I’m just not ready for people coming at me and pulling me down about not being selected for interview with the Jet program 2023. Family saying “what’s next? How about a kid?”, Social circles trying to hog tie me down with their notions about my dreams and where they want to place me. People saying “why can’t you work here?”
It’s about wanting more and seeing my potential grow. Believing that I’m special/can contribute something awesome while I’m alive. I just don’t want to flip burgers or manage an office of gossiping employees.
Struggling hard rn.
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Don’t think JET is the end or be all, I’m on JET but my wife works for a dispatch company and if I’m honest her training is better. She has better regular contact and has better access to help. Sometimes I’m a little jealous.
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If going abroad is something you want to do, there are multiple pathways, how good they are is dependent on variables but at the end of the day your attitude accounts for a lot. Have at it, you’re free to do whatever you want. Family are family because even if you move away, they will still annoy the hell out of you.
A JET rejection has nothing to do with the quality of you. There’s so many applicants and their way of deciding who gets through is already a mystery. There’s plenty of people I’ve met on this program that make me question how they ever passed screening with the red flags they be waving. There are also lots of other ways for you to go abroad if that’s what you truly want. It’ll be hard with people hounding you but it’ll be okay. For now, just look at what other options you have. Whether you want to wait for another year to apply again, try for a dispatch or get a temp job.
why is this phrased like literally everyone in your life is a burden to you? some weird insecurities emanating from this post, maybe get that sorted before reapplying.
I highly doubt anyone is trying to hogtie you down. Why don’t you try articulating your dreams to them (or really, yourself) in a way that isn’t just the JET Programme?
I think you were placing too much on Japan and not seeing the bigger picture, or the reality of it. I don’t know what your plans are/were, but how achievable would they have been if you got placed in the inaka? How much of a difference would you have made if you were desk warming at your school(s)? If your teachers didn’t utilize you enough or if your students just plain didn’t like you? How much would you have been able to really do? And how would you have reacted when the realization hits you? You’re not coming here as the JET savior, you’re not gonna change the school system. Hell, you’re not even a teacher while here. And what if you managed to do yet another *insert American holiday here* activity. How much do you really think the students care, aside from getting a piece of candy on that one class?
Maybe that largely false notion you seem to have came through in your SoP. You should work towards being ok where you are so you can show you’ll be ok anywhere. Japan isn’t going to solve your problems. Is it gonna make you better? You need to prove that you can make yourself better no matter where you are.
>I just don’t want to flip burgers or manage an office of gossiping employees.
sometimes my work is less than flipping burgers at mcd, and im def the one being managed in an office while hearing management gossip about other employees.
I’m going to be honest, I’m enjoying my time on JET, but the only way my potential is actually “growing” is improving my Japanese and social communication skills due to the language barrier. In fact, JET is almost created to push against personal growth. The work doesn’t go anywhere professionally in Japan (usually) and by the end they *want* you to return to America. Sometimes it’s hard to feel like you’re contributing anything if you work for a BOE that under-utilizes you. All this is to say that Japan is not some end-all-be-all. Yes the opportunity to live abroad is wonderful, but I think there are many other opportunities all around! Don’t let this one bump put you down. You can apply again but in the mean time maybe ask yourself exactly how you want to see yourself grow and what other opportunities around you can help you achieve that goal?
>Believing that I’m special
…now that’s a red flag right there.
You especially don’t go on JET so you can believe you’re special. That’s really not the place for it.
Especially in Japan, ALTs are a dime a dozen, and though JET is the top of that pile, it’s still the top of the *ALT* pile.
If you want to feel special, you need to do something special.
As someone who moved here w a JET, she is getting exactly 0 emotional benefit from being here lol. JET doesn’t make you feel special, I promise you. Teaching kids is great but you can do that anywhere. Its nice to have a stable job, but JET is on a timer with very little upward mobility, its not the self actualized work youre looking for
It really ain’t that good. There are some really good placements here that’ll provide a chance to see great places and meet loads of cool people at a supportive school. There are just as many absolute garbage placements where you’ll either be the only ALT in the area or surrounded by assholes with main character syndrome and schools that only notice you’re there if there’s a problem.
If you want to change the world and influence lives, remember that even the most beloved ALT will barely be a footnote in the lives of their students. Most forget about our predecessors by the time we’ve been here a few months. The staff aren’t going to remember you more than any other temporary colleague unless you work like a dog or fuck up so bad they have to make new rules based on it.
Come here by all means and look forward to the opportunity next year, but come for the right reasons. Massive self-improvement and leaving your mark on the world aren’t on the table with this job. The people in your life telling you that a job at home may be better really are right, kickstarting your career at home will be far better in the long run than hiding in Japan for a few years.
I get not getting selected doesn’t feel great. Its normal and ok to feel let down, thats normal. Let me share some advice with you.
