Job Discussion Forums

[torentosan]

Is it advisable to come to Taiwan without first finding work? I heard that most schools there would not hire you unless they met you in person. Can anyone attest to the truthfulness of this?

[JZer]

torentosan, the reality is that even if you have a job lined up before you come you really do not have a job. If they do not like something they could dismiss you before they process your work permit. So either way you really do not have a job if you come here with one or not.

[Hightop]

I do not know how true this is but I do know you have a better chance of getting a job that you will be happy in if you can see the work place and meet your boss before you start working, as opposed to coming over blind. If you do come here without a job make sure you have some cash to tide you over until you get paid and be prepared to put in the time needed to get a nice job. Interviews, demo classes, endless e-mails and phone calls. Good luck.

[forest1979]

OP - There's plenty of threads at this site covering the issue of arriving in Taiwan with no job. In the past it has worked for many. Under present economic conditions at best it will be tough. At worst, painful. With no teaching experience, basically fruitless.

[markcmc]

If you go with enough savings to live for 3 months or so, and work hard on finding a job, then I think you will be ok. It is tougher now than it was, but there are still jobs to be found.

[aahz]

My own experience was the same. I came without a job, intending to find one, and found one within a few days (although I was a teacher so it may be different). But... I know that it is scary and uncertain being in a foreign land. So it's up to you and how confident you are in yourself. If you do come, I suggest the following to make good contacts.
- Try to contact other people here on the forums with PM's to see what they have to say. Most people are very nice, especially helpful one on one.
- Also try forumosa. Very nice people, very helpful, and although they aren't all english teachers they know a lot about it.
- Bring many copies of your resume and get a cellphone. Drop this resume off as often as possible, get your name out there.
- Somewhat embarassing, but talk to every other white person you see to see what they are doing. I met several other teachers this way and it really helped me learning about the way to get around.

[scobo]

[markcmc]

[Rooster_2006]

I agree with JZer, even if you "come with a job," you aren't actually coming with a job. They've often double-hired, or they put you on "probation," or they don't start your work visa application process until you've arrived, meaning you're not legally protected for over a month. Might as well just show up in person.

Furthermore, almost no employers hire over the Internet. Why should they? They have plenty of foreigners right here in Taiwan beating down their doors.

I hope you really love Taiwan, because as scobo, myself, and many others have mentioned, the vast majority of work is part-time, low-paid relative to the huge financial risks we're taking, extremely hassle-prone in terms of visas, taxes, and employers dicking around, and quite frankly, not worth it from an economic standpoint unless you have been here for years and built up a base of privates, part-time work, and side enterprises. In order for Taiwan to be worth it, you have to have a non-economically-motivated reason to be here.

If you want to learn Mandarin, if you're an avid surfer, if you're trying to become a specialist on cross-strait relations, or if your wife is Taiwanese, then come.

If you're just planning to come with money as the primary objective (and there's nothing wrong with that), it's going to be an absolutely MISERABLE time. It is so hard to find work with decent hours, and even if you find it, it could be gone tomorrow, and then your surplus will go to surviving while you agonize over finding your next job. I've been in Taiwan for over a year now and haven't even broken even (though it is important to point out that I have finished 21 college credits via distance learning and greatly improved my Mandarin since arriving, so the time has not been totally wasted).

[markcmc]

Rooster - I completely agree that there is no job security in the world, ANYWHERE.

But it's still possible to enjoy living in Taiwan. No need to put people off just because there's a recession and it's more difficult to find work. Your situation has improved a lot since your earlier posts on looking for work in the south.

[JZer]

[JZer]

[scobo]