JET Question

[Juvenyle]

I was wondering how they look at a male who has long hair and their ears pierced. I have long curly hair a little past my shoulders and both of my ears pierced. Also if they do not care would it be better to pull my hair back and remove the earring?

[erbiumfiber]

In Japan it is very rare to see men with earrings. Actually, a lot of women don't even have pierced ears (hence the wide availability of clip-on earrings). I would pull your hair back and lose the earrings for a job interview of any kind.

[MNJetter]

Since the thing said JET question, I assume you mean specifically in terms of a JET job. As long as your hair is washed, I don't think they'll really care. They look for unique and interesting people when doing interviews on the JET program, and will pay much more attention to how well you seem to be able to adapt to life in another country than they will to how long your hair is.

[mikem]

Interesting ... So many of my male friends have earrings. Both Japanese and Westerners.

I wouldn't sweat the earring thing as that can only help you. Also, there is plenty of salons in Japan to do anything you want with your hair if you want to change it slightly after you get here.

Really it is your entire appearance that matters more than any single detail. Your exact hairstyle will only come into play if you are trying to fit into a particular kei. For the most part you're just grouped with all of the other foreigners so it makes very little difference.

[Micah the Great]

When i was in Japan I had 6 earrings and hair several inches past my shoulders and no one seemed to care. Like mikem said, you're a foreigner so I don't think they pay much attention to the details.

But as far as the JET job goes, I don't know. I had medium length hair and still had my earrings in (guess hair covered them) during my interview and got shortlisted.

[gentlemanandscholar]

If JET is anything like an eikaiwa in their interviews, remove the earrings.
Actually I take that back;
ANY interview, remove your earrings. It's just tacky if you leave them in.

And a quick reminder for you guys:
He isn't asking about Japanese SOCIETY, he's asking about an interview. Who gives a damn if he can wear earrings in Japan or not? It's what the company thinks that matters.

[bakagaijin]

Interesting ... So many of my male friends have earrings. Both Japanese and Westerners.

I wouldn't sweat the earring thing as that can only help you. Also, there is plenty of salons in Japan to do anything you want with your hair if you want to change it slightly after you get here.

Really it is your entire appearance that matters more than any single detail. Your exact hairstyle will only come into play if you are trying to fit into a particular kei. For the most part you're just grouped with all of the other foreigners so it makes very little difference.

Are you high tex???

[Digital Masta]

If JET is anything like an eikaiwa in their interviews, remove the earrings.
Actually I take that back;
ANY interview, remove your earrings. It's just tacky if you leave them in.

And a quick reminder for you guys:
He isn't asking about Japanese SOCIETY, he's asking about an interview. Who gives a damn if he can wear earrings in Japan or not? It's what the company thinks that matters.

Yeah man...it's better to not have them in at all. Then you don't have to concern yourself with it. As far as hair, I like my hair short and I always tend to get it cut before an interview because thats the way I like it and once again I can't possibly run into any issues with my hair being an...err..issue.

[mikem]

Are you high tex???

Apparently ... I guess I never read the subject anymore. :box:

[MNJetter]

And a quick reminder for you guys:
He isn't asking about Japanese SOCIETY, he's asking about an interview. Who gives a damn if he can wear earrings in Japan or not? It's what the company thinks that matters.
JET is not a company. And they won't care if he has earrings. In fact, it might be an advantage, because they like to hire people who are unique and foreigner-like, who will provide good sources of gossip and international talk in small villages.

[gentlemanandscholar]

JET is not a company. And they won't care if he has earrings. In fact, it might be an advantage, because they like to hire people who are unique and foreigner-like, who will provide good sources of gossip and international talk in small villages.

Sorry, I was assuming that JET would apply standards to their applicants that are general for most employers.
So JET doesn't employ you? Who is the company running the exchange then?

Edit; or are you government employed?

[MNJetter]

JET doesn't apply standards to their applicants that are general for most employers.

Technically it's true -- JET hired me, the Tsugaru City Board of Education employs me. But I didn't mean to say whether or not they employed me before. Just that they, themselves, are not a company. JET is a nonprofit government organization that recruits and hires ALTs and CIRs for the purpose of spreading internationalization in government offices and public school districts throughout the country. They don't look for how short your hair is or how many earrings you have -- they are looking for charisma and unique foreigner-ness, in which case, i imagine an earring would be exotic and advantageous to have.

[Micah the Great]

^ You get a gold star.

EDIT: That almost sounds sarcastic. But I think what you said is totally the case.