So you just finished your JET Program interview or an interview with another company…

Just what went wrong or right?
Did anything go badly at the interview or did it all go well?
Was one of your answers not what the panel wanted?
Did you forget how to speak Japanese or was something you said out of context?
Did everything feel good afterward or like shit?
Would go back in time to change anything about it?

Everything was good, right?

You will never know what you did wrong or right after your interview. JET will never tell you.

You can only reflect on the 15-20 minute interview memory, replaying it in your head, over and over again, and it still won’t matter.

Now, everything is out of your control after the interview.

You either made it or didn’t (Your chances of getting on JET).

It’s best to relax and wait for the results… They will come soon enough. Even if you didn’t make it, look on the bright side that you did make it this far!

Not a lot of applicants get an interview. Some can’t get an interview, even after multiple attempts.

Recollections of My Past JET Interviews

My First Interview – Failure/Alternate Purgatory

I have interviewed twice with the JET Program.

My first interview was in 2012 in Miami, and it was pretty rough…

I think I did badly on the Japanese portion and my classroom lesson wasn’t the greatest either. I did manage to impress the panel with my drawing of Bart Simpson on the whiteboard provided.

It was my first “real” interview. I ended up getting on the Alternate List but never got upgraded soon enough, so I took another teaching position at a private company.

Lessons Learned

I didn’t practice enough for the interview with a partner.

I had my answers to the basic questions memorized, but I didn’t speak them enough which would have helped in the long run.

It was also my first time interviewing for an important position. Furthermore, my Japanese wasn’t good enough. I had a rough time because I didn’t practice enough. Part of that is for another story.

Failing wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I still felt successful and could find another job in Japan through private teaching.

I think the bad part was the Miami Consulate was known for its high failure rate compared with other consulates. A few judges were so strict that the consulate always had low numbers for the high amount of interviews it performed annually. Times have changed and they accept way more JETs now.

JET/Japan is always hungry for more Assistant Language Teachers as the country still needs lots of native English speakers to compete with other Asian countries.

My Second Interview – Success

I interviewed again, in 2013, with JET; however, I was ten times prepared for it. I knew from experience everything that they would throw at me. Moreover, I had some teaching experience and a beefed-up application as opposed to the first time.

I spent a $1000+ (airfare, hotel, rental car, and food) to do it because I had to travel to Guam for my interview. It was the closest US consulate (outside of the country) to Japan while I was working there as a private ALT on Interac.

After arriving in Guam at 2 am, checking into my hotel at 3 am, 4 hours of sleep, and practicing in my 1-star hotel room, I finally had my interview. It was nuts.

I was wide awake on adrenaline the whole morning before the interview. My interview lasted for a good 30 minutes. I was interviewed by a panel of 4 people, not just 3. Once it was finished, I just knew I passed it, 10000000%.

I knew I passed the interview in my heart.

I was grateful for the insane amount of preparation I put into it. Afterward, I went around Guam, to the beach, sightseeing, and to TGIFs for a big American burger.

What a f@#king blast I had for a 3-day trip. It was blazing hot for February. It was 90F out. I was definitely sweating bullets before my interview – parking and walking to the location.

I did as many free things as I could because I had no money. The beaches were fantastic and the historic sights. It was a gift to myself for all the hard work I did!

Yes, I might have been a little crazy, but I would do it all over again if I could. My journey was far more interesting than 99% of what others will go through to become a JET.

But… “to each their own.”

Go Treat Yourself!

You might find this hard to believe…After your interview is done, go treat yourself!

Relax and enjoy the moment, no matter what the outcome of the interview. If you don’t, it will make the waiting game so much harder.

The journey to becoming a JET is a long one. Many give up on the program after the first or second shot. In the meantime, keep looking for jobs and other alternatives, if you want to work in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher.

Try Again!

Would I do the interview again?

Hell yeah, I definitely would and you should, too.

If you want to be a JET, you have to work hard for it!

It is not an easy program to get into but well worth the wait.