I am a 23-year old American who has just graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in economics and Japanese language (double). Straight after graduating I came to Taiwan to accept a government scholarship for one year of Mandarin study (I’m here now). I’m studying hard and by the end of this year I hope to have a workable level of proficiency in Mandarin. Also, I studied in Japan last year, and my Japanese is solid (JLPT N2, quite comfortable).
Next year, I plan to start my career. Other than an AIESEC internship in China last summer, I don’t have any relevant work experience. I love the news, I have good speaking, writing, and presentation skills, and I want to get into the market research industry as an analyst. There are some good firms back in the states where I have some connections and could probably find work if I tried, but in the end I really want to start my career in Asia. I’m open to working in Taiwan, Japan, or China. Finally, I don’t want to imply that I’m dead set on a research job. I’d be open to marketing, consulting, whatever would help me stay plugged into what’s happening in the world and use my language skills.
So basically what I’m looking for is advice on how a person like me should go about trying to start a career in Asia. The most promising leads I’ve found so far have been by going to individual companies’ websites and checking their job listings, but entry-level stuff in Asia seems pretty slim. Should I give up and go the work-a-few-years-in-the-states-and-get-transferred route?
Finally, I would like to have a (very) part-time internship during my year of study here in Taipei. It would have to be unpaid since I can’t work under my scholarship. Basically I’m just looking to get some experience with how things work in the business world here and make some connections.
Thanks for any advice you’ve got, and no negativity, please! (e.g. You’ll never find anything why didn’t you go to a better university you dumb kid get outta here!
Uhhh… you’re like the 5th person from Boulder I’ve heard of/met in Taipei (and Ive only been here a few weeks). Are they like exporting you guys?
Market research? There is no ‘market’ here in Taiwan. Go to China. Taiwan is not the place for that.
And visa laws here will make it impossible for you to do anything but menial English teaching ($) and/or studying Chinese (proficiency) (which are also almost impossible to do at the same time).
Not to mention, in the consumer field traditional characters are quite useless. Big market in China that only reads simplified. You’d be wasting your time studying here. Go learn about the culture of consumerism and business in Beijing or Shanghai (or even Fuzhou area).
“The most promising leads I’ve found so far have been by going to individual companies’ websites and checking their job listings, but entry-level stuff in Asia seems pretty slim. Should I give up and go the work-a-few-years-in-the-states-and-get-transferred route?”
Yes you are right on that thought, your best bet to get paid better then 60-70k and working 50 hours a week with your credentials is to get hired in the states and be open to a transfer to Taiwan.
I have looked into Engineering jobs and computer jobs here (both my majors and degrees in the States) and yes you can find a job, but for way less then it should be. Plus they work you to the bone mentality is the normal here. After some research and talking to companies with people who work there, the best bet is to find a company that needs you to go overseas that is based in the States and then come here under their umbrella. Your Mandarin ability as well as your Japanese will help you greatly, that is for sure.
But coming here even from CU Boulder (good school I know, my father graduated from there) does not ‘help’ because of your school. Come here as you have, learn Mandarin and then go back to the states and look for a job with your new found Mandarin skills as well as your Japanese (you mentioned as your second major) and you will be hot to trot. That is in a company that needs those languages for their business (which is a plenty for sure). Hard to find a well paying job while here that is willing to pay what you are looking for.
Check out Kopra - it’s run by the Germans - and offers a variety of interships, although admittedly prospects in Taiwan are limited compared to those offered elswhere.
Now that you’re here, try to accept the idea of being in Asia for a long time. A year of Chinese under your belt will only take you so far; business level Chinese is another story ( I won’t waste my time with details here ). When your scholarship time is up, and if you haven’t found something (or someone) to keep you here, you really should move to the mainland. Taiwan and China are like Canada and the US - guess which one is ( or was) the land of opportunity?
Anyway, if you’re really aggressive, knock on a few doors of some of the financial services firms. If your Japanese is really that good, it could lead to exactly what you’re looking for, namely an analyst position. Confidence and excellent people skills pay their weight in gold - some people are natural salesman and can open just about any door imaginable. Economics and Japanese is an amazing combination, don’t let the haters get you down.
I say all this as someone with two years of intensive Chinese under my belt, plus degrees in political science and international relations, so to a certain extent, I know where you’re coming from. Let me know if I can offer any other advice - always looking to lending a helping hand to young men and women like yourself.