9 Tips on How Crush Your JET Programme Interview and Guarantee you're Shortlisted!

So, you’ve done the hard yards and landed yourself an interview for the JET Programme! First off—massive congrats! You’ve made it to the final boss battle. The fact that you got an interview means they already like you. You tick all the right boxes and have the skills for the job—lesh gooo! Give yourself a high-five!

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to ace this thing. Everyone has their own way of prepping, but full disclosure—my method was... well, let’s just say relaxed. Would I recommend it? Absolutely not. My strategy? Wing it. Yeah, 10/10 do not try this at home.

Putting that to the side though, now that I'm a little older and a little wiser let me provide you with a foolproof game plan to help you nab that spot on the highly coveted JET Programme. For context, I was a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR), so my advice leans in that direction. But hey, ALTs—don’t run away, these tips are gold for you too!

1. Be Yourself (Seriously, It Works!)

Cliché? Maybe. True? Absolutely. Just be your awesome, genuine self. If you try to morph into what you think they want, it might backfire. The interviewers have a sixth sense for detecting nonsense. They do this all the time, and if you’re faking it, they’ll sniff it out faster than a Shiba Inu on a dropped onigiri. Be real about why you want to be on JET and let your enthusiasm shine!

2. Own Your Awesomeness

If you’re Aussie like me, you might struggle with this one—thanks, tall poppy syndrome! But here’s the thing: they need you as much as you need them. Walk in with confidence and sell yourself like the hottest product on the market. What makes you the ideal candidate? What skills do you bring to the table? If you’re unsure, how can you expect them to know? So, go in with confidence and self-assurance and let them see why you’re a perfect fit.

3. You’re an Ambassador—Act Like One

This is the most important thing about JET. The programme is all about cultural exchange—swapping ideas, traditions and stories. You’re a representative for your country, so own it! People will literally ask you where you are from almost every single day. So, know your stuff, be proud of where you’re from and be ready to share your culture.

At the same time, don't forget to be respectful of Japan’s culture and embrace the differences. You’re not there to change things—you’re there to learn, grow and share. Stay open-minded, and you’ll be golden.

4. Do You Need Japanese?

Great news—having far from perfect Japanese isn’t a deal-breaker, even for CIRs. The skill levels vary wildly. Generally, N2 is the unofficial standard, but I met CIRs with N3 who made it work. If you’re eager to learn, you’ll be fine. That being said, being N3 might make things a bit tricky and could lead to some frustrations. I rocked up to Japan with N2, and even then, I had moments where I felt way out of my depth (hello, imposter syndrome!). One of the biggest reasons I packed my bags for Japan was to level up my second language skills. Sure, I stumbled—a lot—but that never stopped me! I was determined to improve so I could actually make a difference at work and be more than just the guy nodding along in meetings.

For ALTs, Japanese isn’t expected, but trust me, the more you know, the better. All six ALTs in my inaka (countryside) placement could hold a conversation in Japanese, ranging from N4 to N2. Knowing the language means better connections, more friendships and less feeling like an outsider. If you don’t know much yet, start learning the basics—you won’t regret it!

5. Communication & Adaptability: Your Secret Weapons

What the interviewers are looking for is one of the world's biggest myths that not even Detective Conan himself has been able to solve. However, I strongly suspect they're assessing your ability to communicate effectively and adapt to different situations. Can you adapt your speech for different audiences? Can you get along with people from all walks of life? Show them that you’re flexible, friendly and quick on your feet. Have real-life stories to back this up—examples are your best friend here! Keep it to the point and don't waffle on about irrelevant information: Always link your real-life stories back to how you are a suitable candidate.

6. Don’t Sweat the Nerves

Feeling jittery? Totally normal. Mess up a sentence? No biggie. The interviewers expect you to be nervous, so don’t beat yourself up if you stumble over a word or two. Just keep going and stay positive!

7. Look the Part

This one’s easy—dress like you mean business. First impressions matter in Japan, and you want to start off strong. My advice? Dress more formally than you think you should. When I arrived in Japan, it was the middle of a scorching hot summer and my colleagues were all dressed in the ‘cool biz’ attire (polo shirts, short sleeve shirts and no ties), but for interviews and your first day on the job? Unless told otherwise, go full formal. Better safe than sorry!

8. Can you fend for yourself?

This is something they’ll likely ask about. I actually got a question along these lines, and fortunately, I had years of experience fending for myself at boarding school, as well as living abroad—backpacking, doing a ski season, and studying in Kyoto. That reassured them that I wouldn’t panic and book the next flight home at the first sign of homesickness or culture shock. They want to know that you can handle being away from your support network, so think about how you’ll manage these types of challenges and again, have solid examples ready to prove you’ve got what it takes.

9. Should You Memorize 100 Interview Questions?

If you’re a super planner, there’s a list of 100 frequently asked JET interview questions floating around the internet. I personally didn’t use it—I was confident in my ability to roll with the punches. But if you’re less experienced with interviews, going over them might help and put you at ease. Just don’t overdo it! Rehearsed answers can be a bit robotic, and if you forget your script mid-answer, it can throw you off. Instead, focus on understanding your experiences and being adaptable in the moment.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the JET Programme interview isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing that you’re adaptable, open-minded, and have to ability to communicate and exchange culture. Contrary to popular belief teaching English is not the goal of this program. If it was, I believe they would be better served hiring actual qualified English teachers. To be honest, that’s exactly what they should do if they want to see an actual improvement in the English fluency of Japanese people…but that’s a blog post for another day.

So, to sum things up: be yourself, prepare in a way that works for you, dress to impress and walk in with confidence. You’ve got this!

Now go forth and crush that interview! Best of luck!