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MixtecaMike
Joined: 19 Nov 2003
Posts: 643
Location: Guatebad
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 Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:26 pm Post subject: Over 40? |
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Hello all
A quick question for those in the know, what are my chances of finding a decent job in Taiwan if I am over 40? I am 41, not too old looking and have a BA in Linguistics plus the CTEFLA. I have eight years experience in Latin America and am more than ready for a change of scenery.
Oh, I am an NZ born Australian citizen but I don't sound too kiwi-ish.
TIA[/i] |
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jason_seeburn
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
Posts: 399
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 1:14 am Post subject: Re: Over 40? |
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Last edited by jason_seeburn on Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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brian
Joined: 15 May 2003
Posts: 299
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| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:03 am Post subject: |
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Your age will not be an issue if you are working for a school teaching adults. In fact many would say that it is a positive. I dont know, but I would think that many adults and businesspersons would have a preference for a teacher with some life experience as opposed to a recent uni or college graduate.
Many of the kiddies schools have a preference for teachers under 35 or so, but these are generally not strict rules. I think that their main concern with age is not so much how you look but how you act. Provided that you are willing to get down to the kids level and play games etc. you shouldn't have any real problems in getting such a job. This would become obvious in a teaching demo that is a standard part of many interviews. There are plenty of schools out there, so if one knocks you back because of your age, there will be plenty of other opportunities.
In short, you should have no problems. You may meet some resistance but will no doubt get a very decent job in the end. |
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Aristotle
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1388
Location: Taiwan
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| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:48 am Post subject: |
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You would be better off going to Japan as you may be over qualified to teach in Taiwan. You won't find work as quickly as Barb and Ken backpacker but there are a lot of jobs out there available to those who are over 30. You may have to accept a lower wage.
A. |
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MixtecaMike
Joined: 19 Nov 2003
Posts: 643
Location: Guatebad
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| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies.
I take it that the best thing to do is arrive first and then look for a job? I have been reading through this forum and it seems that the places that advertise overseas are more for the "Barbie & Ken" Canadians fresh from school.
And now for a completely unrelated question, would a (very) little bit of Mandarin be any help on arrival? There are some some Chinese teachers here where I work in Mexico and I could hit them up for a bit of English/Chinese exchange, probably.
Thanks again
Mike
PS Very nice to see Brian and Jason getting along so amicably in this post LOL. |
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jason_seeburn
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
Posts: 399
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 2:33 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by jason_seeburn on Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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brian
Joined: 15 May 2003
Posts: 299
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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| jason_seeburn wrote: |
| They know of lots - watch now how many people get upset that I've recommended agents....I always use them, mostly out of laziness, just can't be bothered riding around for days on a rented scooter looking for a school, after I've just had a 14 hour airplane ride, haven't had a good sleep or a real shower, and am homesick and culture shocked. I like the red carpet treatment (good looking young Taiwanese girl picks you up at the airport, drives you to your school where a hot meal and a bed is waiting, they find you an appartment, show you the city, give you some spending money until you get paid...that is how I like to do things, but I am a spoiled person). |
I'm confused. Didn't you only arrive in Taiwan once? How is it that you find that 'you always' use recruiters? If you did only arrive once, and had a recruiter pick you up from the airport and find you a job, why is it that you were riding around for days looking for a school? I thought that this is why you used a recruiter in the first place - to avoid this.
My recommendation on recruiters wouldn't be to avoid them altogether if you think that they can help. By all means contact some before your arrival and line up a time to meet when you arrive. Dont make any commitments by allowing them to pick you up at the airport etc., and definitely don't sign anything before you arrive. Meet with them and check out what they have to offer. If any of the offers interest you, discuss the deal with the recruiter, and if you are happy with it then take it. If not, you have remained free of any obligation to them and can just walk away and find something for yourself.
One final thing. Never accept a job offer where the recruiter collects your wages and pays you. They will almost definitely be skimming off the top which will lead to all sorts of problems. Let them collect an introduction fee from the school, but once the deal is done, you deal with the school directly.
You dont need a recruiter, but feel free to use them if you want. But do so wisely! |
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jason_seeburn
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
Posts: 399
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by jason_seeburn on Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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brian
Joined: 15 May 2003
Posts: 299
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| Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 4:03 am Post subject: |
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| jason_seeburn wrote: |
| I never rode around anywhere for days except on vacation. And just because I only arrived in Taiwan once, doesn't mean I haven't taught in other asian countries. I always use recruiters, whenever I go to asia. I have never had any problems with them. |
Then why indicate that you did? To try and give your point some credibilty or something. This is the Taiwan board and you made reference to Taiwan recruiters, with an indication that you had dealt with more than one recruiter on the island. If you were making reference to recruiters in other countries then you specify this and then everyone can clearly see how irrelevant this information is. I mean, really, who cares if recruiters in Singapore or some other place are all honest. This is the Taiwan board and we are living in Taiwan.
This post very clearly shows my concern with the information that you post on this board. It is clearly based on a single experience that you had which you try to extrapolate across as being the norm. By all means let others know about your individual experiences but dont try to pad them out as being anymore than what they are. If you keep making such broad generalizations then you have to accept that others will take you to task for it. Stop getting so antsy about it! |
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Pop Fly
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
Posts: 429
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| Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 6:13 am Post subject: |
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I gotta agree with Brian on this one Jason....
I used a recruiter because I wanted the "soft" landing this afforded. I needed it for personal reasons that I need not go into. I doubt very much if the majority of teachers-to-be need such "pampering". As a result of this soft landing, I ended up working my year in a wholly unsatisfactory fashion.
My recruiter, based in Vancouver, was an honorable chap, and I'd have no qualms recommending his service with the exception that he exclusively recruits for the aforementioned school and I highly recommend staying away from them.
Don't I Brian?
20-20 hindsight being what it is, I'd do the airport bus to hostel to research jobs for 2 weeks thing now. I'd definitely use recruiters to be part of my "leads production" sourcing....but would try to cut them out of the picture as soon as possible and by any means of trickery. I have used many of them in my search for my second year position but have yet to meet one that was honest. I ended up choosing a gig that I simply liked the look of and walked in.
As for Jason's singlemindedness about avoiding Taipei, I say pppfffllllttttt!!!!
Taipei makes it much easier to get your feet grounded in this culture than it is in the sticks. The MRT alone makes Taipei the only choice I'd recommend for newbies.
I will probbaly end up heading south as I love Kenting and would like to be able to access it on my motorcycle.
I guess it depends on each individual case. Ask yourself what you want. Ask yourself how long you plan to stay here.
And don't worry about being over 40. This place will hire you. And there's a branch in K-shung.
| MixtecaMike wrote: |
| PS Very nice to see Brian and Jason getting along so amicably in this post LOL. |
Bahahahahahaha!!!!! |
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jason_seeburn
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
Posts: 399
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by jason_seeburn on Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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