This article is about what makes recruiters lean forward when they read an application. You do not need all of these qualifications to be a top candidate, but the more you have, the better.
Think carefully about:
- Which ones you already have and can highlight on your application
- Which ones you can obtain before applying
- Which ones you can demonstrate through the application and interview process.
Personality
Visa eligibility aside, personality is the single biggest factor in who gets hired and who doesn’t.
ALT recruiters and interviewers are asking one question, over and over again:
“Will this person function well in a Japanese school environment?”
They answer that question based on your observable behavior throughout the application and interview process. How you present yourself matters just as much as your formal qualifications.
Organization and Follow-Through
ALTs are expected to manage their work and daily life independently. There is very little hand-holding once you arrive in Japan.
Recruiters look for signs of organization and reliability through things like:
- Submitting documents correctly
- Meeting deadlines
- Following instructions exactly
- Writing clear, professional emails
Sloppiness during the application or interview stages suggests bigger problems later.
Comfort Speaking in Front of Others
ALT work means standing in front of classrooms every day and answering unexpected questions from students and teachers.
Interviewers pay attention not just to what you say, but how you say it:
- Can you stay calm under pressure?
- Can you explain things clearly?
- Can you think on your feet?
You don’t need to be naturally charismatic or outgoing. You do need to be composed, approachable, and able to communicate without panicking.
Something That Makes You Memorable (In a Good Way)
ALT candidates sometimes blend together. Same interests, same motivations in learning Japanese, same talking points about Japan being ‘both modern and traditional.’
In this sea of sameness, having a distinctive skill or experience carries weight. After all, if it makes you interesting to the interviewer, it should also make you interesting to the students.
These distinctives, that “something cool” that sets you apart might be:
- Playing musical instruments
- Competitive sports or martial arts experience
- Speaking languages beyond English and Japanese
- Long-term volunteer work
- Anything else that shows discipline and depth
Something cool and distinctive is not required, and not everyone has it. But for those who have it, it works because:
- It makes you more interesting to talk to
- It gives students something to connect with
- It helps recruiters remember you
There’s really only one limitation here: your “something cool” must support your image as a teacher and a professional. Interesting is good. Distracting or inappropriate for a school environment is not.
High-Level Japanese Ability (With Certification)
Japanese language ability is a major differentiator, but only once it is verified as usable in the workplace. For most ALT organizations, the green flag is passing the N3-N1 levels of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
To be clear, self-assessment doesn’t count for anything here. ALT recruiters see wildly inflated self-assessments all of the time. Boards of Education also sometimes have JLPT certification requirements for their ALTs. Because of that, only actual certification carries weight.
The JLPT isn’t perfect, but it is:
- Widely recognized
- Easy to verify
- Understood by Boards of Education
Why N3 Is the Threshold
At the N3 level, Japanese starts being a job skill. With N3-level Japanese, you should be able to:
- Discuss basic lesson plans and schedules with co-teachers
- Handle daily life without constant assistance
- Socialize with locals who don’t speak English
- Reduce the burden you place on schools and coworkers
Passing N5 or N4 is still a plus. It shows you’re putting serious effort into learning Japanese. But they’re not high enough to make you a top candidate.
How to Use This Strategically
You do not need to be strong in every area we’ve talked about.
Instead:
- Identify your strongest differentiators
- Emphasize them clearly in applications/interviews
- Focus your personal improvement on high-impact areas
For most candidates, the easiest areas to improve are:
- Email etiquette, including responding quickly
- Interview etiquette
- Gaining volunteer experience
- Thinking about talents and experience that aren’t immediately applicable to the job, but are cool and workplace-appropriate
Recruiters aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for confidence they won’t regret hiring you.
What to Read Next
To keep building a strong application strategy:
What Recruiters Are Looking For in ALT Candidates
Interview Prep Basics
Application Timeline
For a step-by-step breakdown of how to position yourself as a top candidate (including common mistakes that sink otherwise strong applications) those topics are covered in detail in So You Want to Be an ALT.
ALT Roadmap 