-Work experience programme at Japanese Companies for JET Participants-

As part of CLAIR’s efforts to support JET participants in their future career endeavours, and to increase awareness among companies in Japan about the excellent, global-minded, multilingual talent among JET Programme participants, CLAIR initiated its first full-scale internship programme over two periods in August and September of this year.

The internship programme was very well received by both JET participants and companies involved.

CLAIR will continue to proactively engage in career support initiatives for JET Programme participants looking to work in Japan after JET.

2016 JET Internship Programme Summary
Internship Period

August: Monday, 1 August – Friday, 5 August 2016 [5 days]
September: Monday, 5 September – Friday, 9 September 2016 [5 days]

Requirements for Participation
  • Applicants must be current JET Programme Participants who will be in their 3rd to 5th year as of August 2016
  • Advanced level of Japanese language ability(Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level N2 or above)
Number of Participants and Companies
  • JET Participants  August: 13, September:17, Total: 30
  • Companies August: 9 companies, September: 12 companies, Total:17 companies(with 4 companies participating in both internship periods)
Comments From Participants
  • “Participating in the internship programme was a great opportunity to learn business manners and how to speak charismatically.”
  • “I think the programme is an excellent opportunity for JET participants considering working in Japan.”
  • “It was a great experience. There are many things I discovered that I would not have learned if I had not had a work experience at a Japanese company.”
  • “I am really satisfied that I was able to experience a different daily routine in a different work environment.”
Comments From Companies
  • “Participating in the internship programme helped us create an internal guideline for hiring foreign personnel at our company.”
  • “We had excellent interns, and they had a positive influence on all the staff they worked with.”
  • “Not only did the interns already have a command of keigo (polite Japanese) and an understanding of office dress code and business manners, we saw our interns being proactive, asking questions when they had them and doing their best at the work they were involved in.”
  • “Our company is moving quickly to globalise its operations, and facilitating communication with foreigners is critical. Participating in the internship programme aided us in addressing this issue.”
  • “There was no financial burden on our company when participating in the programme, so it was relatively easy to take in interns.”
  • “JET participants are quite a different group when compared to foreign students studying in Japan. We think this internship programme will have a social impact in Japan by establishing a new perspective for companies that hire foreigners.”