Life after JET
FINDING A JOB IN JAPAN
After completing your tenure on the JET Program, you may want to stick around in Japan. To do such, you basically have two choices - get married to a local, or get a working visa. It is no longer like it used to be, when a premium was placed on the services of the few foreigners who resided in Japan. It is a crowded job market, and the premium remains only for bilingual professionals (with experience!). One of the most preeminent sources of job listings is the Monday issue of the Japan Times, an English newspaper. The easiest positions to find are with professional English schools, but the pay varies and the work hours may be long. Most teaching positions will not pay as well as JET. The most effective means of finding a job is through a personal network. A reference from a friend or teacher with professional connections could be the "in" you need. Worked for me.
GOING HOME
If you opt to go back home (like most JETs), there are numerous opportunities for you to utilize your experience here. Many JETs go on to graduate school after their time here, and many schools forgive lack of major-related work (for non-teachers) because of the international perspective that you can bring to their programs. Let's not forget that Japan (and the rest of Asia) still carries a very mysterious image amongst many Westerners, so to say that you have worked there sounds extremely exotic.
Those not interested in teaching will pursue the career of their choice. No matter what path you choose, your time on JET will provide you with precious memories and an experience that you will be able to utilize in many positive ways in the future.