How will we hear?

[Randomgirl]

Back in the old days of 2001, I remember arriving home one day in May to a big white envelope containing a letter in broken English and some pamphlets about what was to be my new town in Japan. Judging from my experience this second time around, information is distributed differently these days (phone calls and emails were unheard of my first time through).

So his do most people hear about their placement (for prefectural JETs - how did you hear about which prefecture you'd be in). Was it a call/email from the coordinator? An email or letter from your prefecture/ contracting organization?

What should I be watching out for in a couple of weeks?!

Thanks!

[webstaa]

I heard by email first. My BoE supervisor (now the BoE jimu) sent me an email in okay-ish English (she knows how to use a denki jisho.) Then my pred. sent me an email. Then I got a package with the town magazine and tourist information/map and transition manual.

[Randomgirl]

Ah thanks! So in essence, we'll likely hear directly from Japan. I wonder if email is the way they all go, or if ESID here too.

Thanks again!!! Can't wait to hear more experiences!

[jacklostinred]

These days you will hear from your coordinator about your placement then you send in another set of approval paperwork so they know if anyone is backing out.
If you are prefectural you will then be handed off to the prefecture who then find you a placement within the prefecture, it took them 1 month for mine.
If you are local you will find out your placement immediately and will need to wait to hear from the local BOE.
In almost all cases it will be via email except for your contract which will be mailed to you.

[johnny]

Randomgirl, are you out of Vancouver? If so, it should happen just like Jack said it would. You'll hear from Steve about your placement, and then two to six weeks later you'll hear from your BOE or prefecture.


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[Randomgirl]

Thanks, Johnny! That really helps!!! Yup I'm from vancouver! You?

[johnny]

Yeah, I'm from the North Shore. I lived in the Lonsdale area, so I only had to catch the Seabus to get to the Japanese classes and pre-departure seminars.

You probably haven't met him yet, but Steve is a super nice guy. One thing he told us is that you shouldn't be afraid to email the consulate with questions.






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[Randomgirl]

Johnny, I have had the pleasure if getting to know Steve in the years since I've been back (I'm a second-timer) and you are right, he's an awesome guy! We are lucky to have him as our coordinator!!! What year did you leave? I might have met you at previous years' predeparture orientations! Awesome that there are so many people that we can ask questions of - the "community" aspect of JET is the best, hands down IMHO!!!!
Thanks again!!!

[therealwindycity]

Has anyone got any idea of when we will hear something? Is it done as a group by a coordinator to all his/her candidates or is it done one by one as coordinators are informed of placement by prefectures or BOE in Japan?

I was informed by a call from the consulate and received the info from my BOE shortly after via post.

[hello]

I received an email from my coordinator to say that she was hopeful our placement info will arrive around mid May 😊

[Kimathen]

I was also told that placement info should come in around mid-May. Let's hope!

[johnny]

Johnny, I have had the pleasure if getting to know Steve in the years since I've been back (I'm a second-timer) and you are right, he's an awesome guy! We are lucky to have him as our coordinator!!! What year did you leave? I might have met you at previous years' predeparture orientations! Awesome that there are so many people that we can ask questions of - the "community" aspect of JET is the best, hands down IMHO!!!!
Thanks again!!!

I left just last year. There were a lot of former JETs there, so maybe I say you. Anyway, you're right. There is a pretty good JET Alumni group in Vancouver.

Just a quick note to those of you who were upgraded. Expect your placements to arrive roughly two weeks after everyone else's.

[Shincantsen]

Has anyone got any idea of when we will hear something? Is it done as a group by a coordinator to all his/her candidates or is it done one by one as coordinators are informed of placement by prefectures or BOE in Japan?

The notification of placements isn't done through the JET Coordinators at all, it's done through the contracting organizations in Japan, if I remember correctly. That's why everyone will hear at different times, even if you're leaving from the same consulate. For me, like others, I got an email (I was a city-hired JET, so I got my school placement in the email as well), then I got an email from my predecessor, a call from my prefecture's PA, and a packet in the mail with information about my prefecture.

Edit: Looks like I heard my placement on or around May 27th.

[createdtodance7]

These days you will hear from your coordinator about your placement then you send in another set of approval paperwork so they know if anyone is backing out.
If you are prefectural you will then be handed off to the prefecture who then find you a placement within the prefecture, it took them 1 month for mine.
If you are local you will find out your placement immediately and will need to wait to hear from the local BOE.
In almost all cases it will be via email except for your contract which will be mailed to you.

Sorry, could you explain the difference between local hiring and prefectural hiring? Maybe I'm missing something...if so, I'm terribly sorry!



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[Randomgirl]

There are two kinds of contracting organizations who hire JET ALTs - the prefectural Board of Education (BOE) who hires for high schools and then the city/town BOE who hires for junior high and elementary. In Japan, the city/town is responsible for education until the end of JHS and the prefecture is responsible for SHS. So the two kinds of contracting organizations are the town and the prefecture. If you are told you will be in X-cho, X-machi or X-shi, then you have been hired by the town and all you have to do is wait to hear from your predecessor. If you hear that you are in X-ken, then you are prefectural and will be working at a SHS. The prefecture will let you know that you are hired by them, but then it takes a month for them to decide where in the prefecture to put you, so you won't find out your actual placement in the prefecture until later.

Does that make sense? It's kind of convoluted...

[createdtodance7]

There are two kinds of contracting organizations who hire JET ALTs - the prefectural Board of Education (BOE) who hires for high schools and then the city/town BOE who hires for junior high and elementary. In Japan, the city/town is responsible for education until the end of JHS and the prefecture is responsible for SHS. So the two kinds of contracting organizations are the town and the prefecture. If you are told you will be in X-cho, X-machi or X-shi, then you have been hired by the town and all you have to do is wait to hear from your predecessor. If you hear that you are in X-ken, then you are prefectural and will be working at a SHS. The prefecture will let you know that you are hired by them, but then it takes a month for them to decide where in the prefecture to put you, so you won't find out your actual placement in the prefecture until later.

Does that make sense? It's kind of convoluted...

Both very interesting and very helpful! I was trying to figure it out on my own, but couldn't find any information as to how that worked. Thank you bunches!!!


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[greyjoy]

Who wants to hazard a guess about the selection process of the prefectures then? Do they tend to request older people, since they'll be dealing with older students?

[Page]

The notification of placements isn't done through the JET Coordinators at all, it's done through the contracting organizations in Japan, if I remember correctly.

When I first got in (2008 NYC) I was sent my placement information through the mail (or so that's what they told us, I ended up declining and sending it back unopened so I never knew for sure). This time (2010 different consulate) we were all told by our consulate's coordinator first via email.

[miamicoordinator]

The Consulates will receive a list of placements for each Candidate. We usually get them in late May, or early June. We will them e-mail them to let them know where they will go. All of the US consulates try to send placement information around the same time to prevent mass hysteria. It is possible for the JET applicant to hear from their COs or the JET they will be replacing before we tell them officially though, but most JETs will hear where they are going from the Consulates.

[Randomgirl]

Thank you!!!!