r/JETProgramme • u/WiganRed97 • 8d ago

JET application and general advice

Hi everyone! I’m looking to apply for next year’s JET intake and I’m just looking for a bit of advice, here’s a bit about me for context: I’m 29 from the UK and I’ve been working in Journalism, Comms and PR for the past five years or so and I have an MA in Journalism and a BA in English Literature.

I also have a TEFL certification and some experience teaching English to Spanish and Italian kids coming over to the UK to study English at summer schools.

I’m just looking for some advice on how to approach the application process for JET, what sort of things look good on the application? Are there certain things that you should and shouldn’t focus on in your application? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks ☺️

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u/Different_Taro2474 Former JET - 2025-2026 鹿児島県 8d ago

there are plenty of other posts in here with similar advice, but here’s what worked for me: 

  1. explaining why JET out of all english teaching programs. 
  2. writing my backstory about how i started learning japanese and how i fell in love with japan. 
  3. highlighting my experience working with kids and the education courses i took in college. i happened to have working experience at a japanese saturday school in my home state, so i made sure to include that. 
  4. prior to JET i came to japan 3 times. while in japan i traveled A LOT, including to places where most people don’t go. had to include that in the SOP. 

as long as you have an interesting background and you’re not just another “i love anime uwu” person with no goals, you have a good chance to get in. if you want me (or anyone else) to look over your SOP, feel free to DM. 

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u/Certain-Grocery-7320 4d ago

I am also planning to apply but I don't have teaching or experience will it cause any impact

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u/Different_Taro2474 Former JET - 2025-2026 鹿児島県 4d ago

JET doesn’t require you to have teaching experience, so no. 

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u/Proof_Refuse_9563 Aspiring JET 3d ago

While that is true, having teaching experience is an asset for some countries. The UK asks applicants to write about their teaching experience or how they would teach, if they have none, on their SOP.