Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Snowkr]

Hi all

I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to this. I worked in a GEPIK school a few years ago, but I was asked to get on this forum and ask for some advice from some of you seasoned public school FT's.

A friend of mine was fired (in her 11th month) from a hogwon. She was in her second contract and as far as I'm concerned, the hogwon was in the wrong... although she definitely brought a bit of ire on herself by shouting at them, threatening them and so forth...

Anyway, after 23 and a half months at this hogwon, her director and co-teachers are refusing to give her a letter of reference. Not too surprising. She had a good first year with them but left on a really bad note. They paid her airfare and her bonus before she left the country and they will give her a "proof of employment" letter but nothing more.

So, the question is... is there ANY POSSIBILITY that a public school would consider her? She has had some previous work experience with other hogwons and can get at least one positive reference letter.

I feel like her latest hogwon has the upper hand here and there isn't much she can do. I also feel like it's a waste of time for her to apply for a public school position- especially now that she's left the country. But who knows?

Are some public schools desperate enough that they would take an FT whose former employer fired them and refuses to give a reference letter? She is very experienced and she has a recognized teaching certificate in her country.

What do you all think...?

[OculisOrbis]

as long as she doesnt apply directly with the epik, smoe, etc. programs, she likely wont need a letter of reference. use a recruiter or apply directly to the provincial/local education offices. applying directly to the offices is mainly an effective option only for people currently in korea. her record of employment is good if she wants to claim experience points to move her up the pay scale, but only if the school board considers hagwon experience as real experience.

[Snowkr]

thanks for the quick reply!

[soakitincider]

+1

[mmstyle]

Snowkr,

I work for a PS via SMOE. I submitted a proof of employment letter for my last contract here, but my actual reference letters came from co-workers, not the school itself. FYI, SMOE did contact my school, though, I am not sure if that is common.

[Snowkr]

mmstyle

thanks for that. I think SMOE may be a bit beyond her reach actually. I heard they're the most competitive.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

Worked for 3 public schools

None of them would hire me until I tracked down all my past employers and asked for ref letter.

Got two of them but I knew one school would give me a bad reference.

So I did this (I reccomend this is what your friend does) -

emailed that school saying I needed a letter that said

a. my full name
b. the dates I was employed at their school.
c. that I was employed as an ESL teacher
d. that I fulfilled my duties of (and this will vary) teaching English to Korean studetns, organising and teaching seasonal comps, desaigning and implementing lesson plans etc.

Signed by the VP or Principal.

I just kind of put it that my next job wanted a 'proof of employment letter' so that way they wouldn't see it as a reference letter and put their opinion of me into it.

Luckilly the next two public school jobs accepted this 'proof of employment letter' as a reference letter. So I'd reccomend your friend contacts old boss and asks for a 'proof of employment letter.'

I've been told that they are legally obliged to give one.

[OculisOrbis]

Former employers are required under labor laws to provide an employment certificate stating the to start and end dates of your time spent working, but it's actually an official government form that they fill out. A request with additional information may or may not be accepted by a new employer as proof of previous employment.

My recommendation is to request an employment certificate from any employer at the time you leave - especially from a hagwon where change of ownership or closing of the business is more common. It makes it much easier when you have the certificate in your files than trying to obtain it after the fact from someone who may not, or pretend to not, remember you.

[thekid99]

Just a quick question. As of right now I don't have any reference letters and I am thinking about applying to a public school position through a recruiter, this will be my first teaching position ever, so I am wondering if I will need to get on the ball and get a couple reference letters or is that not necessary?

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]