Why did you decide to participate in the JET Internship Programme?

What type of work did you experience during the internship?

In my internship as a Native Translation Checker, I was given a trial (translation test) to complete over the week and translation manuscripts to check. Throughout the week, employees from the various departments talked about their roles and responsibilities, gave insight within the language services and printing industry, and introduced some of the translation software and techniques that help maximize translation speed, quality, and accuracy.

What did you get out of the programme & how do you hope to use this experience in the future?

The internship allowed me to witness trends and movements within the translation industry and how A.I. technology is changing the field firsthand, which gave me valuable insights on how to better position myself in the industry to adapt to the rapid change to come. The internship also opened up my perspective and showed me that there were many other roles in the translation industry other than just translation and editing. Through the trial, I also received valuable feedback on my translation etiquette, workflow, and philosophy as a professional. The feedback I received directly from the team helped to improve my translations when I returned to my CO.

A few words to JET Programme participants who might consider participating in the internship in the future:

The JET Internship Program gives you access to a variety of industries that may change your perspective on working in Japan. I regret not taking a part of it sooner and taking the opportunity to intern at other companies, but I was happy to participate before I left JET. Though the week-long program will go by quickly, use your time well and ask as many questions as you can about the company and the industry. Even if the internship you end up getting isn’t your top choice, your time spent at the company will better define what you want in your future career and workplace.