So basically, I signed up for my 3rd year on JET back in December, but made the decision to reneg in early June. The reasons are not important, but my BOE has been very understanding.
My town had a similar situation two years ago (a JET backing out in mid-June, slightly later than me) and was able to replace them with a new JET from the waitlist in August. This time, however, the BOE has decided to replace me with an INTERAC ALT.
The stated reason as to why is that the prefectural CLAIR office said it would be "difficult" to find a JET on such short notice. The issue is that, according to my PA, the prefectural office has no way of knowing this, and my BOE needs to directly request a new ALT from the national office.
When I told my BOE this, they seemed very reluctant and maintained it would be impossible, despite having no way of knowing this. Now they've told me they won't even attempt to get a replacement from JET and will be going with INTERAC instead.
My town currently has 2 JET ALTs and 1 INTERAC. The INTERAC ALT is by all accounts a nice guy and a great ALT, but our monthly meetings at the BOE now have 2 INTERAC suits awkwardly sitting in, presumably to justify eating a bunch of their salary.
I know that ultimately the blame rests with me here; if I hadn't recontracted then I would've had a proper successor from JET. I didn't consider all angles when making that decision and now I'm paying the price. However, I'm still frustrated that the BOE won't even attempt the process that went successfully two years ago.
So, I'm wondering how much am I screwing over my BOE, coworkers, and students by having an INTERAC ALT come? They could be a great ALT like my INTERAC coworker, or they could be much less ideal. Frankly I've met a ton of JETs who I wouldn't want being my successor, and many private ALTs who seem like they'd do a great job, so it seems like a total crapshoot anyway.
Anyway feel free to console/roast me in the comments <3
by lemsolv
20 comments
You aren’t screwing over anyone. I have been both on JET and with Interac and have met many people from both places over my years.
JET ALTs are no better or worse than Interac ALTs frankly. JET is just more expensive and time consuming for the BoE.
I have met shit Interac ALTs but, honestly, the best ALTs I have ever met have also worked for Interac. In my area there is a core group of us who will live here for the remainder of our days and are very invested in not treating our jobs like a paid vacation.
You are less likely to find people like that on JET due to the transitory nature of the programme and the fact that it targets college kids primarily.
Both places will have positives and negatives for your BoE but ultimately they decide how to spend their money. You haven’t done anything wrong here.
The only people screwed over at Interac ALTs for working for Interac. The BOE has been stung twice by JETs so they’re going for the easier option.
>So, I’m wondering how much am I screwing over my BOE, coworkers, and students by having an INTERAC ALT come? They could be a great ALT like my INTERAC coworker, or they could be much less ideal
LMAOOOOOOO hell yes my brother Interac ALTs aren’t even human. They obviously can’t just be normal ALTs compared to us JETs, who are world renowned top class CULTURAL AMBASSADORs who have been THOROUGHLY SCREENED through 1 written application and a 20 minute ZOOM INTERVIEW.
I feel so sorry for your students who will have gone from you reciting the ABCs…to some…Interac ALT? Jesus I’m gonna have to stop by my local shrine after work and send my thoughts and prayers. This could potentially be another 3/11 to them.
Your town is doomed. They will never recover
No current ALT employer or system has any real process for keeping good ALTs over bad ones regardless of source.
So it’s basically apples for apples as far as the BOE is concerned and pretty much random. In some cases they may get to interview and then choose from a limited group if more than one is available, which might improve the chances of getting a better one.
I’m surprised Interac goes to monthly meetings.
My BOE has neither monthly meetings nor an Interac representative at most meetings. Except for once a year at the beginning when new ALTs might be onboarding and to relay any policy changes for that year.
>I know that ultimately the blame rests with me here;
No, the blame rests with the BOE. Your decision started the chain of events, but you aren’t the one who chose Interac.
How an Interac ALT compares with a JET ALT isn’t a question worth debating IMHO, but at least you should stop taking responsibility for the massive and higher-paid bureaucracy above you that’s actually making these decisions.
Your town’s economy is going to suffer and it’s all your fault OP
Just because someone comes from a different company that’s not considered #1 doesn’t mean they’re shit at their job. Jet only has so many open spots each year not every single person can go Jet. I’m sure there’s plenty of Jet Alts who are bad at their jobs just like any other company. This post sounds incredibly arrogant
Bro, you seem to think you and your decisions have way more impact than they actually do.
It’s not your responsibilty to worry about these things, first of all. You need to leave for whatever reason you have, you have them a heads up, and you leave. There is no direction connection between you doing this and someone getting screwed.
As for Jet vs Interac, the difference in shittiness is way more on how the companies treat the employees. In terms of the quality of the ALT themselves, there is really no guarantee that a JET will be better at the job than the Interac guy. 80% as long as they have a pulse and are litterate in English, it will have 0 impact on how the students perceive the experience
Jets and interacs are the same shit.
Most humble JET
The bottom line is, the BOE pays for an ALT. Regardless if it is JET, or though a dispatch.
But what does matter to them, is how much “friction” they have with that ALT.
With JET, they have to handle pretty much everything. With dispatch, it’s 100% hands off for the BOE. The dispatch contract will ensure a substitute/alternate is there, anytime the assigned ALT is not – even on short notice (same morning). If the current is not up to scratch, a simple phone call can get them replaced. It’s not rocket science which they would use, given the opportunity to.
If you were hit by a bus, and replaced with a dispatch ALT, would it still be your fault?
There is no “fault” or “blame”. You’re moving on, they’re filling a space by whatever means available. In the grand scheme of things, to them, one ALT is no different from another. In the same way to the BOE, one school principal is no different from another too – if your current P kneels over tomorrow, they’ll have a stand-in for him before the week is up, and possibly a “permanent” replacement before the month is over.
As someone who has worked here on both JET and dispatch, yes — all dispatch companies are evil to the core, BUT respectfully some JETs seriously need to get over themselves. Your students will survive.
JETs like to think they’re something special… lmao the pool of JET ALTs is no different than the pool of Interac ALTs.
If *any*thing, the JET ones may be slightly inferior, as they tend to have easier contracts and may not be accustomed to working hard when it’s called for.
Man, you greatly overestimate the “prestige” of JET
Nobody knows/cares about what company the ALT comes from, whether they be JET or Interac. There’s also no difference in terms of quality.
“I didn’t consider all angles when making that decision and now I’m paying the price.”
What price are you paying? I’m confused. You’re leaving. This has no effect on anything for you, and your leaving certainly has very little effect on “your town.”
Christ, the entitlement coming off of this post… no, you aren’t screwing over anyone. Just because you came from JET means jack shit.
Gotta laugh at your whole “successor” nonsense. You aren’t some 達人 because you were a glorified tape recorder for less than three years…
I see JETs haven’t lost their arrogance in the last 10 years…
What is JET, CEO of facebook or sumthnn? Phhssttt.
Since OP didn’t reply a single comment we can be sure he’s just a troll with no life. You can all relax.
I was a JET and I can assure you that I worked with a lot of JETs who should not have been accepted and allowed to work with children.
Interac may not pay their employees as much as JET but that doesn’t make the ALTs worse??? I don’t get the logic. I’m back in the states and not making nearly as much as other people in my new field, does that make me bad at my job?
I’m a JET alumni with realistic ideals and know that JET can be just as much of a dumpster fire as the dispatch agencies.