Reference Letters

As you embark on the journey of life after JET, you will more than likely find yourself in need of a reference letter explaining what you did and how you did it here in Japan.  Whether you need it for a job application or continued education, it would be wise to ask your tantousha or one of your English teachers to write a letter of reference for you before you leave.  Keep in mind that it might be hard for your supervisor to write the kind of reference that you will need.  Customs and hiring procedures are quite different in Japan and recommendation letters tend not to brag on and on about your merits and all that you have accomplished.  It may be necessary to explain the purpose of a reference letter and how they are normally written in your home country.  Though an example reference letter is provided to your COs in their manual for the JET Programme, you may want to provide even more guidance than that.  The sample letter sounds like it is taken directly from a book, which it is.  It is very general so be careful if your host institution is directly copying this letter. It can seem a bit unusual and a little awkward, but many JETs assist in drafting the letter for their tantoushas.  Writing it yourself and asking your tantousha to sign it is actually a common practice.  Below are some of the topics that you may want to consider when composing your letter.  In addition to letters of reference, you may need to update your resume.  See the resume section of this packet for suggestions on the arduous task of summing up your JET experience in a few short lines.