WORK & STUDY

WRITING THAT RESUME

Let's talk about resume building. 

First up, this will be an introduction, and you should be aware that different countries and different industries may potentially have slightly different requirements. We recommend of course doing some research to get up to speed - and speak to your local JETAA chapter members for help!!

​

Check out Life After JET podcast if you like listening more than reading. Focusing on the lives and careers of ex-JETs, interview guests talk about how they got into their careers, and pass on some information and advice to go about it.

​

Capitalising on your JET experience

It's surprising that some JETs feel that their JET experience would be somehow difficult or irrelevant, unless you're looking for a career in education. However, it can actually be an advantage - self promotion is key when writing a resume, so using words that play up your skills and experience on JET is important. This document by JETAANY lists words to use on your resume, and we have to mention AkitaJET's amazingly comprehensive document on the subject.

 

The After JET conference every year usually features resources and presentations on how to leverage your JET experience in your interviews and resumes. See for example 2017's conference on "Transferable skill sets JETs can promote".

​

The Japanese resume

Thinking of staying on in Japan? Japanese resumes (rirekisho - 履歴書) are highly standardised, with many companies preferring resumes to be traditionally hand-written, and in kanji. However, exceptions do occur, for tech jobs and foreign companies, which may allow more western-style resumes to be submitted. But as  with JET, every situation is different, and pay careful attention to the specifications of the job application.

 

Useful links that explain the structure and method of writing (and presenting) rirekisho:

• Writing a Japanese Resume

• How to Write a Japanese Resume 

• How to Write a Japanese CV

​

​

JET CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION

 

One way that CLAIR assists former JET Programme participants is by providing a basic form of employment verification.

 

Because CLAIR is not the actual employer of JETs, this Certificate of Participation cannot be proof of employment per se and may not be sufficient for some situations, but it does serve as proof of participation in the JET Programme. 

 

Formal proof of employment can only be obtained from your former contracting organization. CLAIR can provide basic proof of participation along the lines of: “Our records show that _____ was a participant on the JET Programme from _____ to _____ , working in _____ (prefecture / city / town).”

 

Please check with the CLAIR / Japan Local Government Center office that works with your chapter to see if they offer this service and to receive further information.

 

• CLAIR Tokyo (headquarters)

• JLGC New York

• JLGC London

• CLAIR Paris

• CLAIR Beijing

• CLAIR Seoul

• CLAIR Singapore

• JLGC Sydney

​

​

PURSUING FURTHER STUDIES

 

Some choose to pursue further study after JET, to build on their experience in Japan, and there is a growing wealth of resources and support available.

 

Among the many schools offering programs of interest to alumni, an increasing number are also offering generous financial support specifically for former JETs. Lists of schools (with or without scholarship offers) have been compiled by different groups, based on input from alumni who attended their programs and recommended them, or on information from the schools themselves. Furthermore, many of these programs have alumni working for or even running them. Most, though not all, of the schools currently are based in the US, and an effort is underway to expand these offerings to more countries and schools (see the Post-JET Opportunities page).

​

For lists of schools and more information on them please visit

JETwit, USJETAA, or AJET. 

Information is also available on the US JET Programme website.

​

​