| My friend and I came to Japan to support England at | | | | town I would be working in by an Interac salesman. |
| the 2002 World Cup in Japan. It was one of the best | | | | As I hadn't received any salary as I had only just |
| holidays of my life so after we went home, I decided | | | | begun my job as an ALT, the set up costs were all |
| that I wanted to go and live in Japan. | | | | paid from savings I had brought with me. It seemed |
| A limiting belief I held at the time was that, as I didn't | | | | expensive at the time, probably because it was. It |
| speak Japanese I would have to be an English | | | | was good though that they sent a Japanese person |
| teacher. I never even considered that I could have | | | | with me so that I was able to set myself up |
| worked towards a transfer to a job in Japan within | | | | properly. |
| the company I was with at the time. | | | | They were a good company to work for as they |
| I had thought about becoming a teacher in the UK | | | | don't interfere and they let you get on with your |
| and working as an Assistant Language Teacher in | | | | ALT job in Japan. The only thing I didn't like about |
| Japan (ALT) would give me a taste of the teaching | | | | my time working for Interac was the level of salary. |
| lifestyle while being a great way to move to Japan. I | | | | Had it been higher, I would have stayed with them |
| wanted to find a way of getting a job and visa so I | | | | for longer than one year. |
| could start moving towards my dream lifestyle. | | | | Pros |
| A friend of mine told me about a company called | | | | - Easy to get job from outside Japan |
| Interac. They are a large recruitment firm who find | | | | - Arrange Japanese visa |
| people ALT jobs in Japan. As they are a large | | | | - Help with initial set up in Japan, e.g. Japanese seal |
| company they hold interviews overseas, e.g. U.S. and | | | | and moving in. |
| U.K. as well as Australia and Canada. | | | | - Allow you to get on with your job |
| After getting through the Interac selection process I | | | | - Lived up to their side of the contract |
| was on my way to start my job as an ALT in Japan. | | | | - May be able to offer you additional work on top of |
| It was really exciting to be going to work in not just | | | | ALTing |
| a foreign country but one where I really had no idea | | | | - Native English speaking staff should you have any |
| of the language either. | | | | issues |
| Initial training was held (and still is I believe) in the | | | | - Good holidays |
| Yoyogi Youth Hostel complex in Tokyo. I've never | | | | Cons |
| stayed in a youth hostel like it before or since. The | | | | - Not high salary |
| facilities were surprisingly good! As a trainee I was | | | | - Reduced salary during holiday months |
| there for 3 days after which I was taken to the | | | | - First and last month salary is reduced. |