Japanese Ministry of Education (thru JET Program) Interview Questions
& Process

Steps: 1 - application submission: You'll need to gather a lot of documents, including specific NHS forms, so start on those before you even begin the application. Make your statement really count by reading the fine print and answering questions thoroughly. Your statement is super important for getting an interview. 2 - interview: Wear a black suit. If you've made it to the interview, you're probably in a good spot, they just want to make sure you're not weird. Still, act your best. 3 - answer and admin

The interview process was pretty standard, as you can find online. There were three interviewers: one older gentleman who seemed a bit stern, a younger person who used to be on the JET program, and a friendly Japanese lady. They played a short video while I was waiting in the room. I really suggest you pay attention to the video and try to find something you can relate to. I was able to connect with a former JET who was of Asian descent. He told me about how his students were surprised he didn't look stereotypically American. Then, one of the interview questions was about how I'd handle it if my students were disappointed that I wasn't blonde with blue eyes.

I applied for a Coordinator of International Relations position for the JET Programme. You have to print out the form, write a few essays and be super careful about details. If they say use font X or type Y envelopes, do it because that's how they filter out candidates they don't want. The first interview was a phone call to check my Japanese speaking skills. They asked me in Japanese, 'Can you describe a train station in Canada and what should be improved?'. If you get past that, you go to a physical interview where they talk to you in both English and Japanese. They'll ask you a bunch of behavioral questions in English and then give you 3 readings in Japanese to discuss. Each reading gets harder, and you typically have only a minute to read 300-500 words.

The application process for JET is known to be long and taxing, so be careful how much you put into this specific job application. You might be the most qualified person but still not get an interview. Also, don't believe YouTube videos that make it seem easy; it's not. The interview itself was very nerve-wracking and felt rushed by those in charge. My best advice is to have backup plans and do thorough research on why YOU want to work for JET. Everyone has their own reasons, so make sure yours is unique and aligns with the strengths and weaknesses you showed in your application.