Job Discussion Forums

[senza_vavoom]

Hi Everyone.

I just got a letter from JET to congratulate me on the 2nd round of applying. I got the interview. Now, in Toronto, the interview is all the way on February 2006. Is there anyone from here who got into JET? Can anyone give me any tips on the interview process?

- How long is it?

- What type of questions do they ask you? ( since JET is technically a cultural exchange program )

- How many people are interviewing me in a room?

- Am I expected to prepare a lesson plan, or do they put me on the spot of teaching something?

Any helpful info would be great! Thanks!

[Glenski]

Expect a 15-20 minute interview. You will not be allowed to take any papers into the room, and you will probably have to sign a waiver that says you won't be offended by any of the questions. The interviews are usually conducted in Japanese fashion, with a 3-person panel that might consist of at least one Japanese person.

Expect the usual questions for such a position. Why Japan? Why JET? What can you contribute? Expect them to give you a sample question from curious naive students. That will be your "instant" lesson plan.

Wear a suit and look as professional as possible.

[kdynamic]

Which job are you applying for? ALT? Assuming that you are going for ALT...

Basically, BE GENKI!! They want people who are very energetic and enthusiastic. Also, be effusively interested in multiculturalism and internationalization. Don't ONLY talk about Japan. Talk about sharing your home culture with Japan, and learning about Japanese culture so you can then share it with people back home. Play up how flexible, professional, and eager you are. Smile. Speak clear, strong English. You LOVE children. You LOVE to sing, play games, and are up for anything. But you're also professional and together and mature.

I don't know what kind of interview questions they ask ALTs, but it seems like all the ones who made it are all of the above, or else trade off a little genki-ness or flexibility for a LOT of intercultural experience (like living in 5 countries and working for international NGOs and stuff).

Remember, JET is not really about English teaching (though that's a major byproduct) but mainly a cultural exchange program, so approach it like you're applying to be a singing dancing culture exchange ambassador who happens to work teaching kids english.

[stretch]

I got in through the Toronto interview about 4 years ago.
As mentioned before, wear a suit and look professional as possible. Explain your love for Japan and children and teaching and why you are interested in being a cultural ambassador.
I didn't have to do any interviews but I was asked questions about Japan. Who is the prime minister presently, what is happening in the news in Japan today and my personal favourite. What year was the Meiji Restoration????
I had a 3 person interview, a Japanese rep, a former JET and the head of JET for Toronto at the time (Don Christie).
Most important I think is that you are a cultural ambassador and you don't mind country living!
Good luck

[senza_vavoom]

[fluffyhamster]

My JET interview was in London in early 1999, so I don't remember much about it, except: 1) the Japanese interviewer somehow ended up practically behind the door and out of my line of sight as I came in, and leapt out ninja-style with such incomprehensibly fast and "genki" Japanese that all I could do was reply (in English) over my shoulder with a slightly bewildered 'Um, right, yeah...(WTF?!)' as I was motioned by the ex-JETs to my seat (she didn't really speak to me much after that little "miscommunication" LOL); 2) I hadn't expected to be asked about Japanese history (even though I knew a bit), so the 'To-ku-ga-wa?' that I managed in response to 'What's your favourite period?', whilst a reasonably fast reply taken as a whole, was a little slurred around the syllables (coming as it did off the top of my head); and to cap it all off, 3) one of the last questions was, 'Apart from doing several martial arts, studying Japanese, doing some linguisticy research, the odd bit of travelling etc etc etc (glancing through my application), what will you do with your time in Japan?'.

Standard answer is probably something like 'Make friends even if it is at (my) gunpoint! Must..make...FRIENDS!!!' (mad Ren-like grin). Maybe I got a bit p-ed that I wouldn't be getting a chance after all to tell them about smashing bricks with my head, or how little sense Chomsky makes (especially after a brick or two), anyway I just waved my hand a bit and said, 'Oh, I don't know, go shopping, cook, eat, sleep, maybe even go sit outside a temple in the hope of being admitted as a monk?'

God knows how, but I somehow got onto JET and stayed on it three years (99-02).

What I'm trying to say is, if they've called you to the interview you are in with a good chance already, and provided you don't come across as a complete psycho (luckily I wasn't at my worst on that particular day LOL) or total embarrassment to your nation, there's no reason they shouldn't pick you (especially as you seem as strong if not stronger a candidate than some), so don't worry about it too much.

My guess it that probably only three or at most four times the required number of candidates are interviewed, just to enable clear favourites and several alternatives/back-ups to be finalized (remember that JET has quotas to fill, so they can't be too choosy in the final analysis - I mean, they accepted me, didn't they!).

P.S. I didn't check out Dave's until around 2003; now I pretty much always check by here first for all the info and advice about countries and jobs.