Korean Job Discussion Forums

peppermint · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 4:04 pm Post subject:

At my uni, you could get an un official copy- bascially a print out of your grades while you wait, or an official copy. The official copy comes in a sealed envelope, is embossed with the university's seal and takes a couple of days to get.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

pecan · Joined: 01 Jul 2004

I am not sure what your definition of "valid" is, but once the seal has been broken on the envelope containing your transcripts they are no longer legally acceptable or legitimate, so the the phrase "no longer valid" stands.

If an employer does not require sealed transcripts, do you think they really care if any of the documents are legitimate?

Nut

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Gord, Pecan et al: I'm not sure about the validity issue of a transcript- just that in my experience, I've always needed this piece of paper to get an E2. The reason I wanted it back so badly was that
a) The needless inconvenience of having to order and pay for a new one, when a perfectly good copy was sitting in the Director's drawer a few yards away. Obviously it wasn't a worthless piece of paper to him, as he wanted to keep it so badly.
b) He was using it as some sort of leverage power trip over me that he had no right to- "I have your original documents, make sure you behave". I mean it took me nearly a year to get the original degree certificate back. I was tired of him holding something of mine he had no right to, and wanted to prove a point.
c)A mountain out of a molehill, yes, but in my experience, if you show you mean business about small seemingly insignificant things, people are far less likely to attempt to mess you around with bigger things.
d) The unpredictability of future employers. I've learned to be prepared for anything. its entirely possible that the next Director will insist on the original transcript..who knows?

Juggertha, Mithridates, inkoreaforgood: Thanks for the support. As you say, your own property is your own, no matter how insignificant.. withholding it is a form of abuse, oneupmanship, and plain old theft.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Rather_Dashing · Joined: 07 Sep 2004

Transcripts, like resumes and cover letters, become the property of your potential employer when you apply for a job somewhere. They are not yours, period. You said you got your transcript back? So what, your boss has probably made copies of it.

The second a transcript is open, it is no longer official or original. If an institution wants original transcripts, you must request your university to send them. You cannot use the same transcripts that were sent to your previous employer and then recovered, because they are no longer official/original.

I cannot make it any more simple than that.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

I think there's a discrepancy here in the definition of "original transcript".

Universities consider a transcript to be "original" only if it's in a sealed envelope, so that's what they ask for when you're applying to grad school. It's to ensure that it hasn't been tampered with. Yes, they open it to see what's inside. But if they gave it back to you afterwards, you couldn't send it to another university.

As far as I know, Immigration doesn't really care if it's a sealed "original" or not, so long as it was originally printed by your University and not just a photocopy. If you got it back, I'm sure you could use it again with Immigration. Just like the copy you should be able to order for about $5 from your uni. As far as I know, Immigration doesn't usually require this in addition to your diploma, but they might accept it instead.

Regardless, I have no idea why your boss wants to hold onto this so badly. I'd assume it's for one of two reasons:

A) Your boss is an idiot and doesn't realize how unimportant and replaceable this document is.

B) Your boss is just a sadistic, manipulative *beep* who likes messing with your head, and has found a way that has worked really well.

Rather_Dashing · Joined: 07 Sep 2004

JennyJJ · Joined: 01 Mar 2003

If you intend to be in the EFL business, and work around the world - for more than just a year or so - order several degrees and five or ten sets of transcripts.

Yeah, it costs a few bucks. Sure, they should give the degrees back to you. But is it really worth all the heartburn over something so easily avoidable? I prefer to save my confrontations (and personal energy) for more important issues.

I have several copies of all degrees and a pile of transcripts - and the nice thing is I never have to give my "real" degrees (the ones I got when I graduated - that have sentimental value) to anyone and worry about it.

This is not an issue just in Korea - I've worked in several countries where people are constantly fuming and getting upset over something that is so easy to solve.

Save your eventual heart disease for something more worthwhile.