Job Discussion Forums

vallillo1983 · Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 194

Hello, I was seeking advice from people that have participated or will participate in the JET scheme! Does anyone know the chances of being placed in Tokyo? I only want to work in tokyo or surronding areas as I have friends there etc. If I'm only wanting to work in Tokyo etc am I better applying for Interac or Shane? Does anyone know how many places come up in Tokyo via JET?
Cheers

kdynamic · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan

chances of getting placed in Tokyo on JET are pretty slim. 'surrounding areas' is a possibility, but it's a total crapshoot with JET. Don't bother with the long application process if you're not willing to be flexible on placement.

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

Of all the JET teachers in Japan I believe there are only three or four places in Tokyo.

More importantly you must remember that 'Tokyo' spans a vast area and may not mean anywhere in the area around the Yamanote line.

One of the 'Tokyo' JET placements is actually on Hachijojima island which is 300kms away from the mainland!

Dipso · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 194 Location: England

JET doesn't always place people even remotely where they request to be, to be honest. I requested "urban" when I applied to JET and was placed in a tiny fishing village. I met a guy who had requested Hokkaido (because he was a keen snowboarder) and who was actually placed in Okinawa!

If people have strong personal ties to a place then I think they have a reasonably good chance of being placed where they request, but otherwise it seems to be a bit of a lottery.

Also, boards of education can request the nationality of the ALT they will be sent (because of twin town schemes and so on), so this can have some bearing on placements too.

wangtesol · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 280

Yes, it is hard to get placed into Tokyo and surrounding areas. And even more so with the further privatization of the JET Programme. About 25% of JET positions have gone to illegal outsourcing (gyomu itaku) companies such as Interac.

In near-by Kanagawa Prefecture, the move is on to privatize the majority of the JET positions. And other surrounding prefectures such as Saitama (which has the most ALT positions in Japan) and Chiba have been turning to illegal outsourcing since at least 2002.

Good luck!

Dipso · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 194 Location: England

This is very true. As my friends and I came to the end of our time on JET, quite a few of my contemporaries were replaced by private ALTs.