Interview Results: Short-listed!!

The interview results are in, and I've been short-listed (i.e. officially accepted) for JET 2016!

(I don't yet know where in Japan I'll be going. Placements will be announced in May/June.)

During the weeks leading up to the email announcement on March 30, I honestly had made peace with getting rejected. I would have been happy to be an alternate (i.e. waitlist) candidate. Since I'm currently finishing up a degree, I had a few backup options to pursue (research fellowship applications, science programs, etc.) if JET didn't happen. Luckily for me, I can do JET now and worry about those later (haha).

When I received the acceptance email on Tuesday, I didn't have time to celebrate because I was busy working on a research paper due the next day, but now that the paper's done and it's the weekend, I can finally celebrate by spending the day doing ... JET paperwork!

I've never been more excited to fill out forms in my life, but there deadlines to meet, so slacking off now isn't an option. Short-listed JETs must:

• Send a form indicating acceptance of the position
• Submit a passport photocopy
• Get fingerprinted for an FBI background check
• Have a doctor fill out a Certificate of Health
• Apply for Japanese tax exemption
• Apply for an international driver's permit
• Submit a special JET insurance form
• Supply proof of graduation upon degree conferral
• ...among other things.

In the meantime, besides filling out paperwork I'll be studying Japanese as fast as I can to ease the transition when I arrive. Some friends have generously given me a bunch of their old Japanese textbooks and workbooks (the Yookoso! series, whose online resources I found out today are now free of charge). Thanks Karen and Christina!

The fact that I'm actually going to go to Japan hasn't really sunk in for me yet... I'm sure it will soon enough.

Many thanks to everyone who helped me get this far. Special shout-outs to my loving family for their endless support, my iaido classmates for their faith in me, my research advisor Dr. Warrior and my karate instructor Mr. Barker for writing references, my University's writing center and Study Abroad office staff for looking over my initial Statement of Purpose drafts, my friends Melody, Dave, Vince, and Michael for providing more critical feedback on my SoP, and again to Michael for helping me prepare for the interview. I wouldn't be here without all of you!! <3

The Interview

The fated day has arrived. (^{DUN DUN DUN} _DUUUUNNNNN)

Preparing for the Interview

Last Friday I met up with a friend and former JET for a practice interview. Originally I was going to try to book a mock interview with my school's career center, but in hindsight that wouldn't have helped as much as yesterday's meeting did, since the questions asked in the JET interview differ greatly from "normal" job interviews.

My answers are ok, and I don't fidget, which is good. On the other hand, I can come off as a bit stiff, but it's the kind of stiffness where it's difficult to answer interview questions in a way that doesn't make it seem like you're being interviewed.

I'm now trying to store a bank of ideas that would help me answer questions such as "what objects would you bring from home to teach your students about American culture?" and "act out a sample lesson for us." For the first question, I imagine that most people would think of American symbols first: flags, Statue of Liberty figurine, cowboy hats, etc. but those are just symbols, They don't really show someone what our culture is like. Moreover, a lot of what makes America America has already been exported across the globe - theme parks, fast food, baseball, (American) football, to name just a few.

Two weeks left.

Some Thoughts on the Application, pt. 2: How to fix a bad SoP

People in JET circles agree that the SoP, or Statement of Purpose, is the most important part of the application. You get two double spaced pages to tell the consulate why Japan, why you, and what you can do for them. Stellar qualifications but a shit SoP won't land you an interview. When I wrote mine, I dug around the internet for both successful and unsuccessful SoPs written by previous applicants.

As a scientist-in-training, I think writing the JET SoP is sort of like hypothesis testing. Logic of Science tells us that hypotheses can never be proved, only disproved. (Sure, they can be supported by a lot of evidence, but once one study shows the contrary using solid science, the hypothesis goes down the drain or gets reworked.) Reading successful SoPs can show you as a writer what works, but that alone doesn't guarantee your own success. On the other hand, if your SoP sounds like an unsuccessful applicant's, you can be sure to kiss your interview prospects goodbye. 

Here are few SoP examples I looked at that may also be useful.

Successful, Australia, 1994

Successful, USA, 2006

Successful, Canada, 2006

Successful, 2005

Successful, New Zealand 2013 (for CIR position)

Unsuccessful, USA, 2004

For my SoP, I ended doing about 4 drafts, with significant revisions between each draft. I also got about 10 people total to read and give feedback during the drafting process. 

Here is the Statement of Purpose prompt (for the US 2016 cycle):

Submit an application statement of purpose / essay regarding your motivation for applying to the JET Program. Applicants should take this opportunity to address the following:

●     Why you wish to go to as a participant of the JET Program and why you are interested in the position for which you are applying (ALT or CIR).

●     What effect you hope to have on the Japanese community and internationally as a result of your participation in the JET Program.

●     How your experiences, professional skills, and relevant interests will be useful to you as an ALT or CIR, and will further the objectives of the JET Program.

●     What you hope to gain, both personally and professionally, from your JET experience if you are selected and how participation will assist you in your future career.

Applicants should take this opportunity not only to explain their motivation for applying, but also to showcase their knowledge of standard conventions for proper American English grammar and spelling.

Here's the first draft I wrote. It's shit. And I'll tell you why.

Some Thoughts on the Application, pt 1: Everything but the SoP

Going into the application, I felt like a decent candidate on paper, in terms of qualifications. I had significant volunteer teaching experience, a few important Japan-related international experiences, leadership experience, and a whole bunch of extracurriculars. There were also a few things I didn't have: classroom teaching experience, Japanese language proficiency, TOEFL certification.

I found out about JET in Sept 2015, completed the application in Oct-Nov 2015, and sent it out a week before the (extended) deadline of Nov. 20.