Job: Program Officer – Cultural Vistas (Washington, DC)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Title: Program Officer, Edmund S. Muskie Internship and TEACH USA Programs
Posted by: Cultural Vistas
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to a JET alum for passing along the following job opportunity:
Cultural Vistas is seeking a Program Officer to help implement and support the Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program and TEACH USA Programs, including organizing the selection of Fulbright participants, managing graduate intern placement processes, and developing orientation and debriefing sessions.
The Program Officer will also implement other inbound placements and Exchange Visitor and Grant Programs. Successful candidates include those that have prior experiences in government exchange programs and/or placement programs.
Candidates should apply directly through the link below.
Job: Application Processing Staff Members – JET Program Office (Washington, DC)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Title: Application Processing Staff Members
Posted by: JET Program Office
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Full-Time Temporary
The JET Program Office at the Embassy of Japan is seeking application processing staff members for its fall 2018 processing season. Processing staff will have the opportunity to learn more about the JET Program from the inside, meet JET alumni, and become more involved with the JETAA and U.S.-Japan communities in D.C.
This is a temporary position from mid-October to late December 2018. Please find more information about the position below:
Responsibilities
- Checking online application materials for completeness
- Working with other processors to confirm completeness of application materials
- Preparation of application materials for review
- Organizing, scanning and data entry for piece mail documents
Position Details
- Staff will work in the JET Program Office at the Embassy of Japan
- 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
- Working hours are Monday-Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Full-time staff are desirable but working hours are flexible within these times
- Orientation and beginning of the contract period will be mid-October
- Salary will be $15.00/hr
- As this is a temporary position, health insurance and benefits are not offered
Using your JET Experience to find a Great Job
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Emily Frank (Hokkaido, 1993-1996) is a professional career counselor and coach who has worked with and helped JET alumni all over the world. Her website is www.DenverCareerCatalyst.com.
JETwit: Hi Emily. So, we know you’re a JET alum and a career counselor. What do other alumni most need to know about finding a job after JET?
Emily Frank: First of all, people have more potential than they probably know. For instance, I started my career when I got fired.
JW: Really? Tell us more! And how does this tie in with your JET experience?
EF: Absolutely! Right after JET, I found a job translating documents on rubber patent infringement, but just I couldn’t have been unhappier. I hated the work and the people, and then, to add insult to injury, the jerks fired me! It took me a while to figure out what I wanted, so now it’s my mission to help people not make those same mistakes. I help creative professionals and international workers returning home figure out how to find careers they love so they can flourish, both personally and financially.
As for how I got connected with JET, I have always loved Japan, so after I finished my East Asian Studies major, JET was the obvious choice. I spent three fabulous years living in a small Hokkaido town and mostly I learned I didn’t want to teach. When I got back to the US, I had no idea what to do or who could help me. I tried translation and working for a travel agency, but I didn’t care for those. So now I help people navigate those decisions.
JW: Who do you help, and what does that look like?
EF: I help people with experience living and working overseas, including lots of JET alumni, and people who are quirky and creative. International and artistic people often get stuck and confused when looking for work after they return to the US, or when they’re trying to change careers. They often don’t know what their options are, let alone how to move forward. This is very frustrating and scary. Who will pay the bills? How do I find something I enjoy? How do I apply if I can even find something? People keep telling me I have transferable skills, but what are they and how do I put them on a resume? How can I find something that fits me?
These are exactly the questions we answer in sessions. I take people through guided conversations about values, needs, skills, and goals. We identify things like work values, and then a few job titles the client would like to have. Only after we’ve done that do we work through the nitty-gritty stuff like resumes, cover letters, and interviews.
JW: Explain more about transferable skills. What does that mean and how can people emphasize them?
EF: Sure. Transferrable skills are abilities that you gain in one place that you can easily use in multiple places. They may not even be things you see as skills because they’re so much a part of what you do. For example, by learning to adapt to daily life in another country, JET alums have demonstrated skills in things like cross-cultural communications and creative problem-solving. But since these were things we just did routinely, they don’t really come up as unique talents when we’re writing our resumes. I help people quantify these skills
JW: How have you helped JET alumni?
