My Placement!

Last week, I was sent the email with my placement for JET and I think I'm really going to like it.
I got Suzuka City, in Mie Prefecture! Woot!
To give you an idea of where that is exactly, let's look at a handy dandy map.

As you can see by the teeny tiny map in the bottom right hand corner, it's pretty close to major cities and it's on Japan's main island (Honshu). While the Mie Prefecture is, as a whole, considered a rural prefecture, Suzuka is one of the more urban parts of the area. I'm pretty happy that I'll be so close to the water, considering I'm no where near the ocean at home.
Also, the other JETs in Mie seem to be really friendly and have already been extremely helpful on the MieJets.org forum.
While I'm still nervous about the big move, I'm also very excited. I don't think it's quite hit me yet that I'm actually leaving home. I don't think it will until I'm headed to DC for the Predeparture Orientation....

Regardless, I'm feeling fairly optimistic about everything at the moment. I'm ready for adventure :)

So you've been shortlisted! ....Now what?

     First off, to those of you who have been shortlisted for the JET Program: CONGRATS! The application and interview process can be rough and this isn't an easy job to get into. All that waiting can make a person want to pull out their hair....but you've MADE IT.

     I happened to notice my job results email while in the car, on the way home from a long, tiring day at work. I thought, "Hmm. It's been a few hours since I've had the chance to check my email on my phone....let's see.........oh my god. I see the word "congratulations". It has to be good!!!!  AhHHHHHHH". After I got over the inital shock of this news, I calmed myself down enough to call and text family and friends, then, of course, updated my facebook status :-P 

     The next day, the reality of everything set in. I read over the email again, and made note of all the additional documents that had to be submitted. I sadly realised that my work here was not yet done.... Here's the list of things you'll have to mail in after getting shortlisted or alternated for JET:
          
             1) Reply Form: This is a 2 page document. You answer some basic questions, attach two passport sized photos and a copy of your passport.

            2) FBI Background Check: First, you fill out this form: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/applicant-information-form ... then, you mail that, along with fingerprints(rolled impressions of all 10 fingers), and check/money order/credit card form, to the FBI (FBI CJIS Division – Record Request, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306). If you need the credit card form, you can find it here: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/credit-card-payment-form

             3) IRS Proof of Residency Forms (Form 6166): Here is the form 8802 you'll need to fill out to request From 6166 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8802.pdf . Make sure you follow whatever instructions you are given from your consulate in your acceptance letter/email. You can find additional information about these forms here: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8802.pdf

             4) Medical Form: You must have a medical doctor fill out this form and make sure they answer every question. I've heard countless stories of people having to go back to their doctor, because something was missing. It includes a urine test, eye test, color blindness test, TB test (or chest xray), vitals (blood pressure and heart rate), and some medical history questions. If the question doesn't apply to you, have the doctor write "N/A".

             5) Proof of graduation: This applies only if you haven't already submitted it with your original application.


       In most cases, you'll be asked to submit the reply form, medical form, and copies of your background check request within 3-4 weeks of your acceptance email. Considering it could take some time to get in to see a doctor, get fingerprints, etc, it's a good idea to get started on these things as quickly as possible. Also, the background check takes anywhere from 6-12 weeks to be done, so sending that out quickly is important; the JET office usually wants it by late June.

      After you get all that sent, you can sit back and relax for a little while, until you get your placement email, which is usually sent in late May/early June. Then, a few weeks after that you'll get some additional info from your BoE (board of education), a contract, and your predecessor's info, so you can ask them questions.

I'll be posting again sometime in the next few days to talk about where I've been placed and what I'm currently doing to prepare for departure!

My Interview Adventure

      Upon hearing that I got the interview, I was, of course, very excited. I was also worried about how I was going to get there and back, what hotel I was going to stay in, etc. etc.....

     I live in western West Virginia, a good 5 hours away from Washington, DC, and I don't drive. Thankfully, my friends, Justin and Jackson, agreed to drive me there (for which I cannot thank them enough), therefore I didn't have to worry about taking the train or plane, which would have cost me a pretty penny. We also made a fun weekend trip of it (but that's a whole other story haha).

