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 adds to a smooth career transition. 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.

  • iiicareer (Interesse International Inc.) is a Japan–U.S.-focused recruitment and staffing firm with 11 U.S. locations plus Tokyo, offering nationwide support with strong coverage in regional U.S. markets, including Cincinnati, Nashville and more.

    We provide personalized consultation for job seekers and practical hiring support for Japanese companies across the U.S.

  • Maurie Arima (goes by Mari) is a Business Development Coordinator at iiicareer (Interesse International Inc.), where she supports bilingual professionals and Japanese companies across the U.S., and is known for staying highly attuned to hiring trends and market shifts affecting bilingual talent.

    Having lived in Japan from infancy until just before high school (primarily in Tokyo and the Shonan area), Mari brings strong cultural context and a deep love for the Japanese language. She supports JET alumni and internationally experienced professionals by bridging workplace communication and expectations, translating Japan experience into workplace-ready value for careers with Japanese companies in the U.S.

    She creates career-focused content through iiicareer’s YouTube, blog, and social media, and offers career coaching, resume/LinkedIn support, and interview preparation.

contact mari

  • iiicareer (Interesse International Inc.) is a Japan–U.S.-focused recruitment and staffing firm with 11 U.S. locations plus Tokyo, offering nationwide support with strong coverage in regional U.S. markets, including Cincinnati, Nashville and more.

    We provide personalized consultation for job seekers and practical hiring support for Japanese companies across the U.S.

  • Tyler Adams is an Executive Consultant at iiiCareer, leading the Tennessee office and supporting clients and candidates across the Southeast region of the United States. With nearly 15 years of experience working closely with Japanese organizations in both Japan and the U.S., he brings a deep understanding of Japanese business culture and bilingual career development.

    Tyler began studying Japanese in high school, which led him to pursue Japanese Language and Literature at the University of Georgia, along with International Business and Economics. He later studied at Kwansei Gakuin University and went on to live and work in the Kansai region of Japan for approximately 15 years.

    He spent four years working as a high school English teacher through the Osaka Prefecture Board of Education, an experience that closely mirrors that of many JET participants. After achieving JLPT N1, Tyler worked as a bilingual recruiter and later served as an overseas sales regional manager for a Japanese manufacturer, supporting U.S. operations for nine years.

    Since returning to Tennessee, Tyler has built strong relationships with JET offices throughout the Southeast and is passionate about supporting JET returnees as they transition into meaningful careers in the U.S. Drawing on his own experience living and working in Japan, he approaches each consultation with humility, empathy, and a strong desire to give back to the JET community.

contact tyler

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