Interview Questions

[Mimmy]

For those that are still kind of worried about the whole "should I shake their hands or bow or not" question, I'm going to go with whatever feels best in the situation. Just like everybody keeps saying, every situation is different. There are varying interview panels, some of which may want to shake hands, some of which may bow to you and expect you to return the favor, others won't expect either and just want to get down to business and start with the questions. Basically, I think we should just keep calm and go with the flow. I feel like that part of the interview should be the least of our worries.
I'm doing my best not to overthink. Especially after reading vietnamazing's blog post, I realised that maybe I've been going about this the wrong way. I want the interview panel to see that I am a cheerful person who can be a flexible, hard-working employee. I am going to do some very light research on some current events, just in case, brush up on my basic Japanese, and practice giving sample lessons on some basic concepts to my friends and see what they think. Other than that, I think I'm actually ready for this! I'm just gonna be myself : )

If someone extends their hand to me, I'll shake their hand. If not, I'm not doing it. I personally don't like shaking other people's hands so I always assume the other person feels the same way if they don't initiate it.

[catsup]

For those that are still kind of worried about the whole "should I shake their hands or bow or not" question, I'm going to go with whatever feels best in the situation. Just like everybody keeps saying, every situation is different. There are varying interview panels, some of which may want to shake hands, some of which may bow to you and expect you to return the favor, others won't expect either and just want to get down to business and start with the questions. Basically, I think we should just keep calm and go with the flow. I feel like that part of the interview should be the least of our worries.
I'm doing my best not to overthink. Especially after reading vietnamazing's blog post, I realised that maybe I've been going about this the wrong way. I want the interview panel to see that I am a cheerful person who can be a flexible, hard-working employee. I am going to do some very light research on some current events, just in case, brush up on my basic Japanese, and practice giving sample lessons on some basic concepts to my friends and see what they think. Other than that, I think I'm actually ready for this! I'm just gonna be myself : )

If someone extends their hand to me, I'll shake their hand. If not, I'm not doing it. I personally don't like shaking other people's hands so I always assume the other person feels the same way if they don't initiate it.

It's kinda odd that whether or not to shakes hands is an issue.

[hatefulsandwich]

*everything* is an issue, really. You're kind of dealing with a culture collision in the interview and nobody's really sure how to do things. I personally don't tend to shake hands in other interactions anyway. To me, that's violating the boundary of The Bubble. Especially when those weird fist-bumping, finger twiddling "handshakes" are concerned. My bubble has been invaded AND I feel like a fool. Not that I expect that in this interview, of course, I just went on a bit of a tangent there.

I agree that I'll shake hands if offered, but I won't initiate a handshake. Same with bowing.

[Mimmy]

For those that are still kind of worried about the whole "should I shake their hands or bow or not" question, I'm going to go with whatever feels best in the situation. Just like everybody keeps saying, every situation is different. There are varying interview panels, some of which may want to shake hands, some of which may bow to you and expect you to return the favor, others won't expect either and just want to get down to business and start with the questions. Basically, I think we should just keep calm and go with the flow. I feel like that part of the interview should be the least of our worries.
I'm doing my best not to overthink. Especially after reading vietnamazing's blog post, I realised that maybe I've been going about this the wrong way. I want the interview panel to see that I am a cheerful person who can be a flexible, hard-working employee. I am going to do some very light research on some current events, just in case, brush up on my basic Japanese, and practice giving sample lessons on some basic concepts to my friends and see what they think. Other than that, I think I'm actually ready for this! I'm just gonna be myself : )

If someone extends their hand to me, I'll shake their hand. If not, I'm not doing it. I personally don't like shaking other people's hands so I always assume the other person feels the same way if they don't initiate it.

It's kinda odd that whether or not to shakes hands is an issue.

What's even stranger is that it's one of the ONLY things I'm really going to stress over, lol. I can't predict what they'll ask me, but they seem to like me well enough to invite me for an interview, so now I just have to prove that the person on paper actually exists and is worth taking to Japan.

[Smasha]

hello fellow applicants!! i had my interview yesterday, and although i feel it went well and they seemed to be pleased with my answers, i didnt get any questions on politics, current events, anything to do with japan apart from my opinion of it/her. no drill lessons, and no speaking japanese (i have been studying japanese for a while, and i have done numerous tefl courses and teach musical instruments.) so im really not sure, was it just a formality the interview as in they had made their minds up prior. from what lots of you have said you had similar experiences. i am more nervous now than i was before the interview though, which considering i have like 8 weeks to wait until any announcement is made, is a bummer!!!

Thank you for sharing! I hope you get in! What country are you applying from?

|I am trying not to stress out, but i still want to go over the possible questions and think of what i'll say if they ask me. It sucks that we have to wait so long afterwards-you want to start making plans, but you can't until they give you the hopefully good news.

Speaking of bubbles, I come from Russian where we have no bubbles, and you sometimes are squished together on busses and such, so be prepared for bubble bursting(being super close to strange people) in Japan. though i don't know if Japanese people have bubbles of their own.

Mimmy, you said it, if they like you enough to give you an interview, it means you're halfway in, and if you show yourself to be proffesional, polite, enthusiatic, etc. they shouldn't have much reason not to accept you!

[Sendai_Momiji]

@ Sendai_Momiji - Thanks for the tips! But, I'm afraid I'm beyond help

Nobody is beyond help. They just require a little more help is all. Either way, I'm sure your photo came out just fine.

