The Truth about Interac - Working in Japan

Did u get ur salary in August? and how much?

Ey mate long time no see 🖤 All good? :) Hopefully we can do a collaboration if I decide to head that way... or at least a lunch 🥗 👍😊 L

Hey I hope I'm not too late, but if you had to choose either Nova or Interac, which would you choose? I'm having a hard time making a decision myself, any tips would be so appreciated

I was thinking about working for them, but then I remembered I did and it was shit. Also they didn’t rehire Mark after his jail experience. Fuck them and their shit salaries.

I'm heading to Chiba in March!

I'm excited but also very worried.

I stumbled upon your channel whilst searching for the cons of working for Interac.

Found it. 🤭

I'm mainly worried about not being able to cover all of my expenses after taxes are deducted. However, you've provided an obvious solution.

Do you have a recommendation for another real estate company apart from Leo palace? One that offers better prices?

Are you required to remove your piercings? I was told to remove mine.

This video read great. You've earned a new sub!

Hi again. Do u play Pokemon Go? If so, which level? I'm LV 40

🤔🧑🏻

Does Interac set up any events or like cultural activities or anything like that? Also do you get placed with other alt’s or is it kind of like you are by yourself most of the time? Sorry for all the questions, thanks for the awesome video!

Phoenix Nights reference, smashing that subscribe button

What part time job do you usually do sir?

just watched your video and I've recently started my role as an ALT. What are some weekend jobs that you would recommend for an ALT? I'm in the Hyogo area in Nishiwaki, I haven't decided upon transferring or extending my contract yet since that's a year out but when would you recommend looking? I'm thinking I'd like to be in a more urban area or I'd like to go to Hokkaido. I got a bit of the short end but I'm making due with my contract and I love living in Japan. I don't know Japanese to any sort of skillful level, and I'm new to Japan in general. Thank you for the video, I'm looking forward to when the country reopens and what will happen when schools in my area resume.

Some of Japanese typically don’t realize that for cultures that values direct, open and honest communication, lack of communication actually has much more potential for damage. It is important to check the tendencies of the culture one is dealing with, using the scale provided. I learn that When dealing with more direct cultures, be proactive about communicating what is on your mind, even if it is something that you think the other person will not be happy hearing. I still learn When dealing with more indirect cultures, be careful to not overpower them, and create an atmosphere where they feel comfortable communicating.

Do you have to hold a college degree?

What a garbage company. Garbage salary and on top of that they prorate it. Poverty.

Mormons

Hey JaDan. Thanks for the video! How difficult would you say it is to get in with Interac? I'll be applying soon. I'm sure conditions have changed given COVID but speaking generally, how difficult would you say it is? And do you have any advice? My english and interpersonal skills are good. I think I'm a natural teacher and I'm finishing up a TEFL certification before applying. But still, I'm worried. Thanks in advance!

You're a legit bloke

I worked for Inteac in the late 90s in the Tokyo area. It was kind of a shit show then, zero training, sometimes they didn't have enough cash in their accounts to pay teachers on time. If you did call them with a question regarding pay or benefits, all of a sudden nobody in the office could speak English. It sounds like they cleaned up their act somewhat (as a result of some lawsuits), but the salary looks like it went down. I started at 250,000 Yen a month, and it went up another 10,000 when I renewed. I was also paid over summer and holidays. They only paid me half the first and last months of my contract though (and never bothered to tell me they were going to do that.) Working in Japanese public schools was fun and eye opening though.

Sup bruv, good info. Quick question tho. Is the interac pay enough to where you dont need a part time job if you're living with a partner and sharing expenses? Cheers!

Hey man, loved the video! Very helpful!

Correct me if I’m wrong, but from my understanding with the jet program you aren’t allowed to do anything but work. Like you can’t go to a language school or study while in the program. Is it the same for interac? Or were you able to do other things like study?

Thanks for this Dan, very helpful. I'm in Japan and planning to ALT from April because I have school-aged kids myself and the Eikaiwa nights/weekends schedule wouldn't work. I can handle the low pay since my income is secondary in our family. Not always feeling welcome or fully part of the school, being sidelined in the classroom, and contracts ending and having to change locations, is a drag though.
I do look forward to working with kids again, and despite all the negativity online over English teaching it really suits me. Thanks again, I really enjoy listening to your accent and dialect, and the energy you bring to your videos.

How old are you? I'm 32 and Hoping to come over next year. Also, you are an alt or eikiawa?

Great video,it's interesting to know. Anyways, how was the apartment in your place? I heard that Japanese apartments have very thin walls. Can you hear the noises in your neighbors? Thanks.

Really only ¥210,000??? If so I’ll stay on my job now😆😁😁😄

What kind of part-time jobs can you get on a Saturday? Does it lead to a better job within Japan, like as you mentioned teaching business English? Or was that more because you learned Japanese?

I work for Interac. Might be leaving after my contract...

