Job Discussion Forums

[drewteacher]

I'm planning to arrive in Taipei next week. I just read some posts that being under 30 is best. I'm 48, have 7 years experience, am an award winning writer, business background, BS Degree, CELTA. Will I have a problem? Thanks.

[Pop Fly]

[Dr_Zoidberg]

drew, I'm 44. I've been in Taiwan two years, and yes, age discrimination (along with other forms of discrimination) is not only common, but practiced openly.

Having said that, it is not impossible for you to find work. You will, in my experience, not have as varied a choice with regards to where you would like to teach.

Last year, for example, I was run out of Chiayi by an influx of fresh-faced university graduates. Their very presence made employment impossible for me. This is how it works: You find a job, the employer is happy enough with you, and you're hired. But when somebody younger, slimmer, blonder, or more female (if you're a guy) comes looking for work, your job suddenly becomes their job. And the chances of that happening increase exponentially when there are more 23 year-olds looking for work than there are positions.

To avoid such an occurrence, you will have to go where the under 30 crowd won't. I have found stable employment in a small town about 45 minutes from Taichung City by scooter. It's an ideal position for me because it's very close to Taichung and all the big city has to offer, while being small enough and isolated enough that nobody comes here looking for work. The schools, and by extension the parents, have to take what they can get.

It may sound like a shitty thing, but one can find ways to use it to one's advantage.

[DirtGuy]

drewteacher:

I am 49 and have found short-term work in Taipei during the winter. Keep in mind Chinese pretty much have no clue as to your age just from looking at you. They will come right out and ask your age even though they could easily figure it out from your resume.

So what to do? It helps if you are in good shape and not fat. This makes you look younger to them. Dying your hair worked wonders for me. Be aware of what young people are listening to in the way of music. Know some current slang. Learn some line dances and teach them to your students. The biggest thing is to have lots and lots of energy and a positive attitude. This will allow you to keep up with the younger crowd. You may go back home at night and die but no-one has to know it.

Good luck and don't stress on it too much. There is work out there.

DirtGuy

[Serious_Fun]

[DirtGuy]

WHOOPS! Really don't know how that happened but you are absolutely correct Serious_Fun. It was MY hair I had dyed and, like the commercials say, "blondes have more fun." So I became a blonde which was my actual hair color oh so many years ago. This year I plan to have my hair streaked or highlighted in some way. That should really cause untold amounts of confusion when they look at me:-)

DirtGuy

[kuberkat]

ROTFL! Thanks, Serious. You just woke up my neighbours with my involuntarily yelping with glee. Those colours could strip away years.

I know many older foreigners who have worked in Taiwan successfully. Those who did a good job became indispensible- older people are considered a bit more rock solid than us flaky young sprites. (Except of course for a certain breed which would be unemployable anywhere, available in all ages.) The downside is that you may not get paid much more than your average flaky young sprite, so do consider putting your talents to use with some freelance writing, training, etc.

What puzzles me is why an award-winning author would want to teach in Taiwan? Word to the wise. I am an award-winning author myself, though I haven't actually yet received any awards nor written anything of note. Why? In Taiwan my muse went AWOL. (Which is one reason why I left.) Keep yours on a short leash.