     We arrived in DC around midnight the night before my interview, very tired and disoriented. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott on Connecticut Ave. NW, which is conveniently located about 10 minutes walking distance from the Embassy of Japan (where the interviews are held). On weekends, which includes Thursday night to Sunday night, it costs $120 a night. That is pretty cheap in comparison to other area hotels, not to mention it's a really nice hotel! I definitely recommend it.

     No matter how hard I tried, I just could not sleep very well because I was so nervous. My interview time was at 10:35AM. I got up around 8AM, took a shower, ate some breakfast with my friends, then walked to the Embassy. I ended up getting there around 9:50AM, which was earlier than I had planned on arriving, but I decided to go ahead and walk in anyway. A guard checked my ID, then opened a gate to let me in. Then, I went through a metal detector, and met with a woman and showed my ID again. She signed me in and showed me to the waiting room, where there was a video playing and a JET alum, who was answering people's questions.

     I was glad to have arrived as early as I did, because once I walked into the waiting room, it seemed like time just FLEW by. I watched parts of the video, while chatting with a few of the other JET hopefuls and asked the alum a couple of questions. Before I knew it, a guy called my name and I followed him out of the room. He introduced himself as we walked back to the interview room, which was around the corner and down a long, very narrow hallway. I found out he was a JET alum and that he would be one of the people on my interview panel. He commented that I didn't look nervous, which made me laugh, because I was feeling quite the opposite.

     As I walked in the interview room, the two other people on my interview panel stood up to welcome me. I walked over to them, and we shook hands as we introduced ourselves to one another. (I've heard other JETs mention that some interview panel people don't want to shake hands, or they tell you to be seated as you walk in, therefore there is no chance for hand shaking. I say, go with the flow. Just do whatever seems natural at the time.) After introductions, they told me to have a seat and then we got started with the questions immediately.

Here are the questions I was asked:

1) What age group would you most like to teach?

2) How would you deal with homesickness?

3) How do you think Japan views the US, positively and negatively?

4) What would you say if a student asked, "Does everybody in the US have a gun?"

5) What extra-curricular/community related things would you like to get involved in?

6) What difficulties do you anticipate having adjusting to Japanese culture?

7) What qualities make up a good teacher and what qualities make a bad teacher?

8) Have you been keeping up with any current Japanese news?

9) How does JET relate to your future goals?

10) We saw in your essay that you've studied music and have had some experience in music education. Say your supervisor asked you to teach a music related lesson in class. What songs would you teach? How would you turn those songs into a lesson?

11) On your application, you answered that you have some experience with the Japanese language. Could you answer a few questions in Japanese for us? This won't effect whether or not you are hired, but we just want to gauge your ability. (I talked for about 3-4 minutes in Japanese with the native Japanese guy on my interview panel. He started basic, and gradually got more difficult. If I said I didn't understand, he would rephrase the question for me, then I would understand enough to come up with a decent answer)

12) Do you have any questions for us?

....and that was pretty much it! I felt like some of my answers were stupid, but I just kept a smile on my face and did my best to look confident and speak loudly and clearly at all times. I wore a solid black sleeveless dress with a dark gray blazer and black mary-jane-like flats and nude colored pantyhose.

Here is some general advice I have when preparing for your JET Program interview:

1) Give yourself PLENTY of time to get to your interview. Google maps may say that it's a 20 minute drive from your house to your interview, but you could easily run into traffic, turning that 20 minute drive into an hour long drive. Just don't risk it. Be prepared for anything inconvenient that could possibily happen to happen on that day.

2) If you are walking to the interview site, keep an umbrella in your bag. It might also be a good idea to have a water bottle (many tend to get dry mouth when nervous) and, for ladies, an extra pair of hose/tights.

3) Make ABSOLUTELY SURE that you have all the materials that are required. You'll need to bring a form of photo ID (passport or drivers license) and your interview voucher, which is form that will be attached to an email you recieve from your consulate that you'll need to fill out and attach a recent passport sized photo onto. You will not be allowed to enter without these two things.

4) Wear something professional and modest. Ladies, if we can see your cleavage when you bend over, don't wear it. Avoid bold, bright, distracting prints.

