Korean Job Discussion Forums

[.res.ipsa.loquitor]

I'm curious to hear opinions about a situation I'm dealing with right now regarding a former director who, because of personal issues, is making it difficult for me to find a new school.

You don't know me, and I don't know you, so please do give me the benefit of the doubt in your assessment. In a nutshell, this director was an extremely bitter person who continuously pried into my personal life, and always offered me advice "as a mother". When I politely asked her to keep her relationship with me professional, she began looking for ways to attack me. I was on excellent terms with the owner, staff, and the vast majority of my co-workers.

Naturally, I did not list her as a reference, but Korean culture being as it is, several of the schools I applied to have contacted my former school. After several very positive interviews resulted in a terse email "wishing me well in my future endeavors", I became suspicious and followed-up. Not surprisingly, I discovered that she has continued to make general statements about my "poor attitude" and to attack my work ethic.

I have very good credentials, excellent references (aside from this individual), and always do well in interviews, but she is making it hard for me to find anything but an entry-level position. To be clear, I have been offered a contract, but it is not an ideal situation for me.

My question to you is this: Should I simply remove that experience from my resume? Do recruiters and schools have access to previous employers' contact information from Korean immi.? Should I simply warn employers up-front that this person has a personal vendetta, and hope they will take her comments with a grain of salt?

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! And please no flaming - I really am a good teacher, but it takes all kinds of people to make a world - and I have had the misfortune of running into a crazy one.

[OculisOrbis]

you could remove it it, but it's not the employers that you have to worry about finding out - it's immi. if the work dates on the resume you submit doesnt match the work dates on their records, they can deny your visa application.

if youre already in korea, you could get all the necessary paperwork from your new employer and submit your own documents for the visa, just giving immi a slightly different resume than you gave your employer.

you could also give potential employers a list of good references and tell them upfront that this particular employer will try to slander you. include coworkers from that employer to counteract the evil director. many employers dont care what old employers have to say, if you can back up your goodness using other korean references. just keep trying until you find one that understands what petty little dog-babies ex-directors can be.

[vk33]

i was canned from my first job here because of conflicts with the new principal (not the one that was there when i started). i highly recommend that you tell your perspective employer the situation, but emphasize that you completed your contract despite of this. this admission with the good references you have from the same job ought to paint a pretty clear picture which makes you come out decent.

fudging the documents is not a course that will bring about any good.

[.res.ipsa.loquitor]

Thanks folks. I've decided to direct employers to the head teacher rather than the director. I'm pretty sure that will take care of the problem.

[KoreanAmbition]

I agree with the others.

If you are having trouble with a reference, then possibly get some other stronger references.

Or, just apply with several regular references to show your next employer that there are many others that respect your work.

You said you were on good terms with the owner. Just get the reference from him/her and they won't even call the director.

When in doubt, just go above the reference....

Best of luck.