I dont think i passed interview....

[mobiuschic42]

This is tooootal speculation, but I assume it's something like the consults & embassies send ranked lists of "accepted" candidates, and then CLAIR does some statistics to make sure they get an appropriate number of desired candidates from each place. IE, some contracting orgs want male or female, someone who speaks no Japanese or lots, someone from their sister city, etc. So while I assume it's not an exact one-for-one matching, they make some kind of analysis of candidates to make sure they'll be able to place everyone they shortlist, and get alternates for popular requests.

Candidates HAVE to be accepted/declined by CLAIR. There has to be a system in place to filter out candidates in comparison to the total pool of interviews, not just the local embassy. That's why it's mathematical. CLAIR also has to be the group to assign people, based on nationality, gender preferences, system cities, etc... seeing as they are the people with the list of "available" positions at the end of the day. They can also look at the total applicant pool, which is far superior than just one embassy. Imagine if boston had a bunch of people who scored a max of 70% and all of miami scored over 80%. Do you really want to say you must take 25 from boston when it's clear that the group in miami are much better candidates overall?

Thanks for replying to *my* post and picking on Boston, which is my interview city. (Just kidding; I know you were just making an example!).
I know I've read something in the past about each interview location getting a certain number of positions, so it's probably not quite as cut and dry as either of our examples, but it makes sense that the final decision comes from CLAIR, since they're the ones that actually hire you and know what's needed.

[Gizmotech]

Thanks for replying to *my* post and picking on Boston, which is my interview city. (Just kidding; I know you were just making an example!).
I know I've read something in the past about each interview location getting a certain number of positions, so it's probably not quite as cut and dry as either of our examples, but it makes sense that the final decision comes from CLAIR, since they're the ones that actually hire you and know what's needed.

HAHA. I was wondering where I got the inspiration for Boston from Ya, just meant to be a generic example, not picking fights

[Siyris]

Thanks for replying to *my* post and picking on Boston, which is my interview city. (Just kidding; I know you were just making an example!).
I know I've read something in the past about each interview location getting a certain number of positions, so it's probably not quite as cut and dry as either of our examples, but it makes sense that the final decision comes from CLAIR, since they're the ones that actually hire you and know what's needed.

Final decision on SHORTLIST comes from CLAIR. Final decision on PLACEMENT comes from the COs and BoEs. CLAIR doesn't (as far as I know) hire anybody. And if they do, it's strictly CIRs. ALTs work for individual schools, prefectural government offices, or City government offices. My understanding of the process is that once the interviews are processed, they're sent to Tokyo, where CLAIR decides who looks the best based on a numeric scale that the interviewers 'grade' the applicants by. At that point, CLAIR sends their list back to the embassies and consulates, which in turn make the shortlist. Meanwhile -- while shortlisted candidates are deciding whether or not they're going to say yes. CLAIR sends that same list out to the COs that need new JETs.... the COs each get a few recommended for them... and decide who they want. They send that info back to CLAIR. Once all the reply cards of shortlisters are received, a new list is made and sent to CLAIR and CLAIR works out the messy business of matching requested JETS with COs and when there is a requested JET that did not accept, sends out a new list of possibles to the CO that chose that person that is no longer on the list... until everything is finaled. Once everything is final, CLAIR sends the final list back to the embassies and consulates who then distribute it to the successful applicants.

Moral of the story: CLAIR doesn't hire anyone... they're the middle-man.

[AVN]

Thanks for replying to *my* post and picking on Boston, which is my interview city. (Just kidding; I know you were just making an example!).
I know I've read something in the past about each interview location getting a certain number of positions, so it's probably not quite as cut and dry as either of our examples, but it makes sense that the final decision comes from CLAIR, since they're the ones that actually hire you and know what's needed.

Final decision on SHORTLIST comes from CLAIR. Final decision on PLACEMENT comes from the COs and BoEs. CLAIR doesn't (as far as I know) hire anybody. And if they do, it's strictly CIRs. ALTs work for individual schools, prefectural government offices, or City government offices. My understanding of the process is that once the interviews are processed, they're sent to Tokyo, where CLAIR decides who looks the best based on a numeric scale that the interviewers 'grade' the applicants by. At that point, CLAIR sends their list back to the embassies and consulates, which in turn make the shortlist. Meanwhile -- while shortlisted candidates are deciding whether or not they're going to say yes. CLAIR sends that same list out to the COs that need new JETs.... the COs each get a few recommended for them... and decide who they want. They send that info back to CLAIR. Once all the reply cards of shortlisters are received, a new list is made and sent to CLAIR and CLAIR works out the messy business of matching requested JETS with COs and when there is a requested JET that did not accept, sends out a new list of possibles to the CO that chose that person that is no longer on the list... until everything is finaled. Once everything is final, CLAIR sends the final list back to the embassies and consulates who then distribute it to the successful applicants.

Moral of the story: CLAIR doesn't hire anyone... they're the middle-man.

I'm pretty sure, based on what my BOE told me, they're given ALTs to hire. They don't get to pick unless they're really high up on the food chain, though I'm not sure of this. They can make requests but they're just given who suits their needs best and is available. Beyond nationality and sometimes gender BOEs get what they want about as often as ALTs get what they want . For the past twenty years my BOE has requested, female, Canadian, can speak Japanese. All but once, due to get an upgrade from someone dropping, they have always gotten a Canadian but about half the time they got guys. Also I'm the first in 20 years who speaks Japanese.
Not sure 100% how this works but I know that for my BOE they don't hire people. They're given people to hire. When you get notice of shortlisting you're kind of hired. Then you just get your placement.

So yeah, you don't work for CLAIR but you're not hired by your BOE in the traditional sense either... I think?

Random: I know of one school that has supposedly always requested and gotten 'attractive' ALTs.

[Gizmotech]

Sorry guys, I forgot to mention that fact about the actual hiring. I guess I was typing too absentmindedly

I thin Siyris has the best description of CLAIRs function in the hiring process (process, not hiring ).

[Siyris]

I'm pretty sure, based on what my BOE told me, they're given ALTs to hire. They don't get to pick unless they're really high up on the food chain, though I'm not sure of this. They can make requests but they're just given who suits their needs best and is available. Beyond nationality and sometimes gender BOEs get what they want about as often as ALTs get what they want . For the past twenty years my BOE has requested, female, Canadian, can speak Japanese. All but once, due to get an upgrade from someone dropping, they have always gotten a Canadian but about half the time they got guys. Also I'm the first in 20 years who speaks Japanese.
Not sure 100% how this works but I know that for my BOE they don't hire people. They're given people to hire. When you get notice of shortlisting you're kind of hired. Then you just get your placement.

So yeah, you don't work for CLAIR but you're not hired by your BOE in the traditional sense either... I think?

Random: I know of one school that has supposedly always requested and gotten 'attractive' ALTs.

Huh... that's odd -- because in my BoE (at least last year according to my supervisor and the other ALTs here) my supervisor got a group of shortlisted ALTs to choose from -- I think he said he got a pack of like... 4 or 5 ALTs to fill the 2 spots that he needed filled. He picked the two he wanted and sent the rest back. Apparently he had the other ALTS helped him out in that choice as well.

It might vary by prefecture?

[word]

Random: I know of one school that has supposedly always requested and gotten 'attractive' ALTs.

Awww yeah! It's my school, isn't it? You know it is!*






*No, it's not.

[Spencer]

Random: I know of one school that has supposedly always requested and gotten 'attractive' ALTs.

that kinda seems a little prejudice. Well U guess I know which school I'll be going to. Lol I wonder how the conversation went to first request that ALT. "we will take an ALT, but only if they're hot" lol

[word]

Random: I know of one school that has supposedly always requested and gotten 'attractive' ALTs.

that kinda seems a little prejudice[d].

Of course it is! I love Japan.

[AVN]

Random: I know of one school that has supposedly always requested and gotten 'attractive' ALTs.

that kinda seems a little prejudice. Well U guess I know which school I'll be going to. Lol I wonder how the conversation went to first request that ALT. "we will take an ALT, but only if they're hot" lol

Why do you think you attach a picture?

[Gizmotech]

Random: I know of one school that has supposedly always requested and gotten 'attractive' ALTs.

that kinda seems a little prejudice[d].

Of course it is! I love Japan.

This, so much this.

[Ertai87]

Random: I know of one school that has supposedly always requested and gotten 'attractive' ALTs.

that kinda seems a little prejudice. Well U guess I know which school I'll be going to. Lol I wonder how the conversation went to first request that ALT. "we will take an ALT, but only if they're hot" lol

Why do you think you attach a picture?

Obv.

Seriously, though, I thought it was for your Green Card (or whatever the Japanese equivalent is called).

[Cliodhna]

Seriously, though, I thought it was for your Green Card (or whatever the Japanese equivalent is called).

I think that comes after you arrive in your home prefecture. I think the attached picture was just for reference purposes. :B

[Namisuke]

Random: I know of one school that has supposedly always requested and gotten 'attractive' ALTs.

that kinda seems a little prejudice. Well U guess I know which school I'll be going to. Lol I wonder how the conversation went to first request that ALT. "we will take an ALT, but only if they're hot" lol

Why do you think you attach a picture?

Haha, I wondered what happened with those as I didn't see it appear anywhere else other than the info sheet they had on me when I got here.

[AVN]

that kinda seems a little prejudice. Well U guess I know which school I'll be going to. Lol I wonder how the conversation went to first request that ALT. "we will take an ALT, but only if they're hot" lol

Why do you think you attach a picture?

Haha, I wondered what happened with those as I didn't see it appear anywhere else other than the info sheet they had on me when I got here.

Yeah it's just for the info sheet.

True story, my friend got her pic taken and was hired by the prefectural BOE, then sent out to a BOE in a smaller area and finally delegated to a base school. Each time her info was passed on from Clair onward they would keep the original they received and copy the form to send to the next step in the ladder.
When her supervisor met her at the airport he was shocked to meet a caucaissian woman as the photocopying had made her appear african american.