Job Discussion Forums

[babar6789]

Hi guys,
I've been offered a job in a school (don't know the name) in Sin Yin City. I know this is somewhere near Tainan but i can't find it on a map. Does anyone know anything about this place?

I havent had an interview but the financial package is excellent, including airfare amongst other things. The job sounds great but I'm not sure i want to be too far away from a main city as I dont speak any Mandarin.

Any help/advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[sbettinson]

Hi,

If the package sounds excellent, it is because it is out of the city, so they need to attract people to the area. I don't know of the city myself, but it may be pretty small and not very appealing to a new foreigner who is looking for some fun as well as work.

Are you in Taiwan now or are you being recruited from overseas? No harm in going to the place to check it out for yourself. It's the least you can do if you are thinking about spending your time there. Don't commit until you have been to see it for yourself!

If it is a small place and you have doubts about whether you want that kind of life I would advise to stay in the bigger city and not get involved in small town life, it will be too insular for someone who speaks no Chinese. Think about what you might wanna do at the weekends and about meeting fellow likeminded foreigners. Even if you have Taiwanese friends I still think you need that balanced element of foreigners who can really understand you from a western perspective.

Shaun

[Toe Save]

Congratulations on the job offer. I have never heard of Sin Yin City, but I will offer this opinion: Beware of Taiwanese businesses that offer air fare. The only reason they do it in Korea is that they wouldn't get anyone to go there otherwise. In Taiwan, 99% of the businesses that offer airfare do so because they are desperate. Desperation in an employer can be a good thing, but it usually isn't. It usually is a big, flashy, neon sign saying:

RUN AWAY!!!

Maybe you've found that unique employer that really wants YOU so badly, he is willing to fork over the 25000 for airfare. I hope you have. But you probably haven't. Sorry.

If you can afford it, just come here and look around. If you can't, get in touch with Reach to Teach. They'll help you out.

[Ki]

How do you know that the financial package is excellent? Because they told you it was? Make sure you check your work hours and teaching hours. Also check for things like split shifts. Is it the same Sin City from the movie? If so congratulations. Sounds like a small Taiwanese town. Everyone will know your business and there won't be anything to do. Your chances of learning Mandarin, if you wanted to do so, will be dampened as everyone will probably speak Taiwanese there.

I predict you will go crazy within a month wanting to break your contract. But I may be wrong. Try to come a couple of weeks here before you start work. In that time look for other work, maybe visit a couple cities, perhaps even checking out this "city" incognito. It may be quite close to Tainan. I can't find it anywhere either.

Check to see if the package is with a recruiter, agent or consultant company (the difference is pure semantics). Check to make sure the contract is with the school only. Check to see what penalties will take place if you quit early. It is best to check these things out now to help avoid returning here in a month or two asking if you can quit or run away.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[babar6789]

[Taylor]

I believe the proper Romanization would be Hsin-ying.

See if this helps....

Taylor
Kaohsiung

[babar6789]

[trukesehammer]

[Toe Save]

I like the OP's original spelling. It sounds like a place where someone with a virtuous yang might thrive.

[babar6789]