Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jshuah72]

I work in a public school now, but am looking to switch to something else next year. I see many univeristy adds require letters of reference. Talking to people, I hear that employers often refuse to give them. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks...

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Get some of the teachers who like you to write you reference letters in Hanguel. I departed my last job on terrible terms with the boss but still got a great letter from the best Korean teacher. It really impressed a few prospective employers, and also gave my school some indication of my teaching style (and I know that unlike my contract, the VP and head of English actually read it).

[poet13]

Most people I have asked for references from have asked me to write a letter that they sign. Seems to kind of defeat the purpose...

[JZer]

Even better is the insistence of references from Korean universities but they never contact them. I asked my boss if anyone contacted him and only one school bothered to see if I was alright. I could be beating the students for all they know!!!

[ChopChaeJoe]

[Homer]

At the university I work for we ask for reference letters or a reference contact person for all listed work experience in Korea....

As for letters, your employer can write you one in Korean....just read it with a Korean friend to make sure what it says.

Letters from "fellow teachers" have very little weight...they are as credible as "my mother thinks I am a great person" statements....

[JZer]

[Homer]

Ah the difference is huge Jzer.

A fellow teacher does not supervise or evaluate your work. He or she is a colleague. That is what you call a second tier reference. Something to verify character for example.

An employer hired the teacher, was able (in theory) to supervise and evaluation the teachers' performance, work ethic and other such things from a detached perspective.

In my hiring experience here and back home, references always have to be people you worked for not people you worked with. People you worked with or friends are references used to round out the profile of an applicant.

If the is written by the teacher, we usually find out when we contact the employer (in the case of our hiring committee anyway). Such a letter has little weight. We found out about 5 such applicants last time we hired. Between such a letter and just giving contact information for a former employer, the university I work for prefers the latter.

Also, the university I work for is very careful when considering experience and they do not hesitate to dismiss experience if it is not properly referenced and does not check out.

Another University I know of in Busan considers all Hakwon experience has half experience, meaning a teacher with 4 years of hakwon work will be considered to have 2 years of experience and this still needs to be verified.

This is just my experience, other universities are not as strict but also do not offer similar advantages and opportunities.

[JZer]

[Homer]

Well...an employer is far better than a colleague when it comes to a work reference.

Perhaps a co-teacher would be in a better position than a colleague

[lover.asian]

[Jshuah72]

I realize I am getting started a bit early, as my contract is not up until August and I have no way of getting out of it before then (that is another topic). As a public school employee my direct supervisor is my co-teacher who actually does evaluate me. Although talking to other teachers, sometimes it is hard to get a letter from them as many jobs do not want people to leave their school (as happened to another teacher I know).

I also have letters of reference from 5 years of teaching public/private schools in the States with some ESL students for 3 years, 1 year of teaching GED adult courses (with at least half the students ESL) in the States, and 2 letters from my professors in my TESOL program I completed in January at graduate school. Will that be enough? or as I have heard, is it pretty important to have a letter/ reference from a Korean employer? And if so, when/what/how would be the best way to go about getting that with causing as least stress or friction as possible?

[Homer]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[spliff]