Job Discussion Forums

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

I know you've already made your decision but...

Financially speaking, JET is better. Hands down. Y50,000 more a month, and the average rent is around Y25000. You might have to pay key money (FYI, I am a JET and everyone in my prefecture pays key money ), but your BOE will front you the money if you can't afford it. No one starves Wink

With JET, you are refunded your ENTIRE pension plan contribution at the end of the contract...this works out to about Y300,000 for EACH year you are on the JET program. Something to think about anyway.

When I was working for Aeon, it was interesting to meet students but I really didn't have time (or time off) to get out an "experience" Japan.

Anyway, since quotes are flying fast and furious, you have "an embarrassment of riches" so they say...you can't really go wrong! I'm guessing you are still going to go with Aeon, so enjoy your year!

aabukhalil · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: United States

Craven,

Oy, don't tell me all that about JET, you're making this more difficult for me Smile

Just out of curiosity, based on your own experiences and those of your fellow JETs, do you have any idea of how many people initially apply to JET, what percentage make it to the interview, and then what proportion are ultimately accepted? And if I wanted to apply to JET after my year with AEON, do you know whether I would have to travel back to the States for the JET interview or some other part of the application process, or might that all be handled while I was still in Japan?

Thanks.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Li-ka · Joined: 21 Mar 2004 Posts: 52

I was in a similar situation last year, when I had interviewed with JET and also ECC. The problem with interviewing for JET is that you do not know your results until April and you are placed in one of three categories: Short-list (you're going in August), Wait-list (you might not know until August if you are going with JET or not), and the unaccepted list. As much as JET appealed to me, I had to tell them sorry when I was placed on the wait list. As much as I wanted to go with JET, I didn't want to risk any chances of possibly not going to Japan at all, and I wasn't going to play the wait and see game. I'm happy with my decision, I'm happy with working at ECC. Good luck!

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

Hi again

Yeah, I went to JET after working for almost 2 years with Aeon. You can download the application off of the interrnet site, but it MUST be mailed to a consulate in your own country, and you will have to interview in your home country. They also will not allow you to choose your interview time, so you may have to be very flexible with time off. The application process was a HUUUUUGGGGGE hassle for me because I had to fly home twice.

Sorry to make things hard for you...here are a couple of things to think about. With Aeon (which my recruiter didn't tell us about), is that you WILL have to do sales. This means selling books to students, having your picture taken for advertising, and trying to get students to renew when their contracts are up. With JET, there are no sales, but there is also a good chance you will be very underused at work (I am not, but I know lots who are). With JET too you have a 90% chance of being in a rural setting. You don't get any choice about where you're going. Aeon can be a lot more accomodating in that regard. Think about age-groups too. With Aeon, you will likely teach primarily adults, while with JET you will work with teenagers or children or both).

A couple words about the JET interview. I talked to a local JET administrator here before taking the interview, and she said that the main thing they look for is people who know a lot about Japan (can say specifically what they're interested in, know a little Japanese), but NOT people who might STAY in Japan. The trick is to convince tem that you have onward plans after JET. For example, although I had lived in Japan for a while before JET, when they asked "Why do you want to work as a JET?" I said I was interested in a job that would expose me to more Japanese culture, which I would probably use in a future PhD project back home (this last part may have been something of an exageration...).
A couple of people have mentioned the strange interview...it's definately designed to put you off-balance to see how you react. Keep your cool and you'll be fine. Lose it, or act frustrated and you'll be in trouble.

Let me know if you have more questions!

aabukhalil · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: United States

Thank you for the information Smile

I read somewhere that about three-fourths of those who make it to the interview stage are accepted into the program, and even the majority of applicants who are put on the wait-list end up evantually going.

Any idea if there's any truth to that?

prlester · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 92

i think jet is 3,600,000 yen a year, but if i am not mistaken unemployment is non-refundable. the pension is #years-.5year*90% for a refund, so me doing one year, i think i only get less than half back. Rent is usually subsidized by 200 dollars/month. dont know if i am missing anything.
i remember after a 350 rent, after the taxes and insurance i had 230000/month from 300000. i dont think my utilities came out of that bill.

YannyPanny · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4

Hey everyone, I am also a first time poster and I must say that this site has been very very useful in giving informative info on the JET, AEON, GEOS, EEC and NOVA.

I myself am very interested in teaching ESL in Japan, and have applied through JET and am now am playing the waiting game. If I don�t get JET, I was thinking of AEON. So since �aabukhalil�, you have been accepted by AEON, I was just wondering what the procedures in applying are and what was the interviews like? Eg, lesson plans and group interview, were they hard? And have u decided to accept AEON?

Yanny