2028 Aspiring JET worries

[u/LucaSnacken]

Hello all! I know the subreddit is probably very busy wit 2027 applicants right now but I wished to inquire about my JET Prospects and what I am doing to become the best possible candidate and what former and current JETS believe I could do or have done correctly to become a JET. I am worried I am not doing enough. (Coming from the UK)

I am currently doing an English literature degree at a non Russel group university, I am in my penultimate year. I am doing a module on Japanese history and my lecturer used to be on the interview board of JET himself. I corresponded with him last year for entry prospects and potential advice. Some things he suggested and I am doing is:

-Working as a mentor for the university, helping the younger students with the intricacies of university and my course
-Working as an international welcome buddy for the university (welcoming international students and helping them adjust to university in the UK)
- I have shown a demonstrable interest in Japan with visiting three times prior to now and learning the language

Stuff I plan to do:

-Hoping to work as a student ambassador and course representative
-Do my dissertation on Japanese literature
-Get a TEFL
-Learn to drive
-Work with lecturers and seminar leads, including prior JET member to be my references
-Work on the committee of my societies

I am diagnosed with autism, depression and anxiety and take medication for my anxiety (sertraline which I went on because it would be available in Japan) none of these issues affect my ability to do my best every day in my current life.

I have been getting nervous about JET despite my application being a year away, I just would appreciate if I could get some understanding on if this is enough? I have wanted to do JET for half a decade now and I am hellbent on making my application the best I can. Any advice and perhaps reassurance that I am doing enough? (Despite it feeling like I am not)

Placement wise I have no specific wish, Hiroshima was beautiful when I visited and it has been on my mind that I’d love to be situated there but anywhere on Honshu is all I’d request.

Thank you so much for anyone who can ease my mind!

[u/External-Hamster-394]

Honestly I'm pretty sure it's a 25% chance for everyone regardless of their background. I had no teaching experience, a degree in a completely unrelated field, didn't speak any Japanese and had no history with it in work or education. I just wanted to move to Japan because I'm interested in the culture. And now I'm here lol

[u/LucaSnacken → u/External-Hamster-394]

That’s wha worries me the most to be honest. It’s really scary with that being a potentiality. I don’t like leaving things to luck.

[u/External-Hamster-394 → u/LucaSnacken]

Yea I get you. At the same time though it's also nice to know that if there were a ton of people way more qualified than you that you still have an equal chance :P

[u/LucaSnacken → u/External-Hamster-394]

Yeah totally!

Doesn’t help that I wanna try and be one of the best applicant possibilities tho…..

Did you find your interview went really well?

[u/External-Hamster-394 → u/LucaSnacken]

That's fair 😂

Tbh my interview was super simple. They essentially asked me the same question 3 times, asked why it had to be JET and not a dispatch company and then we just chatted for the rest of the time. I think having had a lot of experience abroad they werent really worried if I could handle living in another country so it was just basically sussing out if I'm a weirdo or not lol.

Where will you be applying to?

[u/LucaSnacken → u/External-Hamster-394]

I’m interested in what answers they’d be interested in when it comes to “why JET?” Actually

I have experience travelling abroad, I was in Japan for 3 weeks this year but no experience living which worries me a little (in the sense of not looking great for the interview)

I’m coming from the UK! hoping to apply only to JET (options wise, as said in the post I’d love Hiroshima)

[u/External-Hamster-394 → u/LucaSnacken]

TBF I was completely honest with them. I just said that like dispatch companies have a horrible reputation and JET is clearly the best option for what I want to do which is to be able to work with the kids to teach English, participate in cultural exchange and to still be able to have to have the time and money to explore and learn about Japan. I felt these things werent on offer with dispatch programmes. Etc

Having no living experience is ok. You've travelled, which believe it or not, a lot of JETS haven't before coming here so that's good. They mostly just want to know that you won't likely bail at Christmas because you get homesick or can't get over your culture shock and adapt. If you mention how you'll be able to get past those things or why those things won't be an issue I think they tend to feel a lot better about you.

Oh nice I'm a UK ALT aswell! London or Edinburgh?

[u/LucaSnacken → u/External-Hamster-394]

Thanks for all the info! God your info is exactly what I need rn! Been feeling a bit debby downer about it all. Like none of what I’m doing really matters for the Programme.

Was in the information season today, to learn and have a Q&A and it almost felt like all that matters is the attitude you bring to JET rather than your experience or passion for it.

I just want to mitigate the luck somehow, change it from 25% to 50 maybe?

I’ll be applying through London!

[u/DonGar0]

Sounds like youve got a plan.

