Applying while still in college

7 comments

1. You might want to state if you’re graduating in Japan or somewhere else

2. Just to give my own personal experience, I applied to JET before graduation, and it was understood that I’d have the BA before leaving so that wasn’t an issue at all. The application process started the winter before graduation. Other friends applied to Eikawas before graduation and similarly had no problems.

3. Jet takes a year and opens in September so you could do that. Other places won’t “get full” and are easy to get in.

4. You went to college just to get a $2k/month job as a dancing monkey? Why?

5. Hey man, I recruit for a teaching company in japan. It’s fine as long as you will graduate by visa application time.

6. If by “teaching in Japan” you mean teaching in Japan as an actual teacher is your goal, then you usually need a few years of experience in your home country before you’ll be considered for a position.

   If you mean teaching as an ALT on the JET Program or a dispatch company, then it’s perfectly fine and you need not worry. But it’s curious because I’m not sure who sets being an ALT as a goal. It’s more for people who just want to live in Japan and see it as a “way in,” and do not care that ALTs don’t have the responsibilities or professional development opportunities of a real teacher.

7. I applied around 6 months before I graduated. Most of the companies will just conduct the interview like usual. If you pass then they will basically put you in a waiting list.

   It’s better to apply earlier and ask them when’s a good time to apply if they say it’s too early.

   Then again, if you do plan on teaching in a school, be aware that most schools start in April. So unless somebody quit in the middle of the school year, it would be harder to get accepted in the summer.