To the leavers, do you know what you will do next?

8 comments

1. Gonna spend a couple of weeks hanging out around Japan, including spending a few days in Kyoto for Tanabata.

   After that, I’ll return to Canada, stay with my parents for a bit, maybe catch up with some loved ones, then start the job hunt. Not very exciting but you do what you gotta do!

2. I left jet to go to a senmon school midway thru my second year. I plan on getting a job in japan in my industry once I graduate in two years.
   I was like you and thought I’d stay two ish years, but then I passed N2, a teacher at my school was undermining the ALTs, and my BOE and I had a conflict about my contract terms (didn’t get nenkyu per jet contract but per fiscal year so I never got my second year nenkyu). So I decided to accelerate my leaving plans. Glad I did.

3. Kinda? waiting to hear back about a job. If I get it I might end up staying Japan. If I don’t get it, back to school I go.

4. Heading back home and finally using my degree to become an Engineer. In the middle of interviews now so hope I get something set up before I leave Japan!

5. I’ve applied for multiple jobs and I have my final interview for the one I really want on Wednesday. That’s in Tokyo.

   If I don’t find a job in Japan I think I’ll go back home in August. I’m contracted until August 2024 but I’m leaving early regardless.

6. I got accepted into my top graduate school- so I’m moving back to the States.

   Might come back in the future but right now I’m focusing on education (only 23 so I have a lot of time to think.)

7. Going to grad school in the UK. I’ll go back to the US for a month to see my family, then move to the UK for school. I would love to move back to Japan some day, but I don’t think it’s realistic given my field (immigrant and refugee related). I think my N1 level Japanese will just end up being a fun fact rather than something that I can actually use professionally lol rip

8. I left JET last year after only one year. I found first an eikaiwa job to get me into the biggest city of my prefecture, then i quit that job after just three months (omg) and i joined a college as a full time lecturer.

   So that was my path, but leaving after one or two years is a good option. Having a slight plan will help you out a lot but it doesn’t have to be set in stone.

   I’m much happier as a lecturer than an ALT. I have control over my classes, an office, i join staff meetings. I’m just treated as a person, not a pet, so that’s great 😭

   Prefecture : Kagoshima