Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KYC]

Here's the skinny.

I've been at my current GEPIK PS job for about 9 months. The school is unprofessional but not the worst. They have requested I renew, but I have declined. I have had 3 coteachers since I've been here. The first was a nice guy, but not always helpful. The second spoke fluent English, was on top of things, taught all my classes with me, etc. She was suddenly demoted as my ct because another teacher wnats the promotional points. My current ct is less than stellar. His English is probably equivalent to the 6th grade student. We don't communicate at all. If he needs something, he'll make my old ct do it.

I had an interview with S.M.O.E on Saturday and they said they have to call my current school for references. Since I've told my ct I will not renew, I know he is not happy about it. The day I told him I wouldn't renew, he contacted a recruiting agency to run the ad for the school. I still have 3 remaining months of my contract, yet they are already looking.

He is known to be the vindictive type. I have a feeling he's going to screw me over somehow. Jobs in Korea are easy to find but I really wanted a position with SMOE. On my application I listed my first ct as a reference. He told me SMOE called him and he gave me glowing recommendations. I'm worried about the one from my current school. Will SMOE reject me because of this??

[Otherside]

Sure, a bad reference can hurt your chances. If there are more applicants than positions a bad a reference will move you down the queue.

That being said, from your telling of the situation, your current CT is doing it JUST for promotion points and not for the love of the language/westerners etc. The best thing he can do for himself is just say "X teacher and I had a good working relationship and we worked well together to deliver quality English instruction." It puts him in a good light and any negative comments directed towards you could possibly open him up to further scrutiny Secondly, Korea has pretty strict defamation laws - so he'd probably be wary of sullying your name out of vindictiveness. And Thirdly, if he was to give you a bad referrence, I'd recommend writing a letter to GEPIK detailing your co-teachers performance (or lack-thereof).

[sigmundsmith]

This is the tricky thing in public system - I work for SMOE and if I was applying for another job somewhere else in Korea I would either put the contact details of SMOE head office (as they are your employers not your school - says so in the contract) or my co-teacher/head teacher who I get on with.

If they really push the name of the school give it too them and it is up to them to chase up the contact details (say I don't have that info on me.

To answer your question, you will be interviewed by Koreans with SMOE and they no more than anyone that Koreans can be kind of nasty towards foreigners. If you gave them your current co-teachers personal details, well that would have been silly.

They may just call the school to confirm with them that you work their, how many sick days etc rather than give your co-teacher the third degree.

Good luck with the process

[KYC]

I gave my old ct as a reference and he gave me excellent recommendations. I didn't provide them with GEPIK contact info because I signed directly with the school. The school is still part of GEPIK.

The sad thing? My coteacher IS the head teacher! I could give other teachers as reference but SMOE said they were calling the school. Once the office girl answers, I know she will transfer that call to my ct.

I guess I'll wait and see.