Job Discussion Forums

mep3 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 212

I like the city I'm in but I'm not crazy about the school, to put it gently. I may want to stay in the same city next year but go to a different school.

I know when I came here from my last school, this school required a letter of release/recommendation from my last school before they would seal the deal.

This school likes [i]me[/i] a lot, which could be a bad thing. I think they'd really like to keep me. Of course, if I were going to a different city, it wouldn't matter. I would just say, "I want to go to that different city." But if I leave this school and ask them to send a letter of release to a different school in the same city, won't it appear like a deliberate insult to them? Basically I'd be saying, "I want to stay here, but I don't want to work for [i]you[/i]." Could that create an issue with what they put in the letter, and any ideas how to deal with the situation diplomatically? Thanks .... Mike

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

Personally, I don't see a problem UNLESS your current employer is a private language training centre, and any and all your future employers are too. THAT might create some problems since you will be providing your excellent teaching skills and abilities to one of their competitors. That said, if you have done your job and have finished the contract, they would have no choice but to let you go.

From personal experience, ask them to give you the release letter and send it to whoever you want. The only time I had to get a former employer to send the release letter was when I was back in Canada, and the new employer wanted a release letter from the last employer.

prof · Joined: 25 Jun 2004 Posts: 741 Location: Boston/China

Mep,

You should be very careful with this. As like so much else in China, the rules/results are dependant on the personalities involved.

It would be very easy for your current institution to say one bad thing about you and you won't be able to work in that city again.

You need to make the call on this one.

adamsmith · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 259 Location: wuhan

It is simple really. When your contract is done you do not have to tell the old school where you are looking for work. Just tell them you need a release letter and have them put their chop on it for you, put it in an envelope (they don't even have to seal it) and give it to you so that you can take it to whichever school you hire on at. Also have them make two copies just in case you change your mind after you have given it to a potential new school.
The old rules still apply - in this case: rule #1 Cover thine own a$$

mep3 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 212

It's a good thought and it might be workable. The problem is that I'll be doing my research well ahead of time, talking to schools etc.. and the school I choose will ask me for that well before the end of the school year. M

adamsmith · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 259 Location: wuhan

the school you choose wont ask for it until your current contract is up so you can begin working for them anyway. A 'Letter of RELEASE' is just that. a letter stating you have completed your contract and are released from any further contractual obligations to the school. No school will give you one before you have completed your contract unless it is just prior to finishing and will usually be dated accordingly. So all the research and job hunting you do will be invaluable for yourself, but will have no bearing whatsover on getting your letter. The new school won't need it until they are ready to transfer over your FEC and FRP to their school.

mep3 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 212

Actually, the school I'm currently at asked me for it in early June '06, and the school I was at at that time gave it to me at that time, about seven weeks before my contract was up.

My current school said they needed it to begin the visa process.

M

prof · Joined: 25 Jun 2004 Posts: 741 Location: Boston/China

"When your contract is done you do not have to tell the old school where you are looking for work."

Naive.

It depends who you are dealing with.

adamsmith · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 259 Location: wuhan

Naive - I think not. I have changed jobs a few times and I don;t tell the old school where I am going and they do not ask. Why would I tell them if I did. If they insisted it is a simple matter of giving them a reply that will satisfy them just like they do to us. Just tell them you are moving on to another location that will allow you to experience more of the wonderful 5000 year old culture of china and they will look at you and smile and say that is good. Very Happy

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

just a quick question, is the release letter given on completion of contract the same as the so-called letter of recommendation? i have a few of those right now, but never heard it being referred to as a release letter by the schools concerned.

7969

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

adamsmith · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 259 Location: wuhan

in the case of china they are treated all the same. Usually a release letter will also be a recomendation letter, ie, saying you have completed all your contractual obligations satifactorily. But in reality they can be two seperate letters - one stating how you did your work (good or bad) and the other stating that you have fulfilled your contract and there are no outstanding issues remaining between you and your school.

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

KES · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 722

A letter of reference is of more use when you are actively searching for a job, weeks before your contract ends. You can ask for a separate letter of refernce from your school.

You won't get your letter of release until your last day(s).

The PSB chop is quite unnecessary, the receiving school has the letterhead contact info if they want to verify.