i’ve been thinking of questions they might ask me and how i might be able to answer them and all, but once i googled it.. = = questions like.. ‘name 5 important people of japan’ or ‘5 current issues coming up in their news’ or something and what’s this about islamic cultures and all came up.. i can now say with gusto–oh crap.

Also, who on earth stresses the e in useful? If I were to stretch that word out, I would write it “uuuuuuseful.” Freak. Ha ha. I’ve never tried your tea, but I’ll drink some if you happen to make it. By the way, how many times have you been expected to make the tea in reality?

God knows if I hadn’t had someone point out that wasn’t quite what they were looking for I might have completely bombed the damn thing.

Horror stories can be useeeeeful. AND they’ll make you feel better about the shit that was your interview.

But don’t listen to me. They probably only took me because I look non-threatening and like I’d serve a damn good cup o’ tea.

Secondly, you are “in the interview” from the moment you step into the room. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be judging you from how you act before you get into the interview room, but if you are anti-social beforehand, it does not bode well for how you will present yourself in the room.

When I went to my interview, two other girl interviewees were waiting at the same time. One of the talked with me. The other just sat there, silent. Subsequently, the one I chatted with and I both got in.

In my case, you go into a “pre interview” room with a former JET (though there is another on the interview panel) who talks with you and answers any questions you might have. Both that and my first few minutes in the actual interview went well.

First I said hello to all of them. They asked me about a few of my hobbies and if I’d perform/demonstrate them for the community/school if asked. Of course I said I would. I was also asked intensely about what the connection between my two degrees (Journalism and Library & Information Science) and JET would be. That went ok. After that things went to shit.

Most of the questions I now am blank on because I was starting to freak out, but one was about what I would do if there was an issue with what a history or english textbook had. I was answering from a librarian perspective (I had just been going through lib job interviews so I had a diff mind set I think) and they rephrased a bunch of questions 2 or 3 times because I wasn’t answering exactly “what they were asking of me.” I seriously thought I failed the interview.

Then a few months later I got in. I am not the only one to think they totally failed and made it, so don’t despair too much if it didn’t go so smoothly. =) [updated by request by Deas]

Islamic culture. Heh. I guess that was to make sure you didn’t just make up random shit and spew it forth. In comparision, during my interview they showered me with truffles and jewels and welcomed me aboard. How strange. As someone once told me – it’s just to make sure you’re not a complete muppet. It’s kinda true.