Job Discussion Forums

JJ1137 · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Thailand

I am traveling with three of my friends and we are currently in Thailand teaching. We want to go to Taiwan and have been talking to people from there. We have heard some mixed reviews about the job market over there. Please tell us what you know about getting a job in Taiwan currently? We are American and we all have experience, degrees and some have TEFL training. Can you please help us? Any information is appreciated.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

jessankney · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 5

I too am struggling to find a position. My husband and I are Americans with TESOL certification. We've been in touch with Reach-to-Teach, but aren't having any luck with openings. Good luck to you both, and update as you find out more. Thanks

jessankney · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 5

I too am struggling to find a position. My husband and I are Americans with TESOL certification. We've been in touch with Reach-to-Teach, but aren't having any luck with openings. Good luck to you both, and update as you find out more. Thanks

Old Surrender · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:22 am Post subject:

My wife and I are hoping the economy will pick up after she graduates in December. We want to land gigs in January. Let's pray that a lot of Christmas gifts will bear the words "Made in Taiwan." Wink

Is there a mid-year semester change in Taiwan like in the U.S. that will lead to some people switching jobs?

Modest Mouse · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 28 Location: Taiwan

The job market in Taiwan is very bad now. A lot of teachers are resigning their yearly contracts (even if it's not the greatest job) because there aren't many jobs to be found.

I'm an American with a BA, TESOL (from a well-known Univ.) and a year of experience in Taipei and I am severely regretting not resigning my contract like my friends did because now I can't find a job.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

I had an interview with Hess the day before yesterday. It seemed like a good interview and the interviewer said "I'm going to check to see if they can get an answer to you as soon as possible because we have training starting on Monday and maybe we can get you in," but haven't heard anything back yet and it's Thursday afternoon now. Although that particular line that he trotted out sounded promising, I doubt I got the job because they'd probably be notifying me by now if they expected me to do Monday training.

The job situation here sucks. Degree and a pulse? My ass. I have CELTA and 1.5 years of experience, but haven't found anything yet beyond a crappy part-time gig on the weekends for a rate so low, I'm ashamed to quote it. And nobody who's going to sponsor an ARC.

I really hope I can work for Hess. However, I would not recommend that anyone come over here right now. The country itself seems promising and much more foreigner-friendly than Korea, but with a flood of thousands of college graduates from English-speaking countries, it's definitely saturated.

Just out of curiosity, is the situation in Japan better or worse than Taiwan? Not that I can go to Japan right now, but I'm just curious which one is harder.

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

Schools generally only care about in-Taiwan teaching experience. Any experience from other countries tends to be disregarded. It might help you get through your training period faster, but it won't get you any more money. The same goes with a CELTA.

There is also a definite bias against hiring teachers who have previous experience from Japan / Korea, as those teachers are often seen as high-maintenance, expecting to be taken care of (airfare reimbursement, housing subsidies, etc) at a level that most schools here don't feel comfortable providing.

Sorry if this sounds offensive, but that's how it is here.

gemcxx · Joined: 25 Jul 2009 Posts: 2

Hi all,

I have been researching teaching in Taiwan and reading blogs, lurking here reading threads. So far this thread has presented the most dire situation for the teaching market. I just read a thread on formusa and several posters in the last 3 days suggested an american would still easily find a job. I have a few questions about your comments.

I appreciate your honesty in this thread, but is the job market really that terrible or do you just not have the highest qualifications... who is getting hired?

Rooster_2006, Modest Mouse, jessankney.... Do you have 4 year undergrad degrees? Are you under 30 years of age and caucasion?

I am thinking about coming over... I am 27yo canadian, caucasion, 4 year business degree, 4 years working experience including bay street and wall street experience.

Thanks so much!

BigWally · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:18 am Post subject:

All your job experience doesn't mean squat to be quite honest. The only things they are going to look at is your skin colour and your degree. Then they'll take a listen to your accent, if its North American (preferrably Canadian) and if they like it you should be able to find work.

Solar Strength · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 557 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

The job market for English teachers is horrible at the moment in Japan and Taiwan.

Lots of teachers can't find decent work.

Your looks are important.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

YES!!! YES!!! YESSS!!!

I GOT A JOB WITH HESS!

Now I can say, smugly and arrogantly, "I found a job, so I don't understand why other people are having such problems."

After years of working under the table in Korea for peanuts, I can finally make 560 NTD an hour right out in the open with a visa and everything!

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

CastleBrav0 · Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 6

steve_c · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject: