Placements are finally here, congrats to everyone! I know that at some point we are to hear from our CO and our potential Predecessor, but I don’t see any timeframes on when this might be in the placement email.
After receiving a placement, when do we receive such information? A week? or a month? Maybe longer?
I am sure there will be some variance depending on the participant’s individual circumstances, just looking for a general timeframe.
*My departure is still July 23rd if this information is helpful.*
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You might receive info tomorrow or you might get it a day before you leave. This is one of those ESID things because this is out of CLAIRs hands now. CO’s can be like that. A note on predecessors, it is entirely possible you may not have one at all if your position is new or you are replacing someone who never got replaced during covid. My suggestion is get in touch with local JETs through their AJET websites and facebook pages and talk to JETs within your placement as they may be able to give you hints. The predecessor may not even contact you at all, some are technically not obligated to speak with you (and they may not even be told about you!) and in the same way you’re not obligated to speak with them (not sure why you wouldn’t want to though) but I have seen incoming JETs totally ignore every email or message a pred sent them.
edit: Also some CO’s are super strict about current JETs contacting incoming ones. I’ve seen CO’s reprimand current JETs who reach out and give information before the CO does. So just be careful not to name drop the people you get in touch with.
CO’s often have rules about when pred’s can reach out. Your pred will have your name, you’ll know your placement, your pred may have even seen your post on social media, but they’re not allowed to contact you before a certain date. The origin behind these rules are to give the new ALT time to decide whether or not accept the position without being unduely influenced by a (possibly disgruntled) pred. ALTs in the surrounding area however are under no such gag order, so introduce yourself in regional chats, groups, etc.
My pred didn’t realize she was under gag order and reached out to me. She then had to message me like a week later being like “hey, I’m going to send a formal email introducing myself. Please respond to it as though we’ve never talked” lol. Usually preds are allowed to make contact after the reply form deadline when you officially accept your placement
It’s been years since I was a JET and I guarantee everything I type here is relevant. There is no uniform procedure for contracting organizations across the country reaching out to you. Some COs are incredibly involved with their JETs and even have a department for them at the BOE. Some COs have no clue who you are until the day you arrive, when they scramble to send someone to the airport. This also applies for predecessors. There is no obligation for a pred, if they exist, to get in contact with you or share anything with you. Some will get on a call with you, leave you a welcome package, even stay around to meet you. Some will simply depart and not do a single thing. You typed in your reply below about your address. You may be getting a residence that is a traditional Japanese home built in the 1930s, you may be getting a modern apartment, or they may be completely changing your living arrangements and you will be the first person to live where you are going. Your pred might even think you are moving into their place but are unaware that you are not. There is really no rhyme or reason. That is the nature (and charm) of JET.
A lot of westerners might think “how is this possible, how could everything not be meticulously planned out and organized?” You will see.
I didn’t hear from my CO until about 2 months before I left, and from my preds (one school and one apartment pred) about a month or so before departure after my contract was signed and submitted.
Unfortunately the motto ESID applies to this situation too. My situation was unusual, but others may relate – I got contact from my CO about four months before coming to Japan. I got a welcome letter outlining my job duties and my placement’s features, and apartment info. If you need to drive, you will know before arriving to your placement from your CO or fellow JET(s).
This leads me to my other point – I never heard contact from my predecessor because they left two years ago. Some JET placements like mine have not had a JET for years because of COVID, so it is possible that you will arrive in a similar situation. I am the second CIR my placement has had because of it. Also, predecessors are not always under any obligation to contact their successors. The only thing I got from my predecessor was a mess in my apartment, so really ESID. lol
Look. I want to talk to my successor as soon as possible. Their placement, on paper is difficult as fuck but I promise it’s ok. I hope they can get in touch.