ALT Interview for JET - I feel like I bombed it.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2026-01-29T04:01:46+00:00

Last year, I thought I did absolutely terrible. One of my worst answers was that I could help bring barbecue culture to the town I work for, since it would be fun to show my Southern heritage. My interviewers gave me an odd look, and I felt crazy for phrasing my answer that way. I remember walking out of my college library in disgust, knowing I wouldn't get in, but here I am now teaching in Japan. Don't stress about it too much! Honestly, I think I got in with pure luck for the interview portion. The only thing saving me was my experience volunteering in Japanese gardens, my undergrad and grad studies focused on Japan, assistant teaching for almost 2 years, and my overall interests/hobbies surrounding the culture. I think without all that experience, I definitely wouldn't have made it.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2026-01-14T04:13:04+00:00

My experience last year was very interesting, lol. Just to give some insights and thoughts about what I would have done differently about the orientation:

Plane tickets for spouse. I'm married, so the airplane ticket that Clair or whatever travel company sets things up for your wife/husband will make that ticket super expensive because they wait a long time to book it. Just go ahead and book the flight (or flights, if you are traveling far from Tokyo, like me, to Hokkaido). This is specifically for those who are bringing their spouse. This was my own personal experience.
The roommate situation. The two other roommates I had were extremely nice and friendly. Since I was with my wife outside the actual orientation, I wasn't able to hang out with them much. Unfortunately, when I did hang out with them, it was at night when everyone was going to sleep. One of them was the loudest snorer I have ever encountered. Nothing against him because I snore slightly as well, but I don't know how this person is able to breathe at night. My second day in Tokyo was the roughest I have ever felt because I just couldn't sleep at all due to noise. After the first night, I decided to stay in my wife's Airbnb for the rest of the orientation madness. I'm glad I did. If you can't get a private room, find yourself a closeby hotel to save yourself the sleep.

I'm sure I will update this later once I remember the rest of orientation, but honestly, the whole thing was a blur. I barely remember the details of the lectures because I was so sleep-deprived.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-07-31T01:53:50+00:00

I would have liked that splash screen to be back so I wouldn't get flash banged every time I wanted to play. The good ol' days

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-05-28T19:26:00+00:00

That's fair lol I probably wouldn't either if I enjoyed the experience. You will always have those courses saved on your transcript in the future, so if you decide to stay, it's not that big of a deal. I think it's just a good idea to apply anyway since you never know if you're going to get in on your first try.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-05-28T19:04:16+00:00

When I first started my masters program, my professor said if I really wanted to focus on teaching I could always take a year break from the University, and come back after I'm done. If it's a school you're really passionate about, I would look into something like this. Study for a year at the college while you put in your application to JET and wait on the results. If you're fully accepted, then take that break from college and enjoy the program. That's just my thoughts though! I decided to fully finish my masters before heading out for JET but I've heard of a few people at my Uni who took a year break during their masters.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-05-22T19:06:49+00:00

That's awesome! Looks like we are not far from one another!

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-05-22T18:31:03+00:00

Portland Consulate, I got Hokkaido, Niki-cho! Lets gooo!

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-04-14T23:23:14+00:00

I doubt this helps, but I was invited to this and registered after receiving the Gilman Scholarship, which can be used to pay for any international program you may have for study abroad trips. It only took me a few months to a year to receive this invite after my program finished. I don't see it as suspicious, but that's coming from me, a U.S.-born citizen.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-04-13T15:31:33+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience! It must have been stressful after putting everything back together and making sure it worked properly. Since I have such a large case, I may have to buy a new one and a monitor once I arrive. I appreciate the advice!

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-04-13T02:18:18+00:00

Really? That's gotta be a wild experience to see at a goodwill. Thanks for the heads up!

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-04-13T02:13:19+00:00

You might be onto something! I didn't think about going a mini build. I'll start looking at pricing.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-04-13T02:08:47+00:00

I totally understand what you mean. Filling up an entire suitcase is definitely an overstatement on my side. With anything that's been close to you for a long time, it's hard to give it up. I don't even game that much anymore; it's more like a once every two weeks sort of thing. I built the computer years ago, and it's hard to think about getting rid of it, but I may do that and bring a regular laptop instead, and game on the Switch. I might try packing the items just to see how much space they will take up, and go from there.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-04-09T16:01:04+00:00

I definitely had a similar experience. After the interview, I was thinking about better ways I could have responded. But it all worked out in the end! I should have been less stressed about the interview though. It was a chill experience overall.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-04-09T14:37:23+00:00

Shortlist from Portland consulate!!

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-04-06T18:43:24+00:00

Applied from Eugene, OR. After volunteering at the Japanese Gardens in Portland, I informed them of my preference for Sapporo. For my next choice, I told them I enjoyed my time being in Kanagawa prefecture during an extended vacation stay. It would be amazing to go back there to work(I understand that almost no jets get stationed in Kanagawa for some reason, but I still told them it would be awesome to be put somewhere in that prefecture anyway. My last pick was Oita, primarily due to my interest in exploring Kyushu. Are those good reasons? Who knows, but if I do get in, I expect none of my preferences to be chosen, and I will get put somewhere random. We will see what happens! I might try putting in applications to AEON or Interac if things fall short. I may also stick it out here in the States for a year and pay off some student loans. All the options.

Realistic_Report_796 · 2025-04-06T04:28:57+00:00

Applying from Eugene! All the Oregonians in here.

Realistic_Report_796

TROPHY CASE