OK! You did it! You passed for normal on paper! Now you just need to fool them one more time, but this time in person.
So, here's how you keep the illusion of normal going in the JET interview:
1) Get there on time. On time doesn't mean 30 minutes early, I would say (and some consulates require) no more than 15 minutes early.
2) Wear a suit (or the female equivalent). But more than that, I would say make sure you look generally flawless. The suit should be professionally tailored, the colors should be professional, but show some personality, and spend some time grooming yourself before you get there (and if you have time, re-check yourself when you get there). No one wants to say it, but news flash: Appearances do in fact matter. Very much. I may catch shit for it, but I would say, at this stage in the game, appearances matter more than the content you bring. If you are looking flawless the interviewers are much more likely to take you seriously and gloss over any minor stupid things you say in the interview, subconsciously or consciously.
3) Remember that you made it this far because something on the application intrigued them. The hardcore selling is over. If you hardcore sell yourself in the interview, you come off looking stupid. Learn how to sell yourself with subtlety and grace.The interview is more for superficialities and clarification. That means, once again, the most important part is looking good, and carrying yourself with confidence (not smugness), enthusiasm, and most importantly...
4) Building rapport. You generally get 15-20 minutes, that's it. The interviewers need to come away loving, or at least respecting you after 15 minutes. That should be your primary goal: Get them to respect you.
5) Ignore a lot of what you find on the Internet regarding the interview (except this of course); it's utter bullshit, rants by people who failed, or malicious misinformation. Memorizing the last 7 Prime Ministers, all of the prefectures, or the population of Nagoya? A complete waste of your time. Don't do it. Should you get such a random, bullshit question (I didn't) the point is not so much to see if you are legitimately interested in Japan, but to see how you handle awkward situations or situations where you don't have the information to act appropriately. In other words, trivia questions, (and other questions meant to put you on the spot) are used purely to see whether you can act with poise and class under pressure, they're not actually looking for the correct answer (which is why tip #2 is important).
6) The war-tribunal thing is likely a myth, and a combination of bad memory and people justifying their rejections. Having said that, I can guarantee someone on the panel is designated 'bad cop'. In my case, the extent of the 'bad cop' antics was repeatedly pushing a pretty irrelevant issue, ie: constantly using the "OK, you said ---, so what if ---", then you answer, and they say "OK but what about ---". Hardly a war tribunal, more like an annoying sibling.
7) I think the best interview advice is to watch a politician being interviewed. That is how you should prepare. Notice how they use the question, no matter what it is asking, to highlight a positive aspect about themselves--you should do the same thing. Have a general set of talking points you want to hit, and make sure to spin questions to get those points across.
8) Make eye contact with all of the interviewers when answering a question, not just the person who asked the question.
So here's how my interview went from start to finish:
*Picked up from waiting room by former JET who was an interviewer on my panel. We walked down the hall making small talk. I suggest the same, don't walk in silence.*
*Get to the tiny room, there is a chair and small table for me, and the three interviewers are sitting across from me behind a table.*
*I sit, everyone introduces themselves*
Q1 (Consul-General): "So, why do you want to go to Japan? Why not teach English in Korea or China?"
A1: "Well, I wouldn't want to teach in English in Korea or China for the simple reason that I'm not interested in those cultures. Those cultures are valuable and interesting, but I would like to learn more about Japanese culture firsthand."
Q2 (Consul-General): "You decided to go to college in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina? Tell us about that."
A2: "Sure. I'm originally from Chicago, and Katrina hit while I was deciding what colleges to apply to. I saw what was going on down there, and I knew I wanted to be a part of the rebuilding process in any way I could. When I first got there, I was sure I had made a mistake, but 4 years later, I have seen New Orleans gradually improve, and it is satisfying to know I have been a part of that rebuilding process."
Q3 (Consul-General): "What do you hope to do in Japan?"
A3: "My first goal is to learn about the Japanese culture in a way that sitting through lectures and reading books can't accomplish. I have taken several classes on Japanese culture but I would like to learn about the culture in a first-hand way. I have taken classes on Kabuki and Noh, and I would really like to see that in person."
Q4 (Consul-General): "So, you have applied to medical school and want to be a surgeon?"
