I'm graduating in December, and I really have my eye set on the JET program. Does anyone know what the odds are of being accepted? If I don't get in, I'll need to have some alternative career lined up so I can, but... you know, I really don't want to. Does anyone know of an alternative way to get to work in Japan, other than JET?

Roughly I hear the jet application goes something like 50% of people get interviews, and then 50% of the interviewed people get a position. In other words, about 1/4 get in.

There is always Eikawa schools if you don't mind teaching English in that setting.

Good luck! I'll also be applying this year.

I know this sounds a bit trite but, if you google "find job in Japan", I think you will find more than enough information.

Zarxrax Wrote:I'm graduating in December, and I really have my eye set on the JET program. Does anyone know what the odds are of being accepted? If I don't get in, I'll need to have some alternative career lined up so I can, but... you know, I really don't want to. Does anyone know of an alternative way to get to work in Japan, other than JET?

The JET Program is not a career. Even IF you get your contract renewed every time it expires, you still only get a maximum of five years in the program.

Jarvik7 Wrote:The JET Program is not a career. Even IF you get your contract renewed every time it expires, you still only get a maximum of five years in the program.

Yes I agree with this 100%. I dug myself a 3 year JET hole and, in the current economy, it is proving to be very difficult to climb out. You have to seriously consider how time on JET will affect your chosen field. I didn't. Now I am feeling the pressure.

Jarvik7 Wrote:The JET Program is not a career. Even IF you get your contract renewed every time it expires, you still only get a maximum of five years in the program.

Well yea, but that would at least let me put it off for a while
For some reason, starting into a professional white-collar job here in America seems much more frightening to me than moving half-way around the world...

dilandau23 Wrote:I know this sounds a bit trite but, if you google "find job in Japan", I think you will find more than enough information.

Thanks, I'll check that out.

dilandau23 Wrote:I dug myself a 3 year JET hole and, in the current economy, it is proving to be very difficult to climb out. You have to seriously consider how time on JET will affect your chosen field. I didn't. Now I am feeling the pressure.

That's a good point, and something I have thought about (though not a lot). Hopefully we would be out of the recession by the time I return

I'd recommend you work a year in the States before you go into JET. Work a job within your skill set you gained in Univeristy. A real 9-5 kind of job. Can't find a good one? Volunteer in your field..a lot. Get names, references, and network, network, network. That way, if you want to work in Japan post-JET you'll have some transmittable skills you can apply to a different job.

Conversely, the JET program will give you a big taste of Japanese life and you may decide you don't want to live in Japan permanently. That year of domestic employment/ volunteer work will look good on a resume when you go back home.

It's a great experience, and I enjoyed my year in the sticks. Fantastic way to clear your head out, connect with locals, travel... Good luck if you are applying!

To the below poster: *High five*

Dear Zarxrax,

In many people's eyes, (and in employers eyes both in Japan and on this side of the Pacific) teaching English in Japan qualifies you to............CONTINUE teaching English in Japan!

It's easy to get stuck in an English-teaching "ghetto" or rut in Japan and hard to get out of. And then hard to explain back in North America where people don't always value it: "Oh, yeah, my cousin who couldn't get a job here did that in To-kee-yo for a year. You should see him use those chopsticks!"

So think carefully about your career path before you go to Japan. It'd be better to have some hard skills that you can parlay into a decent career there after JET.

Signed,
Bitter Experience lol

Thanks for the advice, I will give this some serious consideration.

While all of these criticisms are valid and good things to think about, I just want to say, don't let them discourage you too much. When you're 40 and have established yourself in whatever career you carefully planned out, you may not be in a position where you could even think about living somewhere else for a year. Living abroad or learning another language is not just about your career in the end - is it? The fact is, people do things that look a lot worse on their resumes than teaching English for a year. No matter where you go in the world or in life, you should be open-minded to taking opportunities to try something different than what everyone else is doing, in my opinion (and the cheesy side of things).
As far as more concrete advice goes, the Eikaiwa schools can be great, and you get to teach adults instead of kids, which is possibly better for your social life... I worked for one that conducts interviews in big U.S. cities, got a job before graduating, and had an all around great experience. Anyway, there are tons of online discussion boards if you google these things.

I was on JET for two years, and so far it hasn't been a problem. You just need to remember the following:

(1) Being on JET doesn't mean anything. In Japan it might help you find a job, and in America you might be asked about your experiences at an interview, but it's never going to be something people look at and go "Wow. A JET." You need to do something along with JET to make it a worthwhile pursuit. Learning Japanese works. So does starting some sort of club or whatever. It needs to be JET + something else in order for people to really be interested in the experience. Most JETs are just JETs. They go, they live, and they return.

(2) If you can save, save as much money as possible. JET gives you a great salary coming out of college. And you can do a lot with the money. You can travel, save for graduate school, etc. Just don't waste it all at the bar. I spent mine on language camps, travel to Asia, returns to America, and my upcoming 6 month language program in Osaka.

