Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mills]

Preface: I am a former enlisted United States Marine who also attended the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School; my resume is thick with military courses and awards.

Recently I had a phone interview with a Canadian ��English Spokesman�� for a school that I was very interested in. Said Canadian was very short with me and our "interview" lasted only a minute or two. She focused her questioning on my military experience; not why I was interested in teaching and traveling to Korea.

My impression: I believe the aforementioned Canadian skimmed my resume, combined my American nationality with my military experience, and classified me as the stereotypical warmongering, sovereign-nation-invading, Wal-Mart stockholding, tobacco lobbying, gun-wielding American.

The truth: I served in the military because I felt compelled to ��pay for�� all the freedoms and opportunities that have come with American citizenship. I chose the Marine Corps because I wanted to challenge myself. I am nothing like the American stereotype.

Summary: Canadians, it is not cool to label people. Especially when you��re a group of pasty, beer drinking, hockey playing, pancakes smothered in maple syrup eating second-class citizens living in America��s northernmost state.

[syclick]

[HapKi]

Mills- welcome to the board. Boy, will you have fun. There's plenty of Canadians here that will make your stay most welcome.

[RACETRAITOR]

I'm a Canadian and most of my friends here are American soldiers. There are some things I let them get away with and some things I don't. I don't care if you eat McDonald's, because so do I, or shop at Walmart, because so do most Canadians. Calling us the 51st state, though, them's fightin' words.

[Hollywoodaction]

Preface: I am a former enlisted Canadian soldier who wanted to attend the Officer Candidates School... but that's another story. My resume is thick with military courses.

The truth: I served in the military because I felt compelled to ��pay for�� all the freedoms and opportunities that have come with Canadian citizenship. Also, my grandfather and father have served. So did a few of my uncles, one of which was one of the highest ranked non-commissioned officers in Canada...but that's another story. I wanted to share that experience with them. When it does come up in a conversation, many people will say the know someone who has served, but employer simply don't care.

Summary: It might not be because you're American. My military record is essentially worthless when it comes to finding a job in Canada. Employers simply don't care that I had High Secret clearance or that I know how to take down an enemy jet while armed with nothing but a sewing needle, a roll of duct tape, and a can of beer.

[endo]

Why did you put your military experience on a resume when your applying for a teaching job?

That answers your question right there. Especially if you listed all your awards. That's great and everything, but again how does it apply to a teaching job?

[Hollywoodaction]

[Manner of Speaking]

I think the previous poster may have a point. I can understand why you feel your military experience is an accomplishment to be proud of, but remember the purpose of a resume is to help you land the job. That's all it's for, that's all it's worth.

For example, if I were the religious type, and I highlighted (over-highlighted?) all of my experience and accomplishments in a particular church in my resume, it might give some companies...well, the willies. I've done a lot of volunteer work with environmental groups over the years, but I wouldn't overemphasize it too much in a resume. They'd wonder why I was putting all of this stuff in my resume if it wasn't directly related to the job I was applying for, and/or wonder why I'm not explaining how this experience would relate to the job requirements.

Maybe your resume just needs a bit of fine-tuning? Good luck in your job search either way!

MOS

[Wangja]

What's an Anit-American Canadian?

[Moldy Rutabaga]

[Newbie]

[Mills]

[Yaya]

[laogaiguk]

[Yaya]