Career Internship worth it?

10 comments

1. Yeah, I’m skeptical. 5 days isn’t worth calling an internship. Sounds like CLAIR is trying to check off a box. “See? We’re doing post JET networking and helping our alumni!”

2. I did it twice; I think it helped me because it helped me figure out what I -didn’t- want to do (after learning more about the industry), and it was a nice way to get a taste of what Japanese offices are like. I would say doing it once is enough though

3. I found it pretty useful. Getting my application ready, interviewing, doing the training and doing the actual internship in Japanese was beneficial for me.

   It was just 5 days but the biggest thing for me was that it just gave me confidence that I could survive in a completely Japanese environment and not feel out of place. I also tried to do sightseeing everyday after clocking out just to soften the blow of using my vacation days.

   >Are you able to withdraw if you don’t get the company/industry you were aiming for?

   I’m fairly certain you can withdraw at any point. For what it’s worth though, I did get my first choice.

4. i think it depends on the company.
   mine was at a big translation company but it was literally 5 solid days of 説明会 where we just sat at a desk in the same room (not allowed in the actual office area) and people from different departments came and presented at us about what they do and the company terminology. i felt it was a huge waste of time (and nenkyu) but it made me realize that you can’t just speak japanese to get a job in translation, you need a specialization. but i understood that after 30 minutes lol.
   if you got to do hands on, or sit with someone working there and have them walk you through their day, it would be helpful. even just sitting in on a client meeting or something as a note taker.

5. The important thing is company, I know from friends that have done the internship either get really good companies or they get another teaching-like job.It depends a lot if you want to work in Japan after JET, in job hunting 1 day or 1 week internships are very common (more common than a few months internships) and companies like to see it on your resume (particularly if it’s same industry) , However a lot of these types of internships are as another commenter mentioned 説明会, you don’t do as much practical experience you may hope to get.

6. When did they start doing this program? I wish it had been around when I was on JET.

7. I think it can be good to do as it gives you one more thing on your CV, which people who left uni and went straight on to JET wouldn’t have. However I know the nenkyu thing is a barrier to doing it.

8. I’m also curious about what companies are available to choose from, can anybody who’s done it offer some insight?

9. Hey! Did you get accepted for the internship? Where were you placed? I got accepted but didn’t get any of my 3 choices 😅

10. The stronger your application to the internship program, the higher the chance you have of getting your first choice, but even then it is a big gamble.

    I know of JETs who got their first choice, had a meaningful experience, AND where hired the following year by the same company for a permanent position. Others, as mentioned here in the comments, didn’t get any of their choices and/or suffered a 5-day long briefing session about the company that was a big waste of time.

    If you are serious about looking for work in Japan after JET, and you can lower your expectations and think of the whole process (including the process of applying and interviewing) as a learning experience, I would say it is better than doing nothing.