Job Discussion Forums

[ejvande]

I'm going to apply to JET next fall, and from everything I've read, there are plenty of well-qualified and seemingly deserving applicants who get turned down. I want to do everything I can to ensure that I'll get a position with them, so does anyone have any tips on how to best prepare myself? I have a 3.9 GPA, I'm and English major with a TESOL minor, I'll have two semesters of Japanese under my belt by time I apply, and I'll have experience teaching ESL at the English Language Institute on my campus. I'm in two honors programs, too. Anything else I can do to prepare myself?

[teacher4life]

How to be at your interview: modest, cheerful, energetic, interested in Japan/Japanese language/culture, demonstrating a clear speaking voice.

How NOT to be at your interview: extremely interested in Japan, extremely interested in teaching, extremely confident in yourself and/or your qualifications/experience, serious, gothic-looking, speaking too quietly.

That really is all you need to be. JET is NOT as competitive as people are suggesting.

As an example, do NOT state one of your goals as "learning Japanese language to an extremely high level like that teacher4life character on Dave's ESL cafe". Instead, show enough interest but not too much by stating goals of "being conversant" and learning "a fair amount of kanji". Don't tell them if you are planning to get a Master's degree in Japanese after JET.

You really do risk being turned down if they think you are going to try too hard at teaching so you need to downplay any qualifications...

Something like, "I've learned some teaching methods, but I'm sure I will have to wait and see if they will really work in the classroom situation in Japan. I hope to get advice about that from the Japanese English teachers I work with and experienced JETs" will get you much, much further than "here is a long list of my qualifications and experiences".


And in answering the question, "How long do you think you will stay?" The best answer is "Probably two years, because the first year will be mostly a year of learning, so the second year will really determine whether I enjoy Japan and teaching enough to continue." One year and out or planning to stay forever right away expose you as a bit of a waste in the former and a directionless slacker in the latter.

[ejvande]

Awesome, thanks so much for the tips!

[HeatherG]

If that is the attitude they want, I think I could pass the interview. Do you think it sounds "too serious about teaching" to tell them I want to observe how the Japanese public education system works and learn teaching methods that might be beneficial once I return to the United States? I am actually interested in a long-term career in education and potentially earning a graduate degree, and I think this would be a useful experience aside from simply wanting to travel and live abroad for a little while.

[marley'sghost]

You've got the qualifications, no worries there.
Like teacher4life says, it's good to come to the interview modest. I might say humble even. You are looking to come to Japan to share and learn not instruct and correct.
I would not "downplay" your qualifications though. You've got good ones and I am sure you worked hard to get them. Just don't wave them in the interviewers' faces.
They will be looking to weed out the anime freaks with no people skills, the teacher/crusader types who want to change the world with their tesol certificate, and the frat boys with Asian fever.
As long as that's not you, no worries. Good luck!

[ssjup81]

[HeatherG]

I hope that an interest in studying the education system doesn't fall under the "teacher-crusader" type of situation. I have no intention of trying to change the Japanese education system or culture. It's actually learning teaching methods that would help teachers in the US I'm interested in.

I apologize to the creator of this thread for sort of taking over.

[TokyoLiz]

JET is competitive in some interview cities, and not in others. In some cities, all who apply and meet the requirements and aren't freaks get to go.

Other cities are more competitive, and the interviewers may select on the basis of "good fit" - a candidate who appears flexible, upbeat and genuinely interested in education in general, interested in a specific Japanese cultural area should be appealing to the interviewers.

Of course, presentation is everything - dress well but modestly, sit straight, speak clearly, and be attentive to the interviewers.

Trained teachers are welcome - my former supervisor, a director of studies at a Vancouver English language school was selected along with me. We each had at least five years of English teaching experience and recognized TESOL diplomas.

So don't fret. Look sharp and smile and don't hold back on your training and experience.

[HeatherG]

I would be interviewing in Miami. I really only know of one qualified person from Florida who was turned down; I know a couple of others who were selected. The girl I know who was rejected could have come across as too much of an otaku or possibly too overbearing. I've been told they like people who appear "genki", as in energetic, but I also have heard the term used to describe anime characters who are hyperactive to the point of being overbearing and obnoxious.

[RustyShackleford]

Miami I would imagine to be pretty competitive. I am on my final year of JET after coming from out of Los Angeles. I was initially Alternated but wound up in a choice spot not too far off from Tokyo with a great staff which has been part of the reason I've stuck around for the full five year run.

The term Genki is often and sometimes disparagingly tossed around JET forums but in my experience that just means that you have an energetic attitude and are willing to work hard to engage the students or at least come off that way in your interview. DON'T be a cartoon character, but DO be enthusiastic and DON'T BE AFRAID to blur the lines between the two.

Modesty I would definitely say would help because, remember, you are applying for an ASSISTANT Language Teaching position. In practice, this may well mean actually being effectively the only teacher in the room needing to look over a group of JHS or ES students (as has happened many a time in my tenure), but in theory, this means a certain willingness to keep your head low and step aside for the head teacher's plan.

That said, play up your flexibility. Often life for an ALT is being under-informed about school happenings and having things dropped on you last minute and you have to find a way to deal with it, whether it being an extra class you weren't expecting; a teacher's meeting (where you aren't invited nor really even too welcome to come); or students acting out and disrupting the whole class and the main teacher isn't doing squat about it.

Keep your qualifications in full view because they DO respect that, now especially that JET has to, more than ever, compete with the various private companies snatching up positions nationwide and continuing questionings of the JET Program's merits versus its relatively high pricetag.

Overall, you seem to be a perfectly qualified applicant, especially compared to my relatively meager performance. Good luck!

[HeatherG]

I forgot what the maximum age for JETs is. I'm a bit older than some applicants (26) but I think it goes up to 35 or 40? Does it matter that I'm an old maid by Japanese standards?

[likwid_777]

When I was investigating JET, max age was 40. But I read rumours that getting a job with them at that age is highly unlikely. But also, seems the amount of conflicting information surrounding that little program is huuuuge.

Probably be harder on females in the age department too, as you mentioned.

[RustyShackleford]

Used to be 40 when I first applied, but according to the official site now there is no official limit but it's wording encouarges younger people. I've known divorcees pushing 40 and older PHD types who got in. A 26 year old, while not a fresh graduate, should have no problems and, really, the "old maid" cliche is increasingly a overhyped as I meet Japanese will past 25 who are happily single and able to nab boyfriends both local and foreign alike.

[RustyShackleford]

Used to be 40 when I first applied, but according to the official site now there is no official limit but it's wording encouarges younger people. I've known divorcees pushing 40 and older PHD types who got in. A 26 year old, while not a fresh graduate, should have no problems and, really, the "old maid" cliche is increasingly a overhyped as I meet Japanese will past 25 who are happily single and able to nab boyfriends both local and foreign alike.

[kah5217]

You're not an old maid at 26 anymore, though you might run into some older people who drop some hints and/or try to set you up with coworkers.