Job Discussion Forums

[freebeacher]

Does anyone have thoughts about using an agent to obtain a job? I read in Transitions Abroad that a North American girl used one and she was quite pleased. The fee was 20% of her first months pay. Wouldn't that be a small price to pay to arrive all set up and no hassle of looking for work on on your own?Do they also handle gettting your work permit? Thanks.

[brian]

I suspect that you won't get many positive replies to your post - and this is probably justified. Agents as a whole have a very bad name here in Taiwan.

You don't need an agent. You can find work quite easily by yourself just by walking around for a day or two. Licenced schools will help you with all the paperwork that you need for legal work here.

If you do prefer to use an agent then it is best not to use one that collects your wages on your behalf. They more than likely skim off the top, and you should be getting the money that you earn, not the agent. There are plenty of agents out there that get paid by the school, and are FREE to teachers. More than likely the agent you are looking at dealing with gets this money from the school and wants your money on top of this.

Bear in mind also that in a legal job, 20% tax will be deducted from your wages for the first six months. This will mean that with the agent you are looking at working through, you will be getting less than 60% of what you earn the first month - and the first few months you will really need the money to get set up.

[Aristotle]

Please read this,
http://www.geocities.com/taiwanteacher2002/Success.html
Good luck
A.

[matchstick_man]

Personally I say use an agent but don't use it as your only option. However if you come over here knowing nobody and have no foreknowledge of what you are getting yourself into an agent may well be the way to go. I got my first two jobs through an agent. The first one was low paying and I could have done far better however I was happy with the deal I got and that counts far more in my opinion.

[freebeacher]

OK, mixed opinion. Well, that's OK. I will spend some time thinking about both options, thanks. You see, YEARS ago I taught in Taipei and Tainan and am thinking of going back. I didn't have my B.A. then but I do now,so I can be legal. Back then I had to take jobs teaching kids,which personally wasn't for me. Then one school got me a bank vice president and a lawyer as privates, and I really liked that. I made good cash and they were nice guys to speak with. But, of course, I had a visitor visa and after 6 months had to leave, and to leave had to file a return and get the tax clearance paper,etc, etc. you've heard it all before. I just thought it would be nice and stress-free the way the girl in Transitions Abroad did it, but you guys are right to point out it's not just 20%, it's 40% legal! If i go back again ideally I only want to teach privates Business English. I worked for an investment firm for a few years. Is that a reasonable and realistic goal?

[EOD]

Teaching business classes is the second most lucrative position for English teachers. Things have changed a little. You are no longer required to get permission to leave Taiwan but taxes are still a major hassle.

[brian]

Seems like a school like Williams Business English or maybe Wall Street might be worth considering. Both have websites and you can apply directly. Davids English is another adults only place, but I am not sure if they offer privates or not.

[freebeacher]

Thanks, you are all most helpful! Keep the ideas coming. I appreciate your help.

[Wonder]

Hey Aristotle, I read your link and No.6 is confusing. Is there any other way to get an ARC other than having an employer sponsor you?

And when is ANYBODY 100 per cent sure about anything? Sorry if I have misinterpreted this. No flame intended. Perhaps you could clear it up?

[Taylor]

Dear Wonder,

It seems that Aristotle's point is that if you TRUST the organization based on how they have treated friends/acquaintances of yours, then you can feel virtually 100% sure they won't deport you.

Good question, though.

Taylor

[brian]

I have questioned Aristotle�s ten commandments a number of times. I think that everyone would conceed that his heart is in the right place, but he peppers his information with so many superfluous comments about corruption and the like, that this detracts from his overall message.

From recollection he suggests that you avoid any school that has had a complaint made about it, and avoid all chain schools. Considering that a lot of �complaints� are made out of spite and others offer a very biased and distorted view of events, I don�t see that schools should be avoided just because an individual has raised concerns about them. Research the school as much as you can online. Consider the information that you have at hand and make an informed decision. As far as the �don�t work for a chain school�, well who the hell else are you going to work for. I have never received a reply from anyone who suggests this, as to which non-chain schools are worth working for. Surely, those suggesting that newbies not do one thing, should offer an alternative.

One more thing while we are on the subject. Aristotle always touts that he has a wealth of information on schools and teaching in Taiwan, but that this must be maintained under a cloak of secrecy as his organization is illegal here in Taiwan. It�s all about anonymity, and remaining under the table, and as such there is no identifying information on his site as to who he is, or where he is located. Yet, in order to get any �valuable� information from Aristotles secret society one must �apply� and �be approved�. In order to apply, applicants need to identify themselves. My question is this � why should members be required to identify themselves when the organization doesn�t? Following on from the conspiracy theories that Aristotle himself touts so much, shouldn�t applicants be concerned that he isn�t really who he says he is. Isn�t it possible that it is all a trap and that any who choose to join an illegal secret society such as this, are in fact giving their identifying information to the authorities in Taiwan and shall await deportation? I don�t think so, but I think that it is pretty clear how ridiculous the whole idea is. If Aristotle really wants to help why not just make any info that he has available to all of us?

[Aristotle]