So you’re interested in teaching English in Japan with Interac?
So you’re interested in teaching English in Japan as an ALT? If you’ve done your research and looked into the various ALT dispatch companies you’re likely to have come across Interac. This is the company I came to Japan with to become an ALT so I can share my first-hand experience with the application process in the hopes it can help you on your journey.
So if you’re interested in teaching with Interac or simply curious about the process of becoming an English teacher in Japan then keep reading. Here I will detail the Interac application process from submitting your online application, to the interview all the way to when you’re leaving for Japan!
I know when I was considering teaching English in Japan I liked to do a lot of research to know I was making the right decision. Additionally, I wanted to read about other ALT’s experiences to have an idea of what to expect for myself. When I was looking for information about Interac in particular I struggled to find a lot of up-to-date information.
I also found it almost impossible to know what to expect when it came to the application process in Australia. While I could find a lot of information about the process in the US, I knew the Australian process would be different (as we don’t have in-person interviews) and I wanted to know how it would differ so that I could be prepared.
I’ve written this post with future applicants (and especially Australian applicants) in mind. I wanted to share my experience for future Australian applicants to have an idea what to expect. However, when recounting the whole application process it will share a lot of similarities with the process in other countries so I hope many people still find it helpful and valuable!
In that same token I would just like to remind those reading this post that this is my personal experience with the application process and your experience could differ greatly. Not to mention they may have changed their application process since the time I wrote this. However, I hope that it will give you a little idea of how things work, ease your nerves and reassure you to be patient and pull through the long waiting process!
The Online Application
The application form for Interac can be found online on their website. (Just Google ‘Interac Network’ or click here). When you click the link to apply it will take you through to another website called Link Japan Careers. Interac does it’s hiring through another company called Link Japan Careers. I found this a little confusing at first, but don’t worry, you are in fact applying for Interac.
The online submission form will ask for your personal details and things such as education, passport and licence information. All the necessary things you can expect for them to check you’re eligible for the position.
They will also ask you question related to placement preference such as your desired start date, location and age group you’d like to teach. It will also ask about your language skills, work history and any certifications you may have.
Finally, it will ask you for a cover letter. They want you to tell them why you’re applying for the position and what makes you stand out. You type this into a text box so there are no restrictions on minimum or maximum length this cover letter must be so feel free to write whatever feels right for you.
Personally, I wrote the equivalent of maybe a one page cover letter. I included information on why I wanted to teach in Japan and my motivations for coming to Japan and entering the teaching industry. I also talked about my experience with Japanese culture and language. As well as my experience with teaching and personal attributes and why I am a good fit for the role.
I submitted my online application on February 17th, 2019.
The Phone Interview
I received an email with an invitation to a phone interview on February 21st, 2019.
This was just four days after submitting my application so the response was really quick! The interviewer and yourself will then schedule a time for a phone interview. Remember to factor in time differences as the interview will be scheduled in Japan Standard Time.
My phone interview was scheduled for 4pm (JST) March 7th, 2019.
The phone interview was rather short and informal so it’s nothing to stress about! My phone interview lasted around 20 minutes and consisted mainly of some basic interview questions, for example, ‘why you want to work in Japan?’ and questions about your experiences. They were all things you would have already written about in you cover letter but this is another chance to sell yourself. There was also plenty of opportunities to ask questions if you had any.
On a side note: my interviewer was about five minutes late so don’t worry if they don’t call you on the dot. I’m sure they’re just running a little behind schedule.
At the end of the interview, the interviewer said they would send me an email with an invitation to the online interview. They talked a little bit about the process of the online interview and the things that needed to be completed but said there would be more details in the email he will send. I received that email an hour after the phone interview ended. Speedy!
The Skype Interview
This is where the Australian process differs a little. All the blogs/vlogs I could find online were written by people from the US and explained how they had to travel to a certain city for a group interview and they had to demonstrate a mock lesson in front of their group too. There’s no in-person interviews in Australia or at least not in my area. Therefore, this whole process took place online.
The Online interview invitation email contained a checklist of things I needed to complete before the interview and the date and time of my Skype interview.
