Quote:
Originally Posted by Jer3
wow never knew JET expected that much from applicants. i was planning to apply around fall once i finish my bachelors but this is kind of discouraging since i barely have bothered to get reference letters from professors nor any recent volunteering experience with children. I assume if you "wow" them in the interview, you could overcome some of those things? i assume if you have TESL, your chances of getting accepted into JET is higher?
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take your time filling out the application with well thought out answers.
write your essay, get several people to read it, edit, reflect upon yourself.
if you make it to the interview stage, you will be interviewed by a japanese national who is part of the jet program, a local who has been on jet, and generally one other person related to the jet program like a cir or jet recruitment staff.
i went straight out of university but i also had many years of work experience, unrelated to teaching or esl ( i was in ubc commerce). i went there without ever having been to japan once. my bestfriend had moved there a few years back so that took my anxiety away. i would highly suggest you begin taking japanese language lessons asap. anything u learn here will woefully unprepare you for the bombardment of another language. ie. grocery store... or a bank machine... or read a menu.
Jet is looking for people
1. genuinely interested in japan
2. who are interested in more than humping girls
3. interested in if you can handle the stress of living in a place where you can't really communicate with anyone, can't read nothing, can't communicate etc etc... it can be quite a shock in some areas
4. who they think are self sufficient, responsible
5. if you will not freak out or ditch your job and fulfill your contract
if you are outgoing, positive, professional, just like any job interview, you will be do well in an interview. there are many behavioral questions to weed out the people who freak out, can't handle stressful situations, as well questions which test your workplace relationships.
jet is more than teaching english, its breaking down stereotypes, creating interest, opening the eyes of kids and locals. i was very involved in more than school, i helped out after school with the kids sports clubs, english clubs. i also participated in my town events. if you are stuck in a small town like i was, you get to know so many people as they all know you are the gaijin alt. get the most out of your time there, experience everything. make some alt friends for those days when u need to speak to someone in english, but also make the majority of your friends locals. you will have the greatest experience in these cases.
over the years jet has moved out of the cities to more rural locations, so be ready to be in a city of millions to a town of a 1000 people. it is that wide of a range of placement. if you want to be in tokyo or surrounding, or osaka and surrounding, you wil likely have to work for a non jet program like interac or gaba.
there's so much to say.. you should really attend the info sessions, the apps are due in november, i began preparing mine in june/july time frame. look up jetaabc and attend some of the get togethers and ask questions.
sorry my thoughts are all out of order as im just pulling this off the top of my head.