Job Discussion Forums

[Wolf]

I have a letter of employment from my first employer. Dates of employ and mentions the fact that I taught. I left there so long ago, the company is so big, and the turnover of managers is so high that I doubt anyone there remembers me.

I have a letter of recommendation from my head teacher at my last job. That company doesn't exist anymore, so there's no office/old boss for anyone to call.

Third time is a charm. I intend to ask both my FAO (who I signed my contract with) and the dean of my department for letters of recommendation. They'll be the only direct employer that any school that wants to hire me could contact, so they'll have to be my trump card.

When I applied for my Master's degree this spring, I used my dean as one of my references. He told me to write the letter, and then he would transcribe it onto department letterhead and then sign and stamp it. His rationale for having me write it was that I know better what foreign schools might be looking to hear in shuch letters.