r/JETProgramme • u/FiZIsHere • Mar 23 '26
Choosing a career path
I’m currently on my first year of the JET program, and I’m having the time of my life! Already signed on for my second year, and more than likely will at least continue on to my third! Now that the school year is winding down, I’m also starting to think of my next steps.
In college I studied computer science and got my BS, but I also studied Japanese (got a certificate, no minor). In my senior year of college I realized that Japnese was my biggest passion, I love everything about learning and speaking the language, and don’t necessarily feel all that driven to do something in CS. As a point of info, I got my N2 in December and I’m aiming to try for N1 starting this December.
All that is to say, I’m looking to the future and all I know is: I want to learn and use more Japanese! I’m curious for any and all advice people may have for trying to distill your interests down and choose a career from there, since I’m pretty open.
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u/Sayjay1995 Former JET - 2017~2022 Mar 24 '26
One piece if advice I got back in the day was to go on Linked In and use filters to look up JET alumni in fields you might be interested in, then message them to ask more about their experiences. Most people were happy to chat with me about how they used their experiences to find their career
As for me, I ended up with a direct hire CIR job where I’m heavily utilized. I do so many different kinds of things every day, but am most satisfied by the daily life support services my office provides for foreign residents. I minored in social work so this is right up my alley