Job Discussion Forums

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

I think all the regulars here know my situation in Kaohsiung. I've given up on Kaohsiung. I will never find acceptable work in Koahsiung. Never. Seven recent interviews in a row support my thesis. It just won't happen. Every job interview/teaching demo here is just wasted time. I get dressed up, wake up early, usually end up having to waste a bunch of money on a taxi because I can't find the place, and then there's always the wondeful disappointment of "your teaching demo was very good -- but we actually don't need a teacher" or "your teaching demo was good -- but Candidate #24's was a little better."

Therefore, in a last ditch effort to stay in Taiwan and not have to break up with my girlfriend and make an extremely risky foray into China, I have decided to look for obscure jobs out in the middle of nowhere in Taiwan.

In other words, how do I find jobs that meet the following critera?
1. Not in any of Taiwan's ten largest cities (because big cities = competition)
2. Not listed on any major job site like Tealit (because advertised jobs = competition)
3. At least 30,000 NTD a month, but not much more than that (because high pay = competition)

Since everyone in Taiwan is apparently more qualified to teach English than me, if there is even one other person interviewing, I always lose. Therefore, my goal is to find some school up in the Secret Mountains of Baobeichenzhuyi that no foreigner has ever heard of, interview, and become the teacher there by virtue of being the only guy who has applied there in the last 15 years.

How do I find really obscure schools that are not in any major city?

Is there a special recruiter I can contact about extremely obscure jobs in extremely obscure places?

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

Which recruiters have you tried? I am guessing you've tried them all and the problem I can see with these smaller cities is that they don't have the hours or know how to apply for the correct work permit/papers for foreign teachers. I hope someone can give you some contact details to a recruiter/contact, but I am thinking the only way is either through guanxi or knocking on doors. I am not sure going for super small cities will provide a solution. Most places have probably never hired a foreigner, don't know what to pay you, don't know how to work with you etc. I see some new jobs on the job board you mentioned and I am STILL amazed they turned you down. Genius has a new ad up recently, I see Elim or some school in Kaohsiung, Schoolhouse was there but that's about all I see going (things do look slim). Have you tried Pingdong? Maybe find out what populations of cities are and cross out the ones you've tried and then just work your way down from the largest to smallest. Anyone else got ideas?

zipper · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 237

Get a scooter. Laughing

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

zipper, but with just a few jobs listed it definitely doesn't make someone who is looking for work feel too crash hot Neutral

Rooster, Taichung and even Tainan always seem to have more jobs than Kaohsiung.

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Check your PM

BigWally · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 9:26 pm Post subject:

Pingtung, Donggang, Nantzou, Maolin County, are good smaller areas outside of Kaohsiung City.

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

zipper · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 237

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

I can understand Rooster's point about money and a scooter, but you really need one outside of Taipei. Best of luck Rooster.

zipper · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 237

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Replied to your PM Rooster and 'Yes' the school is still looking for a white monkey - I mean a teacher...

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Rooster - I sent you a PM last night with my cellphone # but for some reason it's still hanging in my 'Outbox' - I have no idea why or how to force it to send. It's more than 12 hours since I tried to send it to you so I apologise but the matter is out of my hands. If you want to get the ball rolling send me your phone by PM and I'll text you after work tonight.

FYI - I'm almost positive that if you show up at the school I'm talking about for an interview you will have a job. Circa $55K - low tax, cheap rent on a nice place, avg working hours and class size, ARC and health insce.

I'm not trying to pull a fast one, nor is there anything in it for me so even if you just want to find out more details - send me your e-mail / phone #/ call me tonight if my PM ever sends.

zipper · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 237

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Well it's the official /non-official declaration of hours and pay right?
We've probably all experienced it.

School X pays you $60K for teaching 25 hours per week at $600 per hour
but they declare you as working only 14 hours for $300 per hour...