Job Discussion Forums

manutdman · Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 3

Based on the criteria below:

1) Graduated with an engineering degree
2) 4 years experience working
3) Born/raised in Malaysia and moved to America (citizen now) when I was 15 (grew up speaking English since I was a baby)
4) Of Asian (read : Chinese) descent

I'm most worried about the 4th criteria because I don't know how favorably programs like J.E.T. view Asian candidates (as opposed to caucasians etc.)

Your thoughts pls? Thanks.

ssjup81 · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:23 pm Post subject:

You should be fine. There are people of different ethnicities, races, backgrounds, etc., in programs like JET. I wouldn't say that they favor whites or Caucasians over other candidates...I get the impression that whites/Caucasians apply more in comparison or is the majority of the candidates compared to to other groups.

I only know maybe six relatives of my own family (intermediate and out of it) who would go out the country or would be willing to or have. Other members of my family have the, "Other countries hate black people" mentality and the others are scared of things like boats or planes.

manutdman · Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 3

Thanks.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If you gained American citizenship, then state proudly and clearly that you are American, not a person of Malaysian or Asian descent. Make your citizenship work for you instead of muddying the waters with statements like that. JET takes people from over 30 countries. Read their pamphlet. Not all are caucasian.

If you want a job in Japan, come to the Japan forum and ask around. You are qualified for entry level work, nothing more (ALT through JET or a dispatch agency, or eikaiwa teacher). The market is full of teachers and wannabes, so you face steep competition, but most newbies in Japan have a degree unrelated to teaching and have little or no experience teaching.

mspxlation · Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 44 Location: USA

When I was teaching Japanese on the college level, I had a Japanese-American student who applied for JET.

Her only qualification was that she had been on my college's semester abroad program in Japan.

She was easily accepted (although I wonder whether her willingness to drive 50 miles to the Japanese consulate in a snowstorm won her extra brownie points).