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how do I sign up?

Click the subscriptions link.

how much does it cost?

It costs 5,000 yen for a 1 year membership to ALT Jobs Japan.

what do I get for my money?

When you join you will then be able to sign up to our forums and will gain access to the private members section which contains details of all the Boards of Education that we know about who hire ALTs directly. On top of that whenever a BoE contacts us advising they have a current vacancy, we will post this information to the forums. This part of the forums is hidden from regular forum members.

We provide details of a variety of avenues to explore, that prior to becoming ALTs we were completely unaware of, as you search for a quality ALT job.

is it worth it?

If you are looking to increase your options regarding ALT employment in Japan you have to decide if that is worth handing over 5,000 yen. Between us we have 9 years of ALTing experience. We have built up a wealth of knowledge regarding the ALT industry and we have value to offer.

how many contact details do you have?

As we have just re-lanuched we are still in the process of combining our data so do not have an exact figure but we know of about 30 to 40 BoEs that have hired directly over the past year or so.

how often do you update the forum?

Both of us will be active on the forums. As soon as we find new information it will be posted. There are quiet times of the year and times when job information posts will be more frequent.

You can post any questions for us in the forum itself.

how do boards of education hire alts?

Typically in one of two ways. Either they outsource using a recruitment company. Or they have a system in place that allows them to hire ALTs directly. I prefer the second method of employment as typically wages are higher and in my experience a closer relationship with your school(s) and BoE is formed.

what’s wrong with recruitment companies?

Recruitment companies are great as a first step to becoming an ALT as they usually sort out the paperwork and visas. That’s how I started. What frustrated me was that I was doing the exact same job as my friends in the exact same city but getting paid substantially less.

do you help with visas?

No. This is something you arrange through your (prospective) employer. No Board of Education will employ you without the proper visa so they will help you sort it out.

do you guarantee I’ll gain employment?

No. I simply provide you with contact information for towns and cities that directly hire ALTs. You still have to apply for the jobs yourself.

what kind of schools do direct hire alts go to?

Typically the jobs I find out about are for junior high and elementary schools.

do I have to be able to speak Japanese?

For some positions I hear about, conversational Japanese (JLPT3) is expected, others have no minimum stipulation.

Do I have to be in Japan to use your service?

Some Boards of Education specify that they are looking for people already in Japan. Others may prefer people currently outside Japan.

Overall though I would say it is easier to secure a direct hire position if you are already in Japan. Firstly because it helps to be able to speak some Japanese. Also, often you must attend an interview in person. Further, already having ALT experience will likely help your application.

what level of support do you provide?

I am in regular communication with my subscribers as we work towards securing quality ALT positions in Japan.

do I need a degree to become an alt?

The degree requirement is not for the job. Rather it is to obtain a visa. If you are already in Japan, it is possible to get round the visa requirement if you can find an employer who wants you and will help you with your visa application. I have worked with two people who had diplomas from 1 or 2 year college courses not full degrees. A full degree would likely give you a larger pool of potential employers to choose from.

Where are the jobs you know about located?

I am searching for direct hire deals wherever they may be in Japan. If you are specifically interested in the north of Japan please consider Ken Hartmann’s Hokkaido Insider service. He lists a variety of English teaching jobs including ALT positions, primarily in Hokkaido.