Job Discussion Forums

[jennjenn]

I've been rejected by JET. How could this be?! I could have sworn I was a shoo-in. I have experience. I'm taking a Japanese language class. I wrote a killer statement of purpose. I got all of the documents in. How?? Why?? And I thought it wasn't even terribly difficult to be accepted...I heard one out of three applicants gets in. Am I that underqualified?

Is it because I have an Asian last name?

I applied for JET because I want to work in a public school during the days. I don't want to work at a language school at night. Is there any other way to get an ALT position in a public school? Help would be appreciated. Thank you. Sniffle, sniffle.

[Gordon]

I'm not sure how anyone here could tell you why you were turned down. Many do the first time around, so you are in good company. You can always apply again next year, your chances will be better the second time you apply.
You could try applying for Interac, they are a dispatch company that farms teachers out to schools. HOWEVER, their reputation is not very good, do a search on them BEFORE you apply.

[G Cthulhu]

[ripslyme]

[Quibby84]

I have heard that JET is not as big as it used to be, and it is not expanding like it used to...maybe that is why

[canuck]

[TokyoLiz]

Jennjenn,

No, no, no. Your name and race have nothing to do with it. JET applicants are diverse. I'm with other people who wrote in here. Did you have a look at the recommendation letters before they went into those envelopes? Did you tell them specifics in your letter and your interview about why you want to go to Japan? Run it past us again, in pm.

I, too, was rejected the first time out by JET, even though I had teaching experience. The consulates decisions are partly based on criteria, but then, it's a lottery, too.

Try again next year! Even if you are here in Japan, you can still apply. Go for a recruiter first, if you're really keen on Japan.

[Lyrajean]

I know it hurts, I got rejected last year, but do try again next year if you still qualify and haven't found another way to get to Japan (I got an interview this year, and I almost didn't bother applying!)

Put your nose to the grindstone and find ways to appear sincerely interested next time. Also the application is so complex, I think I did better completing it the second time. I ahve a sneaky suspiction my app. was rejected on one or more technicalities last time.

Since I applied last year I: got a TESL cert from a reputable college, studied another year of Japanese language at the same school and volunteered to help with a beginer level Japanese class among other things...

I am still in the USA, but I imagine that these things will help me get a TEFL job in Japan whether with JET or w/out.

[Alberta605]

Rationalizing the choices made on the JET scheme is pretty futile. For example, if they still work the same way they did when I was on it then they have an 'A' list which goes out in July and then a reserve 'B' list which goes out a month later to take up any slack.

There are people on the first plane out that really shouldn't be there at all. There are many on the so-called 'B' list who clearly out-perform the earlier arrivals in terms of cultural adaptation, character and teaching skills. Go figure.

It's easy to be cynical about systems that don't make much sense.

Unfortunately, I did notice that many who arrived on the later flight didn't quite exhibit the same degree of social elitism as many of their earlier counterparts. It's a difficult area to get into and involves some sort of 'elitism' vs 'humanity' debate...but really I haven't a clue how JET works and what goes through their minds at the decision making level.

[Zzonkmiles]

[Squire22]

I did an interview for the JET programme in 2005, thought I was perfect for the programme, about to get my degree in international relations, going to take a TESOL course, interest in the country etc. I was placed on the back-up short list. I remember the interview going okay and when they asked me at the end if I had anything to say/add, my response was "Yes, I want you to know that this is what I want to do, I want to teach English in Japan." I didn't get the chance with JET, but I am here in Japan with another company.

Therefore my advice is, don't worry about getting turned down by JET, lots of opportunities, plenty more companies and eikawas and private students and whatever else. If this is where you want to be and what you want to do - for the moment at any rate - then there are other ways to achieve this goal. Keep going, heed others advice.

Best of luck.

[kdynamic]

So much misinformation gets thrown around about JET. Sigh.
First of all, just because it's a large program does NOT mean it's not competitive. It is.

[Dipso]

I am a former JET ALT. When I interviewed for JET I had already spent a year at a Tokyo eikaiwa. As I recall, many of the questions I was asked were about my previous experience in Japan.

Before I had my JET interview, a friend who was at that time a current ALT advised me that when I was interviewed I should (a) talk a lot about internationalisation, (b) be very up on current affairs and be prepared to explain complicated issues in simple terms and (c) not to be strongly opinionated. Good advice, in my experience.

[Chris21]

Stand back, kdynamic is on her high horse again! kddynamic, you need to chill out with your posts and stop freaking out everytime you disagree with something. I was on JET for 3 years and found nothing wrong with the posts you bashed.

[kdynamic]