I have been on the subreddit for quite some time, and have been doing my part in helping others with their application/statement of purpose (SOP). Here are some tips that I have came up with for “beating” the JET application/selection process.
\*The most important aspect to “beat” the JET Program selection process would be >!100 % honesty!< within the application and SOP.
From personal experience, I have met many candidates that have lied or spruced up their resume/application to look like the ideal candidate but ultimately **failed** during the interview process. The anxiety of trying to remember what you have wrote down, and creating a further explanation about these white lies, makes it quite obvious to the panel that you are untrustworthy/not confident in tough/challenging situations. By being completely **honest** within your application/SOP, you will be able to handle the pressure of the JET interview without much struggle. The interview process is the panel’s method to get a sense of what type of character you are as a candidate for the program, and showing any weakness/nervousness within often leads to the applicant being rejected/alternate listed from the program. This being said, every situation is different (**ESID**). I found that those candidates that were able to hold their composure for the 15ish minutes, were the ones that were selected to participate in the program. It is a lot easier to hold a professional composure if you were completely honest within your application/SOP, because the panel will ask you questions based on the information you have gave them within your application/SOP.
Another aspect that many applicants do not mention within their SOPs would be their ability to be **adaptable** and **self-sufficient**. If/When you arrive in Japan, you will have to do many things alone, dealing with the day to day stresses in a country that has a different culture than the one that you experienced. Dealing with the language/culture barrier on top of this, will create tricky situations that you will have to resolve most likely on your own. As a candidate for the program, how will you demonstrate the ability to overcome such obstacles to the panel? Highlighting any experience of overcoming similar obstacles within your life would be an amazing way to highlight this important characteristic. This doesn’t mean you have to travel around the world and experience a different culture, but small incidents of helping foreigners within your community or handling an unexpected situation that required you to be adaptable are great sections that should be incorporated within the SOP.
Another aspect of the SOP that many people tend to over explain in my opinion (IMO) would be their desire to come to Japan. I personally do not think it is a good idea to **overshare** the one specific incident that made you **fall in love** with Japan. I find that incorporating such element to the SOP, especially within the beginning of the SOP, showcases to the JET panel that you already have a preconception of what life in Japan is going to look like. I find that mentioning “Why Japan?” in passing allows candidates more space within their SOP to highlight their personality and skill sets to be an effective member to the program. The JET panel knows you want to work in Japan because you applied to the JET program, incorporating a long introduction about your special desire to be in Japan is a **waste** of space that could be used for other sections of the SOP. IMO, answer the question within a maximum of two sentences is more than enough for the panel to understand your reason for applying to the program.
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I hope these tips were of some use. 🙂
6 comments
I’d like to hop in with a couple more if I can 🙂
Think of the SOP as a glorified cover letter. It’s good to talk about your motivations and past achievements, but JET also wants to know what YOU can offer THEM (or rather, Japan). What skills can you offer them? How are you planning on incorporating what you’ve learned in Japan into your future? How do you plan on promoting Japanese culture outside of Japan?
Also, like with many resumes and cover letters, it’s fine to explain your good characteristics but it’s much better if you can show how you’ve demonstrated them. For example, it’s fine to say you’re adaptable but can you give an example of a time you had to adapt in a difficult situation? If you can demonstrate those qualities, your reviewers are far more likely to believe you.
Similarly, it’s fine to say you’re interested in Japanese culture but what aspects? Have you done anything to demonstrate and cultivate that interest? For example, I’m interested in kimono and mentioned how I volunteered for yukata/kimono dressing booths at local festivals. I joined my local kimono club and partook in activities with them. This shows an active interest and community involvement.
However, OP, I agree with all your points!
Why Japan? part of the SOP should be like 1 sentence, 2 absolute max. I’ve read so many SOPs that use half the space to write about Rika chan who they met back in 2nd grade back in 1988 like, any space not used to talk about yourself or how you will be a good ALT/CIR is a waste of space.
Great advice OP. I think a lot of good sop advice boils down to writing it like you’re applying to a job. This isn’t an application for study abroad.
Hello OP. You are such a great help and encouragement. May I also ask how recommendation letters play a strong part in the application? Does a strong recommendation letter make a strong applicant as well? Thank you!
The oversharing about Japan thing is what I like to refer to as a “Japangent” (Japan+Tangent).
I’ve read a decent amount of SOP drafts from applicants on this reddit offering feedback. I’ve been seeing a lot of the following:
The pseudo intellectual buzz word&catch phrase salad fluff. I’ve noticed in this scenario, that the writer does this in an attempt to elevate their SOP. However, it draws attention to the bizzare wording or comes off as insufferable and pretentious. I’ve even seen words used incorrectly too. Ironically, I’ve read drafts where applicants completely gloss over a skill or experience that would make a good argument as to why they should be selected for the program, in exchange for more unnecessary fluffy.
The skill cram. Trying to cram all their experience into their SOP so that nothing is able to be expanded upon as to why or how these skills will be utilized on JET. As a result, the flow gets lost and the voice is all over the place.
OP in your experience, is this something common with applicants?
i’m having such insane writers block with the part of my essay about “why japan”. it’s great to hear that i don’t need to fluff it up.
still, though, i find it so difficult to put into words why it’s japan i want to go to and not another country, without coming off as fetishistic, naive, cringe, or some other negative adjective. my personal reason why i want to go is because i admire the culture and way of life, how it’s vastly different from my country, and want to experience it for a set amount of time. and i think it would be fun to live there. i know that’s not what they want to hear in a SOP, lol. inb4 “you shouldn’t apply if this is how you’re thinking”
but if anyone has any input i will take it