EF: I am uniquely suited to work with this particular population because I am also part of this population! I get it. I know all about reverse culture shock and having to move back in with the parents and having friends get tired of your stories about Japan. I’ve been where you are, and I can help you make decisions that will make you happy. In fact, some alumni I’ve worked with have even gotten jobs in Japan!
JW: What’s your background, and how are you qualified to do this work?
EF: After I got fired from that translation job, I eventually found my way to grad school, where I got my M.A. in counseling. After that, I worked in higher ed as a career counselor and coach for over 10 years. In January, I moved into private practice so that I can devote more of my time to my ideal clients. In the past year, I’ve been working a lot with JET alumni, helping them define
JW: How do you locate JET alumni to work with?
EF: I have fabulous JETAA allies! With the help of people like JETAA Rocky Mountain president Adam Lisbon and JETAA USA’s Bahia Simons-Lane, I’ve gotten grants through CLAIR and Sasakawa USA, so a lot of the work I’ve done has been free to participants. I’ve also worked with other chapters to provide services to their alumni. I did a webinar for the Northern California chapter. I also went to Florida (through another Sasakawa USA grant) for their first ever career development workshop, where I presented on a number of career topics. And I gave another webinar for JETAA USA on life after JET, and am slated to be on a panel for another in October.
JW: What are the common mistakes people make when they’re looking for work?
EF: There are a few that I’ve noticed over the years. The biggest one is that people don’t spend time really getting to understand what they want. They focus too much on skills and previous experience, which locks them into jobs that are probably not fulfilling. And when a job starts off not being fulfilling, things only get worse! I don’t want people to get stuck doing things they hate doing. The other mistakes I see are people not using their existing contacts or making new ones, not tailoring the documents for the positions, and feeling like insta-applying to 50 jobs a day is the way to get things done.
JW: What should people do instead?
EF: I’m so glad you asked! I advise people to spend time figuring out what they like to do, even if this means taking a “gap job” in something like retail or food service. There are values quizzes available online, and most career counselors have their own versions, as well. (I do!) Once your values are clear, think about what you’ve enjoyed doing before, including hobbies. From there, the next step is to figure out who pays people to do those things. After that, tailor your resume and cover letter so they reflect the skills of the jobs you want, and then submit!
JW: You make it sound simple but that’s actually pretty hard to do.
EF: It is. I try to simplify it so that people understand what the steps are, but the reality is that this is a lot of work. I encourage people who are really struggling with this to reach out and get help. It’s a source of unending frustration to me that this stuff isn’t something we learn in high school, but since it isn’t, most of us have to spend some time and money figuring it out as adults.
JW: Well since you mention it, how do you recommend JET alumni go about this process?
EF: I’m glad you asked that, too! First of all, get involved with your region’s JETAA. As I mentioned, a couple of chapters have already found ways to fund some career development work, and yours may have something planned. Second, follow those chapters on social media, or subscribe to their newsletters. We’re hoping to get another round of grants (mostly these grants follow Japan’s fiscal year, so pay attention in April!), too, and that info will get posted by the various chapters. Finally, if you want to work with me privately and right dang now, reach out to me at Emily@DenverCareerCatalyst.com. Tell me you’re a JET alum or that you read about me on JETwit and I’ll give you a special discount!
If you’ve benefited from Emily’s career counseling service, we’d love to hear from you! Please feel free to share your experiences to jetwit@jetwit.com
Suzanne Kamata to reveal “The Truth about Writing Contests”
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Posted by Tom Baker
The Japan Writers Conference, a free annual event that invariably attracts at least a few JETs, will be held at Otaru University of Commerce on Oct. 13 and 14. One of the JETs giving presentations this year will be Suzanne Kamata, who will be giving two of the 36 presentations scheduled for the big weekend. One of them was described in a previous JETwit post. Here’s the official description of the other:
“The Truth about Writing Contests”
Short lecture with Q & A
I will describe various kinds of writing contests, the pros and cons of entering said contests, and give advice on how to improve an entrant’s chances of winning.
