So back in 2020 I applied to work as an ALT at either JET or Interac. Got denied from JET so Interac was the back up plan. Was suppose to be sent out in 2021 but COVID delayed everything for a year. Now I have a date to go out. My visa is being processed and my housing arrangements have been made. I’m starting to feel insanely nervous the closer it comes. I know I sound very stupid, but if I was to pull out for any reason would anything crucial happen, aside from fucking over Interac?
16 comments
Second thoughts are normal. Congrats on finally getting a date to fly over!
Nothing would happen to you, but you would not get hired by them again.
Do not pull out . You’ve waited so long and there are so many people struggling to get jobs who I’m sure would love to be in your position. Who knows what will happen if you pull out? Just go for it and don’t think of anything negative. It’s normal to be nervous before a new venture. Only pull out if you have 1 or 2 backups that are more concrete. That’s what I’d do. If you don’t have back ups just go with it. Good luck to you! I wish you the best!
You would be burning a bridge, that’s all.
If you’d like, you can share why you’re feeling nervous. You have a sounding board with a lot of experience here. Feel free to let us help, if we can.
Interac would be fine. I wouldn’t worry about it. You do you.
nah you’re just unhirable by them, nothing else happens
Presumably, most dispatch companies deal with last-minute dropouts and have contingency plans in place (I read they have ‘super-subs’ available for immediate movement).
If you have second thoughts, I would go with your gut. Depending on your situation, most likely your current/future career path is much better than joining Interac. In addition, I’ve seen threads about how their current situation “sucks” or “not good enough” and wrongly assume coming to Japan will somehow alleviate these situations. Also, remember that most people that newly arrive in Japan will have very limited support or safety net. I highly doubt that Interac (or most dispatch companies for that matter) are interested in helping you further advance your career/life.
As most people have stated, you’ll most likely not be able to work for them if you bail now, but dispatch companies are a dime in a dozen.
I don’t know your situation specifically, but I would say that these feelings are completely normal. I spent a couple of years working to get to Japan and even after I sold everything and quit my career in the US, I still felt some hesitation when the departure day finally arrived.
If you made a good decision and nothing has changed, I’d say ignore your fears and they’ll pass once you’re actually on the plane.
“Fucking over Interac.”
Speaking from recent experience, they won’t hesitate for a second to fuck *you* over, so…
The nervousness is normal, you’re coming to a culture that is very, very different from your own. Some people develop culture shock, others don’t, a few do go back, the majority stay, and a number of those stay here but move on to other fields. If you’re worried about whether or not you’ll be able to hack it, that depends on so many variables. Are you going to a very “inaka” place where you’ll be the only ALT for miles around? If so, yeah, it can be hard, but it’s certainly not impossible. If you’re going to a fairly large town, or city, there should be others near you who can show you around. Interac usually has local staff to show you around at first as well.
Culture shock is a thing, but that’s a game of patience – if you can get through the first two months, it goes away on its own as you adapt and learn. Learn how to say hello, thank you and please, and make it a point to say it at least once a day to someone, that’s an old trick to cope with culture shock. Walk around the block. Learn how to use the train, go to the next major stop, then back again.
As far as Interac itself is concerned, the main caution seems to be that they ARE losing contracts to cheaper companies. Depending on your situation, they may not be able to move you to a new location/contract, so you would suddenly be without a job. So do save your money as much as possible, to give yourself a cushion if that should happen.
[deleted]
Basically, it would be like if you left any other job before starting. They are looking forward to having you come in, but it would be burning a bridge if you pulled out.
To be honest, they need people. It’s a good market for ALTs – you’ll have a lot of job prospects even if you decide Interac isn’t for you.
That said, moving abroad is not for everyone. You need to make peace with yourself before coming here because no Japanese company is great at supporting their employee’s mental health. Lack of support drives people home, so if you’re okay with your current support system supporting you online or carving your own new support system when you get here, then you’ll be fine.
Only you can decide what you’re comfortable doing, not anyone in this thread.
Interac might say that you’re causing the children to have no ALT and/or no English class but that’s not true.
They might say it causes them problems because they’ll have to find someone else and that’s sort of true but not your problem.
They might say you won’t be able to apply again with them for several years and that’s true.
Honestly, the worst thing that happens? You probably won’t be able to enter Japan as anything other than a tourist for a looooooong time- we’re talking several years. Reason being, there’s about 2 year’s worth of others that also want to come to Japan as ALTs, so if you duck out now, you go back to the end of the line.
Otherwise, you’d just continue doing what you’re doing in your current country. Personally, I recommend going for a year, and then deciding if it’s something you want to continue and maybe find ways to improve, or be like 90% of ALTs and go back after a year.
as someone who applied at the same time and is unfortunately getting pushed, again, to next year with Interac, i’d take it. i do understand the nervousness, but just with how things have gone, the opportunity may not come again.
Let them sponsor your Visa; upon arriving in Japan, search and apply for other positions. INTERAC will fuck you over; however, you will definitely acknowledge your worth as an employee.
Look at it as an extended holiday and don’t worry too much.
The pay isn’t that great, but you probably won’t be working non stop for 8 hours a day either. After a few months, you’ll get the hang of things and have even more downtime at school.
There are usually Interac message/chat groups. Reach out to people for help and to make friends. And relax and make the most out of it.