Job Discussion Forums

[rain406]

Hi,

So, I have a job lined up in Taipei, with the salary around $32,000 TWD. Housing will be provided, but I think I'll have to cook my own meals. How expensive is life in Taipei? Does that salary sound decent for part time work, with housing provided?

-Is it easy to visit Mainland China? How much does it cost? Are there different ways to get there?

[Ki]

Define part time. How many hours a week? Most EFL teachers in Taiwan consider about 25 hours to be full time. Yet this would be called part time back 'home'. A workload of 25 (teaching) hours a week should earn you about 55,000 MINIMUM. But try to get a per hour wage if you can. IE at least 550 an hour MINIMUM.

Are you sure the job is with a school, or a recruiter? Be careful as some recruiters may tell you that they are a school when really they just collect a monthly commission from your paycheck. Make sure you only ever sign a contract with a school.

When housing is provided by schools it is usually substandard. I'm sure there must be exceptions though. It also puts you at an awkward position as the school will have a key to your abode. Still, it is a 5,000 expense you won't have to pay.

The easiest point to get to China is via Hong Kong as there are no direct flights.

[Northwood]

[markholmes]

A cursory glance at your email makes me think this offer is awful, but that may not be true, depending on the hours and conditions.

Having an apartment attached to the job is generally not a good idea. If you lose your job you also lose your home. Hardly ideal.

More details please.

[rain406]

The job is through a very trusted connection, so at least I know I'll be treated well there, and they won't swindle me.

-It's a very solid job in Taipei, I won't have to worry about losing it
-The workload should be around 25 hours
-I'll be teaching a dozen students per class, either elementary, junior high, or adults
-No curriculum (but default curriculum normally sucks anyways... I can find good stuff in the states though)
-Housing is pratically right next to my work
-Housing is a very good, solid setup
-I doubt there will be any kind of housing deposit, and my room should be well furnished
-Only around $32,000 NTD though, so around $1000 US.
-This job will be my only source of revenue (though I will have savings, but that's exactly that-savings.)
-I'd like to tutor, if that'd be a possibility.

How does that sound now?
I just hope I won't be struggling to make ends meet, especially since I'll have loan repayments to send back home.

[markholmes]

If you mean 25 teaching hours a week then the wage sucks big time. Your free accomodation does not come close to making up the short fall in wages. And do you really want to live right next to work?

Most jobs pay around NT$50,000 to 60,000 for a 25 hour week and then you get to live where ever you want.

You need to do some more research before signing anything.

[Ki]

This doesn't sound like a good connection who got you this job. Sounds more like a recruiter, or a 'consultant'. This is possibly the worst job offer I have heard here. Perhaps with the exception of some of the wages offered for summer camps. I get the feeling you would be sent out to the middle of nowhere too.

Have you taught before? Curriculum can sometimes be crap but if you don't know what you are doing it is always better than nothing. I am loathe to suggest it but have you tried HESS?

[markholmes]

I mention this company's name far too often, but look at www.kojenenglish.com or if you don't like that go with Hess. Neither are perfect, but they don't rip off and given your current offer they sound quite dreamy in comparison.

[Dr_Zoidberg]

rain406,

You are the only one in a position to pass judgement on this employment offer.

My advice is to keep your options open, don't commit yourself at this time. Come to Taiwan, have a look around, and compare this offer with what other schools may offer you. Then make your decision.

[SanChong]

I don't think it's true anymore that it's good to come to Taiwan first and then find a job.

I know of more and more people that get to Taiwan and find negative experience after negative experience. It used to be that all schools waited until the last second to find a teacher. So, if you came over the summer, you would have a lot of options. However, more and more schools are working with good recruiters to be sure they have teachers way ahead of time. Unorganized and less quality schools are waiting until the last second to find teachers. Think about it, which school gives you a better impression?:

1) A school who plans ahead and hires a teacher two months ahead of time after full interviews and reference checks, etc.

2) A school that places an advertisement the day they need a teacher, sees a demo and hires a teacher

What school would you rather work for?

It's been a natural progression for Taiwan, just like any other business. It's still young and progressing, but it's definitely improving. With the birth rate dropping, standards will continue to get better. If you work with a good Company, it's probably a better move to have a contract and school secured before you come to Taiwan. Of course, approaching it this way will take a LOT more research and responsibility on your part... do your research well and make sure you end up at a good school!

[twinkletoes]

I URGE you to:

Please, go to my "so you have some questions thread", and do searches on every forum listed there for the name of your school.

Then, just spend a few HOURS, if not days, using google to come up with everything you can find related to that school. Google the schools' name, your trusted connection's name, your bosses name (might come across a few job ads that way) and try to get in touch with someone who has worked there in the past. Place "anyone ever worked for_____________" threads on every forum I posted links for. Be very vague in these threads and don't give personal details in case your boss sees them. School owners do read forums. Sometimes other school owners see your posts and offer you jobs and interviews if you sound like a good candidate, so keep this in mind.

Oh, and read my story of how finding a blog written by a teacher at the school where I got hired saved me from certain misery. Then, go crazy searching for as much as you can.

It seems like a lot of research work, and it is. But trust me, you'll thank yourself in the end. Even if you find out the company is a great place to work, wouldn't it be nice to have a heads-up on what it's like to work there?

Oh, and in my opinion, that wage sucks. Have you asked to see pictures of your housing? I know nothing about your school, but I wouldn't be surprised if it made your college dorm room seem like a palace, and didn't have adequate air conditioning.

It's not hard to find an apartment with roomates in Taipei City and pay about $8000 a month. (Many people pay less, but I'm being realistic and don't get your hopes up) Browse the apartment ads in the links on my questions thread to get an idea of what's available.

[rain406]

Wow, thanks for all the information!

I'm gonna go for it and try it out...if I don't like it, there's always every other job. All the recommendations in the last post I actually don't need to worry about, because it really doesn't apply to my situation (But thank you very much-that was great advice ). The only thing I'm concerned about is if $1000/(or a little over $1000) is not going to cut if, if I'm planning on doing anything fun in Taiwan (such as taking scuba diving lessons, eating out, buying things, flying to HK or Japan). Plus, because I need to make school loan payments (probably $200US/month..ugh), I'm thinking that my salary is a little sucky. But like I said, I do have (good) free housing, and probably a decent amount of my meals paid for.

[markholmes]

Why ask for advice if you are going to ignore it?

You will be the worst paid English teacher on the entire island and it ain't that easy to change jobs, particularly when you will lose your apartment too.

Your salary is not a little sucky, it's a lot sucky.

Free meals and accomodation are no substitute for cash.

[Ki]

The free meals offered by schools are, in my experience, substandard. I haven't eaten one of my free meals in the last year. I always eat out. But on that salary you may not have much choice.

Sanchong, Yes, good schools usually do get their act together early and advertise and interview early. (And usually still leave it to the last minute before informing the new teacher that they are hired). But that really doesn't help our friend the rain who cannot be interviewed, except maybe with a chain like Kojen or HESS, until he gets here.

Rain, You don't know if your housing is good until you get here and see it for yourself. Photos can be misleading. So can 'testimonials'. It might be good. I don't know. Rain, you solid contact is trying to screw you. I wouldn't worry about losing the job. No matter how crap you are. I would worry about trying to get out of it. Have you seen the contract? Any bonds or expensive clauses?

[Pop Fly]