Real Communication Solution Reviews

Before I begin, it's important for me to point out the unique circumstances of my employment with RCS. Firstly, I'm only a part-time ALT, rather than full-time, so this gig is not my one and only source of income. I am also fluent in Japanese which made nearly all aspects of transitioning and moving to Japan very simple for me, and cuts down on the kids of daily stressors non-fluent ALTs might experience. Lastly, I joined the company right as the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to go global, so it was a time of uncertainty and flux for the educational system, RCS, and the world as a whole. So these unique factors combined made for a situation that somewhat exempts me from the kind of complaints most of the reviews on this site are about. I’ll explain more throughout my review. Now to move on to the Pros: I have been very satisfied with the performance of RCS's Tokyo Office staff. Firstly, they've always gone above and beyond to address any concerns I've had and get back to me in a timely and professional manner. (Big shout out to L.A. in particular!) They're also very generous with their shows of appreciation towards their teachers on Observation Days (when they come and observe a live class you are holding), making these events hugely reassuring and confidence-boosting. :) As a company in general, I was very impressed with how quickly they adopted more modern tools to streamline their invoice/communication process. When I first arrived, they were still having to rely on fax (which is a standard for Japan’s more technology-reluctant work culture) but I was pleased to see that within six short months, they replaced it with a company app. RCS is very generous with materials and will hook you up with whatever necessities needed to aid in your performance as an ALT and your life here in Japan. They’ve supplied homemade cloth masks as well as face shields as part of the COVID-19 preventative measures, printed up flashcards for my kindergarten classes, and included a bonus one month so that we could purchase our own thermometers to keep an eye on our daily health. Being outside of what I feel is the “typical” ALT demographic — I’m middle-aged and married with children, as opposed to young and single — I had feared, when I first applied, that I would not even be considered for the job. However, not only was there no discrimination on that front but, in fact, RCS was extremely supportive of my family’s situation, supplying information on how to get their dependent visas, especially when Japan closed its borders in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It felt wonderful to receive so much support and consideration from all levels of the company. It was also reassuring to know that RCS is not only interested in younger ALTs for a high-turnover, the way most dispatch companies are reputed to be, but welcomes families who are in it for the long haul. :) RCS is also very clear about not expecting any extra work outside of your class schedule and will compensate you when they want you to attend training sessions and the like. Other monetary incentives they offer to enhance your performance include a contest they held to make a self-intro lesson video, as well as an attendance bonus when you don’t miss any days a given month. Granted, this perk doesn’t actually apply to me what with my being part-time, but it does apply to my coworkers who I know benefit from it. As far as the job goes, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in the Japanese culture, connect with the local community, enjoy Japanese food regularly (through the delicious —and cheap! — lunch program), and make a real impact on people's lives on a daily basis. You also cannot beat the hours, with the workday starting at 8:30 am and ending at 3:20 pm. This allows me to leave for school right when my own children do, and then return home shortly after them. With no work to bring home, the rest of the day is free to be spent however I wish. Not to mention all weekends and holidays. And for those who don’t know, every month in Japan — besides June — has at least some sort of holiday to make three-day weekends a regular occurrence. :) I also know that I lucked out by scoring a short commute so that I don’t have to deal with long or costly transport, but instead, enjoy a short and pleasant 11-minute bicycle commute to/from school. I know of some ALTs who have to commute via train and RCS doesn’t cover transportation costs, so I know that can be a major sore spot for others. I was fortunate enough to find temporary housing with family until I had settled into my permanent living arrangement near work. All in all, I sometimes cannot believe my luck in finding RCS which was able to place me in my preferred neighborhood and granted me a visa for part-time work that I find incredibly rewarding while working perfectly with my work/life balance. :)

Working with RCS is one of the great things ever happened to me. They are humorous, communication on point, hospitality great, employee welfare best, in fact rating RCS will be 10/10.