Korean Job Discussion Forums

[HANGRY]

I want to start applying for college positions. However, there is a bit of a snag: the letters of recommendation. I always felt like asking for letters of recommendation from my professors in the U.S. was like begging them for a kidney, and in Korea it may be the same.

The situation is that my pujangnim would like me to stay on for another year at the school, and I wouldn't mind staying either as I like my job conditions, work location, and living conditions. I've told her as much. However, the problem is that I've heard from a friend of mind that the school more than likely will not get funding for my position next year.

So with my job future uncertain, I am now in the position of needing to start applying to new jobs while at the same time trying to keep my current job.

Here are my questions:

1. Will my letters of recommendation from last year in the US be applicable for positions now?

2. Who would you suggest I ask for Korean letters of recommendation? Is the principal more desirable than my co-teacher?

3. Would Koreans have any misgivings about asking for letters of recommendation when they would like me to keep me as an employee? I ask because I've read some nasty stories about vindictive employers on here.

4. Any recommended approaches to asking for the letters, such as bribery, indirectness, etc.?


I know these questions may seem silly, but I am trying to approach this as delicately as possible to avoid any potential misgivings.

[soomin]

1. Old US ones should be fine, especially if they weren't dated, lol~

2. The person who is highest on the scale of command that likes you is the person you should ask for a reference letter.

3. They might be... if they give you one and you're unsure of what it says because you can't read Korean, ask a friend to proofread and make sure it's not bad, OR ask them to write it in English

4. You know your coworkers better than us... just go with your gut, though food/snacks usually help ^.^

Good luck!

[YTMND]

All this, just to ask the same question next year.

[young_clinton]

If you want to get letters of recommendation from your Korean employer or public school principle make sure you get them before you quit your job. Lots of luck trying to get them afterwards. Koreans are capricious, I like them a lot, but they are.