Job Discussion Forums

00Scott · Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Posts: 14 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Some more advice.

(1) If you're not already, pound the pavement. The jobs advertised in the English-language dailies and online are a small sampling of what's out there. Pick a neighbourhood that you would like to live in, walk about, and stop in at the language schools you stumble upon. Don't worry about a resume: the impression you make on whomever you talk is all the resume you'll need. At most you'll be asked to fill out a form.

Unless the market has become much more saturated in the last year, you should be able to find a job within a few days using this method.

(2) If you're living in a hostel, move out. Pick an area you'd like to work and live in and rent a decent apartment. It'll do wonders for your mental health and provide a focus for your job search.

(3) Once you're settled a bit you might start collecting private students to supplement your income. Be gregarious and let people know that you're an English teacher and taking on private students. Most people like to help one another: make it easier for others to help you by asking.

(4) Make some friends outside of the hostels or your roomates if you've not already. Someone always knows someone who is leaving. When chatting with fellow teachers in the pub ask for help with your job search. ESL teachers are not generally charming but we are vain: chances are someone will be pleased to prove himself an old hand by giving you the low down.

(5) Don't let anyone get you down with comments about 55k being a low wage. This is quite average for your first Taiwan ESL job. (In fact, it's pretty average altogether, and on par if not in excess of what foreign engineers and editors are making. Most of the teachers I spent time with were earning around this. Many had tried making more and found they preferred the time off -- to drink, pursue artistic or academic interests, or whatever -- and an uncomplicated job.) You certainly can make more -- sometimes by bumping up the hourly wage, more usually by taking more hours -- but it's not a mistake, for your first time out, to take a 55k/month job if the hours are reasonable.

(6) If you need a job and are close to having to bail out, take one from an agent. It's a raw deal but it's a deal. This may be what you have to do to get settled in Taiwan. Later on, you'll find something more suitable.

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Whatever you choose to do, it'll be better than the nonsense Aristotle advised. Talk about a jaded point of view...

skunk_booty · Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Taipei

Just to update: 2 of the 3 interviews I went to on Thursday never got back to me. The other one filled the position today.

Luckily I had an interview today and they have decided to hire me.. so I'm very pleased!!

Thanks to all for your advice.. it helped me so much!!

Fortigurn · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 390

Well done mate. Laughing

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

wombat · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 134

skunk_booty · Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Taipei

seeing as though the link doesn't actually work.. makes it even better

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

Aristotle wrote:

Quote:

I really can't work out what I'm doing wrong... I have experience. an MA... passion... I don't dress like I've just come from the beach.. its just so annoying.

You are not the first to have this problem.
My recommendations:
1. Dress down, try shorts and a T-shirt. Bring a back pack with you to the interview.
2. Don't tell them you have an MA or experience. Dig out one of your old BA degrees.
3. Be less professional, give out an old copy of your resume that has not been updated in a few years.
4. Go out and get good and drunk the night before your interview.
This is Taiwan. The problem with many of the local employers is not that they can't be more professional, they just don't want to be more professional. It raises the bar to a level they may not be able to maintain.
When in Rome....
If you have a moral problem with taking the above mentioned course of action apply to local colleges and Uni's outside of Taipei.
Good luck,
A.

This is the best advice I have ever gotten! I just got hired to teach at a university in Taipei. I did everything above except I went to the interview barefooted! When the interviewer put his hand out to shake I gave him five! And I ate a lot of beans so I had gas in the worst way. Each time I blew wind I made a joke like, "Someone must of sat on a duck!" and "Do you want to smell something good? Smell this!"
Thanks Aristotle!

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

wombat · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 134

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

This forum will delete entire posts by decent people seeking payment from dishonest recruiters. But, then again, Jason_Seeburn is always welcome to post his insults and nonsense here. When is AKATDN coming back? Question

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

skunk_booty · Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Taipei

To answer your question Aristotle.. I didn't do much different. I dressed down..but thats about it.

Thanks to all again..

Oh, I guess Seeburn has graced these pages before... from some of his comments on the other thread about coming to Taiwan I wonder if he is old enough to work here.

Don't start......