Job Discussion Forums

Kirkpatrick · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: China

Should I just lie about my age.. I am one of those fıt young looking ageless blonde and blue ones.(male) Also, I have taught in Taiwan for 2 years, speak Chinese and all that garbage. I even remember back in 2001 my students called me a lier when I told them my real age. Showed them my passport, one said it was fake.. No shit. Anyways, I know the answer to this question. Slobs don't need to apply. So game on.

Kirkpatrick · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: China

And that is not just in Taiwan. Get the same crap in America. It helps to be 5' 11'' 165 pounds. And not an ounce of flab.Get it in Turkey too, my GF is 23.. How about them apples??

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

Um...what?

bellam4x · Joined: 14 Jan 2011 Posts: 20

Well someone is a bit conceited! They will know your real age by showing your passport and probably won't hire you for the fact that you lied to them.

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

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

KayuJati · Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 313

sinophoto · Joined: 31 May 2011 Posts: 6

It is a valid question for those of us over 40. I keep fit too. Asians can usually tell that I'm at least over 30 and some can figure out that I'm over 40. The best I can do is to have the age is a mindset, not a physical attribute mindset and practice what I say by working out and keeping up to date. That's the approach that I plan to take which is to have the latest techniques from CELTA. But from reading on the board, it takes ALLOT of convincing. I might even INSIST on a classroom demo to get my point across.

Knowing what I do about Asian culture. Age is important for local jobs, too. They frequently post requirements such as must be under 30 in ads for local jobs. The traditional companies work on a seniority system. Every time I'm in HK, someone asks why I'm not back in the U.S. on the seniority track. So being out of work and over 40 is a big problem for the locals unless they've networked allot in their field and know so and so over at that company. I'm in the same boat. But arriving cold with no local contacts and being over 40, from past experience in HK, China, is a big obstacle. It goes against the advice on here. But I may have to use a recruiter who has all of those local connections and take the cruddy first job until I can develop my own network during the first year. That's my battle plan. lol Any thoughts on that approach?

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

If you are actually on the island there is always someone desperate for a white face. It may only be for 10 hours a week but it is a job. Keep your head down and work at finding other opportunities.

sinophoto · Joined: 31 May 2011 Posts: 6

I have to dot my i s and cross my t s because I have worked some personal fine arts photography projects in HK before. The gov't sees me coming. lol. So the visa runs are out. Last time in Taiwan, I was followed very closely to make sure that I wasn't working on a project. They were friendly and sometimes helpful, smoothing out a few things here and there. I always left them in doubt how much Chinese that I really understand. Despite the cross straits rivalry, they cooperate fairly closely with Hong Kong on visa issues, etc. Just an FYI. So if you are flagged in China, then they may follow you into HK or call and have them keep an eye on you. Then they, in my case, made a few phone calls ahead of my flight to Taipei. So the "visa run" is risky, now, especially if you have a vested interest in the area, such having already having spent allot of time and money studying Chinese. I guess newbies to the area can make a few trips b4 they show up on their radar. But it is increasingly risky. I wouldn't advise it. I found out the hard way that professional cameras make some ppl in government a bit nervous, especially if you look like you might know how to use it.