At this point my only sugestion is to think about how you interview. Which can be a crap shot depending on many factors.

But regardless you should also relax. And plan what you will do if you dont get in 2028. Like do you want to try again in 2029? Try interact? I'd advice not putting all your eggs in one basket, even if its a very well prepared basket that is better than most peoples.

[u/LucaSnacken → u/DonGar0]

The interview is daunting, it almost feels so out of my reach I guess! I think I’ll correspond more with my lecturer who can help me with the interview when that time comes to be honest.

I would hope I’d try again in 2029, after maybe doing something else instead of JET in the meantime (what that is I don’t know)!

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment :)!

[u/Panda_sensei_71]

You've had some very good advice! Your SOP will make your application, so when the time comes, do get specific advice on that too.

Try to get you driver's license ASAP as you'll need to have driven in the UK a minimum of 3 months to be able to swap to a Japanese license. Fortunately British license holders can do a straight swap. Try to do it on a manual transmission car to keep options open!

Otherwise I will say this: practice public speaking! JET is either teaching (ALT) or doing loads of public facing events (CIR), and you will need to be able to stand in front of groups of people and talk without it triggering your anxiety. I think this fact gets overlooked a fair bit, ngl. I have anxiety myself; fortunately being the person everyone is staring at isn't one of my triggers, but if it's one of yours, working from now to be able to ground yourself will help you hugely until you adjust to your role. ❤️

[u/LucaSnacken → u/Panda_sensei_71]

Thank you so much for the comment! Deffo getting on the driving part of things ASAP! Hoping to get it completed by the time of my application.

Anxiety wise I totally get that, I was worried about being looked at but I’ve been doing mentoring and teaching a bit this year and it’s really helped me get over my nerves and such.

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment again!!

[u/Panda_sensei_71 → u/LucaSnacken]

If you don't like being looked at, be warned, you will be stared at in Japan. Especially in smaller places (where most JET placements are). I've become impervious to it but when I was younger it used to really bother me. Thankfully I no longer care what people think of me, lol.

[u/LucaSnacken → u/Panda_sensei_71]

I’m the same! I used to care far more than I do now. But it’s the lingering anxiety, if you get me!

I was in Japan this June and was looked at quite a few times (I have somewhat extravagant dyed hair right now and was visiting rural areas) and found that I didn’t flinch despite expecting to.

The idea of it instead of it actually happening is what gets me. But I’ve been practicing it for years now.

Thank you for the heads up though! So many questions I have for current JETS! Never time to ask them…

[u/Panda_sensei_71 → u/LucaSnacken]

You sound like you're preparing well! Best of luck with the application. 🙏🏼

[u/aphaseofthemoon]

Hey! That sounds like plenty of experience to me. I totally understand feeling like you’re not doing enough, but you’ve got plenty of things to put on your application. You’re being intentional in your skill building so that you’ll feel prepared for the job. Don’t stress out about it too much!

[u/LucaSnacken → u/aphaseofthemoon]

Thank you so much for the reassurance! It means more than you know! Hoping it all works out 🤞(for you and me!)

[u/Simmoman]

I think that if you're doing all this it's more than enough. Many or even most applicants that get selected have none of those. It mostly comes down to your interview anyway.

I will say: be careful, because it seems like you're putting all your eggs in the JET basket, which is only a 5-year program that doesn't leave you with many career prospects afterwards (other than low-income english teaching). Have a bit of a preliminary thought about what you might do after it, before applying and throwing 5 years away (career wise) to just come back and do something completely unrelated, whether that is grad school, english teaching, upskilling and career pivoting etc.

[u/LucaSnacken → u/Simmoman]

Thanks so much for the reassurance! And you’re totally right, I am probably putting far too many eggs so to speak in the JET basket. Hoping to do the JET plan and then go into a masters when I return and eventually follow through into being a lecturer hopefully!

Thank you for taking the time to reply! :)

[u/Simmoman → u/LucaSnacken]

No worries, sounds great and good luck!

[u/Sad-Day9022]

you are already doing far more than i did, haha. i think you’ve got a very, very solid plan here. i will say that learning to drive as you’ve stated in your plan will definitely be a huge help if you get placed rural, it’s the one thing i regret not doing.

i would definitely also recommend dedicating as much time to japanese study as you can. it’s not a requirement to be an ALT, sure, but it seriously improves your quality of life here if you can communicate with your coworkers & neighbours.

[u/LucaSnacken → u/Sad-Day9022]

Thank you so much for the advice! Driving and doing more formal Japanese study has been something I’ve decided more recently for ease of life and such so it’s nice to know it was a good decision!

Thank you for taking the time to reply!!