I wanna say that I think that this community is rockin' and definitely helped me during my time while on JET. I also was not aware of it before I was accepted, but anyway
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I think to a degree the posting of "here's how my interview went and here were the questions asked" is certainly intended to help others prepare for their own interviews, and it has been done for the past few years at least, but to a point it's also because of the camaraderie between the applicants. There will also be a bit of "here's how mine went; oh, he asked you that? I wish I'd been asked that; did you get treated this way too?" etc... For some, it's a means of venting, and for others, it's a good way to prepare for the general sorts of questions that might be asked. I got a lot out of this site when I was preparing for my interview five years ago.
That said, sites like this can definitely hurt people as well. You might see someone else's experience and assume it'll be the same for yourself. However, with different consulates and different interviewers and especially with different countries' programs (each country has its own set of standards for choosing JETs), it is not a good idea to apply another person's experience to yourself too much. Looking to see the sorts of things others have been asked can be good research, but it shouldn't be more than a general overview to perhaps give you a bit of structure to your preparation. Otherwise, you'll be totally unprepared if you're asked a question you didn't prepare for. In fact, you could be fairly nonplussed if you're not asked that one question you were positive you'd get and you'd prepared for more than anything else.
For some, it is better to go in without looking to see what experiences others have had, and for others communities like this provide good study and preparation resources. In any case, there has to be a point in which you stand on your own feet and show your own creativity and ability to answer questions in a pinch.
That said, sites like this can definitely hurt people as well. You might see someone else's experience and assume it'll be the same for yourself. However, with different consulates and different interviewers and especially with different countries' programs (each country has its own set of standards for choosing JETs), it is not a good idea to apply another person's experience to yourself too much. Looking to see the sorts of things others have been asked can be good research, but it shouldn't be more than a general overview to perhaps give you a bit of structure to your preparation. Otherwise, you'll be totally unprepared if you're asked a question you didn't prepare for. In fact, you could be fairly nonplussed if you're not asked that one question you were positive you'd get and you'd prepared for more than anything else.
For some, it is better to go in without looking to see what experiences others have had, and for others communities like this provide good study and preparation resources. In any case, there has to be a point in which you stand on your own feet and show your own creativity and ability to answer questions in a pinch.
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