Career Consultations

Looking for guidance as you navigate the next steps in your career journey?

Taking that next step in your career path can be intimidating whether you are just returning from JET or are mid-career and looking to pivot into another sector or switch employers in the same field. All JET alums have been through career transitions and we recognize the challenges that come with it. That is exactly why USJETAA has curated this network of professionals that are here to lend a hand with your next steps. These services are FREE to USJETAA members unless otherwise outlined. (Explore USJETAA’s free & supporting membership levels here.)

Each of these career coaches and consultants are intimately familiar with the JET Program and inherently understand the skills and talents our community has, how to translate them, how to harness them and what industries they may be most appreciated in. We hope this customized support for JET alumni helps add to your success and smooth career transitions. When we lend each other a hand, our community as a whole becomes stronger.

  • QUICK USA, Inc. is a Japanese job agency with offices in major US cities, committed to supporting job seekers from diverse backgrounds and industries. Services include career counseling, interview preparation, and job placement.

  • Takeshi Yamagishi is a dedicated career consultant whose life took a significant turn during his middle school days in Ishikawa-ken after a transformative encounter with a JET Program ALT at his school. Takeshi went onto become a JTE and worked with JET ALTs in the Japanese public school system. His career eventually changed course and he now works with Quick USA and lives in Dallas, TX with his family.

    Inspired and impacted by his interactions with JET Program participants, Takeshi is on a mission to give back to the JET community by offering complimentary career support to JET alumni through USJETAA. (These consultations are intended for registered USJETAA members. Free & supporting memberships are available.) Takeshi has successfully supported many JET alumni to help them understand the various Japan-related job markets and industry landscapes, guiding them towards career opportunities that fit their interests. He also understands that most JETs have Japanese language and cultural competencies that are highly valued by Japanese companies.

    USJETAA is proud to partner with Quick USA to help JETs identify the skills they learned on JET and apply those skills to their professional lives while staying connected to Japan. We hope you take advantage of this opportunity!

  • I had the pleasure of working with Takeshi Yamagishi during my job search, and I couldn't be more impressed with his friendliness, diligence, and dedication. I had wanted to use Japanese again at work but didn’t know how to approach looking for the appropriate position. Fortunately, Takeshi understood exactly how to apply my strengths and my experience in Japan to find an exciting position at a company where I am valued. I even moved across the country for this job! I highly recommend Takeshi to anyone seeking expert guidance in navigating the landscape of Japanese companies in the US job market.”

    Joe Messmer (Saitama, 2009-2011)
    Business Development Manager, North American Lighting

  • QUICK USA, Inc. is a Japanese job agency with offices in major US cities, committed to supporting job seekers from diverse backgrounds and industries. Services include career counseling, interview preparation, and job placement.

  • Carlos Medina (Oita, 2019-2022) was an elementary and middle school ALT in Oita. Following his tenure on the JET Program, he spent a year in the hotel industry in Japan after which he decided to make his way home to Dallas, TX where he currently resides and works as a Sales/Recruiter/Project Assistant for Quick USA.

    As a member of Quick USA, he is fulfilling his desire to be a bridge between the US and Japan. Carlos understands the challenge of returning home from JET and hopes to support fellow alumni in finding a position based on their interests and aligning them with the right company.

    USJETAA is proud to partner with Quick USA to help JETs identify the skills they learned on JET and apply those skills to their professional lives while staying connected to Japan. We hope you take advantage of this opportunity!

  • Pasona NA is an HR business partner for Japanese companies with over 15 branches worldwide. We are the largest Japanese specific recruitment company in the US. Our goal is to provide job seekers with personalized consultation and advice both for their job search and future career growth.

  • Laura Tanaka has had a dream of uniting Japan and America for the past 10 years. She first moved to Japan in 2017 on the JET Programme and was placed in Osaka, upon graduating of JET in 2020, she worked at a small Japanese company doing international sales, and then launched her own English business in 2021. She returned to the states in 2022 and started working at Pasona NA. She has continued to work towards her goal and managed several international projects resulting in the onboarding of bilingual Americans who are interested in working with Japanese companies.

    She enjoys bridging the cultural gap within companies and helping JET Alumni realize their full professional potential. Contact her for resume updates, career coaching, and professional support.

  • Pasona NA is an HR business partner for Japanese companies with over 15 branches worldwide. We are the largest Japanese specific recruitment company in the US. Our goal is to provide job seekers with personalized consultation and advice both for their job search and future career growth.

  • James Williams has been working with Japanese organizations for his entire career – everything from interpreting to recruiting to dressing up as Santa Claus to entertain preschoolers.

    As a JET alumnus (2008-2021, Hyogo Prefecture), he learned the importance of effective communication in international environments. At Pasona North America, he specializes in college outreach, intercultural training, and coaching candidates who are applying to Japanese companies for the first time.

These customized career consultations are possible through our partnerships and the larger JETAA network.