I have all the same experiences haha esp with the computer and internet thing lol

Hey man, did you have any problems with working and having a beard? I have a beard myself and I’m a little concerned that it may hurt my chances.

If you work a part time job how does that affect your taxes etc. I have literally no clue when it comes to things like taxes and those sorts of fees. I know some things are auto deducted from the interac salary so i was just curious.

what kinds of part-time jobs can you get as a foreigner in rural Japan? I would think there aren't too many opportunities eh? Thanks for the informative video!

Hey JaDan, subscriber here and a fan of your work. I just got offered a job with Interac. I'd really like to ask you a couple simple questions, can I connect with you on FB or email to ask you a few things?

I'm working in 2 schools and they gave me laptops to use on my own with internet access. I think it depends on the school.

Applied to interac and got an email yesterday offering me an interview for march next year, they asked me to select 3 preferred regions out of 5, how are they in your experience at allocating within your preferred region?

Hi there!! Love your videos and I will be sp grateful if you could reply to this.
I am really passionate about coming to japan, in 1.5 year i get my bachelors and I'm going to apply asap. May I ask, what companies are the easiest to get hided by online? I'm from pakistan so there's about 0% chance that there are dispatch companies here.

Awesome video!

One big negative about the company is that some branches suck really bad. Really is the inconsistency of the company. Also depending where you work you can live comfortably. Every month I am able to save around 75,000yen. While other people are starving while trying to save money. Really that's the worst part of the company in my opinion. Just the inconsistency between the branches.

DO you really have to work from 8am to 5pm? Why some people work from 8am to 3pm?

Remember, Interac doesn't offer a financial future! It's merely a gateway to Japan. You’re being paid to be a tourist.

There is an ALT teacher in the Interac North branch that is a father of two kids and is a Hokkaido ALT Union member. He appeared in the Hokkaido newspaper in August of 2021 speaking of the low salary and how he and other union members are trying to improve working conditions for teachers and thus a better working relationship between Interac ALTs and the schools they serve. Public schools complain about the high turnover of Interac ALTs. There is high turnover because Interac ALTs are paid so low and these ALTs quit after a short period of time to find better paying jobs. So once the managers at Interac North read the newspaper they were upset and immediately stopped the teacher from going to his assigned schools. They told him there are no more assignments for him in Sapporo. He is being paid to stay at home for the last few months. He is not invited to meetings and not sent certain emails. They are psychologically trying to break him and get him to quit. He consulted with a lawyer and the lawyer clearly stated that Interac is power harassing him and it is illegal. He most likely will not have his contract renewed in April so I heard he is looking for a new job. Interac is a very greedy company and they truly do not care about the needs of their teachers nor the negative impact paying poverty wages has on teachers and society. Interac should be avoided at all cost.

Interac lost multiple BOE contracts this past year. As a result, they cut the Head Teacher position. Head teachers in Kanagawa and maybe Tokyo lost their positions and had their salaries cut.

Love your content 🙏 coming out to Japan to start work in 3 weeks .

Great video! 😁
I'll be working there next year and I'm so excited.
After teaching for 10 years it'll be a breath of fresh air.
Out of curiosity, how hard is it to get offered a contract renewal?

Just found your video. Shout out from Sakai city! I worked in an international school for 8 years until things turned sour (long story) Now I’m pursuing an ALT position. Applied in Interac and Borderlink.

Really informative and honest which is a great video thanks so much talking about your experience.

Nova sucks. Dont apply for nova

Haha, I knew that we were with the same company when you posted videos of Sakai. I was in Sakai with Interac, too. I had a pretty decent time with Interac - like you say, they leave you alone for the most part. I loved my elementary schools - my schools had JTE's so they did the boring textbook lessons and let me come up with fun games and activities to do. I didn't get any down time in my schools since I was ES, I was kept going constantly. I never ever took work home, but I also never ever got a lunch because I worked through it.

The only time I had a bit of a problem was when I broke my foot. I was still expected to go to school as normal, despite living up 4 flights of stairs and my schools being the same, with no lifts - that part is more of a Japan work culture problem that an Interac specific problem. I asked to use the rest of my holidays to take a week off, so I could get used to being on crutches all of a sudden, or if there would be any way they could help with the costs of me taking a taxi to and from my schools for a little while, because my way to work involved the tram line in Sakai, which had a really high step up and the stops I was getting off at had paths covered in stones and things. They did provide me some help in the end with taxis, but only after I threatened to resign. I ended up having to resign anyway, since we had a death in the family and my mum was in hospital. They really tried to guilt trip me, but as much as I cared about the job and my students, I had to put my family first and come home.

A big complaint in amongst my friend group, most of whom, were oversea hires, was that Interac didn't tell us that Sakai only hired ALTs for half of the year so we would have to move (which as you know, not cheap) at the end of our contract. Our contracts said 6 months, sure, but with majority of BoE's who have ALTs all year round, most of us would have been renewed and been able to stay put. I knew that was the case because I was on the unofficial facebook group and found other people complain about the same thing, but a lot of people didn't know.