Job Discussion Forums

TWG · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 39

Hey, all.

A few years ago I spent a short while in Taiwan looking for work in EFL. But at the time I needed a higher pay scale than what was being offered so I took a more lucrative position in Japan. That was then and today I only need to go to Asia because I like living there. And while I was only in Taiwan for a short time, I did enjoy it immensely so I'd like to give a few years there a shot.

However, I don't know any of the warning signs of a lousy job there. In Korea, I know all the warning signs of a bad hagwon just by looking at the offers. In Japan I know all the warning signs of a bad eikaiwa just by looking at the offers.

Are the warning signs much the same in Taiwan, or are there other pitfalls the FotBs need to know about?

Thanks.

Ferfichkin · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 140

I'm not sure I could tell just from reading an ad. What kinds of warning signs are common in job offers from Korea and Japan? In my experience most of the ads on sites like Tealit are pretty similar and fairly generic.

I remember when I was looking for a part-time job in 2008 I spoke to a few school owners on the phone who just seemed....odd somehow. I got a weird vibe from them. Well, after talking to a couple of people like that I got an offer from someone who seemed nice and straightforward, and I took it. I stayed there for two years. Great job. Worked out really well.

The point I'm try to make is that online, the ads themselves looked almost identical.

I'm not sure if that helps, but that's been my experience.

TWG · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 39

Ferfichkin · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 140

How can you tell though, right? Maybe they are fairly close to the city or maybe it's like you're suggesting and they're actually far off; maybe the staff are satisfied or maybe the school's just saying that. Who knows? Like I said before, in my experience it's tough to tell what a school's like just from the content of their ad.

I think I would agree with you though that in many cases there is a slight tendency to exaggerate some points of the job. However, without talking to them or meeting them in person it's difficult to tell which jobs and which points.

TWG · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 39

Ferfichkin · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 140

I think you might find it hard to find work if you are outside Taiwan. It's certainly possible, but it seems to be less common than it used to be.

TWG · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 39

Thanks. I kind of figured. Won't hurt to try.

Ferfichkin · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 140

For sure, and it won't cost you any money. Good luck!