Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Alias]

I worked at a kids hagwon for 1 year. After completion of my contract I came back to Canada with the intention of going back to Korea before the end of the year. My recruiter told me that I should ask my former supervisor for a letter of recommendation. So I called her and did just that. She said yes and that she would e-mail it to me.

She gave me a good letter and I sent it with my resume to my recruiter. Apparently there were 4 schools that were interested in me. When they called her she contradicted everything that she said in the letter basically saying that I was a bad teacher. I'm really confused at this point. Why would she give me a letter of reference in the first place? I had no indication that she didn't like me. I had no indication that my work was sub par. In fact, I felt confident that if I wanted to stay there for another year that they would sign me again. Is this a Korean thing or is it just her? Maybe she was just afraid of hurting my feelings when I was on the phone with her.

I now wish she had just said no. It would have saved me a lot of time. Why couldn't she be honest in the first place?

This brings me to my question. Should I now bother telling the schools that I have a year experience in Korea? I'm confused on what to do.

[rapier]

You can be the best teacher/ worker on the planet, but if your boss/ supervisor doesn't personally like you for some reason, you've had it.
I've seen it time and again. What is most important in a Korean working relationship is forming a cosy, sycophantic relationship with them. Your actual work performance doesn't matter a jot.
secondly, I've noticed that Koreans are generally inexpressive and uncommunicative,- not up-front. They're cryptic. If they have a problem with something, they generally won't say, or try to resolve it. They just secretly resent you and try to screw you over somehow at a later date.
Look back through your year at that school and try to remember what you did to offend or upset her, cos these people have loong memories.
Good luck.

[Alias]

"sycophantic relationship "

You hit the nail on the head. Everyone always talked about how phoney she was. She did remind me of a politician. It still hurts though. I would love to have an honest conversation with her about why she did what she did. Don't think that will be possible though.

I do want to note that the school never reneged on my contract. I received everything that was stated and got my bonus pay before leaving. The director/owner never bothered us at all.

So I don't have a beef with the school. Just my academic supervisor. I am hoping that this does not keep me from getting work again in the Seoul area.

[Squid]

Bypass her and go to the manager. Otherwise colleagues.... she'll get the message.

Maybe waste a dime and give her a call...?

Squid