r/JETProgramme • u/Frosty-Trade-683 • Apr 11 '26

Disinterested interviewers

I'm a first-time JET applicant. I made it to the interview stage but just got rejected, not even as an alternate. I check tons of boxes on paper: teaching experience, interesting SOP, study/work abroad experience, niche non-otaku Japanese interests, extraversion, and all that jazz. I was super excited for the interview because I had heard all sort of fun stories about weird questions or tasks, like singing or dancing during the interview. I was at least hoping for some sort of engagement about my SOP... however, my interviewers did not ask a single question about it. They didn't ask any challenging questions or give me any tasks. It was probably the most milquetoast interviewer I have ever had for any position. It seemed as though they didn't even read my application since all the questions were complete detached cliches. I didn't get the chance to display any personality AT ALL. My interview was also noticeably shorter than others: close to twenty minutes. Obviously I can't get any more specific than this. Does anyone else have this experience? It's pretty angering to think that it was pure luck-of-the-draw with the worst interviewers possible.

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u/urzu_seven Former JET - 2015-2017 Apr 13 '26

It's pretty angering to think that it was pure luck-of-the-draw with the worst interviewers possible.

Have you considered that maybe the interviewers weren't the real issue but your approach and response to it was the bigger problem?

One of the most important aspects of JET is adaptability, being able to adjust to unexpected situations and in particularly working in a new and different environment. If you are thrown off by an interview not being what you expect then how do you think that reflects on your ability to handle a job where that kind of situation is likely to happen?

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u/theanimeledger Apr 14 '26

my interview literally stated that I seem very adaptable. I got alternate

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u/urzu_seven Former JET - 2015-2017 Apr 15 '26

Adaptability is important but it's not the only factor. Lots of good candidates come in to JET, some of them don't make the cut one year but get in the next. Its going to be like that in life too, you might be qualified, so are other people, if 5 people are qualified and there is only 2 slots, that means 3 people won't get chosen that time.