thanks so much for making this video! it's great to hear from someone who went to the chicago consulate - my cousin and i are going to have to go there (from mn) if iwe get interviews this year.
How long exactly did they make you wait to let you know you were in the program? I'm guessing you got a letter in April saying you were selected as an alternate, but when did they actually upgrade you?
The Chicago Consultate emailed me on April 4th (5 days before my birthday) letting me know that I was an Alternate. It was a pretty quick turnaround. The wait for the next piece of news seemed to take forever though.
The Consulate emailed me on May 9th (two days after my wife's birthday) that I was upgraded to the short list ^_^
That must've been awesome! I'm from Akron, actually, and my interview is next week in Detroit. I've heard that certain regions are given priority over others during the selection process. I wonder if there's any truth to that.
Oh ps. Just thought you might like to know that I only had two interviewers- don't know if the third person couldn't make it due to the weather!? I wanted to ask you though if you find the work hard/long over there and how the pace compares to other jobs? Thanks
That is interesting that you had only two interviewers. Oh well, I would think it would be less pressure with only two people =)
The work is great. I go in to school at 8:30am and leave at 4:15pm. I usually have 2-4 classes a day. Sure there's prep work that you hav to do like making activities and whatnot, but the work load is nice. In the US I was used to doing 9:00-6:00 every day in a crappy office job
It leaves you time to do club activities or whatever else you want. It's great!
Hey thanks for the useful vids. I had my interview in the UK on the 3rd Feb in London. Some people didn't make it due to snow. All buses were canceled and the tubes were delayed, but I made it in the end. Hope I get in. I never got to see other applicants as they spreed us out, but I did see someone in jeans and high boots...doh!
I liked hearin' about your experiences and I also enjoyed your other videos about pointers and tips for interview questions. Do you know approximately how many people apply for the JET program in the US? Also, what the percentage is of how many they accept into the program? Thanks! :)
From the Chicago consulate's webpage I found that in 2002 64% of applicants were granted interviews, and 58% were selected as short-list candidates. This adds up to an overall success rate of 37%. I would imagine those rates are still in the ballpark today
I did find this interesting fact though:
There are 4682 JETs in Japan and 2681 are from the US
I've waited four days after submitting my preferred dates and times for the interview in Southern California, and haven't heard from them yet. How close to your interview time and date do you usually get, and is it common to be kept waiting for when your interview is?
Each consulate is different, but the way Chicago did it was we signed up for an open spot online and then received a confirmation email or something so there was no waiting period. I would contact the consulate and find out what's going on
Ah yes how could I forget Hajimemashite and your Dōzo yoroshiku was what was meant by my Doso o roshku, those Japanese CD don't really help with spelling haha. I'm slightly lost because I think there you are saynig your from Ohaio in America but I thought you were from Cleveland or am I showing my ignorance and they are part of the same place?
If your happy to reply I'm happy to post :D It's what this section is for right haha
lol Whoops, I didn't see you were from the UK. Cleveland is the city I'm from and Ohio is the State I'm from. So I'm from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. A lot of Japanese people have heard of my State if they know a little bit about the US because it sounds like you're saying "Good morning" in Japanese (Ohayo).
So what did you say to the "Will you been lonely?" question? Think my answer would be along the lines of Yes, deffinatly at some point in my stay there I'm sure I'm bound to miss my family and friends but I'm and outgoing person and sure I will friends there and I know there is a strong support network blah blah blah basicly big myself up and show I've done my homework on the company.
I would say that's definitely the way to go. Basically I told them that it would be natural to be a bit homesick, but that I would enjoy making new friends and sharing new experiences with them.
Obviously, I think, it would be harder to make friends in the smaller towns out in the inaka and easier in the cities, but that's just me. I feel I'm fortunate to be placed near the big city and that I have other JETs to talk to but (you'll hear this a lot) every situation is different
I think you'd end up making friends with fellow JETs first, is that what you done? From some of the videos I've watched it looked like a lot of the JETs stay in accomodation with other JETs, again is that the same with yourself? I really need to go watch the rest of your videos again and refresh my memory haha.
In Kagoshima City almost all of the ALTs live in the same apartment building. I live ten minutes outside of the city proper in a slightly bigger apartment because I'm married and there's a school nearby. Another Kag City ALT lives 30 minutes outside of the city proper with his wife. But we're all really close and see each other often
So it depends on a lot of thigs but if you're placed in an area where there's only a few JETs then you might have to drive or something to visit foreign friends.