Before the interview I needed to record and share with them a demo lesson. They provided a sample video of a demo lesson as well as detailed guidelines. The instructions were clear and easy to follow and they also give you some tips for a good demo lesson – so there’s no need to stress about this! You can also find a few more sample demo lessons on YouTube if you want to see some different interpretations of the instructions.
I was also required to send photocopies of personal documents such as passport etc., provide two references that they could contact and complete and online grammar assessment.
After talking to my references that I provided (because I still worked with them) Interac did email both of them ask questions about me so I suggest submitting references that know you well enough to vouch for your personality and work ethic.
The grammar assessment isn’t extremely difficult but you do need to brush up on your english grammar knowledge if you haven’t really thought about it since primary school (like myself). They say the assessment isn’t a pass / fail but used as an indicator on what to centre training sessions around. So again, I wouldn’t stress too much about this!
My Skype interview was at 1pm March 20th, 2019.
My interview was with the same interviewer I spoke to during the phone interview and had been sending me all the emails. The interview lasted 40 minutes so it was rather long. There were again basic interview questions like the ones asked in the phone interview. However, it did progress to slightly more difficult questions. There were questions that (subtly) tested your understanding of the role. (Basically they wanted to check wether you had read the requirements of the role on the website and know you can meet those requirements). There was also some questions that required more thought where they would give you a mock scenario and ask you how you would handle things.
At the end of the interview there was a Japanese component where they asked you a few questions in Japanese to gauge your knowledge of the language. This section didn’t last long for me (as I only have basic to lower intermediate Japanese skills) and was around 5 minutes.
This is definitely one of the longer, more detailed interviews I have been to and it does require you to have a think about your answers. However, the environment was still comfortable and friendly so there’s no need to be nervous.
You’re on your way to teaching in Japan!
I received an email on May 16th, 2019 stating I have a position!
The email said I had been given a position with Interac West Company that would be starting in August 2019 and asked wether I will accept the position.
At this point these are the only details that are given, the company you have a position with and the rough starting time. Unfortunately, I didn’t find out details specific to my placement until the end of July! So there’s an excruciating wait ahead. But don’t worry, we’ve all been through it and came out the other side, so you can too!
The Paperwork
The next part of the process involved the inevitable – paperwork.
It involved things such as signing your offer of employment applying for your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) which is later exchanged for your visa. Clear instructions and assistance when needed was provided by Interac so this was all very straight-forward.
Training Location and Details
On June 14th, 2019 I received an email with arrival information.
This email included the date I needed to arrive in Japan for training, the training location and a rough schedule for what training would include.
They later also sent a welcome guidebook to cover more detailed information about training as well as basic information (which I’m sure you’ve already researched) about the process of moving to Japan such as what documents to bring, how best to bring your money over etc.
Now, if the timing of your application process is anything like mine you are likely going to have to book your flight to Japan before you know any information specific to your placement. I bought my flight before I even knew what prefecture I would be living in! I didn’t receive any information on my individual placement until July 26th and I was required to be in the country for training by August 18th. That’s not a lot of time! Now you can choose to wait until you know your specific information if that’s what you’d like to do. But I could see flights from my country getting more expensive with each week that passed so I chose to take a chance. Do whatever feels right to you!
Finally! Placement Information!
I received an email with ~some~ placement information on July 26th, 2019. The email stated the prefecture I would be living in and the Board of Education I would be working for.
I received an email with housing information on August 1st, 2019. Finally! I knew where I would be living! While I was given the predecurke a week prior I didn’t know exactly where in the prefecture I was until the e-mail. With less than three weeks until I landed in Japan I was so relieved to finally have this information! Many people I talked to also received their location information within the month before they left so you’ll just have to wait it out. But do know they will let you know eventually!
Unfortunately, if you were hoping for school information the wait is not yet over. I personally didn’t found out anything about my schools (like location, number of schools, age range) until after training! But don’t worry all other details that have not been shared with you yet will all be revealed at the end of training. Not long now!
And you’re off to teach English in Japan!
Congratulations! You’ve got a job with Interac and are on your way to start a new adventure teaching English in Japan!
Good luck and enjoy this incredible experience!
