some temples, then buzz off back to gaikoku and tell everyone how unique and enchanted Japan is. If we stay longer than that, we might learn that their poop smells bad, too, and they don't want that.
So, time to head home. Your wife will love it there, trust me.
All my sympathies for losing your child.

this comment came directly from the article on debito.org
anybody who agrees with this person's statement?