Job Discussion Forums

[Glenski]

I've written this on another forum, but I thought I'd share the wealth.

We all know that playing the percentages is a key factor in landing a job. The more places you apply to, the better your odds on getting a favorable reply.

Most of the places I apply to want a letter of reference or two included with the other materials I send. I'm going to send a lot out, so do you just photocopy the original letters of reference? Some of them are sealed, so I can't get to them. I'm talking about sending out a few dozen applications, so it would seem a bit harsh to have my references make several dozen copies with their inked signatures and/or hanko seals.

How do YOU get this done?

[JimDunlop2]

One modern, North-American style of application is to omit references from the resume (CV), merely stating, "References available upon request" or a similar statement.

Personally, I was never in favour of this, until my CV started getting ridiculous.... Nowadays, I have a number of letters, publication samples, references, etc, etc. Usually I make reference to them in my covering letter.

If it gets to the point where I'm considered to be a serious applicant, I will usually get asked for references (at least in the West). At this point, I can choose to either provide to give the potential employer a "sealed" letter, but much more likely, an unsealed original (written on watermaked paper and with red hanko) but kindly request that it be returned to me when they have finished with it. To achieve this, I have absoultely no problem unsealing letters... If it isn't a place that specifically requests this, (rare) or perhaps a sealed-envelope copy of your university transcripts, I think everyone else would likely be satisfied if I lent them an original letter, allowed them to make copies for their file and request for it back.

This was the case with my most recent place of employment. The BoE wanted an original hankoed letter of recommendation from the previous kocho-sensei I worked with.

[guest of Japan]

Photocopies.

[Zzonkmiles]

I've scanned my LOR (and my diplomas), so I can use my computer to print them out as needed. I did this with my passport and visa as well. It helps when you request a LOR for the writer to provide at least two letters with at least one of them being sealed and at least one of them being unsealed.

[wintersweet]

Bumping this ... Is it really OK to use copies? I've got about half a dozen jobs at various Japanese colleges that I'll be applying to during November. Do I ask my references to write six individualized letters or just one?

I've only gotten LoR before for grants, fellowships, and grad school, and in those cases the letters needed to be pretty specific, not to mention in sealed, signed envelopes!

At least one of the job listings I have does specify sealed, signed envelopes, so in that case the answer is obvious.

Also, if the job listing does not state what to do with the letters, I assume I should include them in the same packet as everything else, rather than mailing them directly. Right?

Thanks!

[denise]

[Gordon]

Don't ask references for 6 letters of reference. You will end up with none. I have been a reference many times for people and it can be a rather pain in the butt, so make it as easy as possible for them or you may not even get any reference letters.