Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mcloo7]

Hi, I'm practically self-employed-I help my Dad in his small business. What would be a good strategy for obtaining reference letters? It's been a few years since I've had other jobs. I did tutor for a few months about a year and a half ago, so the only thing I can think of is to ask the kids' parents for references. But I don't think it would be on official letterheads. Plus I'd have to write them myself because the parents are Chinese and are not fluent in English. I'm not really interested in tracking down bosses I've had at menial jobs from years ago, although maybe I would have to if I was absolutely stuck. And I've been out of school since '06 so I don't know if tracking down professors is a good idea either. Does anyone have any advice?

[andrewchon]

Do you know anyone of importance in the community? e.g policeman, priest, pastor of church, judge maybe, school principals, local politician etc? Get them to write you a character reference. If you don't know any, then it's about time you've made some influential friends. My father, god rest his soul, had a reference written by former PM of Australia, Goff Whitlam. Gee, that got him through many doors.

[mcloo7]

Thanks, but I probably don't have enough time to make any new influential friends before I apply. I've decided that I'm probably going to email one of my old professors though and ask him for a rec. I graduated from college in '06. Is it strange to ask a professor when you finished school so long ago or do others do it too?

[banjois]

In my experience, profs are pretty cool with writing letters well after you've graduated.

[Gorf]

Just get a friend from at home to pretend to be a colleague or something. Ask them if it's okay to have them lie and aggrandize you if someone calls you, give them any details they might need to spew out. Mostly it's B.S. and almost no one will actually check your references, they just want to make sure you're not eating silly putty in a room alone by yourself and reading the bible while slicing your fingertips and getting tattoos of Liza Minelli on your chest. Essentially, they just want someone to say you're a decent human being.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Client from your father's business would do just fine.

Also professors that knew you will provide you with a reference letter if you did well in their class of course.

[young_clinton]

From former professors, or TEFL instructors which readily give recommendations if you were halfway decent and completely professional.

[ajuma]

Do you and your dad have any regular clients who could write a letter for you? You didn't mention what kind of business it was so I'm just throwing this out there as an idea.