A4: "That's right." (Major answer fail on my part.)
Q5 (Former JET): "You studied abroad in Singapore? Tell us about it."
A5: "Well, I spent a semester in Singapore at the National University of Singapore. And, as I mention in my essay, the most rewarding part was definitely the friends I made. I chose to say in a local dorm on campus, instead of the dorm reserved for exchange students. I think this was really important in my ability to integrate and make local friends and become involved in campus life."
Q6 (Former JET): "What classes did you take?"
A6: "(List classes)"
Q7 (Former JET): "Did you experience any culture shock while in Singapore"
A7: "Oh sure I did. Before I left, the study abroad office made it seem like there would be no culture shock because classes were in English. This was not the case, I quickly found out that knowing some Chinese would have helped and just because they spoke English doesn't mean that there are no cultural differences. But I found the best way to deal with it was not to withdraw but to get involved and make local friends, and living in the local dorm really helped with this. Plus, I was abroad during a US election year, so I was kind of the American novelty, and so I think I am ready for taking on a similar role while in Japan."
Q8 (Former JET): "What will you bring with you to Japan to show others about American culture?"
A8: "I would probably bring lots of pictures. Pictures of everyday things, like my friends, family, my house, or pictures around New Orleans and Chicago. I would want to show that America is not just the sensational news stories, it is made up of 300 million individuals, and I think that this would help the students see that, fundamentally, we are more similar than different."
Q9 (Japanese Professor): "You say that you believe participating in JET will help in your future role as a doctor. How so?"
A9: "Well, I think that fundamentally, doctors and teachers use the same skill set. Both require a genuine interest in helping others, and in a way, a doctor is like a teacher. For both doctors and teachers, building rapport is key, and I think participating in JET will help me build this skill set."
Q10 (Japanese Professor): "You say that doctors and teachers use the same skill set, so then what separates the average teachers or doctors from the excellent ones?"
A10: "*Nervous laugh* Umm, that's a good question actually. I think what separates the average doctor or teacher from the excellent one is the doctor/teacher who is able to gain the trust of the patient/student and build rapport and a rewarding relationship. I think anyone can read straight from a book or diagnose based on a set of symptoms, but to be truly excellent the professional should be able to establish a human connection and work with empathy and creativity."
Q11 (Japanese Professor): "Let's say a teacher was reading straight from the book..."
A11: "OK, I know what my position is and I would not over-step my boundaries. If I wanted to work to change the lesson plans, I would try to talk to the teacher privately before or after class. I would do what was asked of me, and I would never do anything to embarrass the teacher in front of the class."
Q12 (Japanese Professor): "I see that you have some teaching and classroom experience, in math, or test prep, but this is not teaching English, do you think that will be a problem?"
A12: "I don't see it being a problem at all. I have teaching experience in a wide range of subjects and a wide range of ages, and I'm sure the same skills I used in those situations could be applied to my position as an ALT. I have tutored one-on-one and have assisted a teacher in the classroom, and I feel I can not only convey the material, but make it interesting and relevant for the students."
Q13 (Japanese Professor): "You have very little Japanese language experience."
A13: "Umm, that's right. But part of the reason why I hope to go to Japan is to get involved in the local community, and I think by getting actively involved this will encourage me to work on my language ability."
Q14: "Do you have any questions for us?"
A14: "I was wondering, what is the one thing people don't expect when they get to Japan: they get there and go, 'Wow, I wasn't expecting that.'?"
(Former JET answers).
*Everyone thanks each other, and I walk out.*
See, not too bad right? Above all, above the actual content of your answers even, always give an aura of calmness and poise. You absolutely do not need to try to get them to be your friends or laugh, instead go in with confidence and get them to respect you. If you positively will not let them intimidate you, I really think everything tends to fall into place after that.
In sum, looks and how you carry yourself are most important; don't act like a child, don't act like a smug douche, and don't be anti-social.
Oh, and don't act bored or like you are entitled to the position. For whatever reason, I ran across a lot of these people when I was waiting for my interview. And if I could pick up on this aura, something tells me the interviewers could also, and I would say this is probably the one interview kiss of death. Don't do it.