(3) Get credentials. Even if it's level 3 on the JLPT, get it. You can also study for GREs, LSATs, etc. I know some people that were on JET and did a correspondence course or even an on-line graduate degree. When they left JET, they were well on their way.

(4) Take a graduate course the summer before you leave. If you want to get into business, take a basic accounting course. If you want to get into health, take something related to health. Build a resume so that an employer knows you're serious about a career. This is an option if you're not willing to take a year to work before JET.

I guess that's all I can think of.

Sorry for my discouraging post above.

Despite signing it "Bitter Experience", really I don't regret one bit going to Japan and living/working there for three years. One of the best experiences of my life.

Just do it!

TGWeaver has good advice for making the most of it. .

Just go!

I'm getting to this thread a little late but...

First to reply the original poster: the JET program is shrinking and therefore is going to be harder and harder to get into. In my prefecture 1/2 of the High School ALT's were cut despite English being a number one priority. A very qualified friend of mine even wasn't able to get in. Do your best, don't be nervous, and research, research, research! There is a great website out there with lots of hints on the interview written by an old JET who conducted interviews. Oh and always have a backup plan. Check out the other eikaiwas and see what happens.

As it seems we have also started to share out JET experiences, here is what I have to say. Like many I set my eyes on JET after college. I wanted to move to Japan, improve my Japanese, AND (I think this is where people can get stuck) use JET as a platform. By that I mean that I knew coming into the JET program that being an ALT is NOT a career, at all. You receive no raises, no bonuses, and other than maybe moving to a CIR or a PA position no room for advancement. However if you use your position as an ALT to improve your skills (Japanese, human interaction, Japanese customs, etc.), JET can be an excellent platform for you to look for career opportunities while you are in Japan, and I don't mean other eikaiwai opportunities. And although there are other companies you can use as that platform (NOVA, Berlitz, etc.) JET provides the best pay, best benefits (4 weeks off a year!), and the most satisfying work experience (in my opinion).

Currently I am heading into my 2nd year on JET. My aim is to pass JLPT level 2 in December and if that happens then to also try and pass JLPT level 1 in June/July or whenever the new test is held. I firmly believe that not just in JET but in life if you can set these goals and actually try to achieve them then no matter what you do you will be successful. What I see with many JETs (not all mind you!) around me (and other eikaiwa teachers as well) is they lose motivation, and don't set any goals. I think this is too bad as you are given a great gift by being able to come to Japan and that should not be spoiled.

There are many ways to teach in Japan without going through JET. And it's not simple a matter of JET or eikaiwa.

If you get a job with a dispatch company, you do the exact same work as a JET (working as an ALT in a public school). The disadvantage is that you don't get paid as much, they don't pay for your flight, and nothing is really subsidized. There are, however, a few advantages over JET. For instance, you get a LOT more vacation: six weeks in the summer (usually paid or mostly paid); two weeks in spring; and two weeks in winter; in addition to every other holiday, three day weekend, and in-service day that the JETs usually have to spend in an office.

There are many large and small dispatch companies, such as Interac (the biggest, and therefore, worst), W5, and Altia Central (they pay 100% of vacation and give you a free company car). Most of the people I know in eikaiwa envy my job as a dispatch ALT for all the downtime and few classes I get, and even my JET friends envy all the vacation. So, if you don't get into JET, keep applying at Gaijinpot.com to every position that looks good, and you can get in easily.

esgrove Wrote:Most of the people I know in eikaiwa envy my job as a dispatch ALT for all the downtime and few classes I get, and even my JET friends envy all the vacation.

Yes, here! I envy you, too!!! I only have 3 weeks of paid vacations and most national holidays NOT off at all. Pretty tight schedule and all. I still love my job a lot, but when I see how much holidays some other teachers get, then it's really kind of frustrating.

I think JET is still a great chance - so I'd at least try to apply!
I'm German, so JET was not an option for me (how many German ALTs do they need in public schools in Japan? .... right!). There's like one position every 2 or 3 years and that's it. It's almost impossible to get this ONE position ...

I'd love to be an ALT an experience the "normal" Japanese school life though. I'm still scared to work for one of those dispatch companies. I've heard so many things about them. Like they pay you less then promised, you'll get your paycheck way too late. Furthermore - as you all probably know - what they do is illegal.

Anyway I'd say try to apply for JET, but also keep an eye on offers at gaijinpot.

I'm currently doing my 2nd year of JET and it's been a great experience. This really helps with the AJATT Method as I have plently of time to study RTK1 as I've been doing everyday. And it's much easier to get a hold of "Japanese-only" things. Movies, manga, etc.

Plus, the only time I speak real English is if I happen to see some other ALT friends which I avoid as much as possible and hang out with my Japanese friends. Granted, I still need some English to stay sane but it's so easy to work on kanji all day and then watch movies in Japanese.

As for a job, that depends on your goal. I plan on living in Japan after JET not as an ALT so I'm quite motivated to study the 日本語.

I forgot what my point was going to be....

But it seems JET + AJATT Method = Whatever you want to do in Japan(minus being a real teacher or politician unless you become citizen)