Korean Job Discussion Forums

stevieg4ever · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Location: London, England

I have a snag with my SMOE application. I have handed the first round of documents in (application form, lesson plan, essay and two references).

The interview went well and the guy said that to be honest I will most likely be selected saying I was a strong candidate. I have teaching experience and have a good level of Korean (which I can illustrate with certification and having studeid pt in London, UK and full time at Sogang, Seoul).

However because I worked for one of the other schemes before they said I will need a 'certificate of employment' before I commence.

I rang the EPIK office in Seoul and they said that they couldn't help me on account of the fact that they are only a recruiter and not my employer. On returning back to the UK I asked my embassy who runs the EPIK scheme I went with in the beginning and they said that I had to go to the POE or school.

Even though one of my references is my middle school co teacher and the letter confirms the dates of employment they still require this document. I have asked her to ask the POE though I am reluctant to do so as while I finished my contract I had a lot of issues in the second half of the term (2nd year) with my co-teacher from my main school.

Though the POE were always very kind to me and the regional POE wanted to keep me on and change my school[s] im not sure what will happen. I also believe that the two coordinators at the POE have moved on as well. Thus I am not even sure who could provide this letter/certificate or if it even exists. If they say they dont have it what am I to do exactly?

Do they really require this letter or does anyone think that, once the second round of documents are in (crb check, transcripts, health check), that they might just turn a blind eye to this. Other than that, how else could I go about getting the letter?

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

Well if your Korean is awesome enough...why not just walk in and talk to the principal at the school and pick it up yourself? He could probably print something up in 5 minutes....