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Jingo besus
Joined: 12 Sep 2011
Location: The Clipperton Suite
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 Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:28 am Post subject: |
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| Seems a shame to stop due to red tape. Might seem like a obvious question but have you tried the temp agency that you got your temp job with? |
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Ribena
Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Location: UK
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:30 am Post subject: |
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| Jingo besus wrote: |
| Seems a shame to stop due to red tape. Might seem like a obvious question but have you tried the temp agency that you got your temp job with? |
No, but they wouldn't know enough to write that type of reference for me, I never really came into contact with them except when I registered at their office.
Still yeah its a shame but I guess I am going to just have to look at other options or wait until I get a job in the UK, then apply overseas at at latter date when I can get the appropriate references. |
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Tower of Babel
Joined: 29 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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I think when they say that the reference letter must be no more than two years old, they are referring to the date of the letter itself. Otherwise, somebody who had worked more than two years at their most recent job, under only one immediate supervisor, would be out of luck, and that would make no sense. I didn't see anything about one of the references having to be from the most recent or current employer, and that also doesn't make too much sense to me. Let's say, for instance, that your most recent job was at Mac Donald's or something, but you had a couple of jobs or experiences previous to that which were more relevant to the task of teaching or living abroad. I'm guessing they'd be more interested in the references that were more directly related to the job you are applying for.
At any rate, I imagine they'd let you know if they didn't like your choice of references, and back-up referees are good to have in case your first choice(s) are dragging their feet or MIA. |
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Tower of Babel
Joined: 29 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry for the second post, editing a post on a droid is incredibly frustrating...
Writing your own reference for someone to sign off on is considered legit in many circles. I think a well-written letter coming entirely from the brain of a former supervisor is usually better, but a pre-written or heavily prompted one will do in a pinch.
Ribena, it seems to me that at this point, it's still worthwhile for you to do your best to dig up two references, ANY references from ANY previous authority figure, for the application. After all, the worst thing that Epik can do is say no, we don't like those references. As you're this far into the proceas, it's certainly worth a shot. |
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Ribena
Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Location: UK
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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I struggling to actually think of people to ask to write a references. As I said I've done a fair bit of temp work and my previous employers before that were in the public sector who are loathed to actually get off their arse to write a reference. Also my supervisor there have moved on to another part of the organisation, which is a pity as he was pretty decent guy who would write you a nice reference, but I have no way of contacting him.  |
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Tower of Babel
Joined: 29 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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| It sounds like some detective work is in order, then... I bet this man can be tracked down. |
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Ribena
Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Location: UK
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Tower of Babel wrote: |
| It sounds like some detective work is in order, then... I bet this man can be tracked down. |
If her remembers me. Actually I think I shall have to look at other options since I don't think epik is for me. |
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katbrady
Joined: 11 Sep 2011
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Ribena wrote: |
| Actually I think I shall have to look at other options since I don't think epik is for me. |
Ah, so sad! 
You'll have to let us other epik hopefuls know if you wind up in south korea next year!! best of luck to you, dear!! |
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isitts
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Ribena wrote: |
| Jingo besus wrote: |
I basically suggested to an old employer that i email him a referees statement that he can print on letter head and sign for me. I wrote my own reference making sure to hit the right points and voila.
I didnt even have to lie or massage the truth, if nothing else i didn't want to risk him getting a call from EPIK and not being able to remember what i wrote, if he gets asked to verify it he'll be able to say what i did without it contradicting anything. If you think its worth suggesting then i'd defo give it a try. It takes the sting out of the task for your referee... |
But that's cheating!!! 
Sounds like a good idea, but said boss is off on her holidays for a couple of weeks so I can't even get her agreement to fake reference letter yet. So annoying. |
I'm not sure a couple weeks will take you out of the running. I'm in the process of having my referees reformat the letters.
Have you kept in pretty good contact with the recruiter your're working with? I mean, do they still seem interested in working with you?
I'm not much for writing my own letters, but I know that people do it. In the case of getting a letter of recommendation from a place like a temp agency, they might appreciate you writing for them. As long as you got good comments from the clients they sent you out to, maybe they'd be fine with it.
Isn't there an assistant manager who could get your letter put on their letterhead? I'm sure if you did most of the legwork with getting the letter ready, they could put in the time to print it out on their letterhead, sign it, scan it, and seal it.
If you don't like the idea of writing about yourself, you can have someone else who knows you write the letter, then bring that (like, on a thumbdrive) to the temp agency office. Doesn't have to be THE boss who signs it. No one in Korea is going to confirm that.
Or, if by chance you worked extensively with any of the clients that the temp agency farmed you out to...I know that's kind of an off chance.
Anyway, if that helps... |
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Ribena
Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Location: UK
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| Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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| isitts wrote: |
| Ribena wrote: |
| Jingo besus wrote: |
I basically suggested to an old employer that i email him a referees statement that he can print on letter head and sign for me. I wrote my own reference making sure to hit the right points and voila.
I didnt even have to lie or massage the truth, if nothing else i didn't want to risk him getting a call from EPIK and not being able to remember what i wrote, if he gets asked to verify it he'll be able to say what i did without it contradicting anything. If you think its worth suggesting then i'd defo give it a try. It takes the sting out of the task for your referee... |
But that's cheating!!!
Sounds like a good idea, but said boss is off on her holidays for a couple of weeks so I can't even get her agreement to fake reference letter yet. So annoying. |
I'm not sure a couple weeks will take you out of the running. I'm in the process of having my referees reformat the letters.
Have you kept in pretty good contact with the recruiter your're working with? I mean, do they still seem interested in working with you?
I'm not much for writing my own letters, but I know that people do it. In the case of getting a letter of recommendation from a place like a temp agency, they might appreciate you writing for them. As long as you got good comments from the clients they sent you out to, maybe they'd be fine with it.
Isn't there an assistant manager who could get your letter put on their letterhead? I'm sure if you did most of the legwork with getting the letter ready, they could put in the time to print it out on their letterhead, sign it, scan it, and seal it.
If you don't like the idea of writing about yourself, you can have someone else who knows you write the letter, then bring that (like, on a thumbdrive) to the temp agency office. Doesn't have to be THE boss who signs it. No one in Korea is going to confirm that.
Or, if by chance you worked extensively with any of the clients that the temp agency farmed you out to...I know that's kind of an off chance.
Anyway, if that helps... |
Well its one of the main clients that I am trying to get to write the reference. They are British so they are rather sticklers for doing things "properly" so I doubt they would let me write a reference, although "properly" usually means in a slow, incomptent manner.
The recruiters seem fine actually, they have been pretty good with answering any enquiries I have had. I don't really want to wait a few weeks as I think by then most of the interviews with be assigned and people will be reccomended to the education departments in the urban areas.
Anyway thanks for all the suggestions. I'm now starting to look into other options.  |
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