5) Smile :)

My next post will be: "You've been accepted into the JET Program!....Now what?" :-P

Playing the Waiting Game

The waiting period between turning in the application until finding out if you got the interview can be really stressful. Then, if you get the interview, you'll have even more waiting to endure between after the interview up until the time you find out if you got the job.
Based on my own personal experience, as well as some comments from the Official JET Forums, here is a list of  things you can do to help get through these long periods of waiting and be prepared.

1) Continue on with life as usual and stay busy. A watched pot never boils, and all that jazz. Plan some extra get togethers with friends. I had to make myself get out of the house more often, instead of letting myself sit in front of my laptop, continually refreshing the JET forums for any new news (Yes, I am guilty of this...) Do things to help keep your mind off the fact that you are waiting for job results.

2) Exercise. This is something that I wish I would have started sooner. Exercising really helps in relieving tension and stress. I find that running is especially helpful. Sometimes, something as simple as walking a lap around my local park relaxes my mind, particularly when walking with a friend. Blast upbeat, peppy music or work out on the treadmill in front of the TV while watching your favorite show.

3) Research.
 - If you're waiting to find out if you got an interview, use this time to find out where the interviews will be held, and find an affordable hotel close by if you live an hour or more away. Interview results are usually released just 2-3 weeks before the interviews are held, so it is good to already have a hotel in mind and be able to reserve a room the second you find out. Make sure you own a nice business suit or, for the ladies, a nice blouse and dress pants/skirt/dress. Also, do some research on possible interview questions. Don't go too overboard, though, because the questions they ask are often tailored specifically to your application. It is important to have good, solid answers to these basic questions: 1) Why did you choose the JET Program?, and 2) Why Japan?
Read over your statement of purpose and think about what questions they may ask you from that.
 - If you're waiting to find out job results after having interviewed, it is best to avoid the internet as much as possible. Seriously. Check your email every now and then as it nears April, but don't let yourself dwell on it.


In my next post, I will be talking about my interview experience in Washington, DC.

Oh yeah! By the way....

     ....I got shortlisted for the JET Program! I changed my profile off to the side to mention it, but I never talked about it in a blog post. I've known since mid-April. Oops...haha.
I'm definitely excited, but also nervous for this next big step in my life. As they say, 'No risk, no reward', but I would be lying if I didn't say I was feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes, I find myself thinking "What have you gotten yourself into now?!" I'm the kind of person who likes to gradually introduce change into my life, not jump right into something that includes a lot of change all at once. I feel like it's a kinda big risk to take, especially for me.

       I have been wanting to go to Japan for a really long time now, and I am still in awe that this amazing opportunity has come my way and that I actually got accepted for this job. I never would have thought that this sort of thing could have ever happened to me, partially because I didn't think I'd ever have the balls to do it (lol). I will hopefully be able to keep up with posting on this blog, as well as doing the occasional vlog, while in Japan.

      In the next vlog, I will be discussing the longest and hardest part about applying for the JET Program --- Waiting! ...Ugh. How should you be spending that time waiting for results? How SHOULDN'T you be spending that time waiting for results? These answers and more shall be revealed soon...ish :)

    

The Application Packet

In the last entry, I talked about the State of Purpose essay, which is really the most complex part. All the remaining parts of the application are fairly straight forward, in my opinion. However, that doesn't mean that you should take any one part of it lightly. Read the instructions on the JET website very carefully and make sure every bit of paperwork that is required for your particular situation is there and organized in the specific way they tell you to do so.
Read everything the official website says here: http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JET/application_documents.html  *EDIT*: JET has a new website - https://jetprogramusa.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/2016-checklist-mailing-information2.pdf
*Also, as of the 2016 application period, photocopies are no longer needed*
Let's do a run through of each part, just for some further clarification:

1) Main application form (1 original, 2 photocopies): This is a PDF that will become available to you closer to time of the application packet deadline. Last year, it was posted on the official U.S. JET page late October, to give you an idea of when it may be posted this year. This is the part of the application in which you'll answer basic questions like your address, the location you want to interview through, if you want to bring family with you to Japan, if you will have a drivers license, etc. You'll also be asked some more in-depth questions, like the top 3 prefectures you'd like to work in (and also, urban, suburban, or rural), and what teaching and/or intercultural experiences you've had. Make sure you not only double, but triple check this form after you finish filling it out. Make sure every question is answered, because if they see any question blank, they may think you just missed it completely. If it doesn't apply to you, put N/A.

