Job Discussion Forums

[Ki]

Are you trying to secure all of this from overseas? Firstly make sure it is with an actual school and not a recruiter. I guess that you are trying to secure this with a chain school then. I guess that they would be more strict in ensuring that you don't work for a competing school. If this is the case then I would suggest to not tell anyone at all from this school. Not that you are even looking for extra work elsewhere. Especially if you were wanting to secure the work from overseas first.

[JZer]

What? I am not securing work from overseas. I am just trying to see how I should approach my prospective employer. I have already been to Taiwan and am planning to arrive March 1. I have a friend there so I am going to look around and find a job. Of course if my two month visa starts to get close to running out then I will have to hurry it up.

[Ki]

Okay, my mistake. Some schools might be okay with you also working elsewhere. I wouldn't bring up the issue unless it becomes an issue though.

[JZer]

Ok. Thanks for the advice. If you don't mind me asking, do you work for more than one school?

[clark.w.griswald]

I think that Ki is on the mark. I agree that you shouldn't tell the school anything they need not know. While western companies may appreciate your upfront honesty in your plans, it might not be the right card to play when applying for a job.

The only reason that I would raise the issue prior to signing the contract would be if there was a stipulation in the contract preventing this outside work, and if the hours were unlikely to be enough to make it worthwhile. Basically, if the circumstances that you face prior to siging the contract would make it not worthwhile to actually sign it, then you really need to negotiate upfront. If the issue has not been prohibited in the contract then don't bring it up.

Personally I believe that your first responsibility will be to your first school and that you would need to work any additional hours outside of that school within the schedule that the first school gives you.

[Ki]

My last school stated that I wasn't allowed to pursue outside work in my lunch break but everything else was fair game. That said, the 34 hours a week working, not necessarily teaching though, there were more than enough and I found that an extra 3 or 4 hours a week only burnt me out.

I actually don't have a contract at my current school, apart from the government one. But they are fine with me having outside work anyway. I think that more schools are willing these days but it really depends on the school.

[JZer]

Thanks for the help. Do you think that it is realisitc to earn $2,500 U.S. a month with a savings of $1,500. I am willing to work a few extra hours in order to earn $2,500. I think that the standard job usually offers around 60,000 NT = $1,800. So I would have to earn about another $200 a week. That would be about another 8-10 hours a week.

[ramakentesh]

Well there are plenty of things that I would suggest that you might need to consider before thinking that you are going to make a huge amount of money in Taiwan.
If your looking at Taipei by example - your average studio isnt going to be less than $10K for anything livable. (unless your prepared to deal with having no furniture, rat-sized cockroaches, etc).
You need to consider whether it is going to easy for you to walk into a job that provides you with the hours that would support that kind of saving. A lot of the work in Taipei is for small blocks of part-time hours - 8-12 hours - not enough for your saving or for a legal ARC - and usually in quite diverse areas of Taipei.
Ive met a lot of people in my short time in Taipei who have got desperate and taken a bunch of part time work - 8 hours in Muzha one day, 4 hours in another area another day and then more hours in another far away area of Taipei - these people are either being given illegal ARCs or doing visa runs (the later being more common).
If you take a full-time position be aware that 25 teaching hours per week may actually translate to 40 hours a week - 15 extra planning or 'office hours' meaning that your getting a lot less per hour.
Or if you find a part-time position with hourly rates, you may find that they expect large amounts of unpaid 'planning times' and 'meeting times'.
You need to consider whether the school will pay for your ARC - which my school quoted me $4500NT out of my pocket which may put an early deant in your savings.
And I wouldnt automatically expect the chain schools to give you their guaranteed 30 hours a week at the one location - you might be spending half a day out in Hsindian before having to MRT it to Muzha for the rest of the day's hours (Ive heard of this from a number of chain schoolers).
If you choose the country there is more chance of saving money - but the inherant problems there are lack of transport (no beautiful MRT), and if you speak mandarin - some areas dont so much. I guess the country is going to be less westernised - I wouldnt expect any english out in more remote places where generally the better-paid psoitions pop up from.
Generally most people ive spoken to did prefer the country though - so maybe thats a better option - providing you can get a scooter to get around maybe??
I dont want to brow-beat you or anything - im just telling it like it is. Its great to come over here and work - but I think most people would probably be able to save similar money at home.

[ramakentesh]

I have no idea why the word cocroach was bleeped....

[JZer]

Ok, thanks for the heads up but i don't think I need 10K for an apartment as long as I am willing to share an apartment with someone. Maybe I am wrong, that is just what I have seen online. Well if I don't save as much as I want I will move on. I am not going to Tawain to get rich, I just would rather be working in Taiwan they staying home in the U.S.

[Ki]

As long as you are willing to share you should be able to find a fairly decent place for $6-7,000. I pay $4,500. Can anyone top that in Taipei?

Also look at your expenses. A relatively modest social life, ie alcohol, can really put a dent in your savings.

[ramakentesh]

All the best then

[logician]