Korean Job Discussion Forums

forgesteel · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Location: Earth

Assuming I have been asked to return to the school I presently teach at, but they don't want to match my salary request/ other contract details I might like to consider:

What are the best ways to get a recommendation letter? Best ways to ask for a recommendation letter? Best times to ask? Best circumstances to ask?

Any advice on the matter would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Get some co-workers you like to type one out for you. When I was looking I had a really nice one written in Hangeul that seemed to help make a good impression, especially as Koreans often can't read flattering but nuanced English very well.

forgesteel · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Location: Earth

pet lover · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: not in Seoul

Instead of asking someone else to take time to write up something on you, you might have better luck if you do it. Seriously, write up something about yourself that you think that they would agree with and then ask that person if he/she is willing to sign it. This takes the pressure off the person in question to write well, think of something to say, and have the time to do it.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Petlover's right, unless you want something in Hanguel. That means someone liking you enough to take 15 minutes to do something that's completely unnecessary.

forgesteel · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Location: Earth

pet lover · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: not in Seoul

Well, depending upon where you are applying, it might be not be neccessary or even helpful to have a letter of recommendation in English. If you were applying for a hagwon like mine, letters of recommendation would be extremely helpful. If you were applying for the average run-of-the-mill hagwon where the person in charge of hiring doesn't know anything about education and/or has very low English reading comprehension skills, then a letter in English would likely be ignored.

forgesteel · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Location: Earth

pet lover · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: not in Seoul

Then, in that case, I would simply tell the director that you want to build up a portfoilio and you would like to have a letter from him in it as you think highly of his opinion, or something like that. That's assuming you can't tell him the truth. And yeah, I know from experience that you can't and SHOULDN'T always be completely honest with your employer if you plan to leave at the end of your contract.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

forgesteel · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Location: Earth

pet lover · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: not in Seoul

Ask his advice as well. Men love it when ANYONE asks them for advice. Show him some samples of student work and ask him if he thinks it would be a good idea to include them in your portfolio. This makes the whole thing seem more real and makes him more relaxed because you are asking for his opinion. And people love to give their opinions.

This works especially well if you are a woman, but will still work if you are a male.

YoungLi · Joined: 06 Sep 2005

Another way that's worked for me is to explain that I am applying to graduate school for a Master's degree and I need three letters of recommendation. Two out of the three letters can be from professors but one must be from an employer. Explain that you've had many employers you could go back to for this letter but since this is your current employer it is your first choice and it could make the difference between getting into graduate school or not. Watch how well this works! The boss now has the POWER to help you get into graduate school... at least in HIS mind. Now, what kind of boss would NOT want you to further your education, especially if that means you can do the degree by distance and it would help you in your current job? Think about this.... the letter now becomes a motivator rather than a task for the boss or just a favor to you.