JET Program Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 317 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
7 roles · 317 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at JET Program.
JET Program
Assistant Language Teacher
Entry Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Panel Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral
The hiring process began in winter and I heard back in late December or January. I was then invited to an interview at the London Japan Embassy. First, I had a chance to ask questions to a former programme participant and another candidate. Then, there was a 15-minute interview with a two-person panel, one British and one Japanese. The interview questions were all ones commonly found on JET programme blogs, so I was well-prepared. I wasn't asked to speak Japanese or do a mock teaching session.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What would be your response in a situation where your school hosted a welcome party for you, and the female attendees were serving tea to the male attendees?
JET Program
Assistant Language Teacher
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Other
The interview process was pretty quick for me, they asked me about my purpose for applying for JET, some questions about my resume and how that relates to this opportunity. They also had a Japanese test at the end (that is not used to assess your eligibility for the program, so don't worry if your Japanese level is low)
Confirmed questions3 questions
- What was your motivation for applying to JET, and how does your experience mentioned on your resume prepare you for an Assistant Language Teacher role?
- Why did you apply for JET?
- How does your resume experience relate to being an ALT?
JET Program
Coordinator, International Relations and Recruitment
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
It felt very relaxed, more like a conversation. The interview was mostly conducted in English, even though it was for a CIR position. There was also a brief segment involving a news article and some questions in Japanese. Make sure you know your Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and can talk about cultural exchange, but try not to sound too rehearsed.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Can you introduce yourself?
- What aspects of American culture would you like to discuss?
- Could you explain your SOP?
JET Program
Assistant Language Teacher
Entry Difficult Negative experience Decline offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Other
The JET Program interviews are known for being pretty intense, almost like they want you to feel like you didn't make it, and then you're left hanging for months for the results. It's pretty typical for people to accept other jobs while they wait. In my case, another ALT company offered me a job not long after the JET interview, and since it felt like I bombed the JET one, I jumped on it. About three days after I landed in Japan, I got an email saying I'd actually passed the JET interview and made the shortlist! Oh well, I guess. I'm rating the experience as negative mostly because I can't honestly say it was good, but it's not a reason not to apply, just something to be ready for. The tough part is deciding whether to wait for JET or accept another ALT offer, because those other offers will definitely come first. I ended up choosing ALTIA Central.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Regarding any awkward gaps in your resume or blips in your education, can you explain them?
- You didn't apply for the ALT role initially, so do you genuinely care about teaching children or are you just seeking a means to get to Japan?
JET Program Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from JET Program interview reports.
“Could you explain the lack of interest from Japanese local governments in establishing sister state/city relationships with French local governments?”
Read reports →“Could you explain the historical context behind the US dropping atomic bombs on Japan during World War II?”
Read reports →“Imagine we are young elementary students who understand no English. Could you please teach us about the sport of Hockey?”
Read reports →“How would you approach teaching colors to young children who are not yet able to read or write in the target language?”
Read reports →“If a Japanese family were visiting, what experience would you recommend that would give them insight into your culture?”
Read report →“Who from the UK, besides the Queen, would you choose to represent the country in class, and why?”
Read report →“In Japanese, what American holiday would you pick to teach the children, and what would be your method for teaching it during an English lesson?”
Read report →“How would you approach explaining the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima to an 8-year-old student?”
Read report →“If you were to bring three items to a classroom to represent your hometown, what would they be?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 317 JET Program interview reports.