I’m thinking about going to Taiwan and looking for a job on site, with an intended stay of up to a year. I’d like some input on what my chances are given my qualifications and the current job market.
Here’s what I got:
Got a German Diplom in computer science, which is more or less equivalent to a Master’s. (Recognition by countries varies.) Looking at careerjet.com.tw, my specific skills (programming languages etc.) seem relatively relevant, but then, I expect the competition to be huge.
Got two years of part-time experience and a bit of self-employment.
Been learning Chinese for a year and have a vocabulary of about 1000 hanzi and about as many words. I can make myself understood about basic matters, but my grammar and listening skill are still quite terrible. I expect a decent learning curve once I’m there, though.
Got funds for about three to four months if I manage to get a flatshare early on.
Here’s what I want:
ANY sort of IT work, even if I’m overqualified. Wire ethernet hubs, set up Linux boxes or do more sophisticated programming, do the IT in an internet café, I don’t really care. Both a western company or a local one would be ok. I only want legal employment.
I could do translation or teaching as well. I hold an additional degree in history, which I might spin as qualification for it, but this would be plan B. I expect German not to be in terribly high demand, and people will probably not be easily convinced that my English is as good as it is.
Stay for a maximum of 12 months.
Here’s the major problems I see:
The 2 years work experience required for a work visa. I only got two years of part-time experience, and they happened before I graduated. I know the topic has been discussed ad nauseum in this forum, but my impression is that a company can handle this if they really want to employ me.
Getting my foot into a door instead of my mouth. Unlike with teaching, I expect low Chinese skills to be a major hindering factor. If I phone up 20 companies and go “喂！说英语好吗？”, how many times can I expect something like a normal conversation that might lead to an interview? Or would my only hope to get a job be networking, networking, networking?
So, any IT guys out there who can tell me how good my chances are/ give me any input? PM me, if you want specifics on the technologies I work with.
[quote=“straylight”]Here’s the major problems I see:
The 2 years work experience required for a work visa. I only got two years of part-time experience, and they happened before I graduated.[/quote]
That your experience is only part-time likely won’t hurt you. But that it occurred before your graduation is a problem if the authorities regard your degree as the equivalent of a bachelor’s. If they regard your degree as the equivalent of a master’s then you’re probably OK there – though finding work will likely be difficult.
I did pretty much what you are planning a month ago (arrived mid-June). I just moved to Taiwan wihout a job, apartment, and only a fresh CS diploma in my backpack. My experiences are:
I got several job offers within the first two weeks, despite not speaking any mandarin.
The two years experience requirement can be waved for MSc or PhD, or at least reduced to one year for MSc according to some sources. Having two years part time should be no problem, but if you worry you could forget to mention the ‘part time’ part…
Local companies seems to like having foreigners in more responsible positions than just programming. Someone (who interviewed me) said it was because Europeans think more long-term and have a better sense of quality. Also, in order to hire a foreigner to do technical work, the company needs to justify why they need a foreginer on the work permit application. The key words to use are “design” and “technical supervision”. I think you could try aim both higher and lower than your skillset.
I don’t think calling companies is the right way, I did not apply for any jobs – just posted my profile on 104.com.tw, and got a dozen of responses within days.
Feel free to ask if there is anything more you wonder…
Yea do keep us up to date, and also let us know what your working ours end up being, ie are they what were advertised or are you having to work insane hours (:
How can we post our profile on 104.com.tw without any Chinese knowledge, there seems to be only a Chinese form? Looking at a Chinese form for a non-Chinese-speaker feels like a cow looking at a passing train.