JET Program Perspective: Strengthening Your Application

JET Program Perspective: Strengthening Your Application

About a year after I came back from the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, I met a girl my age at a party who was interested in the program. She said to me that she didn't apply when she was in college because she felt it was too competitive. After finishing the program I had completely forgotten about the lengthiness of the process and the anxiety it caused for its applicants.

In this post I will express my opinions on what you can do to strengthen your JET application.

Background

The JET Program invites professionals to Japan to teach at its PK-12 schools or work at its government offices. It is organized by several Japanese government branches which include: the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the Ministry of Education among others. JET Program participants who become Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) are likely to go on to work for a public school or a Board of Education. Those who become Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) work in government offices as interpreters or translators.

Acceptance Rate

My brother-in-law joined the program in 2010 and my sister and I later joined in 2011 as teachers, so I experienced the process in different ways. At the time that my sister and I joined, a Consulate-General of Japan in Houston's website article stated that 31 out of 200+ applicants were selected from the Texas and Oklahoma states. That is roughly 1 out of 7 applicants. Unfortunately I can not find recent information for the Texoma participants who depart from Houston.

The main program's 2018 website states: "The JET Program typically receives 4,000-5,000 applications each year from U.S. applicants. Of these, 1,000-1,100 will be selected for participation on the JET Program." It seems that roughly 1 out of 5 applicants will be selected depending on where you apply.

Acceptance statistics often lack context and can lead to some fearful assumptions, so that is why I want to look beyond these numbers and hopefully help someone who is interested in applying be more optimistic.

Who are the applicants?

Though there is no age limit, the JET Program seems to target young college-aged professionals and those who have few years of professional work experience under their belt. JET representatives who work for local consulates can be found at university job fairs speaking to students who are getting ready to graduate. I think it's safe to assume that most applicants are under thirty years old.

I also think that most applicants are intrinsically motivated; the salary is incredibly low for entry-level full-time American jobs and compared to other teach-abroad programs. That is one of the reasons why the competition seems hard-- just about everyone you know who applies really wants to get in. Unlike regular college or company job applicants, those who apply to JET are probably not applying to five other places because there are few choices with benefits like JET.

The foreign English teachers I interacted with varied in interests and knowledge about Japan or the Japanese language before learning about the program. This could range from people who have traveled to Japan in the past or who want to travel, to American-born Japanese looking to reconnect with a distant culture, to people who were simply looking for a new job, and ofcourse, the J-popculture enthusiasts who wanted to live out their dreams of being in Japan. Some JETs had extensive knowledge of Japanese, and many, like me, knew zero of it.

Knowing Japanese, Knowing Japan

That is why I'm not sure if knowing Japanese will give you a significant edge in the application process (unless you are applying for a CIR position), but having some sort of personal or professional connection to the Japanese culture could show that you are in it for more than just a job. I was a regular school-teacher when I knew that I was going to apply to the JET Program, so I incorporated a cultural exchange program with another Japanese school in to my teaching plan. I was able to bring this up in my application process and when I discussed it during the interview, I received a positive reaction from the committee. Before you apply, think about what cultural and community experiences you can get involved in early that will strengthen your application.

Factoring Teaching Experience

I am positive that having any type of teaching accreditation such as completing a formal teaching program, acquiring a teaching certificate, or being some sort of teacher in a school will significantly increase your likelihood of getting in to JET. My sister and brother-in-law both completed formal teaching programs, and I was already a teacher, and we all got in. In the city that I worked, about a third or half of the JETs were formerly teachers in their countries or had completed some sort of teaching program. You will notice that on the JET Program's U.S.A. page under the Required Documents page and the Additional Materials heading that you are encouraged to submit teaching certifications first.

Additional materials for the U.S.A. application (April 2018)

Other Experiences

Many applicants' degree track or work experiences may not align with the ALT job they apply for and some do not have the flexibility to complete a teaching program. To those applicants I recommend that they give themselves at least a year before the deadline to:

• Get involved with cultural and community programs to show that you are social and open-minded.  
• Volunteer at tutoring or teaching centers to highlight that you can teach.
• Volunteer for things that might require leadership or coordinating efforts to show that you are self-sufficient and work well with others.
• Develop relationships with supervisors or leaders because you will need them to vouch for you in letters of recommendation.

I have met two people who graduated as business or engineer majors who knew little about Japan but still got in the program-- these cases are rare. Ideally, you should show a gradation of experiences that relate to your application. I think a year of related activities is enough especially considering how young most applicants are.

Attention to detail

After working with Japanese people and dealing with some "formal papers" situations, I have found that Japanese paperwork requires a high-- even annoying level of detail and perfection. Few things are completed online or digitally. Oftentimes information about yourself must be written in ink and any mistakes must be stamped with your official seal to show correction or the copy must be thrown away. In that case, the paper handler will have to nervously call their supervisor to ask for another sheet because they are not trusted with multiple copies. The point I am trying to make is that the application you fill out, wherever you are, is essentially a Japanese one, and it will require your highest attention to detail. I get the feeling that a number of applicants get rejected because their applications are sloppy or incomplete.

Start your application early and work neatly. Don't do it on your own. Have someone else check over the entire thing including the forms and the essays. Make sure you submit everything they want all at once and before the deadline.

Similar Options

Another reason why applicants are anxious is because there are few similar alternatives to turn to. Are there any other programs that have a longstanding reputation, is managed by the national government, provides similar accommodations, and takes place in one of the safest countries in the world?

If you are an American student who is truly interested in teaching abroad in an established program then I also recommend checking out something called the Fullbright English Assistant Teaching Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Japan is one of the participating countries! Yes, the word Fullbright carries distinguishment, therefore competition, but keep in mind that this is for an EAT position, not for research. I learned about this specific program only recently, but it has been around for some time.

The Wait

Imagine waiting nearly eight months from the time you submit your application, to getting an invitation for an interview, to when you receive news that you are admitted or rejected. While waiting you read the online stories about people getting rejected. The waiting was the worst part of the entire process!

It is an incredibly long process. I personally know someone who was declined their first time, and it is very difficult to try trying again. It is important during this time to keep your options open. Know that if your mind is set on teaching abroad or going to Japan, there are still many other options other than JET. Just Google it!

Building your credentials and laying it out in an application takes a lot of work. However, once you receive news you are in the JET Program, it will all be worth it. Good luck!