HOW TO WRITE THE BEST STATEMENT OF PURPOSE ESSAY FOR JET!
- Teacher Truman
- Jun 14, 2018
- 6 min read
ETThere is nothing more motivating and exciting than explaining to someone why you love Japan and want to work on the JET Program, but writing a statement of purpose can be a daunting task to achieve.
The first thing to understand is what exactly JET are looking for in a potential JET candidate. BUT there are no official documents to state what they are looking for, however, in this article you'll find relevant information that I'll suggest to consider when drafting your statement of purpose essay!
#1 Follow the guidelines
In one of the documentation, you will download, there will be specifications for your to follow for your statement of purpose essay. These guidelines aren't suggestions, so please follow them strictly!
Each country has their own set of rules to follow, but here are the South African guidelines!
Typed
Single-sided
Double-spaced
A4 paper (210mm x 297mm)
NOT exceeding two pages
Creating an eye-catching cover letter for yourself in some cases is exactly what you need to convince your potential employers that you are the best candidate for them, but please don't feel the urge to create a Salvidor Dali artwork attached with your essay. These guidelines are used to help with the selection process, so please do your best to resist your creative urges here (for now).
#2 What is the statement of purpose?
This essay you will write will be in the ballpark region of ± 540 words and will paint a picture of who you are. The statement of purpose shows your intent for being in Japan and will also help you answer the almighty question, "Why Japan?". That statement may seem vague, but is a very common one that comes up in the interview process. You should mention why you love Japan, what you wish to achieve from being in Japan and what you will do for Japan (through internationalization). Those are a few examples of themes you can use to help you carefully craft an honest explanation of yourself.
This essay should not repeat facts from your application form, but merely support all of the facts you have stated.
#3 Do some research
What is great about wanting to be apart of the JET community, is the access to successful resources from former JETs!
Conduct some research of your own to find examples or references, which can assist you with any possible mental writing block, this will also help you grasp the concept of what a statement of purpose maybe is for you. It is important to note that you remain unique and resist the urge to emulate someone else's statement of purpose because if it was easy for you to obtain, chances are that the panel that reviews your application will have also read online materials as well.
Here are some great resources I used before I started on my essay:
#4 Ideation and creation process (TIME TO BE CREATIVE)
As a designer and filmmaker, the conceptualization process is the most integral part of the process as this part helps me create a sense of direction with an end goal in mind.
I took an A4 folio page and divided it into two sides; The left side being how Japan has influenced my life (likes, passions, experiences, sports) and the right side is what I wish to achieve from living in Japan. Don't be afraid to use colour to determine the level of importance of the specific subject matter you cover.
#5 Things to consider
After the rough draft, I made the decision to treat it as an academic paper. I focused on common areas that helped me distinguish a timeline of events which would form the structure of my essay. This part of the process helped me tremendously with identifying more objectives and goals for my time in Japan.
The British JET Website has some questions that they'd like you to consider when writing your statement of purpose. This can be found here.
The most important areas you should consider to highlight are your relevant experiences and your motivation to be on the JET Program. Remember to get straight to the point, as you are limited to the maximum page allowance. Mention things that you can do for the JET Program, rather than what JET can do for you.
e.g.) Discussing 21st-century skills such as collaborative thinking, goal setting, being a role model for your immediate community and schools can benefit JET in these ways...
Reiterate your qualifications, community service or certifications in a manner that is genuine and ties well into your story. This will create a sense of purpose for how your degree or qualifications will benefit the school you may be teaching at.
e.g.) After completing a short TEFL course, I spent 6 months teaching at my local community centre to help uplift and motivate communities that have English as a second language...
#6 Reflect and consider your personal qualities
Exploring your passions and personal qualities by relating it to the goals of the JET program is a highly effective way to help get your message across.
This is a great opportunity for you to find inner sanctuary with who you are and what your aspirations are for when you live in Japan. If you have ever studied anything related to Japanese culture that has influenced your life in a positive way, then you could certainly mention this!
e.g.) Japanese culture has played a crucial role in my personal development. From a young age, I encountered the importance of discipline when setting goals from Karate. I learnt skills such as perseverance, patience and positivity, passed down to me from my father's Japanese Karate Sensei. This has helped me in the classroom as a teacher because...
#7 Writing [Draft ONE]
The key to getting your essay complete is actually writing the essay well in advance.
Creating a timeline for yourself to complete the essay in stages is really important when you want to create a meaningful narrative. I found it was helpful to watch YouTubers and listening to seminars about the JET Program to help me come up with more writing ideas throughout the day.
Set aside sometime in the evenings to get one paragraph complete. As soon as you are complete with that paragraph, take some time to reflect on what you have written and keep a copy of that paragraph somewhere. We keep a copy of this in case we decide to backtrack on original ideas as we are improving our essay throughout the weeks.
"Never delete, but always improve." - me
"Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub" - also me 🤷♂️
It's important that you try to get your ideas down and have your first draft complete without completely reworking. Once your first draft is complete (even if it is over the page limit), have someone review it for you to see whether or not the structure makes sense.
#8 Reworking and review [Draft TWO]
You've reviewed your essay and have found some areas that needed to be refined but aren't sure whether or not it holds enough substance.
I took some time one day to film myself explaining my goals for the JET Programme, whilst also touching on some personal aspects that may help me get a clearer insight into what I want my statement of purpose to embody.
I created a new document with amendments to my first draft and started to focus more on grammar and punctuation. It's important to remember that you are applying for a job, so you should remain professional which will come through the way you present yourself in this essay.
#9 Proof reading
I cannot emphasize how important this is.
I've even mentioned it in a previous article before... (see here to support my life)
Have a trustworthy friend, coworker or lecturer review your essay before you put the final seal of approval on it. It is also worthwhile investing in Grammarly (the free version obvs) to help you with any minor errors you may have overlooked.
#10 Basking in the glory
Take a moment to review what you've written over the past month or two and be proud! It's such a great feeling when it all comes together. I would say that this part of the process can really create a positive snowball effect moving forward to the next part of the process, which is preparing for the interview! (Article about this to be released soon!)
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