Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tiddles]

So my shady old hakwon boss has been saying bad stuff about me to prospective employers and I think it's cost me a couple of offers. I've thought about just dropping the school from my resum�, but that creates a couple of problems: how to explain the gap year, how to explain my previous E2 visa? Lying on your resume is grounds for termination in Korea from what I understand, too.

I've tried giving out other references (coteachers and whatnot), but everyone wants to talk to the boss...who hated me.

Anyone ever had to deal with something similar? Koreans always want to talk to the boss, so my great references from whitey aren't really helping.

[definitely maybe]

[some waygug-in]

I had a school do this to me, but I was unaware of it until I was asked about it in a job interview.

I simply said that the school in question never paid me and the whole issue was overlooked.

But the market was a lot better for teachers back then.

[tiddles]

I've tried being upfront about the director hating me because the labor board raped him over a few things, but then the recruiters just stop emailing me.

I had an amazing interview the other day, so we'll see how it goes once they call my old school.

The thing about just taking it off my resum� is that when the school talks with immigration about it, it's obvious that I spent a year in Korea with an E-2. I suppose worst case scenario is me flying to Korea, getting fired for leaving it off my resum� and then I'll just be in country and have to find a new job. Seems like that might work to my advantage given how terrible the job market is.

[3DR]

I'm actually dealing with this very problem right now.

It's not necessarily a bad reference about my teaching or character, but the last time I had a job offer, they called and because my previous school said I was more of a laidback guy and not performing a show everytime, they thought I was some antisocial hermit.

I also think my main coteacher didn't like me for whatever reason.

Anyways, I have another job offer for a public school, and after answering some questions, they want a reference LETTER now. I've emailed my previous coteacher and no response after 2 weeks, and even when I asked her before I left, they said they don't do those.

I'm not sure what to do. I have a certificate from the school and the phone number of another school which I gave them so I hope that is acceptable. I also attached reference letters from employers here.

If this doesn't work, I think I may as well give up coming back to teach in Korea.

[le-paul]

[valkerie]

Considering the importance Koreans pay to slander and libel here I think it's worth reminding your past employer of this!

I would also say that a director/recruiter who believes what ONE person says when you have other good refs is not worth bothering with but that's not really helpful.

You could test it by having a Korean mate call and pretend to be a potential employer. Have them record the call. It doesn't even matter if what your ex boss says is true or not - if it harms your reputation you are entitled to damage money.

[david]

I'm really your friend. I've lived and taught in Korea awhile and have been in a predicament similar to yours in the past. Send me a private message and I might be able to help you out.

Working in Korea is hell at times. If you finished a contract or gave adequate notice than you should not be the victim of slander. This is a despicable practice and even more so when the victim is young and working on a teacher's salary.

[enchoo]

Maybe there is a head teacher who can write a great reference. Remember that maybe you did get along with an assistant director, a head teacher, or senior teacher of the academy. Maybe you can ask for a more favorable person's recommendation letter. Also if the last job was not your first job, then maybe you can ask for previous workplace's recommendations or your ex-professors' recommendations.

I did get a university position based on my 3 ex-professor recommendations. Those uni jobs seem to be popping up in bunches these days in Korea.

[RMNC]

Insert a "reason for leaving" section underneath the job.

[young_clinton]

[nathanrutledge]

I'd go with the "Reason for leaving" (I actually thought all resumes had those anyway?). Just be frank and honest about it. I got fired from a job in the US and it was because I got in a verbal fight with the boss, and it was pretty nasty. BUT, the fight was about another supervisor padding her time card, not doing work, etc. For me, under reason for leaving, I put a brief description and then for a reference, I have the old assistant manager on there. She knew all about it and she gives me a great reference.

I'd do that. Put down that yeah, the boss doesn't like you and here is why. Then, put down someone else you worked with there who DOES like you and will back you up. Despite the culture thing, Korean employers are still human and most of them can tell who is lying/difficult/unpleasant/etc and who isn't.

[Troglodyte]

So, how did the amazing interview job go? Did you get the job?

If you're still searching, then just don't tell them the address and phone number of the school you worked for. Chances are that they won't be able to the find the employer anyway.

But to be quite honest, I've told employers and recruiters that I didn't complete a few contracts in the past. I've told them that it was for personal reasons, because I wasn't being paid, because the school went out of business, because I disliked the boss, etc. Perhaps it did cost me a few job offers, but it couldn't have been many because i've always got job offers within a couple weeks of starting a job search. In fact, the job offers usually came within a few days. It just took a few weeks because I like to wait and compare offers before accepting one.

Just get out there an use more recruiters. For mass applications in a short time, it's one of the few good points about recruiters. BUT... you have to use a lot of them for it to work.