Korean Job Discussion Forums

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

I worked in Korea before for about 7 months. I left my job on fairly bad terms, and didn't finish the contract. It's a long story, basically I was with a stereotypically bad hagwon, my boss screwed me, and I in turn screwed him, and using him as a referance is out of the question.

So, should I even mention this job when applying once again? Will they contact him? If I don't mention this job, will they find out about it? How could I explain this? Should I just be honest and tell them that it was a bad school and all that? How can I work this out? What should I do?

Thanks a lot people.

E_athlete · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Location: Korea sparkling

yes. because even if you did list him as a reference you probably would get extra pay anyway. Also there's the fact that since he your last employer was KOREAN they will want to call them and talk to them. If your last employer was a English or Japanese speaker that would be a different story.

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Usually, schools ask me for references. Having the "problem" school listed in your resume will show you have been at one more school, and then when they ask for phone numbers, only give the ones you want.

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

So I guess i'll just be honest on my resume and see where that gets me. Hopefully the recruiter will just want to ake their commission and theyll push me through. I hope i'm not blacklisted from getting another job in Korea. If so, i'll just go to Shanghai instead.

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

I wouldn't put that old job on the resume. If your only experience is 7 months and cannot be checked or you will get your old boss slamming you, just leave it off completely.

The other option, is not to include the name of the school. Just state that you worked before. If they have the school name, they will just call information and get the number.

One guy that my boss interviewed was really good, but when we called this guys most recent school and that boss cut him to pieces. He said that he was a POS, blah blah blah. Apparently, the old boss wanted the guy to renew his contract, so he tried to sabotage him getting other jobs. We hired the guy anyway and he turned out fine.

If you didn't complete a contract, how do you explain that? It might not look good to future employers that you pulled a runner or left mid contract.

I don't advocate lying, but you can be too honest and it will burn you. Leaving things unsaid is sometimes the best.

BabaNaja · Joined: 12 Apr 2009

I would suggest leaving them off your resume. I think it's easier to get a job pretending that you are a newbie (think of how many people get hired who have never taught before) than having a bad reference (translation: "warning, under no circumstances hire this person") given to all your potential employers.

Even if you were justified in running, almost any director would put someone with a negative reference (especially from another Korean school) at the very bottom of their list. They simply would have no reason to trust your word above the word of another schools director.

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

Great, thanks a lot for the advice people. I think i'll just pretend that i'm a newbie. It's not like i'll have a problem landing a job. And lets face it, job experience in this industry is not supremely important.

I was thinking that maybe they would have me on record somewhere as already working there, or somehow see that I previously had a visa. But I guess that really wouldn't happen.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

I'm not sure if your employer has to find out about this, but immigration will know you're not a first-timer when you apply for your visa.

When you apply for a new Alien Registration Card, your number will be the same and all of your previous records with immigration will be linked.

While immigration will know you've been here before, I'm not sure whether they need to or will let your employer know that.

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

No if it was a hagwon in Korea. You can bet that they're look u up. Anyone that has to pay more will be sure to do their homework.

If you include it anyway and leave some info out. It's obvious your hiding something. Especially if the rest of your listed work history is very informative.

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

So, I think that i'm just going to admit that I worked before and see what happens. I figure that they will find out that I used to have a visa anyway, so I might as well just be honest about the whole situation and see where it gets me. I plan on just working at a hagwon anyway, so hopefully they won't be incredibly picky about it.

If anyone has any more input on this, i'd love to hear it. Thanks people.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009