Job Discussion Forums

[natjones]

Hello,

I was just accepted a job in Shanghai, and they informed me that immigration requires a reference check. The job requires 2 years of ESL experience, and I taught for 2 years in Korea.

They have been very vague about what exactly the reference check means, saying I just need letters of recommendation.

The problem is, one of my schools has since shut down, so I can't get a letter with the company letterhead and stamp. I am in contact with my old boss and she says that she will gladly give me a letter of recommendation with her contact information, and answer any questions they ask her positively.

Will this be enough for immigration? Or does the lack of a formal letter of recommendation without a letterhead/stamp mean that I effectively didn't work that year as far as China is concerned?

Thank you for any help you can give.

[teachingld2004]

Immgiration has nothing to do with the letters. They are just for the school.
If you have any questions, contact your new school, they will tell you. I am sure (almost) for the new school the letter from your old boss will be fine.
And anyway, in your passport the school was stamped, so there is your proof.

[rogerwilco]

My guess is that someone at the school is confused.

I have been asked for reference letters when changing schools
within China, but I have never been asked for a reference letter for
anything outside of China.

[xiguagua]

I think when I first came here I had to give recommendation letters to some school, but it's not like it's hard to get letters of recommendation from an old teacher or some random dude, if these people aren't in China I seriously doubt most schools will contact them.

I have had a school that actually does check the validity of various degrees though. Pretty awesome when the canned a FT because they found he lied about having a degree and had only finished high school.

Anyway don't worry too much about it. It's always good to have a formal recommendation, but I think most schools won't look at it any more than "Yep, here are two pieces of paper that appear to be recommendations."

[therock]

All provinces require reference letters if you have previously worked in China, while some provinces still require them even if you haven't worked in China. I know for sure they are required in Guangdong and seems like Shanghai as well. In order to get the work permit and invitation letter you need to produce a stamped reference letter. Obviously if you have worked in China then it needs to be from your previous school, if the school was outside of China, then a reference letter stamped with the company's official chop is still required.

In your situation, I would just get the letter your previous school sent you, preferably with the company letterhead and if no stamp, buy some random Korean stamp and stamp it yourself.

[natjones]

Thank you, everyone!

[leandrachair]

[teachingld2004]

About the letters, what is this is some ones first job? What do they do?

[therock]

Then you will not be eligible for a work visa because you need 2 years teaching experience. The cities that require a reference letter usually require 2 years teaching experience as well.

What this means if you are a fresh graduate or have no teaching experience is, you will not be eligible to work in the cities that require reference letters, which fortunately for you at the moment it seems only a few places are enforcing this reference letter rule.

Interesting times!!

[johntpartee]

Depends on the school; some of them can get around damn near any kind of "rule" if they need to.

[therock]

[GeminiTiger]

that's what the word "depends" means.

[teachingld2004]

I have seen quite a few jobs on seriousteachers.com that do not require any experience.
Just depends on where you want to go, and that salary.

[therock]

[therock]