Job Discussion Forums

gabbo · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 10

Hey, I have just completed my university degree (BC, Canada), and am looking to work overseas teaching English. Taiwan looks appealing because I've been told it has relatively low living expenses, but can still offer decent wages (relative to the Canadian dollar). However, it would seem there are a number of bad experiences out there, and I was just hoping to ask a few general questions from anyone with personal experience in the matter.

First off, recruiting companies. I've checked a number of the old posts and it would seem that they are simply not the way to go? I've been in contact with the AAC who seems legit but does not appear to offer the benefits/salaries that I might get otherwise. I've also been in contact with a fellow named Andrew Lin (pseudo-name?) from taiwanjobs Consulting Company, but I cannot find any detailed information on them, other than their website.

This leads me into my second, very important question. Is the current demand for native english speakers high enough in Taiwan (preferrably not in Taipei) for me to land a job relatively easily on my own (particularily granted that I do not speak any other languages, with the exception of some french)? Any advice, places to look, warnings, etc, would be very much appreciated. I have no formal experience, and no certification (other than a BA in Political Science). I am quite amical, however, and have a fair bit of experience in working with the public.

Third, it would seem wise to budget for a month or so of living expenses in advance. Is that a reasonable amount of time? Can anyone help me with estimating such a budget (giving a fair bit of room for error).

Finally, visas. I have completed my degree, but my University only processes them bi-annually, which means I will not receive that very important piece of paper until sometime in November. Now, I can attain all sorts of other documents and certificates that say I have completed my degree requirements and will graduate etc, but I am concerned this will not be good enough. Providing I get my 60 tourist visa, is there a way to extend this once I am there? Does this seriously hurt my employment possibilities? Any advice or experiences in this matter would be very helpful.

Anyways, that's about it. I realize there are quite a few, rather large questions, but if anyone can offer any help I'de really appreciate it. I should also mention that I am not going to Taiwan for the sole purpose of making money, I just want to ensure that I don't have any unrealistic assumptions, and that I am able to save a little. Thanks for your time

Cheers,
Gabriel

wombat · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 134

First off Gabriel, you seem to have done your research well thus far, and this will hold you in good stead when you do arrive. No nasty surprises!!

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

AAC is a recruiter for recruiters. IE. he doesn't set up jobs and training, etc for you that most recruiters do but rather acts as an unnecessary extra middleman supplying you to another recruiter (and of course taking his cut). If you sign a contract with him it won't be honered and rather a new contract will be issued with the other recruitment agency.

Whether or not he supplies you to a good recruiter or not I don't know. He used to supply teachers to a recruiter called Cosmos AKA taipei teaching. AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS! However I hear he now supplies teachers to a different recruiter. I don't know anything about the other one. Consulting companies are the same as recruiters.

Don't believe anthing offered on a recruiter's website or their job offer. When they tell you they are 'trustable' how can you verify this? If you cannot find any information on them then maybe they are new. New recruiters often lie about how big their opperation is and when it was founded. If they are new it could be because they are ex-teachers or something similar or possibly they had a lot of bad press in the past (probably deserved) and are trying to reinvent themselves. However none of this really matters as Wombat was spot on when s/he said you don't need to use a recruiter anyway.
Ki.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

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

gabbo · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 10

Cheers, thanks a lot for all the help. I am fairly certain I will not be using a recruiter. Me and a buddy are just thinking of landing there and doing our best to negotiate a job and some luck when we get there.

Thanks again,

Cheers,

Gabriel