Home / References / Reflet
Reference Letters
In nearly every situation your next employer is likely to request a reference letter from you. Since you’ve spent at least a year here, it would be in your best interest to have a letter explaining your work in Japan and just how well you did it. Your coordinator or one of your English teachers are ideal candidates to draft that letter for you. Note:
- Ask the right person. In Japan, often times offices will think the title of the person who writes the letter is more important than the capacity in which they knew the person. If your office tries to have your Kacho or Kocho write the letter even if you rarely say more than hello to him or her, stand your ground. Explain that you’d like to have a letter that comes from someone who knows you well and can say meaningful things about your work.
Note: Reference letters are not normally written for individuals looking to change jobs in Japan, new employers will ring your old employer for a phone reference, thus to many schools this will seem foreign, offering to write it for them may accepted warmly.
- Explain the focus of the letter. Are you applying to graduate school? What program? What kind of a job are you looking for? Are you continuing with your English teaching? It’s important to give whoever is writing your letter as much information as possible on the focus.
- Provide the person writing your letter with the format used to write such letters in your country. He or she may not be aware that they should write the date at the top of the letter and so on. Provide them with the proper forms, envelopes, etc.
- Explain what you want. The Japanese do no usually “brag” about merits and accomplishments like we do in western countries. You may want to point out that the letter should boast the skills, talents and characteristics that make your valuable. If possible, provide them with a sample reference letter so they will have a model to follow.
- Offer your assistance in any way possible. Maybe they’d like you to check the spelling or grammar. They are doing you a favor so make their task as easy as possible.
- Provide your selling points. In addition, provide him or her with the following information. The person writing your letter cannot possibly remember every event, activity accomplishment etc.
a) Day-to-day school and office duties
b) Extra curricular Activities
c) Study groups/adult English classes
d) Articles you’ve written for local papers
e) Articles about you in local papers
f) Public speaking events
g) Participation in festivals and events
h) Elementary school visits
i) Proofreading or translating
j) Projects you’ve helped with or executed
k) Your Japanese skills (proficiency exams)
l) Participation in JET conferences as a speaker/moderator
m) Your relationships with your co-workers or students