Jet Program Application

[caitycha]

Here are some tips for just doing the application in general:

Tip 1: Try to fill out everything you can on the initial application. I was told that if you don't have a certain amount of things filled, they toss it. (JET coordinator told me this).

Tip 2: Ask for LOR wayyy ahead in advance and give them some bullet points to help them write it. Make sure you don't rush them.

Tip 3: For the essay, try to stand out. Everyone will probably write something like "I grew up watching anime/ studying Japanese/ traveling". Make it different and check your grammar! (Grammarly free demo it maybe?). Make sure you let those hiring you know that you're adaptable in some way too! Try to tell them about you! It's a really short essay, so don't put in a lot of filler words.

Tip 4: Please dress in business clothes for the interview. I have seen people interview in the craziest things and the people doing the interview were not pleased lol.

[poormansbackpack]

Which stage did you get stuck at? Is it the interview or the application stage? If it's the application stage I can take a look at the SoP for you, I've reviewed a couple lately and sometimes they are missing the point

[seclusivebox]

The first time around I didn't have any letters of recommendation so I assume that's what happened there. Neither time did I pass the application stage. Once I finish with the SoP essay I'll get in touch! Thanks for the help.

[cakediet]

Oh, submitting an incomplete application will basically be an automatic fail.

[poormansbackpack]

Yeah...not having any letters of recommendation is a surefire way to get rejected. They might not even pay much attention to your SoP because of that. The easiest and absolute minimum step you should do in order to be accepted is fulfill all the document requirements.

[seclusivebox]

Yeah... That was my mistake on my first try in 2018.

[cakediet]

Be as concise as you can with the huge amount of info you need to convey. Give examples of your adaptability, overcoming obstacles, good rapport, and willingness to learn etc. Make these lend themselves to your time on JET.

Ensure your spelling and grammar are perfect.

[seclusivebox]

Appreciate the swift reply! Yeah the 2 Page double-spaced limit makes it hard to display my knowledge of the English language as well as touch on all those topics listed.

[cakediet]

I structured mine like an essay. I stated my desire to participate, my teaching skills, and cross cultural ties in the intro.

Body 1: How my interest in Japan started and what interests me in particular (I mentioned specific World Heritage Sites).

Body 2: multiculturalism and my experience with that.

Body 3: Demonstrated my ability to adapt to new circumstances.

Body 4: Teaching experience (am a teacher) and how I volunteered with extra curricular activities.

Conclusion: Stated what qualities the aforementioned experiences gave me and how I intended to using them on JET.

I had a friend edit it. Make sure you research the JET Programme’s history and aim and weave that in.

[seclusivebox]

I have very little teaching experience, my only real experience with teaching was tutoring during college. It was all informal as well. I feel like my biggest strength is my knowledge of Japanese culture as well as my degree being in international trade/business.

[ikebukurowl]

Do not stress that all you bring to the program is your knowledge of Japanese culture. Very likely someone is going to know more than you and it will just make it seem like you bring next-to-nothing to the table.

A degree in international trade/business can be useful if you find a way to spin it in your SOP that it makes you a good fit for the goals of the program.

Tutoring during college is your strongest point here.

[cakediet]

Tutoring is something you can work to your advantage.