1. Take a few days to feel bummed about this before you make any kind of significant decisions. You almost certainly don’t have to decide anything like right this second, so give yourself a break.
2. Rejection happens. Its not fun, but its also normal. Whether its for JET or potential date or a job, etc. it happens. This is probably not the first time you will get rejected from something you want (though maybe it is, in which case, congrats, you’ve lead a blessed life!) and its probably not going to be the last. I don’t say that to get you down, just to realize that its not the end of the world.
3. Rejection from JET doesn’t mean the end of your JET life. Many people (myself included) had to apply more than once to be selected. Take some time, and then revisit your application and see if there are any things you can do between now and next year to improve it. Involvement in Japanese related activities. Demonstrating useful skills for the JET experience (like adaptability, outgoing personality, etc.).
4. JET is not the only path to Japan. Its definitely the best ALT experience, but its not the only one, and you can still meet at least some of your goals just by being an ALT here.
5. ALT is not the only path to Japan. You can look at other oppotunities, such as grad school, work, etc.
6. You are likely young, meaning you have a lot of time ahead of you. You do NOT have to settle into a life long career path now. You can do something for a year or two and change your mind. Its totally fine. You don’t have to have it all figured out, you don’t have to have a grand plan, etc. Think about it, if you are 25 you probably won’t retire until you are 65. Thats 40 years. You haven’t even LIVED that long yet and look at what you’ve already done over that first 25 (or whatever) years. Doubtful its all been part of some grand plan, and even if it has its probably taken some detours along the way. Figure out what you want to do FOR NOW, and then keep planning for what you want to do long term. If those things align, great. But working a temp job for a year while you figure things out is totally reasonable. Again, you don’t have to decide your entire life in this moment. You don’t have to have it all planned out, and what you do next doesn’t have to be what you do forever.
7. Relax. Worrying seldom does any good. Proceeding in a meaningful fashion forward, even if its a slow pace right now, will do you a lot more than panicking and spinning in circles. Again you don’t have to have it all figured out. Few people ever do.
Thank you for your kindness. I’m feeling better already. I only saw Jet through the lens of YouTubers and I see now that the reason why I was wrong was because I believed the glam.
It’s ok, go to Korea…the hiring process is way way quicker and easy and you are still close enough to Japan to visit…. I recommend to apply aclipse…
I’m currently losing weight to join the military. So that was my alternative to not getting the JET
Tbh honest i think this post is just immature. Jet is just a job. Nothing wrong with flipping burgers or an office job. These jobs are nothing less than jet.
I was pretty similar to you the first time I applied to Jet. I got picked for alternate and not upgraded, which I felt was worse than not being accepted at all. I ended up taking another job in japan in eikaiwa, but after finishing a few years i came back to america and was still left with “now what?” Im still looking for work post ALT life and you know what, people are still asking why i dont just go flip burgers and theyre right.
If you were looking to grow and nurture your potential there are far better opportunities than JET. For most people, JET is just an adult gap year in Japan, not connected to a fulfilling career. Figuring out what you want to do and how you can live a meaningful life is part of adulthood, it takes a lot of time. Everybody struggles to find fulfillment, your social circle shouldn’t shame you for not having it all figured out. That being said, even though happiness is a personal thing, generally speaking, people don’t find contentment in working with the Japanese government. So you’ll be okay.
It’s a bummer, but if you really want to go and teach in Japan, there are plenty of opportunities to do it that aren’t JET.
Just because u were denied now doesn’t mean the next time you won’t be accepted🙂 speaking from experience as I eat my lunch here in japan
There’s a lot of good advice in here already.
However, and I mean this in the least harsh way, but this post (and your video that you posted before it was removed) reeks of main character syndrome and a level of entitlement. You are almost 40- If this is the first time something hasn’t gone your way, you should be very thankful. Also, looking down on people who are “flipping burgers” isn’t cute – it’s a job someone’s doing.
JET is a JOB. It’s not some greater purpose. CLAIR and their recruiting really sells that you’re a “cultural ambassador” and “changing lives” – once you’re out of orientation, you’re another city employee and no one cares, dude.
If the people in your life are so invested in you getting a job, and they’re going to react negativity like that, why do you associate with them?
These attributes are definitely not good for this JOB, as you’ll have to just adapt to conditions (you might not like) and follow directions (you might disagree with).
Rejection happens. I wasn’t selected after the interview my first try. It sucks. If this job was something you were really interested in, hit the ground running and try again.
Masters degrees don’t matter. Credentials barely matter. Age doesn’t really matter. You need a degree & a good attitude above all else.
It’s okay to be upset, it’s okay to be disappointed. But use this as an opportunity to mature. More people get rejected than selected; it’s not personal.
There are tons of ways to Japan, some might align more with your goals (you mentioned using religion and the Bible to teach English – that’s… a huge no-go).