Job Discussion Forums

[Captain_Fil]

When applying for an ESL job, I know that I need sealed copies of my college transcripts.

This, of course, includes transcripts from the four-year state university where I received my BA degree.

But must I also include transcripts from the two-year community college where I earned my AA degree?

And will grades (good or bad) affect my hiring prospects?

[johntpartee]

Some places (China, for sure) you don't need transcripts. You might as well include all transcripts for any place that needs them.

I maintained a 4.0 GPA in college. One prospective employer mentioned it ("Pretty impressive grades") and I didn't get the job.

[ls650]

Most job postings simply ask for proof of a university degree, but not a transcript.

[naturegirl321]

If your AA courses are transfered to your BA transcripts, then you should just need your BA ones. BUt it depends really. SOme places say transcripts from your highest degree earned. Some say transcripts from all colleges attended.

You might as well get them all now. It's easier to get them ahead of time then have to order and wait for them later.

Also, open one and scan it. You might have to send a scanned copy when applying for jobs. Even better, make copies of it, send it out when you apply and say that you'll give them original sealed copies when they offer you a job. If you give originals out to EVERY prospective employer you won't be left with any.

Grades MAY affect you getting a job,but for the most part they shouldn't.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

SEALED copies for an ESL job (as in in the US, or wherever you're from) may be the norm. Overseas, they sometimes ask to see your transcripts, but I have never been asked for sealed copies. That would mean asking people with enough time for them to be mailed from the universities and colleges to where I am now.

I have been asked for transcripts. Period. I give them a copy of my transcripts. The easiest thing to do is get a 'student copy' of your transcripts (some universities won't even give you sealed ones, they ONLY go from the university to the person who wants them and you never touch them or even see them) and scan it into your computer. Do the same with your degree(s) etc and then bring the actual ones with you to wherever you go (mine are just rolled up in a tube). Then when interviewing, you just need to print out a copy of the papers (set it so that everything prints on an A4 or letter size piece of paper) and give the interviewers that. Have the actuals in your bag so that you can show them. It's possible I guess that they could refuse your scanned copies and ask to copy the actual items themselves, though that has never happened to me.

[Glenski]

Get all transcripts. There is always the possibility that you may need them in the future. Example: If you land a direct-hire job in a mainstream school and need a teaching license, they will want to translate your transcripts, resume, and degree.

[sistercream]

It depends where you're going. In some countries they just want to see your degree parchment.
The worst place for red tape that I've taught was Macau (only a tiny chance you'll go there anyway) - they wanted not only the degree parchment and all the transcripts, but also course summaries for every course mentioned in the transcripts. Thank heavens my university has a good archives department, because I had graduated more than 20 years beforehand!

[bulgogiboy]

If you're planning on working in Korea then you'll need sealed transcripts for your BA. The BA is all you need to work in Korea so these transcripts should suffice. They are quite pernickity about how and where the university seal is placed on the transcript envelope too (they were very picky in my case). They insisted on the university stamp/seal being in a precise place on the envelope.

You can thank people in the past who have used fake degree certificates for this joyful procedure.

In Turkey and China you don't need transcripts to get a work permit, though of course individual employers may ask for them.

[Captain_Fil]

Thanks for all the info, guys.

Just curious.

Will photocopied transcripts be acceptable to most employers?

[naturegirl321]

[Captain_Fil]