Hear me out, I know you’re all going to say JET, and I know it’s better, but that’s not entirely my main question.
I recently applied to an ALT position with Interac, which I have my second interview for in a couple days. I also started my application to JET recently, which I’ve already been rejected from last year. (Also applied to an English teaching job in Korea, but I’d much rather live in Japan, so that’s basically out the window now.)
My problem is that I think the start date for Interac would be in March or April or something, while it may take until then to even find out if I’ve been accepted to JET. I did put myself down for early departure on the JET application, which I didn’t do last year, so I don’t know how that affects the timeline.
This is all hypothetical obviously, since I haven’t been accepted by either yet, but I’m seeking advice on what I should do. I really want to try living in Japan, but if I’m offered a position with Interac, should I just take that? Or should I wait to hear back from JET, and possibly miss out on both?
8 comments
As you state, the timelines don’t work out, so you’re going to have to decide for yourself. ED is only granted to a miniscule number of applicants, and even if you were granted it, you will have already sunk wasted $$$ into getting set up with Interac (i.e. plane ticket, etc.). Normal decision comes out late March/early April, but by that point you’d already be here and it would be too late to do anything.
Interac takes anyone. Seriously. When I came over with them, my cohort was the biggest group of socially awkward outcasts that I’ve seen in my life. I’m fairly certain most were JET rejects. The bar for entry is on the floor, but so are the pay and conditions. So I suppose it boils down to how desperate you are to be here. Going with Interac will allow you to *exist* over here, but that’s it. Are you okay with potentially being too broke and miserable to enjoy anything?
IMO, I wouldn’t discount the Korea idea so quickly. The salary situation over there is much better. You would be able to travel to Japan on holiday, whereas the typical dispatch ALT here in Japan can barely afford to go to the next town over.
Wait for JET and get possibly get rejected. This could continue indefinitely. Its very competitive.
You’ve already been rejected from JET so there was something “off” in your original application. Maybe you fixed it, but you probably didn’t. Don’t count on JET
So Interac will most likely take you.
JET is a much more risky proposition. But with risk comes reward.
I have done both. My only problem with Interac is the pay…but I have ways to supplement it that keep me going just fine. You can find similar opportunities.
How badly do you want to come and how long are you willing to wait? The acceptance chances for JET are low and the selection process is very opaque. It is very difficult to predict what they want any given year…and it’s no sure thing.
If you are willing to risk spending a bit of money you could come over on Interac, apply for JET, fly home for the interview, and quit interac if you get on JET.
And if you dont get on JET you are already here, with a visa, which opens up more opportunities.
I came via interac because the process to apply for JET drained me mentally. I will tell you this though, I enjoyed my time at interac. I was in the countryside, and on top of bonuses, like placement bonuses, was making almost as much as a JET (280,000, though the deductions were wild, I unbuckled myself from interac as soon as I could,)
I enjoyed my schools, most interac placements will be JHS or ES. One school I was a tape recorder and my other school, I was very hands on, made friends with the teachers and principal and enjoyed it. If there was ever a problem, interac would just come and fix it. I had a car lease and if anything was wrong with the car, I would call up interac and they would fix it.
The downsides of interac is that they take half your vacation days and place them in spots. March and April pay are prorated and you wont get paid until May. Depending on your placement too, you might get suckered into things like community classes or something else. I got a super countryside placement with a car so I wasnt stuck, I could head to the biggest city near me during a weekend and enjoy myself!
If you do the interac route, join a union. And also ESID (every situation is different, some branches are good, others are awful interac North is the worst one.)
*source, worked at interac for three years*
Doesn’t matter. They’re all sh¥t
Go back to the window and grab Korea— it’s still hanging on the windowsill.
Can you have a degree in something else?