JET Reject / Worthless Degree Tips

[cenic]

Hi Everyone,

Despite the advice I was given here a few years ago regarding which degree I should finish, at that point I hadn't decided between Computer Science or International Studies, I went for the easier of the two degrees. I am graduating from the University of Washington (USA) in June with a degree in International Studies: Asia (Japan Track).

My plan, post graduation, was to get in the JET program and milk it for all it's worth. While in JET I would network with others and hopefully land a real job in Japan after JET ended. However, JET rejected me, without an interview for that matter, so now I having to consider my other options. I am considering applying at a few eikaiwas, but have heard only negative things, so I am reluctant.

To really break things down for you, I am 27 years old with a degree that has no direct career path. I mean, I could have graduated with a General Studies degree from a correspondence school for all my current degree is worth. So, really, I am wondering if anyone has any career / job advice for someone with a degree in "Japanophile" . Further background, I have worked as a System Admin at a hosting company for the last 3 years, however, I do not plan on directly applying for technical jobs in Japan. As someone has said on this board before "Why would a company in Japan hire a gaijin when they could hire a Japanese person with similar skillsets."

thanks

[cenic]

I am glad the older threads still exist. There is actually a lot of valuable advice within the my original thread.

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5611

I got to say, thanks to everyone that replied 3 years ago.

[emperor]

Hey, just remember!
"You're not in love, so don't forget it..
It's just a silly phase you're going through"

I too choose Japanese as a route to enlightenment, and found it was'nt for designed for me but just another detour away from dominiation of the species...

make your next footprint a satisfactory one and every subsequent step will find it's own footing...

especially if it's it's in Nuclear Fission and the Iranian dialect of Farsi

[Charles]

Your recovery can begin, now that you have hit rock bottom. There is no place to go but up.

[emperor]

wow, one of the few times Charles isnt being a totally mean cunt!?!
...unless he is...
actually, realistically, he probably is moistening his nipples and cracking one off at this point in time...

[akatsuka]

I'm kind of in the same boat...

I'm also doing a degree with the hope of getting into JET as a way into Japan and then looking for jobs that would be more suitable to my degree. (I'm studying Graphic Design) My case isnt as bad as yours, as if I cant do JET, then I still can have a career here, but I'll be settling for second best, which will eat me up inside!

I'm wondering if they gave you any reason why they didnt accept you for JET? If they said anything that might be a clue, please let me know!

Can you apply for JET more than once?

SOrry I have no advice. Other than I used to work for a small Eikaiwa - not a chain like NOVA or AEON, and it doesnt have to be as bad as what everyone makes out. Just read all the small print and read between the lines to make sure you arent diddled when you accept the job!

Or, I dont know where you are from - but can you get a working holiday visa? If so, that is a good way of getting into Japan and then having some time to find a sponsor for a visa.

Good luck

[AssKissinger]

Cenic, have you invested much time in learning Japanese? Because if you haven't, then you should just think of Japan as one of many overseas' possibility for opportunities.

[baka tono]

How much time have you spent here? If little to none then work for an eikaiwa so you can get Japan out of your system then move out of Japan and into the more profitable world of IT.

[akatsuka]

How much time have you spent here? If little to none then work for an eikaiwa so you can get Japan out of your system then move out of Japan and into the more profitable world of IT.

Everyone is really being helpful, huh?!

[kamome]

I'm pretty pessimistic on this issue, but I still believe it isn't to your advantage to go to Japan with just a B.A. and no other skills. Why put yourself through that? Japan can be a good temporary escape valve but it won't solve all of your issues and may very well create new problems for you. That degree from the U. of Washington is a valuable degree. I'm sure there is a way to make it work for you in the States before you go off to Japan. Look for internships, network with alumni, talk to a career counselor - but don't despair by thinking your degree is meaningless.

[cenic]

I'm kind of in the same boat...
I'm wondering if they gave you any reason why they didnt accept you for JET? If they said anything that might be a clue, please let me know!

Can you apply for JET more than once?

They do not provide specifics as to why you were rejected, just a general letter of rejection. However, on JET message boards it seems this year they are looking for people who do not have backgrounds in Japan. Lots of people with formal backgrounds in Japan or Japanese language were rejected.

Yes, I can apply next year.

Or, I dont know where you are from - but can you get a working holiday visa? If so, that is a good way of getting into Japan and then having some time to find a sponsor for a visa.

Good luck

I am from the US, so I don't think I can get a working holiday visa.

[cenic]

Cenic, have you invested much time in learning Japanese? Because if you haven't, then you should just think of Japan as one of many overseas' possibility for opportunities.

Actually, i've really been considering look for jobs in Korea or China. I really think the opportunities in Korea are far greater than Japan right now. I am considering teaching English there for a short period of time as well to get my feet in the door and meet people and try to network.

