Job Discussion Forums

ssjup81 · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject: Letters of Recommendation

Hello all.

When frequenting eikaiwa jobs, I've come across some that requires one to write a "cover letter" or a "letter of introduction". I'm going to assume both are the same.

This is new to me, but I am now coming across jobs that require letters of recommendation. I don't have too much experience with that. So, I was just wondering what would a Japanese employer be looking for in a letter of recommendation? I can ask people to write them for me, but I know that they would need specifics. Should I just go by JET's example? Also, how many letters would be considered the norm? From what I've seen, neither of these give an amount.

iverin · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 111 Location: Ontario

when I applied to AEON I had two letters of recommendation. One from a high school teacher that I volunteered in the classroom for and one from a University professor. Both just commented on my reliability, helpfulness etc and then some specifics for each situtation (ie grades, assignments, classroom participation etc).

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Actually, Japanese employers usually don't give written letters of recommendation, and when they are asked to, they often get a foreigner to 'edit' what they've written (because it will be in English).

ssjup81 · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:19 am Post subject: Re: Letters of Recommendation

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

LITTLE PEACHES · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:41 am Post subject:

from my experience with my company:

Letters of Rec: I got like 5..but i'm an over acheiver and they only needed two. I had people write on my ability to work with all ages of people, with an emphasis on working with children. They also wrote about my accountability and ability to teach. Review what the school is looking for and have people write on your skills that can help with the job. I work with all ages of students which is why i had them do that.

Letter of Introduction: MUCH different for me. This was a letter telling the students and people i would be working with about myself. Telling them from a teacher student stand point about me. I included more hobby type information

Cover Letter: A typical cover letter...This was to my boss and included information about how i could do a quality job for them and represent them well as a company.

I hope this was helpful for you.

ssjup81 · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject:

So all this time, I've been writing my "cover letters" like my "letters of introduction".

That aside, thanks to all of you for helping me with the basics of letters of recommendations.

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

When I applied for university I was asked to provide letters of recommendation from the last two schools I'd worked at. Both my eikaiwa manager and head of the high school English department asked me to write the letter and they'd sign it. It was actually quite difficult coming up with unique positive attributes for each one. Needless to say I was accepted onto the course, would've been embarrassing if I hadn't! Laughing

Actually if you work at one of the large eikaiwa's it's far better to get your Manager or Head Teacher to write you a letter of recommendation (if you get on with them) rather than waiting around for the corporate garbage that the head-offices send you. Those Head Office letters can damn with faint praise if they think you've not achieved your targets, plus they're written by someone that doesn't know you.