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SanChong
Joined: 22 Nov 2005
Posts: 335
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 Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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I respectfully disagree with Jamer. In Taiwan, many jobs are never advertised, drawing on a pool of foreign teachers already in the country. You also will always have an edge if you physically go to a school as opposed to merely sending a resume over the internet. Who would you hire? The teacher in front of you that you interviewed and saw in action, or the guy who sent you a resume and who you have never met?
In Taiwan, it is still better to pavement pound than to use the net exclusively. I'd say, use Clark's method of a combined email campaign to obtain interviews along with your own visits to schools. |
This is an ongoing discussion... but I think Taoyuan Steve's advice is a bit outdated.
Particularly this part:
| Quote: |
Who would you hire? The teacher in front of you that you interviewed and saw in action, or the guy who sent you a resume and who you have never met?
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More and more schools are planning ahead and hiring teachers months ahead of time to fill their positions. This way the school KNOWS they have a teacher rather than scrambling last second to find one. We are so used to how some schools are disorganized in Taiwan, that we don't take a step back to gain some perspective. What works best back home? Would a school back home wait until the week they needed someone to start the hiring process!? Of course not, they would ensure they have a teacher in place, even months ahead of time. If it's a good teacher and a good school, that works best for everyone. Steve's advice doesn't necessarily work as many job will already be gone once the applicant arrives.
More and more good schools in Taiwan are planning ahead. Companies like Reach To Teach place teachers in schools months before they arrive. As Jamer is stating, finding a job actually can be challenging, particularly if you want to live in Taipei.
That said, if you aren't comfortable commiting to a job before you arrive, then you shouldn't do it. That's not a good situation for anyone, either! |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:47 am Post subject: |
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I think that both TS and Sanchong are correct on this issue.
Good schools do indeed plan ahead and arrange teachers in advance, but those schools are probably in the minority. The numbers are hopefully growing, but I don�t think that it is common. One downside from the school�s point of view is that there is no guarantee that the applicant from overseas will actually show up, and this is a big plus from a schools point of view for teachers who are already in country. No guarantees there either, but at least the odds are better that the teacher won�t get cold feet and decide to stay home.
The there is the issue of what kind of school would guarantee employment to a teacher that they have never met. Or the issue of a teacher committing to a school only to get here and find that the position no longer exists, or is not what was outlined from overseas. I guess that the key here is the middle man. If both the school and the teacher trust the person in the middle then great. Generally speaking though, and assuming that it was a direct contact between school and teacher, I don�t think that planning ahead and guaranteed positions before you arrive are common place.
TS�s comments are true once you are here on the ground in Taiwan. I agree that given the choice between a local applicant and an overseas one that most schools would go for the local hire. More chance that the teacher will actually show up, a chance to meet in person, and no headaches that come with visas, accommodation, acclimatization etc. for new arrivals.
To me the best way to go is to do your research, pick some recruiters and schools that seem like good prospects and make time to meet when you arrive. Once you are on the ground then you can compare what they are offering with what you can get locally and then make an informed decision.
I am not anti-recruiter and I am aware that there are some good recruiters that can handle all of this for you if that is what you want. |
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TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:01 am Post subject: |
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| SanChong wrote: |
| Quote: |
I respectfully disagree with Jamer. In Taiwan, many jobs are never advertised, drawing on a pool of foreign teachers already in the country. You also will always have an edge if you physically go to a school as opposed to merely sending a resume over the internet. Who would you hire? The teacher in front of you that you interviewed and saw in action, or the guy who sent you a resume and who you have never met?
In Taiwan, it is still better to pavement pound than to use the net exclusively. I'd say, use Clark's method of a combined email campaign to obtain interviews along with your own visits to schools. |
This is an ongoing discussion... but I think Taoyuan Steve's advice is a bit outdated.
Particularly this part:
| Quote: |
Who would you hire? The teacher in front of you that you interviewed and saw in action, or the guy who sent you a resume and who you have never met?
|
More and more schools are planning ahead and hiring teachers months ahead of time to fill their positions. This way the school KNOWS they have a teacher rather than scrambling last second to find one. We are so used to how some schools are disorganized in Taiwan, that we don't take a step back to gain some perspective. What works best back home? Would a school back home wait until the week they needed someone to start the hiring process!? Of course not, they would ensure they have a teacher in place, even months ahead of time. If it's a good teacher and a good school, that works best for everyone. Steve's advice doesn't necessarily work as many job will already be gone once the applicant arrives.
More and more good schools in Taiwan are planning ahead. Companies like Reach To Teach place teachers in schools months before they arrive. As Jamer is stating, finding a job actually can be challenging, particularly if you want to live in Taipei.
That said, if you aren't comfortable commiting to a job before you arrive, then you shouldn't do it. That's not a good situation for anyone, either! |
Sanchong, if you want to call my advice outdated, then you need to elucidate exactly how. Quite the opposite of what you seem to be saying about schools recruiting from over seas or "planning ahead," schools are increasingly aware of the much larger pool of FTs already living here and who have experience. Given the choice, schools will hire someone already in the country as opposed to waiting for someone to arrive here. Why take the chance with someone over the internet when there's a candidate in your office? It's not about "planning ahead." It's about finding the best staff. You're more assured of that when you get to meet the person. |
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mechanized
Joined: 20 Feb 2007
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:21 am Post subject: |
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I will be job hunting out of Hong Kong, so thats why I want to know the situation for seeking employment either by foot or by the net.
I've stated that I am an ABC in another thread. Would that make a huge difference when/if i pound the pavement? I don't speak mandarin, so perhaps I can play on my westerness? |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:32 am Post subject: |
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From all the responses I've been getting it seems impossible to get a job in Taipei over the net, though other cities may be possible. But it is good I think to get your resume out there and hopefully get some interviews lined up. But thirty day tickets? Ouch!
BT |
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TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| mechanized wrote: |
I will be job hunting out of Hong Kong, so thats why I want to know the situation for seeking employment either by foot or by the net.
I've stated that I am an ABC in another thread. Would that make a huge difference when/if i pound the pavement? I don't speak mandarin, so perhaps I can play on my westerness? |
I came here originally with a foreign born Chinese partner. She was told by more than one recruiter that schools often will hire CBC/ABC teachers, but will not pay a recruiter for one.
The job market, overall, is more difficult for FBC teachers. In my partner's case, pavement pounding was her only option. |
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MomCat
Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 297
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:17 am Post subject: Re: Say it ain't so |
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| bluetortilla wrote: |
Any older people have advice? Are there alternatives to the regular schools? I certainly wouldn't mind working in the countryside but for the time being I have obligations in Taipei. Depressing.
BT |
Hi BT,
I have 20 years on you age-wise and am working. I don't live in Taipei and can't give you specific advice about what it's like there but can tell you that the factors that make me employable seem to be: a North American accent, some experience in business and the desire/ability to teach adults.
There are several schools around the Main Train Station in Taipei. That might be a good place to start looking.
Best of luck to you,
Cat |
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