There are many contests for writers. Some may think that it’s not worth the time or the cost of the entrance fees. After all, many contests get hundreds of submissions, and judging is often somewhat subjective – every reader has different likes and dislikes. However, thanks to winning or placing in writing competitions, I have received plane tickets to Paris, Sydney, and Columbia, South Carolina (from my home in Japan). I’ve also been awarded cash, medals, trophies, and plaques and shiny prize stickers for my books, not to mention bragging rights and prestige. A contest win can also be an excuse for a burst of publicity. Contests may lead to recognition, getting an agent or publisher, and book sales. So how do you decide which contests to enter? How do you win? In this session I will share my expertise as a frequent contest entrant, sometime winner, and occasional judge.
Suzanne Kamata has won many awards for her writing including a grant from SCBWI for her forthcoming novel tentatively titled Indigo Girl (GemmaMedia 2018), a grant from the Sustainable Arts Foundation for her as-yet-unpublished mother/daughter travel memoir Squeaky Wheels, the Paris Book Festival Grand Prize for Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible (GemmaMedia 2013), and an IPPY Silver Medal for her most recently published novel The Mermaids of Lake Michigan (Wyatt-Mackenzie Publishing 2017).
TED JETs: Amelia Hagen asks, “What if Everyone’s Wrong?”
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Posted by Tom Baker
JETs tend to be interesting people. After all, every one of them has relocated to a different country at least once. It’s not surprising that many of them have also had other interesting experiences, some of which lead to insights that they end up sharing in TED talks.
This is part of an occasional series on current or former JETs who have given TED talks. Here is JET alum Amelia Hagen speaking about getting uncomfortable to find tolerance.
Job: Administrative Assistant – The Harris Firm (Tokyo, Japan)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Title: Administrative Assistant
Posted by: The Harris Firm
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Contract: Part-Time
Here’s a job received directly from the law firm:
Job Description:
Part-time law administrative positions for native and near-native English speakers that are dependable, results-oriented, problem-solving, work independently, and are good written and oral communicators.
Tasks Include:
- Office administration,
- Preparation of application documents
- Sending and filing correspondences
- Communicating with and invoicing clients
- Arranging appointments
Application Process: To apply, send resume and cover letter as two PDF attachments to careers@harrisfirm.net
Job: International Search Quality Operations Analyst – Indeed (Austin, TX, USA)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Title: International Search Quality Operations Analyst – Japan
Posted by: Indeed
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to Zandra Gilmore (Tokushima-ken) for the following job opportunity with her company:
Tom Baker to discuss book reviewing at Japan Writers Conference
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Posted by Tom Baker
The Japan Writers Conference, a free annual event that invariably attracts at least a few JETs, will be held at Otaru University of Commerce on Oct. 13 and 14. One of the JETs giving presentations this year will be Tom Baker (who wrote this post, along with a recent Japan News article previewing the event). Here’s the official description of his presentation:
Anatomy of a Book Review
Short lecture with Q&A
“Anatomy of a Book Review” will explain how a book review is structured and what elements it should include. The key is to not merely indulge in one’s own reaction to a book, but to focus on being an informative and trustworthy guide for other readers.
A book review is like a book in miniature. It must grab the reader’s attention at the beginning, hold their interest through the middle, and leave them feeling satisfied to have spent their time on it by the end. But what goes into each of those parts and how do you put them together?
“Anatomy of a Book Review” will pin several reviews to the dissecting table to look at what parts they include and what function those parts serve. Vital organs include a catchy lead, facts about the author, and at least a sketch of the context in which the book appears.
Reviews of fiction and nonfiction will be compared. For any type of book, reviewers of course want to express their opinions. This presentation will focus on doing so in a way that fulfills the reviewer’s mission to be a concretely helpful guide for other readers.
Tom Baker has written and published about 300 book reviews over the past 20 years. He edited the Books page of The Daily Yomiuri, which is now The Japan News, where he edits the Bound to Please column. He was the ACCJ Journal’s book columnist for two years.
