References

Key Points:

• References must be specific to your JET application (see below) with a signature on the reference letter AND over the envelope seal.
• Referees can take sometimes as much as three months to prepare a reference for you. Please allow adequate time for this.
• Do NOT ask friends, family members, or friends of the family for references.
• The JET Programme CANNOT approach referees to request references. This is the applicant's responsibility.
• The JET Programme CANNOT return references that have been submitted on your behalf regardless of your application being successful or not.
• References are a key part of the application. Be sure to choose your referees after due consideration.
• References must be in English.

You are required to obtain TWO references. It is the responsibility of applicants to decide who best to act as their referees based on their situation. To strengthen your application we advise the following:

If you are a final year undergraduate degree student, or a recent graduate, we would advise you obtain either:

If you are not a recent graduate, we would advise that you obtain either:

Reference letter content:

The JET Programme does not provide reference forms so it is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure their referees are aware of the appropriate content for their reference. They should be written as a standard reference being sure to accommodate the points below:

• It should be word-processed (or typed).
• It should be addressed to the JET Programme.
• It should have the applicant's name in full and spelt correctly.
• It should be on headed paper. (See FAQs here for related queries)
• It should state how long the referee has known the applicant.
• It should state the referee’s title and/or their relationship to the applicant.
• It should attempt to address the suitability of the applicant to the JET Programme including the applicant’s suitability to live abroad and suitability to work as an assistant language teacher.
• It should address the applicant’s personality and interests. Information regarding extra-curricular activity (if known) is particularly welcome.
• Academic referees should also discuss the applicant’s academic ability in addition to other aspects of the applicant.
• The referee must sign the reference itself. It must be placed in an envelope, then closed and sealed. The referee must then sign over the seal of the envelope to show that it has not been seen or tampered with.
• The reference should be sent to the applicant, and not directly to the JET Desk, so that it can be sent with the applicant's other documents. Please do not send us the references, as many applicants wait for their references before applying.

Please note that references written by friends, family or friends of the family will be automatically disqualified. Please avoid obtaining references from work colleagues or anyone else who has not supervised you directly.

If an applicant sends more than two references, from the received references two will be randomly chosen and the extra reference(s) will be discarded.