The normal countdown (to the end of JET) keeps ticking. But really there's a whole row of stopwatches on the desk; labels like 'pension', 'flat', 'visa'. The next one to go off is the 'After JET Conference.'
If you're attending, the aim's to get a job in Japan, i.e. to receive an offer of work that you want to take.
This statement sounds a bit punchy to me. No diffidence allowed. Let's be programmatic, both for the prep and the weekend itself. This is my own brief.
1) Make contact with organisations you're interested in.[]
a) Identify the organisations you're interested in.
- PLUG# I wrote a a low-down on the organisations at the careers fair here: http://tokyojet.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:RupertManners/Days_144-143:_Exhibitors_at_the_After_JET_conference.
b) Meet their reps
The most straightforward interaction will be to visit their stand at the Fair. You'll know the procedure there. The ostensible purpose is to get information, of course, but the exchange of papers may be less rewarding than putting a human face on the organisation and setting up a means of further contact.
You can prepare a 'personal information form' in the format on After JET support's website: https://job.axol.jp/hk/c/clair/mypage/top. You could also stick to your business card, if you've prepared one.
c) Identify the organisations you're still interested in.
d) Make follow-up contact.
2) Soak up the advice of the various speakers[]
a) Choose between Saturday's concurrent sessions, which are
Getting into Grad School / Travel and Tourism / Education 1: Teacher Translation and Interpr. / Education 2: Alternatives / Entrepeneurship Business and Trade / Video Games Industry / Writing and Publishing
You may find it useful in deciding to look at handouts from previous years, available here: http://jetprogramme.org/en/after-con/.
b) Brainstorm your thoughts on each subject before the relevant session. Compose questions.
b) Take notes> Ask questions if something goes unanswered.
c) Write up notes afterward> highlight any points for further research.
3) Talk to your one-to-one consultant[]
a) Research your consultant
You'll aready have researched your consultant when submitting your preferences. For example, I requested Kathryn Wortley based on her consultant profile on the Clair website (https://job.axol.jp/hk/c/clair/mypage/login). But I didn't then take the time to research her current company (Sterling Content) or to look more deeply into her past employers (British Embassy Tokyo, British Chamber of Commerce) or JET placement (Kagoshima). That's my next step.
b) Tally up points of common interest.
c) Prepare a reasonably articulate, entirely frank account of what you'd like to do in future. This may take some time.
d) Compose questions
e) Ask the questions, according to the feel of the conversation > note the points that interest you > write them afterwards > later, pick some out for research.
4) Talk to fellow/former JETs[]
a) Make a plan with your friends.
You'll have to peel away from each other at some point. Even if you have identical interests in the seminars and the fairs, their questions and attitudes won't be exactly the same, and you'll both be missing a chance to assert your own presence to reps and others. By all means, benefit from the mutual support; but agree you're not going to use each other as a crutch.
b) New Jet Friends
Why not? You may be coming to the end of JET; that just means you'll all be alums. There should be a lot of common issues and someone may already have the solution to your exact issues... (http://tokyojet.wikia.com/wiki/Tokyo_JET_Wiki)