Altia intervew

13 comments

1. I did an interview for a recruiter role once. The dead-eyed interviewer described the structure of the company and how people were paid. After I pointed out that I would be paid less for the same results as someone in a higher level, she stopped the interview and I was escorted from the building

2. Sounds exactly like the interview I had with them, lol. For reference they didn’t hire me, but I ended up finding a direct hire job anyway.

3. Yeah, that’s a red Flag for sure! I had the same with Borderlink and I’m glad I didn’t go with them!

4. They are not hiring teachers so experience and ability don’t matter. Realistically, having those things will work against you because they just want a warm body that will do what it is told without question. The hiring process is designed to chase off anyone with any clue to what teaching is so they never question the real teachers they will be working with.

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   They are all the same, the different companies just use different tricks.

5. “nothing about teaching experience or ability”

   To be fair, you’re applying to be an ALT. Teaching experience or ability will likely have nothing to do with what you end up doing. Conversely, it could have everything to do with what you end up doing if you’re lucky.

   That being said, the “interviewers” for dispatch ALT companies are always the people mad enough to do even more soul-crushing work than the people who are willing to do ALT work for these companies, and not for very much more. The one decent thing about dispatch ALT companies is the ability to 8-4:30 that shit, and they take the one position that negates even that little bit of sunshine.

6. They get paid as poorly as any other member of staff. Why would they be any more enthusiastic?

7. Company used to be better.

8. Dispatch companies have exactly one goal: To make sure they please the city’s Board of Education (and this is putting it nicely!)

   They’re not hiring you to be a teacher- in fact, you AREN’T a teacher, but everyone seems to forget it’s ASSISTANT language teacher. They don’t care about how much actual teaching experience you have; they only care that you can conform to their model of an ALT and stay on the BoE’s good side.

   And remember: Altia might be arguably one of the best ALT companies, but they’re still a Dispatch Company at the end of the day. Only go the dispatch route if you’re new of if you’re desperate.

9. At a certain point, you realise these companies don’t care whatsoever about skill, knoweldge, experience, education, qualifciations … they only want bright, enthusiastic, I LOVE JAPAN!!

   That way, they get all your energy, and they know you won’t bring up pesky little issues like “this curriculum isn’t appropriate” or “these lesson plans don’t actually work” or “this isn’t really teaching”.

   If you want to work in a professional teaching context, you’re gonna need to leave Japan.

10. ALT interviews don’t care about experience. It’s a personality check to see if you’re energetic and friendly enough, and also a check to make sure you’re a native speaker. And somewhat a check of how you look (young and attractive has an advantage).

11. Because you are applying to the same entry level job a fresh 22 year old grad who never had any type of “job” before is.

12. To be honest the boards and therefore ALT companies want someone who has only lived in Japan for one or two years and has only a single or two of experience in the field. Enough to take care of themselves outside of work and be familiar enough with the lessons to not try and take over.
    Once you get more experience and the holiday period is over then they’d be happy if you left the country as you start asking questions and be critical.

13. That sucks