JETwit Career Update is a new feature where JETwit will list any JET alums who have recently (loosely interpreted) found a new job, gotten a promotion, started a new business, started a new grad program or have any other career developments to share. You probably see lots of job listings, so I thought it would also be interested to know who’s finding work and what kind of work people are finding.
Let us know about yourself or others by sending an e-mail to jetwit [at] jetwit.com. (Make sure to include prefecture and years on JET. And of course mention if you found your job via JETwit or JETAA listings or connections.)
- *Greg Beck (CIR Hiroshima-ken, 2006-11) – “Thanks in large part to JETwit’s jobs section, I am now living in NYC and working for TBS as an associate producer! “
- Darrell Allen (Monbusho English Fellow, Saitama-ken, 1984-85) – ” This past August, I moved from Seattle to Durango, Colorado to accept a position as Visiting Assistant Professor of History at Fort Lewis College. Currently, I am teaching two sections of East Asian Civilizations I, and a class entitled “From Anime to Rampaging Monsters: An Introduction to Japanese Pop Culture.” Next semester I will do two sections of East Asian Civilizations II, and one of Modern Japanese History.”
- *Karl Rahenkamp (Fukui-ken, 2003-08) – “In mid-September I started (finally, after 2 years of near unemployment) working as a dormitory supervisor at 慶應義塾ニューヨーク学院 (Keio Academy New York).”
- *Justin Maki (Osaka-fu, 2002-06) – “I got a job through JETWit — the Assistant Sports Correspondent position at Kyodo News Agency, forwarded back in August by JET alum Scott Dixon. I was still living in Denver at the time of the job posting, but decided to submit a cover letter and resume because my University of Colorado job was coming to an end. Kyodo News did a phone interview with me in early September, invited me toNew York for an in-person interview, and notified me a few weeks ago that I got the job! It’s a job that seems like a perfect fit for a JET alum– now there are three of us in the same office.”
- Lyle Sylvander (Yokohama-shi, 2001-02) – Started grad program at Columbia’s School of International & Public Affairs
- Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, Kariya-shi, 1992-94) – Grant writer for the Jewish Outreach Institute (www.joi.org)
* = Found job via JETwit
7 comments so far...
It is great not just to be employed, but to work in the field I love, not just for a paycheck. That’s a tragically rare thing right now, and a huge concern I had as my JET career wound down.
Basically, JetWit ROCKS!
Shane Taber (Monbusho English Fellow, Nara-ken, 1979-81). After a nearly 30 year “break”, 4 kids (now all grown), plus years of public school teaching in northern California, I am happily back in Kansai teaching full time at Kobe College High School for the next several years. While I became aware of this job opening through other sources, this teaching position was also listed in JETwit’s job section in 2010. Of course, having been an MEF was a big plus in landing this position, I’m sure! I’d love to hear from other former MEFs from the late ’70s/early ’80s who are also in Japan now.
This is great to see! I rejoice with all of you in achieving such great job success! Maybe I will have a report to share soon as I am looking for a job in (near Atlanta).
Thanks JetWit for your dedication and support of all of us JET Alums!
This question/comment is directed more toward Justin and Greg –any advice for Jet Alums looking to break into Japanese media field in New York? I currently live in the Midwest, but I am planning on making a move out to the East in the near future. Thanks!
Congrats to all you! I was unemployed for nearly a year after coming back from Japan in 2009. I am currently working (two jobs) but not doing anything Japan-related, which is what I would really love to do.
Well, Jetwit helped a lot, so keep an eye out for job listings here. Also, figure out if you’d rather work in tv or newspaper. They are quite different! (let’s say) *When* you get an interview, be prepared to speak or demonstrate SOME Japanese ability. Also, research the company and figure out what shows or articles they had a hand in and you have enjoyed. Also, if you get a job in NYC, understand that finding an apartment is EVEN HARDER! ><
Hope that helps!
Haha! Awesome. Thanks for your quick response Greg! I’ll take any advice I can get at this point..and this helps! :D
The best advice I got was that if you’re applying from out of state, explicitly say in your cover letter that you’ll be relocating to NYC in the near future and that you’d be happy to travel at your own expense for an interview. I was advised that non-local candidates without such a statement were likely to be ignored, since nobody will cover your expenses to interview for an entry-level job. Of course, even with that statement, I was ignored for most of the openings I applied for. . . I applied for maybe 10 of the Jetwit positions in NYC over a two year period (I was employed in Colorado the whole time, so it definitely wasn’t a full-time job hunt). A lot of Jetwit jobs are out of my range anyway, as I’m far from bilingual. Anyway, the job I got was the first place that showed any interest in me at all. They asked me to speak Japanese in both the phone interview and in person– so I agree, be prepared for that. Other than the standard job search advice (get to your strongest “selling points” during the interview, send thank you notes afterward, etc) I would just say be ready to move immediately when you get an offer. Good luck!