In the previous thread someone pointed out US government jobs and there are several in Korea that pay over $100,000 a year. That really sparked my interest

[AssKissinger]

Korea is a motherfucker man. I taught there for a year but that was quite a while ago so times have changed. Caustic is the man to contact if you want info on Korea but let me just say, it's a motherfucker man (did I say that already?).

[cenic]

Korea is a motherfucker man. I taught there for a year but that was quite a while ago so times have changed. Caustic is the man to contact if you want info on Korea but let me just say, it's a motherfucker man (did I say that already?).

I can't stand Korean food either.

[FG Lurker]

I am considering teaching English there for a short period of time as well to get my feet in the door and meet people and try to network.

If you are far more self-motivated than most people then this might not be a bad idea.

I really mean "far more than post people" too. You will not meet people in English teaching circles who will be of help in getting out of English teaching. Trust me, if they knew how to get out of the "eikaiwa grind" they would have done it already.

You will need to search for (and attend!) any sort of business-oriented networking event that you can find. This is not as easy as it sounds, most people have good intentions but end up not bothering -- or not doing it enough.

I have no problem with people who enjoy teaching English or who are teaching for a short stint to make money. However for most people it is not a good stepping stone to non-teaching positions.

[kamome]

I have no problem with people who enjoy teaching English or who are teaching for a short stint to make money. However for most people it is not a good stepping stone to non-teaching positions.

This is very true. Cenic, I don't doubt that you would rather ignore what I'm saying (which appears to be the case since you haven't responded to my earlier post), but the using-Eikaiwa-as-a-back-door-to-something-better route doesn't make sense. Do you have a business plan? What career to you eventually want to make for yourself? How does English teaching get you any closer to that career goal?

[cenic]

This is very true. Cenic, I don't doubt that you would rather ignore what I'm saying (which appears to be the case since you haven't responded to my earlier post), but the using-Eikaiwa-as-a-back-door-to-something-better route doesn't make sense. Do you have a business plan? What career to you eventually want to make for yourself? How does English teaching get you any closer to that career goal?

I didn't mean to ignore your posts, thank you for responding.

I have considered completing my degree in international studies, then possibly exploring software localization. However, I don't really know if that is what I want to do. Its strange, but I've never really considered a career I wanted to go into, I've always just wanted a job to finance the things I want to do outside of work.

I've always figured English teaching would provide a little income so I can meet people, and explore other job opportunities. Likewise, and I am still uncertain if this is a draw back or a positive, I will be physically closer to potential opportunities.

[cenic]

I have no problem with people who enjoy teaching English or who are teaching for a short stint to make money. However for most people it is not a good stepping stone to non-teaching positions.

Yeah, that is very true. If I were to teach I would want to plan on doing it for a determined period of time with a viable exit strategy. The last thing I want to have happen is be stuck doing something I hate without any means of leaving.

[akatsuka]

Yeah, that is very true. If I were to teach I would want to plan on doing it for a determined period of time with a viable exit strategy. The last thing I want to have happen is be stuck doing something I hate without any means of leaving.

I thought you got the degree so you could get on JET and milk it?

[kamome]

Yeah, that is very true. If I were to teach I would want to plan on doing it for a determined period of time with a viable exit strategy. The last thing I want to have happen is be stuck doing something I hate without any means of leaving.

You're just out of college with a degree from a good university. I sympathize that you don't know what you want your career to be yet. That is very normal.

But say you do something now (in the IT world or whatever) and you hate it, I don't see why you would be stuck. You could learn another field, network among Japan-related groups in the US to find something you like, learn Japanese in the process, etc. There are people on FG who have had multiple careers (just ask Taro how many jobs he has had in his life). Plenty of time to position yourself for success.

[FG Lurker]

Yeah, that is very true. If I were to teach I would want to plan on doing it for a determined period of time with a viable exit strategy. The last thing I want to have happen is be stuck doing something I hate without any means of leaving.

Getting out of English teaching and into a different field in Japan is a lot harder than it seems.

Although often wrong and unfair, people who teach English are not taken seriously by a lot of people who are working in non-teaching jobs. This can be a major handicap when you are meeting people and applying for different jobs.

If your goal is to build a non-teaching career in Japan then starting out teaching is not a wise idea.

[AssKissinger]

Cenic, I was in almost exactly the same place as you when I was your age. Things have gotten worse j/k. I want to give you some advice but reading through this thread I don't really get a sense of what your goals are actually. I went to Asia to work simply because I thought it seemed like a cool thing to do. If you just want to have some kind of experience (and it seems like that is to some degree the case with you; especially since you mentioned Korea) eikaiwa can be really cool. You'll meet people, get laid and do some serious traveling. But if you want it to add it up to something tangible, that's a lot trickier. You're throwing out some pretty cool ideas but if you're reason for going anywhere overseas is singular, like one main goal, you're very likely to feel disappointed. If you just want to go and try to make the best of it, that's a beautiful thing. Put it this way: I had tons of fun in college, but college didn't even come close to my experiences overseas. Has it all been worth it up to this point? Fuck yeah.