Job Discussion Forums

eihpos · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 331

Hi,

I'm not sure what this employer is looking for (I've asked them to be more specific but no reply yet, so I thought I'd check with you guys)

My school is in the middle of the visa/invitation letter application process and have so far asked for a pre med and a criminal record check as well as the usual stuff. Today, they are looking for a letter of resignation from my current employer. I think they mean either 1) I need to write a letter of resignation, or 2) I need some kind of letter from my employer, similar to a release letter. The thing is, I'm working in Ireland, where this is not standard practise. When you leave a job, you give 2 weeks - month notice, that's it. I'm sure it is the same in the UK or US. In fact, I don't even have to give this as I'm freelance/casual and only full time in the busy summer months. At the end of August/September, I won't be needed here anyway! My current employer knows been offered a position in China, as they provided a reference directly to this employer in China.

Any ideas on what they mean? Has anyone ever been asked for this kind of thing?

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

That is a baffler. I couldn't find anything about it through searching. I would think that somewhere along the path they have it confused with already having been employed in China. For example, this an ad by a school in Beijing which states everything you are supposed to have from your last CHINESE job.

"OF YOUR FEC CONFIRMATION OF CANCELLATION, LETTER OF RELEASE, LETTER OF RESIGNATION, AND LETTER OF REFERENCE."

Beijing is pretty tough as are a few other localities. If it is not a mistake I would think that some local authority decided to implement it on their own.

Chinese often have a hard time understanding that things do not usually work in other countries like China.

Piper2 · Joined: 13 Jun 2014 Posts: 146

The Voice Of Reason · Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 492

eihpos · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 331

Ok - they have told me that it is a termination letter stating my name, current workplace, date I will leave and employers signature. I suppose I will just write it and ask my boss to sign it. It's a bit annoying. I don't see why I should have to do this!

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

Piper2 · Joined: 13 Jun 2014 Posts: 146

eihpos · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 331

Yes, when I asked, they changed the wording to termination letter stating what date I'm leaving. It's ok to write it myself and get the boss to sign, which is good as I don't want to bother my boss again - she already wrote a reference. I'll try to get it on company paper, but a chop probably isn't going to be possible.
It's true that the HR in the school have been absolutely great so far, so I will do as they ask! Thanks for the advice everyone.

golsa · Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 185

Your new school almost certainly wants a 'release letter', which you almost certainly won't have unless you've worked in China before. Chinese schools write these (and a letter of recommendation) after you've fulfilled your contractual obligations or have otherwise been released from your contract. As best I understand the situation, you need a release letter to get the Foreign Expert Certificate when you change schools in China.

Your new school may have confused 'release letter' with a letter of recommendation or may have assumed that release letters are used in every country for foreign teachers. When I left my school in China my boss kept asking for a letter of recommendation, which caused me to ask a few questions about to whom I should address it. My first thought was that I should address such a letter to SAFEA or the Foreign Expert Bureau. It turned out that she simply wanted a letter of resignation to keep on file to prove that they didn't fire me before my contract ended.

It sounds like you've resolved the situation, but maybe this post will help a future reader.