Korean Job Discussion Forums

[allovertheplace]

Thanks for reading this.

So, I received a job offer from the US government and need to undergo a fairly extensive background/security check. I taught in Korea for 2 different schools. At one school the boss was a terrible jerk but I finished my contract. The second school was fine but I had to leave early (pulled a runner). Felt bad about it but when ya gotta go ya gotta go.

I am forced to provide all information about these and they will be verified. My question to you is should I be honest about addresses and phone numbers or just tell the feds that I guess the school closed down, and can we please just use my passport visa info to verify employment?

I'm curious because today I received a letter from my recruiter (I asked for the current school info), and he said the director essentially hates me and will say bad things...illegal in the states by the way.

Has anybody gone through this or know anyone that has? How has it worked out?

[Rutherford]

There is a specific document that verifies the length of time you worked at a school. Every Korean school knows what it is and can provide one for you. I believe it's called a 경력중명서. Get one of those and have it translated/verified. It just says your duration of employment but doesn't comment on you as an employee.

[hellofaniceguy]

The Federal Bureau of Intimidation ....called legal attach�s or legats�are located in U.S. embassies....South Korea American Embassy: 011-82-2-397-4114...they also do the background investigations for federal job applicants who lived and worked in korea.
The guy is charge is a korean American...speaks korean....
any gaps in your resume will need to be answered for....and depending on the position you are getting....he will or will not be calling your former employers for info. He will also be contacting korean immigration for the same.
Been there done that.
My wife is korean American and teaches for DODDS in korea...she had to undergo an extensive background check and they did call her old hakwons and 2 public schools she taught at.

[allovertheplace]

Thanks for the replies,

I'm also curious as to how Korean bosses typically treat these requests. It's illegal in the U.S. to blackball a former employee but I have zero faith this holds in Korea as well.

I'm not sure what I can do but if I have a firm grasps of standard operating procedures with bosses I can always try to tell the security agency what to expect.

Also, if there a way to verify employment without speaking to employers? The security guy told me provide my W-2 or I-9...apparently he doesn't understand what foreign employment means. I would assume each visa has enough data on it to verify employer as its technically owned by the school.

[nathanrutledge]

Be honest.

They WILL find out if your bs'ing them and you won't get the job. Besides, as nice guy pointed out, they have someone here who does this sort of thing. I'm sure he is well aware of how old bosses can be here. They're calling to verify employment, not for a reference. Granted, if ALL your bosses are badmouthing you, its probably a sign you suck. ( ) But if it's just one, they'll see him for what he is.

I had a friend apply for a job with the INS (or whatever the hell it's called these days) and she had to list EVERYONE she was friends with. They called me, in Korea, to verify that I knew her and ask a few BS questions. My brother is in the Navy, working with nuclear reactors. He had to get some sort of clearance and again, they called me in Korea to check on him and me. If they are asking for information, they WILL verify it and you don't want to be caught not telling the whole truth.