Interac Application Process

Interac is a Japanese company which recruits ALT's and places them in public schools in Japan. I currently work from them as an English teacher over in Japan. Here is a little how my timeline and hiring process went with Interac. I got this idea from Jennie over at Kawaii 5-oh and her blog, http://jennieinjapan.wordpress.com whose blog provided me with all the details I was so desperate to have when I was in my own process of applying to Interac.

Please note beforehand that I was situated in Korea at the time of my application; therefore, I had a slightly different experience.

• April 12th: registered with the Interac Network online. 
• May 27th: submitted Interac online application (note there are two short online essays - I think 500 words?) 
• June 2nd: received correspondence from Interac requesting a phone interview 
• June 3rd: Short 20 minute phone interview with Interac recruiting office. 
• June 8th: Notice that I passed the phone screening. Obtained information about next process ( sending in required documents, 6 minute lesson demonstration video and secondary interview session) 
• June 14th: Uploaded finished demo lesson video. 
• June 16th: Sent in application package to Interac head office. 
• June 17th: Online interview with recruiter ( please note that because I was located in South Korea, my interview took place online; however when I talked to almost everyone else, either from America, the U.K. or Japan, they all had in person and often group session interviews) 
• June 22nd: Application package received by Interac. 
• July 1st: References submitted forms to Interac. 
• July 1st: Offer of Employment email. This certifies that I do work for Interac, but does not specify employment. 
• July 1st: Criminal Background Check sent to the State Bureau of Investigation (from within the states) 
• July 4th: emailed camera photos of signed copies of the Offer of Employment 
• July 6th: Application for Certificate of Eligibility sent off. Expected to receive it around August 9th 
• July 11th: Father recieved clean Criminal Background Check from the State Bureau of Investigation and sent off to Interac Japan. 
• July 11th: address update for delivery of CoE 
• July 11th: submitted online resume which is used as a profile to introduce you to the schools. (after I finished this I copied it via that printing to another page option but the words were cut off but after emailing I learned that it was just my image but the actual document was intact) 
• July 12th: Placement Introduction email. An email stating important information concerning insurance and apartment and health checks. 
• July 12th: emailed scanned copies of my TB test required by Interac. I had an x-ray test. Also since I lived in Korea, I had to have them translated. 
• July 18th: Interac received original copy of State Criminal Background check. 
• July 18th: Received Placement: Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 
• July 19th: Best mate Ben Brannan ( http://risingdaikon.blogspot.com/ ) and many others received deferrals for spring semester. For more information on deferral and his own experience that took place on the Stateside then please check out his blog. 
• July 27th: Apartment offer for a Leopalace and free internet 
• July 28th: Apartment offer accepted 
• August 2nd: CoE sent by Interac 
• August 4th: Booked one way flight with Expedia to Japan KIX 
• August 8th: Received schools ( 2 elementary and one junior high) and year schedule. 
• August 19th: Flight to KIX and Arrival in Osaka. 
• August 21st: Entered Osaka City Plaza Hotel for training 
• August 22nd: First day of orientation 
• August 24th: Met Board of Education and last day of training 
• August 25th: Got apartment key and moved in. 
• August 25th: Applied for Alien Registration Card 
• August 26th: Obtained temporary Alien Registration Card 
• August 26th: Applied for Post Office Bank Account 

And to anyone who is wondering, I have nothing but the fondest things to say regarding Interac Osaka. I relly love the staff there. They are really working with you on a personal level and really care about their employees. They really provided me and hopefully everyone in my little orientation group (about 12 people - there was a later one with about 60 people) with a wonderful experience and an equally grand impression of the company as a whole. So it may be nerve wracking waiting for your placement but it will come. And regarding the many deferred, many of them later got placements for october dramatically reducing the number of deferees.
Additionally I am inexplicably happy with my location and schools. They really found me the perfect setting.

Here is my demo video to give you some ideas on your own!



I will post more things about getting an alien registration card and other important things about getting settled later. But if you want me to address any specific issues or answer any questions, espcially about the application process, please don't hesitate to ask.