Here's some good information pulled from the JET Official Forums on JET application myths (taking out some of the tldr and rainbows). Take the time to read through this before posting a question that has been asked a dozen times and get insta e-rep +50. If you're in need of being comforted about an aspect of your application that you're feeling weak about, run a search and you're bound to find someone else who has had the same problem.
Blue is straight from the mouths of JET coordinator babes, italics is my own added opinion and purple are questions frequently asked here.
The JET Program is looking for people who don't speak Japanese
Although it is not required to have studied about Japan or speak Japanese it is helpful if you have a background and interest in Japan. This myth often is perpetuated from unsuccessful JET applicants who have a background studying Japanese. It is important to remember that the JET Program not only focuses on individuals interested in Japan, but also those interested in teaching and participating in cross-culture exchange.
In the same vein, they don't necessarily prefer people who do speak Japanese. There are just BOEs who request Japanese/no Japanese and others that don't give a crap. While it has it's obvious benefits on your application, you don't have to force yourself to study it to make yourself look good unless you have the time and money to spare.
The JET Program prefers white Anglo applicants
The JET Program does not discriminate against someone's ethnicity. In the application there is no place to indicate your ethnicity. Most current and former JET Participants will tell you that JET participants are very diverse with a mix of different cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and ethnic backgrounds.
It is easier/harder to be accepted at [insert Japanese Embassy/Consulate location here]
All of the applications that are received by the Japanese Embassy have the same review standards regardless of what Embassy/Consulate you are interviewing through. There is also review standards set for the interviews. There may be a smaller/larger number of participants that make it onto the short-list, but this is a reflection of number of applications received from a certain location, not on the competitive level at each location.
The JET Program prefers applicants that are currently students who will be graduating in the fall/spring
Although many of our applicants are current students interested in participating on the JET Program right after graduation every year there are more and more successful applicants who are not recent graduates. This year (2011) the majority of the participants we sent from our consulate had already graduated when they applied for the JET.
In my un-official opinion, this myth was built on the fact that the majority of applicants until recently (with the worldwide job slump) were all recent graduates. The application process is all about spinning your own experiences and there are plenty of ways to spin your age/school gap into a positive light.
The JET Program only has placements in very rural areas of Japan
Although it is true that most of the placements on the JET Program are rural there are still many suburban and urban placements. These placements may not be in the areas that are as well known (i.e. Tokyo) as other urban placements, but if you are interested in a more urban setting research Japan and find a city that may not have as many placement requests. I recommend referring to p.11 of the
JET Brochure put out by CLAIR
You have a better chance of being accepted to the JET Program if you put "No Preference" when requesting placement
Ideally a JET Participant will thrive wherever they will be placed in Japan, but this doesn't mean the program does not take into account an applicant's placement request and it does not help/hurt you if you put "No Preference" on your application. I recommend that when applying you research Japan and match your interests to the locations you request. JET Participants are in Japan for a minimum of one year, we want them to be comfortable and happy where they will be living.
Above all have a well thought-out reason for what you choose in case you are asked in the interview (i.e. No pref because you're ready to try anything or "xxx-city" because your home state/country has a sister relationship with it, etc.)
If I put "No Driver's License" I will have a better chance of being placed in an Urban area
Whether you have an international driver's license or not you may be placed in a rural setting where it may be much more convenient to drive. If you do not have a license you may be burdened a difficult commute.
If I mention my arrest or medical problem, I won't get in.
Yes, criminal records and medical conditions (including depression and mental illness) are taken into consideration, and yes there is a chance that a criminal record or health condition could potentially lead to a rejection. ... Whether or not a criminal record or medical condition would disqualify an applicant depends upon the issue and the circumstances surrounding it. ... The worst thing you could do is neglect to disclose something. If we discover that an applicant withheld something that was supposed to be disclosed in the application, it will result in immediate disqualification (even if it was by accident). If you're not sure if something should be included or not (or if you're tempted to "forget" to include something), just put it in. If you even have to ask, it should be in there.
If there's something you're really concerned about and unsure if it'll show up (criminally) you can do an advance check on yourself and find out what they'll be seeing. Also, traffic violations (unless you killed a dude, have 100 of them) don't seem to affect applications.
I have way more experience and interest in JET than my classmate, but he got in and I was rejected. JET is totally random.
There's a lot of time and effort that goes into the JET selection process. There is nothing random about it. However, selections are made through a combined effort of many people, and as such different people have different opinions and perspectives. Your classmate's personality could have seemed like a better fit for JET than yours. Or, maybe the people who reviewed your application and interview were harsher than the people who looked at his. We work hard to standardize the selection process, but there will always be that human element there. That will never go away, and neither should it. Our primary goal will always be to find the people whom we feel will make the best JETs. There's no magic equation that will lead to acceptance. ... Remember, no one "deserves" to be a JET, at least not more so than anyone else.
People can be good fakers on paper and even in interviews, unfortunately it's just the way it is. Plenty of fuk knuckles get in.
In the application, I used paperclips where I was supposed to use staples and staples where I was supposed to use paperclips. Will the application be discarded?
No. Your application won't be rejected for that, but it will slow down the processing stage, which delays the reviewing stage, which delays the interview notifications. So, to speed up the process (and to avoid potential point reductions), follow the instructions as closely as possible.
If my GPA isn't great, I'm not going to get in.
Not true! Plenty of people have gotten in with subpar grades (personally I got in the first time with a 2.6 GPA), grades aren't completely unimportant but I don't think they rank highly on the list of "what's important in a JET applicant."
Applying with tattoos and piercings
If you have piercings or tattoos it's not an instant ban, but be sensible and take them out/cover them up for the interview. You can put 'em back in when you get the job and go with it from there.
References in Japanese Perfectly acceptable. Please note, however, that as it's the JET program they probably won't appreciate (and may not be able to translate) references in languages other than Japanese or English. It's up to you to explain to your Japanese reference all the rules they have to follow when it comes to sealing/signing.
Specific questions about living conditions/rent/living costs/etc.
JET may have banned the words "ESID" but it still thrives here, don't bother asking about what books people use, how classes are run, living. costs, etc. It all varies town to town, city to city and certainly prefecture to prefecture. There's loads of threads around to get an idea about what we have (and there's nothing wrong with asking current JETs about it) but just know there's no guarantee that you'll find yourself in the same situation.
Basic application info and common JET myths
Originally Posted by Ini
Reply With Quote