ALTs are actually not required to know any Japanese. You might be thinking of CIRs. ALT is Assistant Language Teacher.
When you get here though you'll probably jump right into studying trying to at least get some of the basics down. Knowing how to introduce yourself to your Japanese coworkers is pretty important and I'll throw up a video on that once May or June rolls around.
Thanks for all the great questions and comments. If you have more, just keep 'em coming!
Konnichiwa Eli-san, watashi wa Ryan des. Doso o roshku. ;) Ok the spellin is probably wrong there as it was just off the top of my head but that should say Hello Eli, my name is Ryan. Please to meet you.
You're probably right about the ALT/CIR thing I think it was if you wanted to be a diplomat or something.
I know I have left a mass of comments (sorry!) It's partly because I'm going to plan my summer trip to Japan soon and partly because I'm at work and there is very little going on!
I wouldn't say the thing is still fresh in my mind since it was almost a year ago, but I was rather surprised at what I did remember. Really though, I was just nervous as all get out
I think it's really nice that so many people share their experiences on this. Thanks! :]
Saluadom 1 year ago
Very helpful, I'm applying this year.
jennygonzo87 1 year ago
@jennygonzo87 Great! Good luck to ya!
MessagesFromEarth 1 year ago
thanks so much for making this video! it's great to hear from someone who went to the chicago consulate - my cousin and i are going to have to go there (from mn) if iwe get interviews this year.
Emmie1 2 years ago
That's great, Emmie! I hope both of you make it in and we'll see you in Japan next year
MessagesFromEarth 2 years ago
Can't wait until I graduate college so I can apply for being a JET.
SpinningBirdKick1 2 years ago
It's a great program. Best of luck when you apply!
MessagesFromEarth 2 years ago
Hey I don't know anything about journalism but I really appreciate your initiative =D ! Very interesting.
ErgoProxyFan 2 years ago
Very, VERY helpful. Thanks a lot.
How long exactly did they make you wait to let you know you were in the program? I'm guessing you got a letter in April saying you were selected as an alternate, but when did they actually upgrade you?
poshko41 3 years ago
Hey poshko41,
The Chicago Consultate emailed me on April 4th (5 days before my birthday) letting me know that I was an Alternate. It was a pretty quick turnaround. The wait for the next piece of news seemed to take forever though.
The Consulate emailed me on May 9th (two days after my wife's birthday) that I was upgraded to the short list ^_^
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
That must've been awesome! I'm from Akron, actually, and my interview is next week in Detroit. I've heard that certain regions are given priority over others during the selection process. I wonder if there's any truth to that.
poshko41 3 years ago
Oh ps. Just thought you might like to know that I only had two interviewers- don't know if the third person couldn't make it due to the weather!? I wanted to ask you though if you find the work hard/long over there and how the pace compares to other jobs? Thanks
nwdrrn 3 years ago
That is interesting that you had only two interviewers. Oh well, I would think it would be less pressure with only two people =)
The work is great. I go in to school at 8:30am and leave at 4:15pm. I usually have 2-4 classes a day. Sure there's prep work that you hav to do like making activities and whatnot, but the work load is nice. In the US I was used to doing 9:00-6:00 every day in a crappy office job
It leaves you time to do club activities or whatever else you want. It's great!
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
Hey thanks for the useful vids. I had my interview in the UK on the 3rd Feb in London. Some people didn't make it due to snow. All buses were canceled and the tubes were delayed, but I made it in the end. Hope I get in. I never got to see other applicants as they spreed us out, but I did see someone in jeans and high boots...doh!
nwdrrn 3 years ago
I liked hearin' about your experiences and I also enjoyed your other videos about pointers and tips for interview questions. Do you know approximately how many people apply for the JET program in the US? Also, what the percentage is of how many they accept into the program? Thanks! :)
spyderdance 3 years ago
From the Chicago consulate's webpage I found that in 2002 64% of applicants were granted interviews, and 58% were selected as short-list candidates. This adds up to an overall success rate of 37%. I would imagine those rates are still in the ballpark today
I did find this interesting fact though:
There are 4682 JETs in Japan and 2681 are from the US
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
five hours
lmfao
purphanz 3 years ago
I've waited four days after submitting my preferred dates and times for the interview in Southern California, and haven't heard from them yet. How close to your interview time and date do you usually get, and is it common to be kept waiting for when your interview is?
johnnykamikaze 3 years ago
Each consulate is different, but the way Chicago did it was we signed up for an open spot online and then received a confirmation email or something so there was no waiting period. I would contact the consulate and find out what's going on
Best of luck
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
I'd love it if you can do a more detailed video and give us some specific pointers (as you had suggested in the video yourself). :)
Nonetheless, thank you for this video. It's always helpful to hear interview stories from current JETs.
lleverfreell 3 years ago
Good point! I'll do a video with some specifics either today or tomorrow. Stay tuned!
