Korean Job Discussion Forums

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Ok so I'm supposed to be going a week thursday from the UK to Korea to teach for the Ministry of Education in Incheon. But I'm having loads of problems with my contact there for the following reasons:

1. She says I need a criminal record check, but I've told her repeatedly that it will take time to organise and cannot be guarrenteed back until the 4th of June. Do other EPIKers need this? If so could you see a problem with me starting work and continuing on the proviso its clear (which it is).

2. I need SIGNED reference letters. In the UK its hard to convince the employer to give you their confidential reference to send it across. She has two unsigned from my place of work so I am really at a loss as to what the problem is. How can I get signed letters? Any suggestions?

Please help, i'm trapped in the UK with dwindling funds and this "half job" I've been waiting for a good month now and EVEN NOW its causing me limitless hassle and stress.

I know there isn't much to be done but has anyone with more experience got any potential solutions. Also whats the quickest way to get a job if this falls through, the job boards?

Chris

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Sorry but without more details it would be hard to know what to suggest. Do you have an E2 visa yet? If not, don't get on the plane. If you do have an E2 visa that means you have the job, and can probably delay collecting all the bumf a little while. If the job falls through I'm sure you could get a hogwan job in Incheon very easily, but it would mean having enough money to hold out a few weeks and make a visa run to Japan - though you might need a letter of release from your previous E2 ... if you have one.

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Well, I don't have the visa currently, but I'm recieving my acceptance letter and contract tomorrow via FedEx and will have my visa in a week. I'm phoning the woman today so we'll see how it goes.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

If they're getting you a visa and paying your airfare, it's not as though they're going to sack you on arrival because you don't have some of the non-mandatory paperwork. I wouldn't worry about that too much.

peppermint · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 4:11 pm Post subject:

Re the criminal record check- these take forever to get from most countries. See if you can get something along the lines of a letter of good conduct from your local police force. ( basically an unofficial record check) That should buy you some time- if they even know the difference.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

I know it's unethical but sign the letters yourself.

As for the police report, start the process and get it mailed to you in Korea.

Don't worry, it's obviously just red tape, I'm sure you won't get too much strife from them.

peppermint · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 4:35 pm Post subject:

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Couple years ago I needed a police clearance from Canada. I googled the police dept of my former hometown & emailed them an inquiry. A couple emails & faxes back & forth & it was done. Free too.

The advice above is spot on. Its all appearance over substance. Fidel's suggestion to just sign the letters yourself is devious but clever. (But I dont understand why someone would write you a reference & not sign it in the first place.)

Some bureaucrat will just glance at these documents (probably uncomprehendingly) & stash them in some file never to see the light of day again.

Best luck in your new job!

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Thanks for all your responses guys, I've been messed around by the ministry for a month now so the least they can do is wait for me for a little while Smile

My references were through e-mail so thats why they are unsigned, I think they'll have to write them out and sign them and then scan them and send them.

And the check is the fastest one to be done in England, so lets hope its done soon.

Thanks guys

See you all soon (hopefully!)

Chris

peppermint · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 2:24 am Post subject:

YBS- yeah, the federal form involves a check based on your fingerprints and things, so it's a lot more in depth. It's my understanding that that the OP is talking about something like that, because that's what most school boards require.

That's one of the results from the recent crackdown that I do agree with though. I've heard a few stories (which might be urban legends) about ex convicts, even pedophiles teaching here. I think we can all agree that anything preventing that from happening is good for the industry, right?

thekingofdisco · Joined: 29 Oct 2004

When I first started teaching in England, the criminal checking process was pretty fast if I remember correctly. It wasn't any more than a week or two.

Obviously I am in no position to generalise across the board however.

agraham · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Location: Daegu, Korea

That's wierd in this computer age. I got my criminal record check in ten minutes from the RCMP.

bosintang · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 5:18 am Post subject: