Job Discussion Forums

[Moonshadow_51]

I am not posting this comment for advice, but to warn teachers against the common practice of submitting important documents to a potential employer.

In Turkey, the procedure for applying for a work permit includes sending notarized copies of the applicant's documents to YOK, which originals must be seen in hand before notarizing the copies.

To get to the thrust of things, I trustingly sent in jpegs of my passport photo page, diploma, when I submitted my application to a university in Turkey. One week after being offered the position, I declined it in writing, and used my digital signature.

The people at the university were very angry with me for declining the position, and attempted to coerce me into a contract by telling me they'd purchased an airline ticket for me. Still, I refused and wrote them that under no condition would I consider the offer. Again, I used my digital signature on this letter to make it official.

Yesterday, three months and two weeks later, my current university called me in to say YOK was unable to process my work permit because - on record - I am working for XYZ University. I was promptly released from my position because of (edited typo) the legal ramifications and embarrassment caused them.

I immediately went to an attorney on my Embassy's list, who made some phone calls. he also went through my email correspondence with XYZ University to verify that I had declined the school's offer. We discovered that my digital signature had been used to apply for a work permit without my knowledge. He telephoned XYZ University and asked how they applied without my original documents, and they said they had just submitted photo copies.

XYZ University said that they had just discovered their "error" a day earlier, and had already notified YOK that, indeed, I wasn't there working for them.


I am posting this information as a warning to others. I have taught for nearly 17 years in several countries, and have only now realized how vulnerable we are when we send out jpegs of important documents.

I hope the Moderators discuss this topic amongst themselves and consider posting a sticky as a caution. With the advancements in every day technology, all forms of identity theft is on the rise.

[delal]

Thank you for warning us all.
So have you just lost your new job because of this or will they rehire you when this admin nightmare has been sorted out?

[Moonshadow_51]

Delal: The current university took a very defensive position on this matter, as if their reputation was of great importance. Since it is a new university in Istanbul, I understand that it does not wish to begin with a poor reputation with YOK.

At the same time, it would have been in their best interest to illustrate a pro-active interest in all employees and to help us find solutions to our situation. What has happened is that all foreigners who have come to work have now been told not to show up.

Fortunately, my former employer in Istanbul has written to ask me to return to my former job. And this says a lot about relationships and their importance.

[delal]

I'm sure it's a very frustrating situation for you -and your students at the new uni-but I'm glad you have options. Let's hope the other teachers have found other employment
Somebody once commented that it's more productive to go to the pub and buy drinks with colleagues/management here than attend meetings and from I've seen, that's the case: relationships are more important. Lucky you didn't burn your bridges when you left the last job!

[Moonshadow_51]

And considering I don't go to the bar to build relationships, I hope mine don't run dry when the glasses are empty

[Luxe]

The irony being that so many people would like an employer-sponsored work permit, and you got what at a place you didn't even work!

I hope it as easy to get one when I actually want one.

[Moonshadow_51]

I hope I can laugh about this someday, and it will definitely be noted in my memoir.

One thing: can anyone tell me how to obtain my reference number on the online application with the Eminyet? I completed the form to get an appointment, and when I went to print it out in color (as required), the printer broke down and the guy at the Internet Cafe shut the window. I went back to restart and couldn't becasue it requested my reference number. Changes, cancellations, are not allowed without the reference number.

Would appreciate accurate feedback, timely feedback.