Any first years thinking about not recontracting?

18 comments

1. I’m a fourth year JET, and the advice I always heard was for deciding if you should stay a second year, you should have a reason **not** to recontract, while for third year and beyond, you should focus on having a reason to stay.

   It sounds like you have your old job lined up, so you have a reason to leave. Would your old job not be able to take you back if you ended up staying for 2 years? Unless you’re going to work in a super competitive/technical field that involves keeping up-to-date with changing standards, I don’t think one year will have that much of an impact in the long run.

   I’m (obviously) glad I stayed for a second year because I was able to have a lot more experiences than if I had stayed for only one year, but I also don’t have a specific career path lined up for me back home. If you’re really itching to get into your career it might be valuable for you to go back so you don’t feel like you’re just sitting around, but if you’re enjoying your time in Japan and just anxious about going into your career after two years, maybe talk to someone in your career field and ask their opinion! My dad works at a big company and always says corporations like that won’t knock you down for working abroad for a few years if it means you’re bringing intercultural understanding and increased communication skills with you.

   Good luck! As far as the desk-warming, I found that the longer I stayed the less desk-warming I did because I got involved with more things at work as I understood more of how things worked. Of course ESID but you don’t have to be stuck desk-warming forever!

2. Is your story of living in japan finished? if not, why not stay? If we were able to take a year off, we’re not high-flying enough for another year to matter.

3. I firmly believe you need at least two years in Japan to get the most out of it. Midway through my second year was when I had a good handle on the job, on language, on navigating the culture – things just felt easier, and I was able to relax into the lifestyle.

4. It’s my first year and I am not recontracting. Same as you, I have really enjoyed my time here and I love the job, but I really feel like I’ve had my “live abroad” moment. I lived in Japan for 3 years in my 20s and did a lot of travelling, so I dont feel bad for not seeing enough of Japan. I also used this year to finish the teaching requirement for my Masters degree in TESOL.

   I recently found out that ALT work does not count as valid experience for most schools in the US so it just wouldn’t be beneficial for my career to stay longer here longer. If I stayed, it would be solely because I want to live in and travel Japan, which I feel I have already done to my hearts content. Due to all these reasons, I feel like I wont regret leaving after a year because I accomplished a lot on both a personal and professional level. Just list your reasons for leaving and determine whether or not you think you’d regret it based on said reasons.

   Good luck!!

5. Gonna offer another perspective

   As a 3rd year now, looking back when I was an emotionally immature 21 year old on my first year, I had so many fuck this bs this is not for me esp during deskwarmimg hell seasons, along with normal career future doubt

   However I shifted my mindset and settled on this. I wish I could have told first year 21 year old me this, but alas I was surrounded by lazy complacent JETs and to my own fault it rubbed off on me. If you have any interest in working in Japan long term then honestly JET is cream of the crop (as long as you aren’t overworked).

   You get paid a good salary comparatively for not too much work. You basically get paid to skill up, instead of normally having to move in with your parents while trying to self study.

   For example, let’s say a day is 6 periods plus lunch. I avg 3 classes a day, so in the remaining 3, I use 1 for Japanese, 1 for either more Japanese or online self study certifications, and then 1 for relaxation along with lunch.

   It gets murkier when you don’t want to be in Japan long term, so I hope others have good responses as well.

6. I was a one-year wonder JET, and honestly I didn’t regret leaving at all. I miss the friends I made and all the fun adventures and I cried when I left. But I decided to pursue something else back home and was glad to get it started sooner rather than later. I probably had a similar amount of deskwarming as you, and personally it just left me feeling very unfulfilled, no matter how I made use of that free time.

   Ultimately, I thought, “What will I gain from staying one more year here vs. what will I gain from going back home?” And I decided going back home was the more productive choice for me. I guess that goes along with the “have a reason to go” advice. I also lived in Japan once before JET and got a lot of the traveling out of my system then, so that also contributed to my feeling “ready” to leave.

   But Japan will always be there to visit again. Hell you can even do English teaching again in the future if you want! What constitutes as a “full” experience is different for everyone. One, two, three years, it’s whatever you need to get what you came for 👍

7. Same situation as you, career break etcetc. I don’t want to continue teaching as it is a fairly low salary compared to my field and although I’ve enjoyed my time and the students are awesome it’s time to get back to what I love.

   If anything, seeing how hard teachers work and how hard students study, it has really helped me change my mindset. I plan to get off my ass and push myself too when I get back to my job.

8. I had a similar experience in terms of future career not being related to teaching at all. And I was afraid that it would make it hard for me to find a job afterwards, I think how much that plays into your decision should be based on how easy / difficult it would be to get a job in your field.

   In my country and my field, there’s jobs a plenty so it wasn’t a big deal for me to stay a second year. It was the decision for a third where even though I would have loved to, I knew I’d be impacting my career if I continued.

   I never had huge amounts of desk warming except the school holidays but when I was desk warming I would write, study Japanese, do calligraphy and go talk to the librarian at the school to learn more about Japanese history and more.

   This level of space in my day to fill with things I enjoy isn’t as available in my life anymore. We all have plenty of time to spend on our career of choice in the future so try to enjoy the freedoms that JET does give.

   But it comes down to how your experience on JET has been – only you know what is best for you. All I am doing is trying to give an alternate perspective. Good luck with the decision!

