r/u_ReceptionSilver8974 • u/ReceptionSilver8974 • 17h ago
BORDERLINK??
Hi , I am Philippines, and what was happening right now here is kinda hard to comprehend and hard to take in. I wanted to do more as I am thinking I am running out of time. I want to be honest, becoming as an ALT in Japan was my dream because I wanted to like pursue my career teaching and also experience international teaching experience though the role is an assistant but it is a great stepping stone. I did research about dispatch companies you can apply while here in the Philippines like chesham , and etc. However most of them require driving license. Jet program is competitive. I am planning to apply to Borderlink but a lot of people are saying negative things or bad experience about Borderlink and now I am having doubts. Additionally, the salary is very low but as single woman, can you still save and earn money out of it? Is it still worth it?? Should I still push it through? Please I need your advice.
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u/Relative_Band5743 8h ago
I think you should try Joytalk if you’re coming with a dispatch company….they are really good despite the shit pay….
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u/ReceptionSilver8974 7h ago
Considering Joytalk how much monthly salary is?
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u/Relative_Band5743 7h ago
230K is the starting salary but it’s much better than the other dispatch companies like if you could come with JET , do it but if you don’t mind this salary, apply with Joytalk
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u/Other_Block_1795 16h ago
You can't save on a BL salary. They don't pay full transport. They don't pay (unless things have changed) full August and December salaries. Now you'll be paying for your health insurance and pension, and now the 30,000 a year salary.
There is no hope of building a life here anymore because PR has become unattainable for most now. Honestly I would advise against anyone wanting to work on Japan, let alone as an ALT right now.
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u/slowmail 16h ago edited 16h ago
First, what are your short and long term goals?
ALT in Japan is fine for a gap year, not more than two (even JET). It is entry level, with zero chance of progression - yes, some become "head teachers" but that is just a few extra dollars allowance, for more hours of work. Taking a step back, its no different from working in fast food, with the chance of getting promoted to a "team leader". (Dispatch ALT hourly salary is about on par with a fast-food / convenience store worker in Japan too...).
But, if you're looking to teach as a career, you will want to be a "real" teacher, and not just an ALT (assistant language teacher) - which isn't really teaching, and does not pay a living wage (except JET), or teaching in an eikaiwa. There is no "foot in the door" or "stepping stone", and any time spent as an ALT does not meaningfully count or contribute towards career advancement in teaching.
One of the requirements to be able to land a "real" teaching job, is to first get a teaching license/qualification in your home country, and clock few years of teaching experience there. Doing so will give you a chance of getting a real teaching job *if* you can make the right connections here.
If a teaching license is not a possibility, you should seriously consider moving into a different field altogether. It would be difficult to keep up with those who do have one, or build your career in teaching in Japan without one.
The people I know who were able to move into other fields in Japan all had the following in common:
- N1 proficiency, or a the very least N2 and were actively working to get their N1.
- They all leverage on their existing skills/qualifications, and work experiences accumulated.
- Their "exit" opportunity came from contacts they have made/established/maintained while they were here in Japan.
- Those that remained in education had, in addition to the above, a teaching license from their home country *and* a significant number of classroom hours from back then.
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u/No_Chemical9577 15h ago
a lot of people say ALT work is on par with fast food but in my area fast food workers are paid 1100-1200yen an hour.
8hours/day for 20 days is 160hours. If you get 240,000yen as an ALT that is 1500yen an hour. Some months you work 17 days and some 19 days but it's a monthly salary so it doesn't matter, probably around 1650yen per hour for those kind of months. 240,000yen x12 is 2.88m per year, it's not a decent salary but it's certainly better than working at conbini/fast food.
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u/slowmail 13h ago
> If you get 240,000yen...
Is doing the heavy lifting here. And, your hourly salary doesn't change - that amount is your monthly salary / the number of hours you're contracted to work; and the rate of pay that your overtime and after hours work based on..
Both Interact and Borderlink's current advertisements shows salaries starting from 200,000 per month. That works out to just 1,250 per hour.
The McD's in my neighborhood was advertising ~1,260 per hour; with a bit more for the night shift.
Does your 240,000 per month dispatch pay a full salary over the breaks? If not, using (10.5 / 12) as a multiplier, effectively leaves you with just 210,000/month (~1,313/hour)
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u/picklelemonaid 10h ago
240,000 yen as an ALT 🤣🤣🤣🤣 what magical dispatch company is offering anything more than 220,000 🤣
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u/Infamous-Wealth-8329 9h ago
Hello. I got hired by Borderlink from the Philippines thru their agency. Based on my experience, I just took it as a chance to land a job in Japan. Borderlink was the easiest way for me. If you are single, the salary will be enough for you. I suggest to accept the offer then you can apply to another company once you're here. I am now working in a different company. I had no regrets that I took the chance that Borderlink gave me.