Meeting the basic requirements to become an ALT is only the first step. It does not mean the ALT organization will want to interview you, let alone hire you. They’re going to check your application for evidence that you’re actually a good fit.
When ALT recruiters review applications, they are not searching for the “best teacher” who dominates the other applicants in every category. They are looking for someone who is likely to function well in a Japanese school environment.
This article focuses on what makes a candidate attractive enough to ALT organizations to advance them through the process.
You do not need to be ideal in every category below. Very few candidates are. However, the more of these boxes you check, the easier the hiring decision becomes.
The Non-Negotiables
Before anything else, let’s assume that you:
- Meet the basic legal requirements to work as an ALT
- Have no serious legal issues
- Are able to work reliably Monday through Friday during school hours.
If you’re unsure about eligibility, start with Basic Requirements to Become an ALT before reading further.
Everything below assumes you’ve cleared that baseline. These are the traits that move you from “eligible” to “hireable.”
Flexibility on Placement (Especially Rural)
If you’re applying from outside Japan, most of the ALT positions available to you will not be in major cities.
Urban areas like Tokyo already have large foreign populations, experienced teachers, and candidates who live locally and can start immediately. Rural areas do not.
Recruiters strongly favor candidates who:
- Are open to rural or semi-rural placements
- Treat location preferences as preferences, not demands
You don’t need to love rural life (although many do). You just need to be willing to adapt if that’s where the job is. Unless you’re a top 1% candidate, only being open to urban placements is most likely a deal-breaker.
Willingness to Drive (When Needed)
Many rural placements require driving to work.
From a recruiter’s perspective, a candidate who is willing to drive is much easier to place and (most likely) easier to manage.
If you have a legitimate medical reason you cannot drive, most recruiters will understand. Saying “I just don’t want to” or “I’m too scared” is a much harder sell. Willingness to drive signals flexibility and openness to intercultural challenges. Unwillingness signals inability to embrace the types of unfamiliar situations ALTs encounter daily.
Experience With Kids (Any Kind)
ALTs work with children every day. Recruiters want evidence that this will not be a shock to your system.
Formal teaching experience is great, but it’s not required. Informal experience counts too, such as:
- Tutoring
- Coaching or camps
- Babysitting or childcare
- Volunteer work involving kids
Even if your experience just involves occasionally babysitting younger siblings, it’s worth mentioning. What matters is being able to show that you’ve interacted with children, handled their behavior, and enjoyed the experience.
Recruiters are screening for “won’t freeze up around children,” not “licensed educator.”
Intercultural Experience
Japan is a foreign country with unfamiliar social rules, communication styles, and workplace norms.
Recruiters look for any sign that you’ve successfully navigated cultural difference before, such as:
- Studying abroad
- Traveling independently
- Working with international colleagues
- Volunteering with immigrant or refugee communities
Japan-specific experience is best, but it’s not required. What matters is evidence that you can adapt without becoming frustrated or defensive.
Work Experience That Shows Reliability
Your job history does not need to be impressive. It just needs to show basic adult functioning.
Any job where you:
- Showed up consistently
- Took direction
- Worked with others
- Met expectations
…is doing its job on your résumé. Don’t worry about blowing your recruiter away with impressive job titles. They’re looking for evidence of maturity and stability, not rock stars.
Experience in Japan (Bonus, Not Required)
Time spent in Japan is a strong positive signal because it shows you can function in the country.
Recruiters generally view experience in this order:
- Best: Working in Japan
- Good: Studying abroad in Japan
- Still Relevant: Extended travel in Japan
Experience outside major cities is an added bonus, as it suggests comfort operating outside foreigner-heavy environments.
That said, many successful ALTs have never been to Japan before being hired. Experience in Japan is an important green flag, but only one among many.
Japanese Language Ability (Honesty Beats Bragging)
This is where many candidates hurt themselves.
Japanese is a difficult language, and most people living outside the country don’t have any experience with it. ALT recruiters do not expect candidates with native-level fluency. They do expect honesty.
That’s why:
- Overstating your ability is a red flag
- Understating it slightly is safer than exaggerating
- Being accurate builds trust
Whatever level of Japanese language ability you claim on your resume or application, you are going to have to demonstrate it at some point in the interview process. And you’re not going to be able to bluff your way through the language check – your interviewers are going to include native speakers and/or people who use Japanese professionally.
A candidate who says honestly “I have no real Japanese ability yet, but I’ve started studying” will do better in the interview process than one who claims conversational ability but can’t demonstrate it.
Additionally, passing any level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (including the lowest level), is going to signal serious effort and intention to continue improving.
Teaching Certifications
Formal teaching credentials are for most ALT jobs, but they can make you more attractive to recruiters, particularly if you lack classroom experience.
Certifications that help include:
- Teaching licenses from your home country
- TESOL / TEFL certifications
- Other recognized ESL teaching credentials
Some Boards of Education specifically request ALTs with teaching certification. Having one allows recruiters to place you in a wider range of schools, which increases your chances of being hired.
For candidates who:
- Have never lived in Japan
- Have little or no classroom teaching experience
- Speak little or no Japanese
…a TESOL or TEFL certification is often the fastest way to move from “maybe” to “worth interviewing.”
If your goal is simply to strengthen your application, an inexpensive online TESOL/TEFL certification is usually sufficient. Recruiters care more about what the certification signals (basic training and seriousness) than the prestige of the program.
If you plan to pursue ESL teaching as a long-term career, certification quality matters more. For the purposes of ALT hiring, however, any legitimate credential is better than none.
You Don’t Need to Be Perfect
Very few candidates check every box above.
ALT organizations are looking for potential, not perfection. One or two strong differentiators can outweigh weaker areas elsewhere.
Flexibility, reliability, and attitude often matter more than formal credentials. If you’re adaptable, realistic, and professional, missing experience in one area rarely disqualifies you.
What to Read Next
If you’re planning to apply, these resources will help you go further:
Basic Requirements to Become an ALT – confirm eligibility
JET Programme vs Dispatch Companies – understand your options
Interview Prep Basics – what interviews actually assess
For a deeper breakdown of how to position yourself as a strong candidate (and how to avoid common application mistakes), check out So You Want to Be an ALT.
ALT Roadmap 