Korean Job Discussion Forums

[icnelly]

Obviously I want to be able to reference my last 16 months (they asked me to extend to finish the semester - 4 extra months), and I want a proper letter of recommendation. I asked the Korean principal to get the boss to write one in Korean and have it tranlated into English. That was a no go,so I wrote my own, and the boss will sign it, but here's the question: Should he use that little ink stamper thing as well. They seemed quite hesitant about the letter in general,and I'm wondering by not stamping it the boss isn't really "signing" it - a problem because I'm going to china for a 1 year, and then coming back to Korea. What is that stamp called, do Koreans use it for letter signatures, and does it matter having it on my reference letter?

I told the principal I wanted the boss to stamp it properly with the, well, stamp and he told me that the boss doesn't have one....hmmm??? Yet, I see the wife with the actual pad of ink at the front desk all the time stamping things here and there - obviously not letters of recommendation, but still.

[Juregen]

[Grotto]

On your letter you want:

XXXXXXXXXX worked at (full name and address of the school) as a/an XXXXXXXXXassistant/teacher. He/she taught X amount of classes of grades 3-6 and worked Mon-Fri from 9-5. He/she worked from (starting date) to (finishing date) successfully completing their contract.

He/she was a reliable, competant teacher, who worked well and did a good job, we wish him/her luck in all future endeavors.

Signed Principal/director/owner of school

And yes you want this stamped with the school seal!

[mindmetoo]

It's weird your boss won't write you a letter of recommendation. I would think if someone did a good job, gave their all, etc, the boss would at least take the time. That might say something right there.

I agree with Juggly that the stamp probably means it's legally binding and maybe he's afraid you'll use the letter in some lawsuit. A haggy owner has probably had worse happen to him.

I always thought letters of recommendation were kind of lame in the first place. If they have any doubts about you, they'll simply call your previous employer. That said, I always thought the most effective line in such a letter is something like "If I had the opportunity to hire [insert name] again, I would do it without question."

[sadsac]

Letters of recommendation, references mean squat in Korea. Even in the west, unless it is an exceptional letter of recommendation, they are not worth the paper they are written on. First hagwon 3 years, letter of recommendation, new school phones the old boss, he bags the bejesus out of us. Why bother?

[Hotpants]

I had to write my own letter of recommendation and have a member of regular staff sign it. They wouldn't let me use school headed paper or any stamp. As a result, I think some future employers were a little suspect about my letter and always insisted on calling the school up to verify my employment there.

I don't think the recommendation letter means much, though. Any future employer will just want to know where you worked and whether you completed your contract there. The stamp is just surface fluff.