Interac hasn’t told me my placement?

25 comments

1. These companies are selling product but don’t have a buyer lined up. BOEs request things and it’s the job of the dispatch to find the product that closest matches the client’s requests. Unless you look like Ken or Barbie and have the personality of Barney the dinosaur, you probably aren’t a high demand product.

2. Sorry to hear about your troubles. This can be really stressful for new arrivals. I totally get not wanting to take their apartments, I’ve never stayed in a leopalace and I never will just based on what I’ve heard. Last year in March I had arrived with a job lined up as a NOVA instructor. They did the same thing to me but told me I would be in Hokkaido and couldn’t tell me where. Shortly after, they said they wanted me in Kita Kanto after I had been in Hokkaido for nearly a month. I actually ended up ditching them for Interac lol. If I were you in this situation, I would just arrive when they want you and play it out. You could stay in a cheaper hotel or hostel until you know where you’ll be placed? That way you don’t have to use their apartments? Good luck, I hope they tell you soon!

3. > Anyone have a similar experience or have any advice?

   Happened to me with Nova back in the day. I found out my branch on the day of arrival, which was fine as I didn’t really give a toss about ‘where’.

   My only advice is to just chill really.

4. The school year starts in April in Japan, so I imagine that they’re still figuring out the schedule for the next school year.

5. At this point, not even the teachers know where they will be next year. Let alone the ALTs.

   I think my schools just got the incoming lists for next year so the process of assignments has only just started.

   I certainly don’t know my schools yet, other than the fact I have to change at least one due to the three year limit for staying at one plus.

6. That would really bother me, how are you supposed to pack if you don’t know where you’ll go?

7. I didn’t get confirmation until training week when they separated us into regional groups. Whether it’s good or bad, they will set up your apartment phone and all so there isn’t much preparation needed on your end.

8. One thing not in these responses yet is the fact that they have to renew contracts every 2 years most of the time. The change to Shakai Hoken is jacking up contracts as well. They don’t know exactly where you’ll be placed because they’re still figuring it out. Most ALTs after 3 years need to move schools, so that means they have to shuffle us around.

   In addition, I wouldn’t try to find an apartment on your own until after a year or 2. The downpayment is expensive as hell and you might not even like where you live and want to move. Then you paid all that key money for nothing. Might as well get to the location and see if you even like it or the job before committing to a large downpayment on an apartment.

9. I’m also a March 2023 arrival and don’t know my placement.

10. But a taste of what is to come. They will evetually tell you but you are on their time now.

11. Even if you’re comfortable finding your own living arrangements, it may be better off to use their accommodations to get situated. From what I’ve read, it seems like Interac training is done in Tokyo for one week, and then everyone is shipped off to the tiny corners of the country. Once you arrive at your designated branch (?), you most likely only have a few days before classes start.

    I would use the spring semester as time to detox, recalibrate, adjust, and venture out while (most likely) staying at a Leopalace so at the very least you have a place to come back to. Then, use the summer months to speak with a realtor to find a place that is suitable for you.

    ​

    Besides, you’re competing against the armada of workers that are preparing to move/relocate around this time. The likelihood of you finding a decent place is slim.

12. I didn’t have a school or apartment assigned until after I arrived in Japan. My first time seeing any of that stuff was when they drove me to my apartment and gave me a handbook about my school information and such. Just know it’ll be okay! You’ll be able to move to another apartment as soon as you like 🙂

13. It’s your right to know and to ask questions regarding the position. Voice your concerns directly to them. This can expose many things, good or bad.

    Ask why it will take that long… let them know you want to understand the process and be kept in the loop.

14. I was told on the last day of training back in April 2019, we were all taken into the main office and had to pay two months of rent up front before we even got to our assigned prefectures, with the exception of two very smug looking ALTs who would have their rent subsidised.

    I remember there was a bit of a problem with Leo Palace when I came over so the company was literally left scrambling for a new place to put me after the Leo Palace I was meant to be in wasn’t safe for foreign workers. Because my phone had no data and the Wi fi in the training building kept dropping out I missed the panicking emails sent to me all day asking me to confirm my new apartment by 3pm that day, luckily one of the managers begrudgingly called and explained my situation as I couldn’t help it but yes normally you don’t find it out your placements or apartment until the Friday after your training is over, my advice would be to bring your savings on that Friday as you will be expected to pay rent.

15. They told me my placement the frigging night before lol. Try to get in contact with a head teacher/training person in your branch. That should be whoever mailed you training information. They can probably respond within the day.

    Edit: I wouldn’t recommend avoiding their apartment option to be honest, especially if it’s your first time finding one in Japan. Spend the first few months getting comfortable and past the culture shock. After the 6 month move out penalty is past, look for a place. If you can get an apartment beforehand then that’s pretty impressive

16. Same situation. Know my branch (and they’ve been quite good at contact) but the location are a mystery. My understanding is they don’t know any more than we do; the system is just a mess.

    It’s fine by me, I don’t mind surprises. Frankly, I have plenty of time to plan my life in Japan… in Japan. I’ll spend my last few weeks here just chilling, seeing the sights of my home country one last time.

17. I was an alternate for Interac for a month and a half before I got a placement. I got paid 70% of salary to do pretty much nothing, just sit next to your phone in the morning — no call, no work that day. Kind of like being paid to be a tourist.

    Either way, once you’re here you will have to do a bunch of admin stuff: creating your bank account, paperwork, training seminar, finding an apartment, etc. If they don’t have a place for you, or even an apartment, then they will *have* to find a hotel for you. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

18. I was told the day before the move when I arrived where I was going lol

19. This is normal. I didn’t know until after training. Unless you’re dying to go around and find your own accommodations, the Interac ones are usually just fine. Usually it’s Leopalace, which are partially furnished, and have all the utilities and internet connection setup for you already. Worst case is you find your own place after.

    eta: The timing of placements is also not the fault of Interac. There’s a lot behind the scenes. They have to wait and get information from the Japanese Board of Education first, and then figure out the placement of current teachers (because we have to change schools every few years), and then they start placing the new people.

20. Also March 2023 here and with Interac West, not sure which branch yet either. Probably won’t find out till training like people have mentioned.

21. This is normal and happened to me too. When they did tell me my placement, they ended up changing it a couple of days later.

    Hold firm on what/where you want your apartment. They gave us a BS list that didn’t work. We emailed them again and gave us a better list. We stayed at a hotel (Interac paid for) until our apartment was ready. Don’t stress, good luck!

22. Don’t worry. It’s pretty normal. Just relax and get ready by studying Japanese or deciding how to pack. Chill with it. A zen attitude is essential for not losing your mind when dealing with interac.

23. Yeah, it’s kind of typical. I didn’t know until the end of my training. Some people didn’t get placed until a week after training lol

24. I’m with Interac and the same thing happened. Idk if it helps.

    If you are like me and really don’t know the country too well initially, it won’t matter too much. You’re gonna go some place rural.

25. Normal. I didn’t know until the end of training backk in 2018. Don’t worry about it.