Applying for 2019

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

So, after doing a stint from 2011 to 2016, and coming back and up-skilling a bit (took on a MA TESOL, should finish in a few months), and doing some conversation practice classes with local NESB migrants, I figured I'd apply again for 2019. And...I didn't even make the interview stage.

Which seems kind of weird. I'm pretty sure everything was in order, the SoP wasn't awful as far as I can tell (probably emphasised the Teaching bit over the Exchange bit a bit much), I had references from a previous supervisor and Kouchou Sensei, etc.
It's not a huge big deal - sort of a plus in some ways - but it's a bit confusing to get offered an interview as an 'I've got a BA Phil/Comms and think Japan is cool' fresh-out-of-university kid and not to get one as a 'have done the job before, am better qualified than back then, and was there for the previous Elementary school Foreign Language Activities stuff introduction which might come in handy for the 2020 Let's English in Elementary School new system'.

[Popapop2]

I got an interview.

[mothy]

congrats. Get yourself a suit if you don't have one already.

[Popapop2]

Thank you. Luckily I already have some suits due to my current part-time job where I have to wear them.

[mothy]

Cool. I'm just trying to head off the what should I wear to my interview thread this year. I like to think we're smarter than reddit around here, but every year someone proves me wrong.

[mothy]

So, after doing a stint from 2011 to 2016, and coming back and up-skilling a bit (took on a MA TESOL, should finish in a few months), and doing some conversation practice classes with local NESB migrants, I figured I'd apply again for 2019. And...I didn't even make the interview stage.

Which seems kind of weird. I'm pretty sure everything was in order, the SoP wasn't awful as far as I can tell (probably emphasised the Teaching bit over the Exchange bit a bit much), I had references from a previous supervisor and Kouchou Sensei, etc.
It's not a huge big deal - sort of a plus in some ways - but it's a bit confusing to get offered an interview as an 'I've got a BA Phil/Comms and think Japan is cool' fresh-out-of-university kid and not to get one as a 'have done the job before, am better qualified than back then, and was there for the previous Elementary school Foreign Language Activities stuff introduction which might come in handy for the 2020 Let's English in Elementary School new system'.

meant to reply to this but forgot and never did. honestly I wouldn't have given you an interview either. You spent 5 years in a program that has no future and is really intro level teaching abroad, then got more education to make yourself even more qualified and you apply for... an intro level job with no future. Am I missing something? If I'm looking at that I think this guy is delusional or just using JET to get a visa so he can try to move quickly into a job with a future in Japan.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're the latter. Sounds like you're still in touch with former coworkers. All my jobs post JET have come from people recommending me for something. Let them know you're looking for work and apply for any job postings online you find that look interesting. If all you say about yourself is true, you shouldn't need JET.

[CUPS]

Old timer here too - for all my moans about living in BFI, those five years changes my life in ways I couldn't have even imagined to begin with (good ways!).

Go for it.

[word]

meant to reply to this but forgot and never did. honestly I wouldn't have given you an interview either. You spent 5 years in a program that has no future and is really intro level teaching abroad, then got more education to make yourself even more qualified and you apply for... an intro level job with no future. Am I missing something? If I'm looking at that I think this guy is delusional or just using JET to get a visa so he can try to move quickly into a job with a future in Japan.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're the latter. Sounds like you're still in touch with former coworkers. All my jobs post JET have come from people recommending me for something. Let them know you're looking for work and apply for any job postings online you find that look interesting. If all you say about yourself is true, you shouldn't need JET.

Wicket did it. Wait, I'm not really sure what point I'm trying to argue.

I kinda get it, tho. Now that I'm back, making more money, decent career, things are going well, had kid, building up savings, long-term plans, relationship with MG is better than ever, house, cars, etc. Things are awesome, yet MG and I miss the laziness of life as an ALT a lot more than either of us care to admit. It had no future, the pay was sh*t, and there were endless frustrations, but for an irresponsible, lazy asshole who mostly just wants to drink, snowboard, game, and jerk off, it's a damned sweet gig. I wouldn't blame someone for wanting to go back to it.

From the program's point of view, though, I agree completely.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

^^Yeah, I can sort of see all that. What I was wanting from another JET stint was mostly trying to get some more experience with a wider range of age groups (i.e. get some experience with younger learners), inasmuch as my last time was all 5th, 6th, and JHS 1st grade, and then trying something a bit more...non-JET. Probably not-Japan also. Plus the whole ES-system changeover would have been nice to see/be involved with in person - that was a pretty big drawcard.

Unfortunately I'm back in gaikoku (what I meant by 'coming back'), so yeah...that cuts down the non-entry-level options a bit.

No big deal - as you say, it's not like I need JET, it was just an easy/familiar way to build up some more experience and get back into things.

[kalliea]

10 years after being a JET myself, one of my students has applied and is interviewing on Wednesday. Any advice from other old timers? I'm worried my knowledge is out of date...

[mothy]

They're still not sending their best, so don't think much has changed.

[Ini]

As long as they are well prepped on the appropriate transportation and storage of tinned peaches they should be fine.

[mothy]

oh my god, I'd forgotten about that.

[kalliea]

As long as they are well prepped on the appropriate transportation and storage of tinned peaches they should be fine.

I'm sorry, are you still here? I thought you were washed away by the ocean.

[kalliea]

oh my god, I'd forgotten about that.

I will never understand why that was such a big deal. It was a dropped can of peaches. Why do people remember that? Much stranger and more entertaining things happened,

[Jiggit]

Any advice from other old timers?

I'm sorry, are you still here?

Who is this person and why doesn't she make any sense?

[mothy]

Who is this person and why doesn't she make any sense?

Hey, have some respect for your elders! And yes, she does sometimes have trouble knowing how to life, but that is a time honored tradition of JETs. This woman was not knowing how to do anything in Japan back when you were still masturbating to porn with white girls in it, so you don't talk to her that way!

[Popapop2]

Well I've been selected as an alternate candidate, so wait listed. However, since my interview my boss got a promotion and as a result I was able to move from part-time to full-time. Now I'm making more than I would on JET, and now there's no guarantee that I will be selected. So honestly, I might just pull out of the wait list, and stay at my current job since it's going well. Still I feel fortune to have made it this far, and I hope to visit Japan again one day.

[mothy]

Probably for the best. An actual job with money to travel is better than JET.

[Satori Shinobi]

Well I've been selected as an alternate candidate, so wait listed. However, since my interview my boss got a promotion and as a result I was able to move from part-time to full-time. Now I'm making more than I would on JET, and now there's no guarantee that I will be selected. So honestly, I might just pull out of the wait list, and stay at my current job since it's going well. Still I feel fortune to have made it this far, and I hope to visit Japan again one day.

I'd say don't necessarily pull out just yet, you can always decline if you do get upgraded. It's always good to have options.