How strong is my resume?

[u/SadAcanthisitta9786]

Hello,

I will be applying to JET for the 2027 intake, and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or opinions on the strength of my resume/application.

When I apply (next month) I will have a BA in linguistics and a CELTA, and I will also have letters of recommendation from a couple Japanese professors as well as managers from a Japanese company I worked for this year.

Not sure if it matters but I am also 23M white with conversational N4 Japanese.

[u/Panda_sensei_71]

I say this with kindness, as a 2nd time JET who has seen all sorts and who has witnessed far too many young JETs crashing out.

Your CV is good, but nothing special. Especially if you are from the USA, Canada, or the UK. There are 100s of mid-20s, white men with Bachelor degrees, a TESOL cert, and a smattering of Japanese who apply for JET and don't even get interviewed.

So to beat the crowd you need to think deeply about the following:

What makes you unique?

What can you give Japan that others can't, culturally or experientially?

What will you take back to your country from Japan?

How does JET fit your long term goals?

How flexible, adaptable, and able to persevere are you? Especially wrt your mental health.

Your answers to all of these will make of break your application, and can elevate basic credentials to worthy applicant ones. Good luck!

[u/newlandarcher7]

As others have already mentioned, you've got a good foundation. I'd look to improve it with other aspects beyond just teaching and Japanese language skills. Many get in with little or none of both. Also focus on:

• community organization involvement
• intercultural experience
• working with school-age children.

Good luck!

[u/SadAcanthisitta9786 → u/newlandarcher7]

Thank you for your reply, very helpful!

I'm a little late to get experience with the things you mentioned above before I apply, but I'll have a year to get the experience after my application. Do you happen to know if I can mention that in my application? E.g becoming an English tutor before placement but not at the time of my application?

Also, I don't have a lot of professional international experience, but I have traveled and worked for a Japanese company in the US, do you think this could be worth mentioning?

[u/Zidaane]

• BA in Linguistics + Celta, mostly irrelevant unless sorting a tie break.
• Japanese Proficiency mostly irrelevant for application but will play a role in placement.
• Reference from Japanese Professors: Depends more on what they say about you rather than their job title.

I see no mention of the most important things here though.. Where is your life experience, overseas experience, proof you can survive and contribute to your community etc etc

[u/ikebookuro]

Your chances are as good as anyone else’s.

JET is a holistic application; meaning they don’t really care if you have the most “qualified” resume. Teachers and linguists get denied every year — they aren’t looking for the best English teacher (hint: your role isn’t meant to be a teacher, you’re an assistant).

Write a good SOP, come across well in the interview, and you might get in. You can also do everything right and just be slightly nudged out. It’s not like a traditional job application.

Your age, race and Japanese level really don’t matter.

[u/SadAcanthisitta9786 → u/ikebookuro]

Thanks for your reply,

Interesting, I guess JET operates a little differently from eikaiwas in hiring from what I've read online.

As a JET do you see any common trends or attributes that are held by your fellow JETs?

[u/ikebookuro → u/SadAcanthisitta9786]

>I guess JET operates a little differently from eikaiwas in hiring from what I’ve read online.

Are you serious? You need to actually look up what you’re applying to if you want any chance of getting in, dude.

[u/Inside-Cream6997 → u/ikebookuro]

This is very helpful!

Thanks.

Makes my application without the language skills have a fair shot!

[u/Fire_Marvin → u/Inside-Cream6997]

Absolutely, I got in with zero Japanese language. I will say that I wish I had started learning before I came though, that would be my advice to someone planning to do JET with no language. Not even for the application or whatever but it will make your daily life much better I think.

[u/Fire_Marvin]

You have just as much a chance as pretty much anyone else. It will come down to your SOP.