2024 Career Development Workshop Series

Whether you're a recently returned JET alum or making a career change, you may be at a crossroads regarding your next steps and opportunities. This event will show how to sell your JET experience and create an effective resume. Interviewing points will also be addressed.

Join us Saturday, November 16th from 11 am-1:00 pm CST, for the JETAA Chicago Career Development Workshop! If you are a JET alum currently navigating the job market after JET, considering switching careers, or just pondering what’s next for you, then your attendance is welcome! This event is intended to bring together JETAA members who are looking for career advice at all stages of their career trajectory.

Our speaker will be Kasia Lynch from Ikigai Connections, who can answer your questions about advancing your professional plans.

The workshop will answer the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up? Brainstorming your Career Ikigai."

The first ten people to sign up AND attend the event will receive a free 30-minute one-on-one session with Kasia free of charge on the topic of their choice. Preference will be given to JETAA Chicago members.

Sign up here!

Please join us for this free workshop, which will provide invaluable advice to help advance your career after JET!

This event is for JET alumni only.

Questions? Contact Joe Palermo at networking@jetaachicago.com.

JETogether 2024: Dia de Muertos

Let’s JETogether!

JETAA Chicago returns to the location of one of the first ever JETogethers - the National Museum of Mexican Art! The Museum has hosted the art of many Japanese-American and Japanese-Mexican artists over the years, including Shizu Saldamando, and on Saturday, November 9, we are visiting their annual Dia de Muertos Exhibit!

The Museum, founded in 1982 and located in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, was created to highlight the multitudes of one of our city’s most vibrant communities from their own perspective. If you have not visited before, then this is your chance to experience one of Chicago’s cultural touchstones!

And after we are done, feel free to stick around for a Coffee & Conversation Nijikai at El Cafecito in the Damen Pink Line station!

Sign up here!

This event is open to JET alumni and Friends of JET.

Questions? Contact Gabriel Coronado at president@jetaachicago.com.

2024 JET Returnee Picnic

Welcome back to the states and otsukaresama! \(^o^)/

In honor of your return and officially becoming a JET alumni, we're holding a picnic to celebrate the 2024 JET returnees. All alumni, friends, and family are welcome too.

Date: Sunday, October 27

Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm CST, but feel free to stay and mingle afterwards

Location: Garden of the Phoenix, which is within Jackson Park

JETAA Chicago will provide light food and drinks, but please feel free to bring something more for yourself or for others to share. Board and other party games are encouraged, and the more blankets/tarps, the better! Nobody likes wet grass.

As the event will be during peak spooky season, costumes are also welcome :)

In the case of inclement weather, we will email out participants the morning of the event, making a call on whether it will still be held or not.

We can‘t wait to meet you and hear about your time in Japan!

Sign up here!

This event is open to JET returnees, alumni, friends and family.

Questions? Contact Sara Brown at philanthropy@jetaachicago.com.