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
Ah yes how could I forget Hajimemashite and your Dōzo yoroshiku was what was meant by my Doso o roshku, those Japanese CD don't really help with spelling haha. I'm slightly lost because I think there you are saynig your from Ohaio in America but I thought you were from Cleveland or am I showing my ignorance and they are part of the same place?
If your happy to reply I'm happy to post :D It's what this section is for right haha
NullnV01d 3 years ago
lol Whoops, I didn't see you were from the UK. Cleveland is the city I'm from and Ohio is the State I'm from. So I'm from Cleveland, Ohio, USA. A lot of Japanese people have heard of my State if they know a little bit about the US because it sounds like you're saying "Good morning" in Japanese (Ohayo).
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
So what did you say to the "Will you been lonely?" question? Think my answer would be along the lines of Yes, deffinatly at some point in my stay there I'm sure I'm bound to miss my family and friends but I'm and outgoing person and sure I will friends there and I know there is a strong support network blah blah blah basicly big myself up and show I've done my homework on the company.
NullnV01d 3 years ago
that should be "sure I will make friends there..."
NullnV01d 3 years ago
I would say that's definitely the way to go. Basically I told them that it would be natural to be a bit homesick, but that I would enjoy making new friends and sharing new experiences with them.
Obviously, I think, it would be harder to make friends in the smaller towns out in the inaka and easier in the cities, but that's just me. I feel I'm fortunate to be placed near the big city and that I have other JETs to talk to but (you'll hear this a lot) every situation is different
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
I think you'd end up making friends with fellow JETs first, is that what you done? From some of the videos I've watched it looked like a lot of the JETs stay in accomodation with other JETs, again is that the same with yourself? I really need to go watch the rest of your videos again and refresh my memory haha.
NullnV01d 3 years ago
In Kagoshima City almost all of the ALTs live in the same apartment building. I live ten minutes outside of the city proper in a slightly bigger apartment because I'm married and there's a school nearby. Another Kag City ALT lives 30 minutes outside of the city proper with his wife. But we're all really close and see each other often
So it depends on a lot of thigs but if you're placed in an area where there's only a few JETs then you might have to drive or something to visit foreign friends.
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
Ah well I'm sure there is always a bookshop nearby, just hang out in the English section and your sure to meet someone haha.
I forgot your an ALT, does that mean you have a pretty strong command of Japanese? Please show it off now and then if you do!
NullnV01d 3 years ago
ALTs are actually not required to know any Japanese. You might be thinking of CIRs. ALT is Assistant Language Teacher.
When you get here though you'll probably jump right into studying trying to at least get some of the basics down. Knowing how to introduce yourself to your Japanese coworkers is pretty important and I'll throw up a video on that once May or June rolls around.
Thanks for all the great questions and comments. If you have more, just keep 'em coming!
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
Konnichiwa Eli-san, watashi wa Ryan des. Doso o roshku. ;) Ok the spellin is probably wrong there as it was just off the top of my head but that should say Hello Eli, my name is Ryan. Please to meet you.
You're probably right about the ALT/CIR thing I think it was if you wanted to be a diplomat or something.
I know I have left a mass of comments (sorry!) It's partly because I'm going to plan my summer trip to Japan soon and partly because I'm at work and there is very little going on!
NullnV01d 3 years ago
Konnichiwa, Ryan-san. Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Eli desu. Amerika no Ohaio kara kimashita. Dōzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu
This is generally what I use when meeting new people. Don't worry about so many comments. If you've got questions, I've got answers lol
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
I am superstitious...I just want to make it to the interview first. My birthday is in eleven days and it would be a great present.
hotcappucino211 3 years ago
I hope you make it! and Happy Birthday!
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
nice dude, thanks for the sharing. Calmed some of us down
Jaradcel 3 years ago
Glad I could help. Good luck!
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago
cool - thanks for making this! It's great to get a fresh perspective on the whole process.
myargonauts 3 years ago
I wouldn't say the thing is still fresh in my mind since it was almost a year ago, but I was rather surprised at what I did remember. Really though, I was just nervous as all get out
MessagesFromEarth 3 years ago