Ok, I didn’t mean an English teacher isn’t a Real job. Anyways I am wondering if there are any foreigners, or ABCs who have found a non-English teaching/translating job in Taiwan.
I came to Taiwan a few months ago and am currently an account manager for a Taiwanese company. I just graduated and wanted a real challenge - learning the language as well as working here. Anyone else feel the same way or have the same goals?
I don’t want to work for an American corporation sending me here (although the perks would be nice), because its not completely immersive. You speak english all the time and are pretty much surrounded by foreigners.
So, what I am wondering- any ABCs (who really don’t know much Chinese) or foreigners that completely immerse themselves and find a job here in Taiwan??? I’m trying to switch jobs at the moment, and am finding it a bit difficult due to the need to read/write Chinese as my level is not up to par at all with locals.
Yup…here…me…
I’m Eurpean, have just graduated with a Master of Art degree and speak, write and read Chinese more or less fluent. I’ve come to Taiwan just 2 days before Chinese New Year and haven’t found anything suitable yet. I was told not to work for a Taiwanese company, since most of them are trying to rip you off…so watch out.
Any ideas on best finding a job fast? I’m a little frustrated, I must confess…
Yeah, I have been looking through the 104.com site a bit (although I have my friends help me out cause i can’t read). There are some graphic design jobs that were there, maybe you should take a look when you get a chance.
I’ve been looking around for finance, and marketing, which seems like a lot, but many need Chinese language ability and some experience.
I’m sure you can get a ‘real’ job as long as you can speak Chinese as well as a local and/or if you have some skill that few locals have. And you’ll get the same ‘real’ pay which will be far less than teaching English.
What kind of qualifications do you have that would put you in some special catagory?
First, I find out that Big Fluffy Matthew is embezzling guanxi from formosa.com and using it to purchase all sorts of sordid items and favors. Then today I find out that I am working at an unreal job. I feel that I am in the middle of some Talking Heads song.
I am not an English teacher, not even a native English speaker, and work for a small Taiwanese company, being the only foreigner here.
Due to my technical expertise (engineering) I was offered the job, but I guess it involved also a lot of luck that the company was searching for that and the timing was just right.
What’s your major ckhcornell? While you may be relieved to have graduated from university, that means very little to most employers offering “real jobs.” Experience is usually required. Otherwise don’t expect a BA or BS to count for much. There might be exceptions if your degree is in economics, law, engineering, etc. And even then, employers here tend to under-utilize the talent of qualified foreigners, having them doing editing when they could do more, and the pay is usually disappointing.
But given that, and in addition to searching for employment ads, I recommend finding the names and addresses of all companies in Taiwan that you might wish to work for and sending off your resume and cover letters. Apply to 20 places and you might be surprised who replies. I did that upon arrival and it finally paid off 7 months later when a large firm contacted me, still had my resume on file and offered me a good position which I accepted. Give it a try. You too mesheel.
lets stop with all the ridiculous corrections, pointless ~
How well can you speak mandarin? Is it at all required in the job description? Also, how do you get along with your co-workers?
As the only foreigner in this company, I feel a bit shunned from everyone else. I’m quite young, just graduated from a university in the US, so I don’t know if its cause of my age or the fact that I can’t speak mandarin that well.
One thing though is that I am an ABC, and that most of my contacts are local Taiwanese. I don’t believe in mingling all the time with other foreigners cause it would defeat the purpose of me learning first hand, any cultural aspects here-- although its still tough to try and blend in with locals.
One thing though is that I am an ABC, and that most of my contacts are local Taiwanese. I don’t believe in mingling all the time with other foreigners cause it would defeat the purpose of me learning first hand, any cultural aspects here-- although its still tough to try and blend in with locals.[/quote]
If you want any job, I would suggest making contacts of all kinds, and not shunning foreigners or wasting energy on trying to blend in with the locals. Blend in and your special qualities will never get noticed; be friends with everyone and you’ll get more bones thrown at you.
Thanks Mother Theresa for that tip. I did send my resume to all - and I mean all - Swiss companies in Taiwan. I got some feedback and was invited to two interviews, but they were telling me, that at the moment, they don’t have any suitable vacancy, but that they would let me know, if they do. I’m still sending out several CVs a day applying for any more or less suitable position.
Gosh…do I really have to wait 7 month to get some results here? :shock:
Tell me, what did you do in the meantime? Teach?
I’m going to take classes in order to have a legal way of staying here until I eventually get a working visa or get married…
Anyways, thanks to all of you who are trying to help me find a job, I am greatful for every little hint.
so whats wrong with being an account manager for a taiwan company? sounds alrite…if you’re being shunned just give it some time…taiwanese can often be intimidated by foreigners abc, xyz or whateva…dont be too in your face with them and they’ll come round but it could take 6 months or more!
[quote=“mesheel”]Gosh…do I really have to wait 7 month to get some results here? :shock:
Tell me, what did you do in the meantime? Teach?
[/quote]
I didn’t expect to wait 7 months for a reply and I was extremely surprised when they finally got back to me. I taught in the meantime and enjoyed it – first montessori, then various cram schools, etc. – and I started Chinese classes at Shita. And I really enjoyed that life. In fact, when I finally was offered a “real job” locked up in a building all day, even though it was twice my pay, I wasn’t sure I wanted to quit the teacher/student life. Among other things, taking a “real job” has meant quitting my Chinese lessons and accepting that I’ll never really speak Chinese. But at least I’ll be able to retire.
wow good advice. At the moment my company is going to cut our sales dept so theres no point for me to stay. I was thinking about the Shida and teaching privately thing until I found a job more suitable for my major (Economics). But I think 7 months is really a bit too long for me, I’m probably going to give it 4 or 5 tops, before I consider going back to the states…
[quote=“ckhcornell”]
I don’t want to work for an American corporation sending me here (although the perks would be nice), because its not completely immersive. You speak English all the time and are pretty much surrounded by foreigners.
.[/quote]
Not true. Most foriegn corporations here are downsizing thier expats. Most will probbably have a very small number of English first language speakers, some have none. The language of the office for 90% of staff to staff communications is mandarin. However most staff will have some English as it is required eg for communicating with the Area office etc.
Wether you have anything to offer these companies is another matter.
Lack of fluent mandarin tends to be acceptable in some senior positions but not in junior ones.
Some job hunters might also inquire with local headhunting firms, but they tend to help only with positions such as CEO, COO, Asian-Regional Mgr, or other such jobs that require years of experience. With just a BA they probably won’t even answer your calls.
Ho Ho Ho Mr. Mao ZeDong, well I got lots of opinions and I have been thinking a lot about my life goals, society, and culture ever since I came here. I don’t really need to ‘reconcile’ anything~
I just don’t have a goal of coming to Taiwan to teach English like some foreigners. If it happens to be that I don’t have a job here and need some way to support myself, that would be an option. I can do that until a ‘real’ job comes around the corner, and I am limiting myself to a few months for waiting. I wouldn’t want to waste my time.
Mr. ZeDong- What kind of occupation are you in? Forum administration?
