Job Discussion Forums

[skunk_booty]

Can you believe I have been here since September and I still haven't got full time work?

Anybody tell me what I'm doing wrong? I read tealit.com, forumosa.com... check the newspapers all of that do the demo lessons... and nothing!!! Is it because I'm British? I'm a 6ft 5in male?

I'm in no way an idiot and I really want to teach..but I'm starting to get disheartened.

anything constructive please!!

Thanks as always

[kait]

You don't tell them your name is Skunk-booty, do you?

Seriously though, I know of another couple who have had a great deal of trouble finding full time work. Schools kept telling them they had already hired for the semester. I don't know what to tell you. Good luck!

[skunk_booty]

Just to clarify... my name comes from a rare 7in funk record from the early 1970's.. back in the old country I am something of a collector.

Anyway....

I really can't work out what I'm doing wrong... I have experience. an MA... passion... I don't dress like I've just come from the beach.. its just so annoying.

[Wonder]

You might want to start looking outside Taipei, such as Taichung, Tainan or even Tauyan, which is not far from Taipei.

Perhaps you should post an explanation of the schools and your approach. Do you appear clean and shaven? Are you dressed well?

Also, as a last resort, contact a recruiter and have them shop you around. You might not get the job you want but then again, it's something.

Good luck!

[skunk_booty]

With regards to my appearance:

I always come cleanly shaved, in a shirt, shoes.. i.e standard procedure for going to an interview.

Always ask the right questions.. i.e class sizes, materials etc, always respectful to my interviewer.

Then in the demonstration lesson.. try to include every kid in the class with whatever the subject is I am demonstrating.. Always smiling... the list goes on....

I also tried a recruiter here for a while but got burned.. they wanted 20% of first pay, on wages on less than 55,000

Any thoughts???

[Ki]

Not that I would ever recommend deceit but as an option, go with the recruiter, let them find you a school then contact the school independently telling them you would love to work for them directly without the recruiter. Make sure you don't give the recruiter any documents like your passport or degree.

Did the recruiter you go with only want 20% of your first pay? So that the 2nd, 3rd, etc you would keep the lot? That is good. Usually they want 20% from every month, plus the $30,000 they get off the school for finding them a teacher.

If you are only looking at earning $55,000 you may as well go with a chain school like Kid Castle or HESS. Note: I do not know anything about these chains and neither recommend them nor recommend avoiding them. Others seem to recommend avoiding them though.

So, if you are going to interviews and demos then they do want a teacher, just not you. I know that credentials don't count for much in Taiwan but I thought the MA would help open those doors. Being male may count for or against you, depending what the school wants.

Now the real questions:
Are you white?
Are you attractive (enough)?
Are you young (under 35)?

Please answer these honestly because chances are that is where your problem lies. Your height may also be a deterrent. Maybe also your weight if you are a little bigger. Let us know how you go.
Ki.

[skunk_booty]

Ok.. to answer your questions..

I'm white, 25 years old and I'm attractive (enough).
I am quite thin but not scary to look at thin (if you get me).

well, we always want more money..but 55,000 seems to be the minimum people are prepared to work for here so thats the threshold I work from.

The recruiter in question was offering teaching jobs in hard to reach places too...

Anyway... thanks for any responses

[TaoyuanSteve]

Definitely consider looking outside of Taipei. Somewhere like Taoyuan is close enough that you can go to Taipei on the weekends anyway. Schools are usually always looking and rents here are cheap to say the least. Did you post an ad at Tealit.com? I was thinking of relocating a while ago and placed an ad there with my cell number. The calls were almost constant.
The only possible reason for lack of activity right now is we're reaching the end of the semester. It's November already and schools will be starting to think about delaying new hires until after Chinese New year.

[wombat]

You could PM me your resume if you like. I might be able to point you in the direction of some work with kids. And don't worry, there is no recruiter involved, you will be dealing directly with the school that has English speaking staff.

[skunk_booty]

Thanks for all your advice...
It seems I now have 3 interviews tomorrow.... so fingers crossed!!

[Ki]

And............?

[skunk_booty]

Well they seemed to go well... I'm supposed to hear back by monday at the latest... I'll tell you as and when...

Cheers

[comenius]

Good luck!

[Aristotle]

[00Scott]

This is exactly right. You are having difficulty finding a job because you are (I presume) presenting yourself as someone who will be difficult to work with -- someone who may have complication-making ideas about teaching and professional standards.

This sounds odd but it's the way of things. Children's language schools don't want someone who is educated enough -- or been around long enough -- to make too many demands. You will have much better luck if you present yourself as a naive, uncomplicated, big-hearted, and inexperienced recent graduate.

Everyone wants to get by with the least hassle. Your employer, the kids (many of whom spend most of their waking hours in one sort of school or other), and -- if you are to get on in Taiwan -- eventually even yourself.