2) Authorization and Release Form (1 original, 2 photocopies): This will appear when you go to print out your main application form PDF. Sign it.

3) Self-Assessment Medical Form (1 original, 2 photocopies): This is a 1-2 page document that will be posted on the official JET site, as well. Answer the questions truthfully, because if it's discovered you have a condition later on and you didn't tell them, you risk losing your position with JET.

4) Physician's Form: You only have to fill this out if you answered "yes" to questions 3, 4, or 5 on the self-assessment form. I didn't have to do this part, so I'm not sure what all this document includes, but the form will also be on the official site for those who need it.

5) Results of FBI Background Check: You do not have to do this right now, unless you are planning on applying for early departure. If you are applying for normal departure, you will have to do this later if accepted for the job. Normal Departure People: DO NOT start this early, because in most cases, the background check needs to have been done within the past few months to be accepted. I know it sucks to be forced to rush around after the fact, but you just have to wait.

6) Certificate of Health: This is another document that is not required right now, unless you are applying for early departure.

7) Statement of Purpose (3 photocopies), which I already covered.

8) Transcripts of all University/College Courses (1 original, 2 photocopies): In my experience, I went to my school's main office and they told me I had to fill out a form and then mail it in to them. I had to pay $5 per official copy. I just got 1, then made 2 photocopies, as the instructions say, so it only cost me $5. It only took 1 week for me to recieve the transcript in the mail, but I still live in the city I went to school. I have heard of transcripts taking up to 3 weeks, so this is definitely something you want to think about taking care of a little early, especially if you need to request them for multiple schools . Also, when you make photocopies, make sure you turn up the brightness on the copier accordingly, so that it can be easily read.

9) Proof of Study Abroad: This wasn't applicable to me, so I don't know anything about it. Read everything the site says and if you have any questions, the JET Official Forums is a cool place to go to get the answers you need.

10) Proof of Graduation/Expected Graduation Date: In my case, my degree name and the date I graduated was included on the first page of my official transcript, so I did not have to submit a seperate document to satisfy this requirement. Read what the JET site says carefully, and you shouldn't have any problems.

11) Proof of Teacher's Certificate/TESL/TEFL: Was not applicable to me

12) Proof of U.S. Citizenship (3 photocopies): I sent 3 photocopies of my birth certificate, because I didn't have my passport yet at the time. (Side note: Proof of passport isn't required until you have been accepted for the job in April, so if you don't have one yet, I would start the process in January/February to make sure you have it in time just in case).

13) Reference Letters (1 original, 2 copies each): Definitely make sure you read the instructions for this one, as they are kind of complicated. Make sure you read over these instructions with the two people you decide to have write the letters for you. They need to include the originals, as well as make 2 copies of both the form AND their signed letter of reference, then put that in one envelope and make sure the envelope itself is also signed on the outside, perferably on the back, near the seal. For this reason, you need to make sure that the people you ask to be your reference will have good things to say about you, have known you for a long time, but are also professional and responsible people. I used my Japanese college profs.

14) Self-addressed, stamped envelope: Simple and straight forward. They will send back a receipt confirming they have recieved your application using this envelope. Don't forget the stamp :)

As you've probably already figured out by now, this is A LOT of paperwork. It's all very bulky. Make sure you get a good, sturdy document mailer....however, I had to get a big mailing envelope with bubble wrap insides to send it all in, because the document mailers I found were not wide enough! I got some thin cardboard inserts from the restaurant I work in and used those to each side of my papers, then wrote on the outside of the package "DO NOT FOLD".
Triple check everything. Make sure the documents that should be paper clipped are paper clipped. Make sure you have the required number of copies. The in-depth mailing instructions are here: http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JET/pdfs/2012%20Checklist%20and%20Mailing%20Info.pdf

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask in the comments!