Interac FAQ

Pros

The company pays on time and the staff acts quick when the teachers need some legal document (tax forms, pay stub, etc.).

Cons

Very low payment. It's impossible to survive in Japan (any city) with a salary of 220,000 yen a month. "Cult like" mentality. It's hard to explain but the way they do things kind of feels like if they were a religious cult. Rules, rules, rules. It's good to have guidelines to help the employee but they have these many "rules" that kind of feels like babysitting. Like "don't ever go hang out with your Japanese co-workers, don't talk to students if you encounter them outside of school, etc. Then they review the rules and change them and start harassing you to agree to them. Then they review them again (within a weeks) and pressure you to agree to everything, again. Then again. Then they go thru changes on the company and again pressure you to agree. Sometimes the Japanese managers would use your work email to score free English lessons. Like she'll start a "news letter" to ask everyone what's their favorite ice cream flavor. And since they're using your work email that they already set up for you, you can't block any of these messages. So very unprofessional. I guess things like the ones I explained above are what makes it look like a religious cult. During the interview process, I had five different managers to ask me "more things about you." Then they'd ask me the exact same things the other managers already asked. There's also this drug test you'd need to take during the initial training, done by the staff but not by a medical clinic. I've worked in Japan for 15 years in many places and this is the one and only place I've ever been asked to take a drug test, which makes the process even weirder.

Advice to Management

Perhaps better communication between the recruiting staff could help during the interview process. You could also use the chance when visiting the clinic for the regular health check, to also do a proper drug test there.

Pros

easy interview. Its entry level, they don't have high expectation . Just do the work. You get almost a month of summer holidays, including Japan national holidays. No overtime. You have an impact on the kids you teach. Its a great experience. Especially if you don't plan on staying long term.

Cons

salary is fixed You could work 10 years, and your salary will still remain the same. Its just enough to support your day to day life and save a bit. work ethic You will have to go to school in harsh weather condition or even if there's a earthquake. This might not be normal in some countries but they will make you go to work regardless of the outside situation. Even with covid 19 , they expect you go to your school. There's no work from home. You are risking your own health at that point. Their teaching materials are horrible The teaching material was made by some lady in Osaka. Honestly, no one uses it to teach. She didn't graduate as a teacher but yet she has expectation of how lessons should be taught. No career growth sure maybe you can get in the office or could become a recruiter. These options are available but its not worth it. The salary barely rises but the workload increases significantly No real benefit package Its very basic. I think some basic health package is there. No bonus. At schools your teachers will be getting bonus , meanwhile you wont be getting any. There's a high turn over rate 90% of the people that joined the company will leave this job after 1 -2 years.

Advice to Management

I know you have quotas to meet and pressure from the school board. But please , go easy on the ALts. Most of us aren't even real teachers. If you can show respect and be more empathetic the turn over rate would decrease significantly. Some people have break down standing infront of people. People in general want to be treated with respect. No one likes to work for a company that that sees them just as a replaceable pawn. And no one likes being talked down at , especially around other people. I still remember , I was at the office in Osaka. I was given a task by the lady who makes lesson plans for interac. I couldn't answer her question properly. She just gave me this look and talked down to me infront of the other people in the office. I felt I was being mocked at. It was dead silent in the office. I just smiled awkwardly and said okay and went back to work. You want people to work hard for you. Then you must learn how to treat your employee with respect and be more empathetic.

Pros

Great way to get a foot in the door working in Japan. In my experience all the company people were very personable and willing to help, and every pay cheque arrived on time. Compared to other English teaching jobs the work-life balance is excellent and you very rarely have weekend assignments which means there is lots of time to experience Japan.

Cons

The main downside is there is very little progression if you work with this company for over a year, and that as the cost of living in Japan increases past your first year you don't get any assistance from Interac in terms of covering health insurance and pension bills.

Pros

The paychecks came in a timely manner.

Cons

Expect no country mandated benefits INCLUDING bereavement leave. They get around this by contracting a half an hour less than fulltime schedule.

Advice to Management

Greed won't keep employees or contracts.

Pros

You basically get to operate on your own once you are settled in your schools. You work with teachers to make decisions, not with the head office. It's an easy way to get your start in Japan. Depending on your branch, you might meet other great ALTs and people who actually care. The hours are good so its easy to socialize or find side jobs.

Cons

The pay is crap. After the first year, because of rising cost of living, its hard to make ends meet. Most end up taking on additional jobs or budgeting really well. Theres no room for growth, they refuse to give raises unless you threaten to quit. They observe you but those mainly exist so they office can say you are doing your job, they don't generally use them as a way to offer you more incentive or rewards for your work. They will tell you you are a part time employee but you are required to be in the schools 40 hours a week and cannot leave or they'll dock your pay. They also do not pay into insurance or pension which is supposed to be the legal thing in Japan. They also don't pay full salary every month of the year so you end up getting partial checks for March and Aprils pay.

Advice to Management

Start valuing your employees. Focus your energy on employee retention so you can have quality teachers, instead of just having whoever is willing to suffer through the low pay. Having senior staff that have been around for 3 years being paid the same as first years is insulting. The starting pay is also laughable and only sufficient for first or second years.