Job: Television News Videographer – Tokyo Broadcasting System (Washington, DC)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Title: Television News Videographer
Posted by: Tokyo Broadcasting System, Washington DC Bureau
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a JET-relevant job passed along to us:
We are seeking an entry level full-time videographer to work for Tokyo Broadcasting System’s Washington DC Bureau. The main duties of the videographer will includes production of live and recorded news events, editing of video for air transmission, setting up live-shots, and performing technical administrative tasks in support of the bureau and staff.
Please note: Candidates must currently reside in the United States (Work visa support provided)
Qualifications:
- Advanced Japanese, Conversational English
- Strong interest in video production
- Must maintain a valid driver’s license
- Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Flexibility, resourcefulness and able to work in teams
- Able to carry at least 10kg of equipment
- Strong computer skills and proficient in Microsoft office
Job: Diplomatic Assistant – Embassy of Japan (Washington, DC)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Title: Diplomatic Assistant
Posted by: Embassy of Japan
Location: Washington, DC
Contract: Full-Time
The Embassy of Japan is seeking a highly motivated, team-oriented individual for the position of Diplomatic Assitant. This individual is primarily responsible for managing the schedules and activities of diplomats in the Political Section. Please see below for a detailed listing of responsibilities.
The Embassy offers group health insurance coverage, paid vacation and sick leave. Working hours are 9:00 am – 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday, with lunch time receptionist duty once a month and the occasional weeknight and/or weekend event (paid overtime). Salary is commensurate with experience. The minimum monthly base salary for this position is $3,000 USD.
Please note: Candidates must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. green card holder. Screening will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Only successful candidates will be contacted. Successful candidates will be requested to submit their background check information.
Job: Processing Archivist – University of Colorado Boulder Libraries (Boulder, CO, USA)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Title: Processing Archivist
Posted by: University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
Location: Boulder, CO, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Thanks to JETAA Rocky Mountain president, Adam Lisbon (Hyogo-ken) for the following job opening at his university:
Processing Archivist
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) Libraries invites applications from collaborative and innovative candidates for the position of Processing Archivist, a non-tenure-stream faculty position in the University Libraries’ Special Collections, Archives & Preservation Department. The University of Colorado Boulder Archives was established in 1918 and holds internationally renowned manuscript, photograph, records and media collections relating to the history of the University of Colorado Boulder, the state of Colorado, the Rocky Mountain West, and transnational subjects.
The Processing Archivist reports to the Head of Archives and works in a highly-collaborative team environment. The individual is responsible for: establishing priorities for efficiently processing the backlog of legacy collection and new acquisitions; performing arrangement, description, and physical processing of collections; creating of finding aids in ArchivesSpace; assessing preservation and conservation issues; overseeing the management of the Atomic West and the National Snow and Ice Data Center collections; working with the Head of Archives and donors on new acquisitions of archival collections; managing student workers and interns for the Archives Unit; providing primary source instruction; providing regular reference services; and coordinating outreach. This position will cultivate and advocate for an environment of diversity and inclusion based on the position’s responsibilities.
This is a renewable, non-tenure-track faculty position. Successful candidates will be expected to engage in research and professional service activities.
TED JETs: Chris Broad on being a vlogger (a word he hates)
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Posted by Tom Baker
JETs tend to be interesting people. After all, every one of them has relocated to a different country at least once. It’s not surprising that many of them have also had other interesting experiences, some of which lead to insights that they end up sharing in TED talks.
This is part of an occasional series on current or former JETs who have given TED talks. Here is JET alum Chris Broad talking about his experience of becoming a YouTube star:
Job: Camp English Teacher – Nissin Travel Service (Yamanashi, Japan)
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Posted by Sydney Sparrow. Click here to join the JETwit Jobs Google Group and receive job listings even sooner by email.
Job Title: Camp English Teacher
Posted by: Nissin Travel Service
Location: Yamanashi, Japan
Contract: Full-Time
Here’s a one-time job received directly from Maika Kuroiwa working at Nissin Travel Service:
Dear everyone,
I am Maika KUROIWA, working for a travel agency in Tokyo, Nissin Travel Service. (HP: https://www.nissin-trvl.co.jp/ )
My team is specialized for managing educational tours, and since 2016, as one of our tours, we are managing and conducting 3 days of “English Camp” for 8th graders (about a hundred students). This “English Camp” is the school’s program aiming to improve students’ English skills, During this camp, students spend their time in a hotel for 3 days(2 nights) near the Lake Saiko, Yamanashi, and the school invite around 10 native English speakers. Students learn English through some activities, classes, interacting with native English speakers and so on.
