Job Discussion Forums

[Omeo]

Hey, everyone. What do we do for references when we return home after a few years or even several years teaching abroad? Y'know, when we get back home and start looking for jobs, they want to be able t check our references, right? But if everyone you've worked for over the past 3, 5, or 10 years is in another country and maybe doesn't speak very good English, what do you tell them? What if you've lost contact with anyone you ever worked with back home before you started teaching? Or what if the people you worked with are no longer with the company anymore?

I've been teaching for a few years now and I'd like to teach for at least a few more, but I feel like there's a good chance I'm going to HAVE TO go home and get a regular job at some point and I don't know what I'm 'sposed to tell them about my references. I'm sure this topic has probably been covered at some point before, but I don't know where.

Thanks, everyone.

[nomad soul]

Get an original, signed letter from each previous overseas employer to both confirm your dates of employment and act as a reference. In addition to your job title, basic duties, and why you're such a great teacher, the letter should state your employment start and end dates---month, day and year. It should be on letterhead and include the recommender's full contact info. Unfortunately, you may have to write the letter yourself to accommodate employers whose English isn't very strong. It's awkward to write about yourself, but you'll get used to it. Just be sure to vary the wording if you're drafting multiple letters. Hang onto the originals---either scan and email them to potential employers or make copies to hand out in person.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Valid question. At the risk of sounding obvious, I would find English-speaking references. With Skype and email distance is no longer an issue, I think.

[nomad soul]

I agree, Jpvanderwerf2001. You really want to use those who supervised/observed you as references. That could be a lead teacher, academic coordinator, program director, etc. But to clarify, I've had a couple of supervisors who were non-native English speakers with great speaking abilities, but they weren't comfortable using written English in formal reference/recommendation letters that potentially could be shown to native-speaking employers. Of course, each supervisor had the opportunity to review their respective letter in order to comment and/or edit the content, if desired, before signing it.

[Christian St.Bacon]

What's a 'regular job'...........?
same as a 'real job'...........?

wonder what I'll do

Shukran very much