Job Discussion Forums

Sherp · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 2

Hi there,

I've been scanning these forums for some time, though this is my first post on Dave's ESL Cafe. I have tried searching for similar topics but have come up short - if I am missing something, could you please re-direct me?

I will be leaving for Taiwan in early July and am hoping that you can provide me with some input on how long I might expect to wait before landing a job. I intend on first traveling throughout the island for a couple weeks to get an idea of where I would most enjoy living. Ideally though, I would like to be on/near the east coast, as I have heard that the air pollution is somewhat less severe there (which is an important factor for me, as I have asthma) and access to good surfing is also readily available. I am not ruling out Taipei or Taichung (or any other location, for that matter) until I see them. Although job availability may differ greatly from area to area, in general, how long should it take me to secure a teaching job if I am very proactive in my search?

I hope you can lend me some advice!

Thanks

surrealia · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 241 Location: Taiwan

I think if you move to Taipei or Kaohsiung you could find work within a few days. The east coast may take a bit longer. (When I was in Hualien a few years ago, I heard that they were too many teachers there and not enough jobs).

This page has some good advice on finding work:

http://www.geocities.com/allhou/teachtai.htm

Jamer · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 39

Took me a month to find work in Taipei....If you can i'd highly advise getting a job before coming here.

BigWally · Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 3:42 am Post subject:

it'll be very tough for you with only a 60 day visitor visa to "travel throughout the island for a few weeks before settling down"...the job hunt can be tough, and you dont always want to take the first job that comes your way....the last thing you want to do is make a visa run to Hong Kong when you dont have to...I would suggest getting here and finding a job right away....there will be plenty of time to travel the island once you have employment secured....

Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan & Kaohsiung on the west coast are the best options.

Hualien and Taidung are the only real options on the east coast.

Those are the biggest cities and therefore offer the most options. I've heard there are only like 10 ESL teachers in Taidung....lol...

Sherp · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 2

Hi again,

Thanks for the input thus far. I'm a bit confused though, because of the conflicting advice. I keep hearing (throughout the forums) that it is best to go to Taiwan without a job... however here I am getting the impression that it is best to secure a job in advance. Is it the case that you're most likely to quickly find employment if arrangements are made in advance (ie. online/recruiters) but more likely to find a good job if the search is done once having arrived? It would be a problem if I don't have a job by day 60...

Ideally I will have employment secured by (at the latest) the end of August. I want to leave the doors open for the possibility of returning to graduate studies during the following year. So really, this means that I need to find a job within the 60-day visa window. Any advice?

I should also add: I am not overly concerned with making tons of money. Rather, I would ideally like to get a job that allows enough time to do some traveling (around the island as well as off) while living comfortably, or like a local. In other words, I won't be dropping $100 at the bar every weekend...

Thank again

BigWally · Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject:

Nadrazi · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 4

BigWally · Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 2:22 am Post subject:

what i was referring to was the recruiters who charge you for their services....often times they will have a quota to fill, and will fill your head with empty promises just to get you here, and then when you're here nothing comes true....

the recruiters who work for a specific school, thats a different story, they are usually more reliable, but as you noted, they usually work for larger chain schools...

either way, DON'T sign a contract with a recruiter, ONLY sign a contract that is with a school, people have been screwed over before signing with recruiters where the recruiter can garnish some of their wages for finding them a job....its easy enough to find work, so don't sweat it....

pinkflyd7 · Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 4:13 am Post subject:

I came to Taiwan in 2004 with no job, and lived in a hostel in Taipei for a month before I found a job. In Taipei, I was only offered part time jobs that were maybe 4 hours a week, so I ended up accepting a full time job in Hsinchu. So if you're willing to get out of Taipei, it's not too hard to find a job. Many of the small towns will bend over backwards to get a teacher because most teachers won't go there. A friend of mine worked in a town called Lumbei, and he was the only foreigner there. They offered him free housing, free meals, and a free scooter. In about two years, the guy saved a small fortune.