If you are interested in becoming a teacher in this camp, and available on following days, could you please help us for conducting this program?
Holly Thompson to speak about picture books at Japan Writers Conference
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Posted by Tom Baker
The Japan Writers Conference, a free annual event that invariably attracts at least a few JETs, will be held at Otaru University of Commerce on Oct. 13 and 14. One of the JETs giving presentations this year will be poet and novelist Holly Thompson, who first came to Japan in connection with the pre-JET MEF program. She will present “Half the Story: Writing for the Picture Book Market.” Here’s the official description of her presentation:
Short Lecture, Exercises and Q&A
Picture book writing is a particular art. Writers of picture book manuscripts must write for page turns and create opportunities for the illustrator—writing just enough to offer possibilities. This session introduces the craft of writing picture books for current English-language picture book markets.
Writing is only half the story in picture books–images and text interact to tell the story together. So how do we write text without saying too much? Where in our writing should we step aside for the illustrator? And how do we compress stories for the strict count of 32 pages? How can we skill up to craft manuscripts that appeal to editors and art directors for their illustration possibility? This session will explore the anatomy of the picture book as it pertains to writers and offer guidelines for crafting fresh, marketable picture book manuscripts. We’ll examine sample picture books—fiction, nonfiction, poetry—and try some interactive exercises. We will address the current English-language picture book markets and share the gaps, openings and opportunities for writers to get a foot in the door.
Holly Thompson is author of the picture books Twilight Chant; One Wave at a Time, The Wakame Gatherers: verse novels Falling into the Dragon’s Mouth, Orchards, The Language Inside; and the novel Ash. She writes poetry, fiction and nonfiction, is SCBWI Japan Regional Advisor, and teaches at Yokohama City University.
Suzanne Kamata to introduce “Best Asian Short Stories” at Japan Writers Conference
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Posted by Tom Baker
The Japan Writers Conference, a free annual event that invariably attracts at least a few JETs, will be held at Otaru University of Commerce on Oct. 13 and 14. One of the JETs giving presentations this year will be Suzanne Kamata, whose story “Monchan” appears in the “The Best Asian Short Stories 2017” anthology. Suzanne will be giving two presentations. Here’s the official description of one of them:
Panel discussion w/ Q & A
Kitaab Publisher Zafar Anjum and contributor Suzanne Kamata will discuss The Best Asian Short Stories 2017 anthology. Anjum will also talk about other anthologies in the works and publishing opportunities for Japan-based writers and translators in Singapore.
Zafar Anjum, who heads the independent Singapore publishing house Kitaab International, and contributor Suzanne Kamata, will introduce The Best Asian Short Stories 2017 anthology. In addition to the anthology series, Kitaab has published novels, short story collections and stories for children. Anjum will also discuss his vision for Kitaab and publishing opportunities for Japan-based writers and translators. There will be a question and answer period.
Zafar Anjum is a writer, publisher, and filmmaker who lives and works in Singapore. His books include Kafka in Ayodhya and Other Short Stories (Kitaab International, 2015), Iqbal: The Life of a Poet Philosopher and Politician (Random House India, 2014), and The Singapore Decalogue (Red Wheelbarrow, 2012). He is the founder-editor of Kitaab, an online journal and publishing company that promotes Asian writing in English.
Suzanne Kamata is the author or editor of ten published books including, most recently Screaming Divas (Simon Pulse, 2014), The Mermaids of Lake Michigan (Wyatt-Mackenzie Publishing, 2017) and A Girls’ Guide to the Islands (Gemma Open Door, 2017). Her story “Mon-chan” was selected for inclusion in The Best Asian Short Stories 2017 anthology. She is an Associate Professor at Naruto College of Education.
