Job Discussion Forums

[BruceLeeWannaBe]

Hey gang. I am looking to possibly work in Harbin. I have a brand new passport, and everything that my new company will need. The only thing they don't have is a reference letter from my last company.

I don't use the same passport anymore. They have everything else they need to process the invitation letter so I can apply for the z visa in canada. But they make a big deal out of the reference letter. And this is what I don't understand.

Is the letter of reference seriously that important? It's taking a while just to get the letter of reference too.

[Non Sequitur]

Bit dim this morning but is that a reference letter from a Canadian Co?
If there is some difficulty in getting a testimonial-type letter ie John was a brilliant colleague and we are sorry to lose him, why not get a simple certification of the dates of service?
This is pretty much all the release letter from a Chinese school says anyway.
Your Harbin employer may not appreciate what a reference means in Western employment.

[BruceLeeWannaBe]

[Non Sequitur]

Still not clear whether the letter is from a Canadian or Chinese employer.
If Chinese, no point in railing against this, or any other petty demand.
If Canadian, look for a work around as I suggest above.

[BruceLeeWannaBe]

[BruceLeeWannaBe]

[dean_a_jones]

How did the new school find out about the previous school/work in China? If it is on your CV, then that is probably the only reason they are asking, and so for future applications just take it off. Obviously if that is your only other experience, and is helping you get a better job the second time around that leaves you in a bit of a bind.

As for rules getting tighter--probably there are places that this is happening, and places it is not. Perhaps it is just the place you are applying it. Or the city it is in. Or the province. But I do think one thing you are supposing is wrong--that the release letter is only for people on an RP who are switching jobs but looking to stay in the country/extend their current RP but switch the employer it is tied to. I am pretty sure that SOP is to get a letter of release anytime you leave an employer if you plan on returning to China to teach again one day, as you may be asked for it as proof of contract completion etc. That is certainly what most teachers here that I know do when they leave if they think they may return again one day.

Are you in contact with the old school? It is just a simple form, so if you are still in contact/know someone from your time there, perhaps you can get them to quickly fill it in, chop it and scan it for you. Otherwise, perhaps you can give the contact details of the old place, your old passport/RP number to the new school's FAO and they can quickly get in touch and request it themselves. No idea if that will work, but if they want you it might be easier than you asking.

[Non Sequitur]

[tangal]

These are the form letters I needed to change my RP from Hunan to Jiangsu Provinces this summer.

Chinese letter of recommendation, aka reference letter:

外国文教专家或外籍专业人员推荐信

拟推荐单位：
姓 名 国 籍
译 名 性 别
护照号码 出生日期
原合同起止日期 健康状况
原合同工资数额 回国机票
医疗保险方式 单位（√）个人（） 婚姻状况
曾经担任工作 配偶子女
曾在华工作单位
业务部门（院、系、所、部、中心）意见：


业务部门负责人签字：
年 月 日
单位（外事部门）意见：
1、合同履行情况：很好（）；较好（）；一般（）。
2、原《外国专家证》是否缴销：已缴（）；待缴（）。
3、其他需要说明的事项：


Chinese release letter, aka termination letter:

单位（外事部门）盖章：
年 月 日

推荐单位：
联系人：
电 话：

注：此推荐信原件有效；

Cancellation of Foreign Expert Certificate:

证件注销证明

证件号码为 的外国专家证，持有人 ，已经 （主管名称）核准注销。

特此证明！

主管名称：
日期：

[BruceLeeWannaBe]

[FreakingTea]

I had to get a letter of recommendation from a professor or previous employer in order to get the invitation letter from the local government. This is for my *first* job in China. I guess it was a good excuse to see how my old professor was doing, at least!