9. 1st year JET here and went into this 99% sure I was only going to do this for one year. If I go more than 2 years not practicing in my field, I’m not a great candidate to hire, so I’d like to go back before that happens. As well, I pay a not-so-small fee to maintain my license to practice in my field, so I would hate to pay it year after year and not use it.

   Someone in my family was also diagnosed with cancer shortly after I arrived in Japan. She’s doing ok right now (which is why I have not broken contract), but I know it’s probably a struggle. I’d like to return home to offer support where I can, if she requires/wants it.

   Lastly, I just miss my cat a lot, lol.

   I’m enjoying my time here in Japan, but ultimately, I know I can’t stay here for long. It has pushed me to enjoy my time to the max here, however. I’m tired and probably spend too much money, but I’m having fun while I can!

10. One year. Get out. Live

11. I think you already know you will regret renewing – Japan isn’t going anywhere and I am sure you’ll have other opportunities to come back. JET is a great program but limited.
    My advice, don’t renew and try and do all you wanted to do in two years in the next 8 months.

12. If you have a better job home, then you can go back I think. I stayed 3 years (it was 3 years at the time) because I met my bf-husband during this time, but if you have no good reason to stay…

13. >For reference, I took a one-year career break to go on and will be able to return to my last job(which I liked) if I come back in August.

    I did the same my previous time on JET, and frankly, go with your gut. You had a great experience but it sounds like you have a solid job waiting and a career you want to get stuck into.

    I feel that generally 2 years is the sweet spot, but everyone has the reasons for going and staying. It IS ridiculous they want you to recontract barely a few months after arriving, and in the middle of winter when it is cold and depressing, but work out your reasons for staying or going and make your peace with it.

    Japan will always be here if you want to return.

14. I’m a first year JET and arrived in August! I’m not re-contracting for a few reasons.

    Firstly, I feel a lack of fulfilment. I understand finding fulfilment in a job is a difficult task, and no matter where you go you will struggle but when I sit at the desk I know this isn’t what I want. This is semi-related to what I want to do in the future but it still makes me question what I’m doing. I feel as though the longer I stay here, the longer I will be out of touch with the area I want to work in.

    Secondly, I find it very hard to learn Japanese; I tried before coming to Japan and I’m learning while I am here. It is very difficult for me and I struggle to communicate with others in the office. I study it at home and at the desk in work and I still struggle to retain the language and use it in day to day life.

    Lastly, I have a boyfriend back home and I feel that if I stayed another year that would put a strain on the relationship. At the minute we are finding it ok but with my eyes set on one year I can utilise my time seeing Japan and look forward to my return.

    Don’t get me wrong, I love it here; the friends I have made so far, the places I have seen, the food I have consumed, and the learning I have done. One thing I am focused on is the question of “Have I/Will I achieve what I wanted to achieve while being in Japan?”… the answer for me is yes. I have already achieved this! I came to Japan because I wanted a change in my life while also changing as a person, I can say that that has most certainly happened, so I am more than comfortable leaving after one year.

    I would love to hear more about your final decision! I hope this provides a bit of insight into someone else’s thought process 🙂

15. Update: Thanks for all the advice!

    I’ve decided not to recontact as I’ve realized that I will definitely achieve what I wanted to do on JET by August. While extra time would be nice, it’s putting me at disadvantage for my other goals in life.

    I’m going to spend the rest of the year enjoying my time to the fullest (which probably means not saving a single penny but oh well!)

16. First year JET as well, arrive din August, I also will not be recontacting for similar reasons and at first it was really eating at me. I was thinking about tremendous amount of effort it required just to get to Japan and into the JET program that it would be a waste to only do 1 year. But after considering the pros and cons I decided that 1 year is truly enough for me.

    I love my life here, my placement is quite inaka, but I quite enjoy it. I made many friends and many of them are actually Japanese, which has tremendously helped with my Japanese language learning. A big reason for wanting to stay another year would be to really focus on my Japanese and get to a fluent level. Immersion is hands down the best way to do this so another year in Japan would be invaluable in that case.

    However, as much as I love my placement and the friends I have made, I know that teaching isnt something I will do in the long run and doing another year would only put me farther behind in the field of work that I want to pursue. Deskwarming is a typical part of my day as well and I never really felt like I was being utilized as efficiently as I could.In addition, I have family and friends that I miss back home and I feel that Japan isnt going anywhere and I am able to visit again sometime later in life if I really wanted to.

    The decision should be totally up to you, I think at the end of the day you gotta do whats best for you. Really take the time and weigh all the options, or do what I did and make a pros and cons list. Take care of yourself first.

17. I loved my first year, and I loved my second even more. But I knew a third would be treading water.

    From what you say, I would definitely stay for a second.

    Once the snow began to thaw in the spring of my second year, it felt like the end was approaching, like when a train begins braking before a stop. Glad I had the extra year.

    I also met my wife in my second year – another reason to have stayed!

18. I’m in the exact same boat. I also arrived this summer, not recontracting. Its been a good year, had some great times getting to know the students and good times in general in Japan, but I do need to be serious about future goals and finances. There is A LOT of desk warming and I had an entire month of giving the same exact reading test over and over again to every student in my classes. I feel like I could be doing so much more with my time. If I stay in Japan I’ll be stagnating my career. Too many years out of my previous industry can actually hurt my abilities to get back in. I’ll also be trying to go back to my old job. My old offers education benefits, and if I ever want to return to Japan I can use those benefits to get myself into a much better position.