[merkypie]

What's even stranger is that it's one of the ONLY things I'm really going to stress over, lol. I can't predict what they'll ask me, but they seem to like me well enough to invite me for an interview, so now I just have to prove that the person on paper actually exists and is worth taking to Japan.

That's the best mind set to have, really. They already want you. They just to make sure you didn't fake the application.

[Terin317]

What's even stranger is that it's one of the ONLY things I'm really going to stress over, lol. I can't predict what they'll ask me, but they seem to like me well enough to invite me for an interview, so now I just have to prove that the person on paper actually exists and is worth taking to Japan.

That's the best mind set to have, really. They already want you. They just to make sure you didn't fake the application.

This. If you want to stay positive, MyArgonauts said it best: "They want you. The interview is just to confirm what they already know. The job is yours to lose at this point."

Another article I read seemed to find it helpful to think of the interviews simply as a process of weeding out the weirdos and socially inept who came across as normal on their application.

Don't worry. Just be you and be positive. Oh, and don't screw it up. No pressure.

[jim]

And even if you are weird or socially inept, you still have a pretty good chance, as you'll find out at orientation.

It's not like job interviews or grad schemes where 1 in 10 gets through. If you've made it this far you stand a very good chance of being accepted. It can be quite an intimidating experience but just don't fall for their good cop-bad cop routine and you'll be ok.

[Ertai87]

Another article I read seemed to find it helpful to think of the interviews simply as a process of weeding out the weirdos and socially inept who came across as normal on their application.

As someone reapplying after being rejected last year, I find this quite reassuring

[AVN]

Another article I read seemed to find it helpful to think of the interviews simply as a process of weeding out the weirdos and socially inept who came across as normal on their application.

Except that there are a lot of weirdos and socially inept who get in and really good people who get Alted or cut...

[rollins]

Another article I read seemed to find it helpful to think of the interviews simply as a process of weeding out the weirdos and socially inept who came across as normal on their application.

Except that there are a lot of weirdos and socially inept who get in and really good people who get Alted or cut...

That all really depends on how you do at the interview. Having been involved in interviewing before (not with JET), there have been people who can just turn it on for the interview. They could be completely opposite from how they appear in the interview, but if you come across as a good fit for the program, you're in. Some people know how to turn that switch for the interview situation. On the other hand, there are obviously well qualified people (which echoing previous comments, is true of pretty much everyone who got an interview) but if you can't communicate this fact in your interview, you're not giving your interviewers much to forward on to those who actually make the staffing decisions.

After the first round, it's a level playing field again. You're qualified for JET, but so are the other people interviewing in your location. How are you going to distinguish yourself from the rest? It's all in the interview. I do recommend running through a few practice interviews with friends/family if you don't have much experience or are nervous about it. You'll be able to point out what you need to work on but also what positive points you can work with for your real interview. And even if you have had interview experience, I doubt many have done it with multiple interviewers, so I think trying to get a few practice sessions with multiple people is beneficial too.

[merkypie]

Another article I read seemed to find it helpful to think of the interviews simply as a process of weeding out the weirdos and socially inept who came across as normal on their application.

Except that there are a lot of weirdos and socially inept who get in and really good people who get Alted or cut...

That all really depends on how you do at the interview. Having been involved in interviewing before (not with JET), there have been people who can just turn it on for the interview. They could be completely opposite from how they appear in the interview, but if you come across as a good fit for the program, you're in. Some people know how to turn that switch for the interview situation. On the other hand, there are obviously well qualified people (which echoing previous comments, is true of pretty much everyone who got an interview) but if you can't communicate this fact in your interview, you're not giving your interviewers much to forward on to those who actually make the staffing decisions.

After the first round, it's a level playing field again. You're qualified for JET, but so are the other people interviewing in your location. How are you going to distinguish yourself from the rest? It's all in the interview. I do recommend running through a few practice interviews with friends/family if you don't have much experience or are nervous about it. You'll be able to point out what you need to work on but also what positive points you can work with for your real interview. And even if you have had interview experience, I doubt many have done it with multiple interviewers, so I think trying to get a few practice sessions with multiple people is beneficial too.

i wish i could like this post. because this is a good post.

[Teishou]

i wish i could like this post. because this is a good post.

Nice and big for ya.

[Smasha]

Another article I read seemed to find it helpful to think of the interviews simply as a process of weeding out the weirdos and socially inept who came across as normal on their application.

Except that there are a lot of weirdos and socially inept who get in and really good people who get Alted or cut...

That all really depends on how you do at the interview. Having been involved in interviewing before (not with JET), there have been people who can just turn it on for the interview. They could be completely opposite from how they appear in the interview, but if you come across as a good fit for the program, you're in. Some people know how to turn that switch for the interview situation. On the other hand, there are obviously well qualified people (which echoing previous comments, is true of pretty much everyone who got an interview) but if you can't communicate this fact in your interview, you're not giving your interviewers much to forward on to those who actually make the staffing decisions.

After the first round, it's a level playing field again. You're qualified for JET, but so are the other people interviewing in your location. How are you going to distinguish yourself from the rest? It's all in the interview. I do recommend running through a few practice interviews with friends/family if you don't have much experience or are nervous about it. You'll be able to point out what you need to work on but also what positive points you can work with for your real interview. And even if you have had interview experience, I doubt many have done it with multiple interviewers, so I think trying to get a few practice sessions with multiple people is beneficial too.