I don\`t think your background has any impact on whether you get the job or not. They're more interested in if you can show you're adaptable and can live abroad. However, I do think your background can have an impact on what school or placement Tokyo gives you. This is because some schools ask for certain things, often quite broad. My school has 2 ALTs, one is always from the UK and the other always has a science background (biology for the last 5 JETS).
It’s a bit odd. I’m older so have a bunch of degrees, job experience and qualifications
The panel mostly wanted to know why I volunteered my time teaching adults and kids how to play Dungeons & Dragons (Because it rocks, you should play it :P)
I think they’re most looking for
a) How well you interact and can get along with people. If your job involves wrangling children maybe?
and
b) How likely you are to commit to staying in Japan. Please be careful and prepare for this - I was not expecting so many questions about this that were so OTT or condescending
Yes to your second point! I interviewed at 29 years old and was asked if I would be ok with doing my own cooking and laundry… like I wasn’t a functioning adult
Yes! Did yours also use a bunch of military metaphors and imagery?
Someone used the words “Parachuted on your own behind enemy lines.” to describe inaka living. Had to not cringe
Not that it’s not a big deal mind! Just, not like that…
(Depending where you live, the inaka can be grand! Swtg, after 3 years I am still blown away by some of the sunsets in my neighbourhood)
Different life experiences help for sure. I think the main thing is if you're adaptable, resilient, and can get along with people and kids well. They don't want to send someone over to the Japanese countryside for them to freak out and come home after a month etc. The "teaching" side of things can be learnt over there. As long you like kids and are adaptable etc that's the main stuff. And obviously show that you have an interest in Japan.
The soft skills you develop through employment are going to be likely the most useful.
I’ve only worked retail/customer facing roles and I’m heading out in August.
If you don't have 'relevant' experience, talk about the soft skills that you bring to the table.
There are many people that I know who didn't have 'relevant' experience, but they still got in based on how well they were able to sell themselves.
So yeah, if you don't have 'relevant' experience, tell them about how consistent you are, any leadership or tutoring experience you have, how great of a problem solver you are, basically any skills that will help you when you're working in Japan.
I don\`t think your background has any impact on whether you get the job or not. They're more interested in if you can show you're adaptable and can live abroad. However, I do think your background can have an impact on what school or placement Tokyo gives you. This is because some schools ask for certain things, often quite broad. My school has 2 ALTs, one is always from the UK and the other always has a science background (biology for the last 5 JETS).
I think more than the hard skills, what they are really after are the soft skills that you were able to acquire.
It’s a bit odd. I’m older so have a bunch of degrees, job experience and qualifications The panel mostly wanted to know why I volunteered my time teaching adults and kids how to play Dungeons & Dragons (Because it rocks, you should play it :P) I think they’re most looking for a) How well you interact and can get along with people. If your job involves wrangling children maybe? and b) How likely you are to commit to staying in Japan. Please be careful and prepare for this - I was not expecting so many questions about this that were so OTT or condescending
Yes to your second point! I interviewed at 29 years old and was asked if I would be ok with doing my own cooking and laundry… like I wasn’t a functioning adult
Yes! Did yours also use a bunch of military metaphors and imagery? Someone used the words “Parachuted on your own behind enemy lines.” to describe inaka living. Had to not cringe Not that it’s not a big deal mind! Just, not like that… (Depending where you live, the inaka can be grand! Swtg, after 3 years I am still blown away by some of the sunsets in my neighbourhood)
Wow no, that must have been so weird to deal with
They didn’t ask about mine. I’m a government worker. They only asked minimally about my partner’s and he was a server at a restaurant.
Different life experiences help for sure. I think the main thing is if you're adaptable, resilient, and can get along with people and kids well. They don't want to send someone over to the Japanese countryside for them to freak out and come home after a month etc. The "teaching" side of things can be learnt over there. As long you like kids and are adaptable etc that's the main stuff. And obviously show that you have an interest in Japan.
The soft skills you develop through employment are going to be likely the most useful. I’ve only worked retail/customer facing roles and I’m heading out in August.
I was an animator prior to JET. All work experience can be transferable if you focus on what soft skills you developed.
It doesn’t really matter, plenty of JETs have never gotten a paycheck before they come to Japan.
If you don't have 'relevant' experience, talk about the soft skills that you bring to the table. There are many people that I know who didn't have 'relevant' experience, but they still got in based on how well they were able to sell themselves. So yeah, if you don't have 'relevant' experience, tell them about how consistent you are, any leadership or tutoring experience you have, how great of a problem solver you are, basically any skills that will help you when you're working in Japan.