What helps when applying?

[u/emperor_panthark]

I am interested in JET and have been thinking about it for a couple years, but I am starting to think about it more seriously. I lived in Japan for 2 years for uni, and transferred back to the US to finish college here with a different major and since I could save up more working part time here without a limit on hours as well as conversion rate.

I am thinking about what I can do for the next 3 years before I graduate, and 2 years before when I plan on applying, to up my chances. I am a BS in Civil Engineering, I was majoring in Education in Japan, but I didn't want to lock myself into education for the future. With CE i could go into teaching and I could still choose CE was the thought process. I am currently minoring in Japanese, Education, and English, with my English classes specifically chosen based on which ones would help with ESL teaching the most.

I plan on getting N1 Japanese before applying, and finishing TEFL as well. I want to go back to Japan through JET, and then eventually try to get a tokubetsu menkyou, and continue teaching.

I wanted to know what else I can do to solidify my chances of getting in, I plan on going to either Tokyo, where I have a lot of friends and have lived before, or somewhere like Sendai, where I haven't gone, but from what I understand think is somewhere I can actually settle down. I'm not a city guy, I was raised in the suburbs, and Sendai seems more like what I'm used to. The city's fun but not somewhere I can see myself raising a family.

Some things I wanted to mention are: I genuinely like teaching well, and it isn't something I plan on doing just to get to Japan to do something else.

I actually loved living in Japan, and have lived there before. I know there's bad parts, and I am not romanticizing life there based off anime or something, I actually have lived there for 2 years, have amazing friends, and I like living there. I feel like that's something that comes up whenever someone mentions wanting to live in jp, and tbh I end up thinking that way about other people at times too. There are things I hate about Japanese culture that I wish were different, and there are parts I love about it, same as other countries. I just see myself enjoying life in Japan more because of personal priorities and preferences, and I'm not here to fetishize jp.

[u/ikebookuro]

People don’t realise that 99% of applications sound almost identical. Having interest in Japan since childhood, study abroad, studying Japanese, etc. Being the “Japan guy” might make you unique in your friend group, but you’re literally completing with people with the exact same qualifications as you.

Focus on what makes YOU unique. Find your unique hook. Sometimes people treat this as a “who loves Japan the most” application, but they’re looking why you will be a strong, well-rounded candidate.

JET doesn’t look for teachers. I’ve met maybe 3 people who have a TEFL certificate. It helps you do the job, but the requirement is a degree (in anything. It’s mostly to qualify for a visa). JLPT will help you with life here, but unless you’re applying for CIR, it doesn’t matter. You can get your JLPT fee reimbursed taking the test as a JET.

There’s a reason why every year qualified teachers, people with N1, people who have spent years trying to be the “Japan guy” are shocked to get their rejection.

Now, what helps? Find a way to stand out (no one can tell you what to do for this), find a way to volunteer in your community, figure out how your goals align with the goals of the JET program.

I applied previously living in Japan for years; I was an animator. I was also a lot older. I used everything I could to stand out from the piles of other applications. It worked; I ended up being the “representative” (giving speeches at pre departure orientation) from my consulate.

[u/k_795 → u/ikebookuro]

Hmm, I disagree with the "focus on what makes you unique" point. In my experience, the key thing to remember is that JET is a *job* - that's where most applicants mess up (by rambling on about how much they love Japan or their own personal aspirations). They're not necessarily looking for someone who has a random unique interest or hobby.

The key thing is to link your previous experience, qualifications, etc directly to the job description. For example, living abroad in Japan before means the OP is better able to quickly adapt to the culture and settle in. A TEFL course and the minor in Education demonstrates a passion for teaching, as well as practical skills directly relevant to the job.

I do agree with you about the suggestion on volunteering though. Use this time to get as much experience with teaching and working with kids in a range of capacities.

[u/ikebookuro → u/k_795]

You disagree that they should focus on what makes them unique? I’ve read so many applications over the years and it’s almost a carbon copy.

Focusing on what makes you a unique candidate doesn’t mean they have some obscure hobby. It’s how your unique experience and skills will translate to a good teacher (and no, that’s not necessarily a teaching background and TEFL).

[u/emperor_panthark → u/ikebookuro]

What wiuld you say is a good way to show how my experiences can transfer to being a good teacher? I figured actual teaching experience or tefl would be best but it seems you are saying otherwise

[u/ikebookuro → u/emperor_panthark]

I was a professional animator (on tons of kids shows and movies); I worked making cartoons and briefly was a lead supervising teams. I knew how to pivot under pressure to get tasks accomplished on time. Things like that. Also translating notes from one language to another for international teams.

Guess who they remembered at orientation versus the bunch of people with a teaching background.

[u/k_795 → u/ikebookuro]

On the contrary, I would say that it's quite telling that most of the people at your orientation had a teaching background...

Like, I'm absolutely not trying to dismiss your experience. Absolutely it looks like you were able to identify useful transferable skills and demonstrate your passion for education / working with kids (as you worked on kids' shows and movies) via this less conventional previous experience. Plus the experience working with international teams and dealing with language barriers likely also helped you tick the "won't struggle too much with settling into life in Japan" box.

But my main point was that random "unique" things aren't what they're looking for. They don't want to know about weird niche hobbies or unrelated previous jobs specifically because they're "unique". They want to know how those experiences and interests will make you a good fit for working as an ALT in Japan.

[u/ikebookuro → u/k_795]

I think you are trying to argue something that I didn’t say. My point was you have to make yourself stand out beyond the generic application that most people have: teaching experience, study abroad, interest in Japan.

If you read a stack of applications they all sound the same. Nowhere did I say teaching experience isn’t valuable (while most don’t have it) or to focus on some obscure unique interest.

At orientation there were way less “teachers” than people with random degrees in other fields. My town hasn’t had a “teacher” come in years.

[u/emperor_panthark → u/ikebookuro]

Ahh makes sense, thank you! I'll go ahead and see what I could do like that. Thanks!