Hi, I’m a Belgian guy and I really would like to work here in Taiwan, the problem ( for teaching jobs ) is I’m not a native speaker, eventhough my english is fluently and I can teach english, schools will always choose a native speaker over me, I’ve had a couple inteviews so far to become an english teacher but when they have other options ( english native speakers ) it’s over for me.
So, can I find a non teaching job here in Taiwan and what do I have to do to get it? can anybody help me? thanks
What do you do? Are you in tech, engineering, media, finance? All those might offer possibilities if you have the required qualifications.
have you tried the job section of this board? You don’t say what you can do or what experience you have, so it’s going to be difficult for anyone to help
Sorry forgot to mention it, in Belgium I have worked the last 3 years for DHL Logistics, I’ve worked in the restaurant business and I’ve studied to be a teacher but that’s probably out of the question here in Taiwan for me.
Buddy, I’ve seen Macedonians, Russians, Frenchies, Brazilians, Mocambiquans, Germans, Afrikaners, Spaniards and Italians teaching English over here. The job market’s not great for English teachers now, though.
I think not fluent but who would notice lol
Satellite TV even taught English. And English isn’t his first language. He’s Taiwanese.
Skin color seems to matter more than your English ability… sad to say.
What about French teaching? There seems to be some interest in French here, assuming you’re a French speaking Belgian. 
Keep trying anyway. It takes a lot of persistance to get any job and the market is not large outside of teaching, I understand.
You’re going to have him whip out that ID card again! I know Sandman wants to see. 
Seriously, I think this is a question that most of us ask after a certain amount of time on Taiwan, unless we were fortunate enough to come to Taiwan to do something other than teaching English…
Sat TV has a Taiwanese ID? You’re SHITTING me! Damn! He kept THAT quiet, didn’t he?
What’s the job market like in writing/editing/translating/copywriting etc?
Taiwanese translation companies like to work with “freelancing foreigners” who live in Taiwan.
But for a foreigner working as a translator in Taiwan, it is more interesting to find work with translation companies outside Taiwan, preferably Western countries cause they pay much better and a Taiwan based translator doesn’t have to pay taxes (that’s what I do anyway).
Taiwan is a good place for a freelance translator, because life is not very expensive, not necessarily because it is extremely easy to work for Taiwanese companies.
Taiwanese translation companies like to work with “freelancing foreigners” who live in Taiwan.
But for a foreigner working as a translator in Taiwan, it is more interesting to find work with translation companies outside Taiwan, preferably Western countries cause they pay much better and a Taiwan based translator doesn’t have to pay taxes (that’s what I do anyway).
Taiwan is a good place for a freelance translator, because life is not very expensive, not necessarily because it is extremely easy to work for Taiwanese companies.[/quote]
How do you go about getting gigs like that? Word of mouth? Cold calling? Send resumes?
yes, connections to companies through friends who worked somewhere, and contacts by email (which on the international stage might be less successful).
yes, connections to companies through friends who worked somewhere, and contacts by email (which on the international stage might be less successful).[/quote]
Good to know. Cheers. 
I think networking will be your best bet. If you don’t have many contacts here, ask for “informational interviews” where you ask people in the field about what they do, how they like it, and how they got there etc. If you ask good questions they will definitely be remember you. Repeat many times. Sooner or later a position will open up (at their company or a friend’s) and if you impressed them enough you may be able to get an interview.
I just managed to score a full time position with a small tech startup company here in Taipei. Founded and run by Americans. There are even ways to get around the government’s requirement of 2 years of work experience if the company is willing to do a bunch of extra paperwork and pay for it. I start Wednesday!
So this networking stuff…when I arrive, I figure I’ll have two months with triple ten day thrown in there. I can take it slow. But I’d rather take it slow AND smart. So if ab-san was able to get in on the ground floor with a start up, I’d like to do the same. :bravo:
So…advice? Should I start networking now online? Join wreck and make a few friends on there? Or wait until I arrive and just shmooze until an attractive offer comes up? 
(I am looking to get into corporate training but would rather go in with a small outfit or somebody thinking of starting up and just needs another warm body and enough capital to get the ball rolling…)
[quote=“abhapa”]I think networking will be your best bet. If you don’t have many contacts here, ask for “informational interviews” where you ask people in the field about what they do, how they like it, and how they got there etc. If you ask good questions they will definitely be remember you. Repeat many times. Sooner or later a position will open up (at their company or a friend’s) and if you impressed them enough you may be able to get an interview.
I just managed to score a full time position with a small tech startup company here in Taipei. Founded and run by Americans. There are even ways to get around the government’s requirement of 2 years of work experience if the company is willing to do a bunch of extra paperwork and pay for it. I start Wednesday![/quote]
What is your input? sales? engineering? law?
Just curious
[quote=“MilkTeaJack”]So this networking stuff…when I arrive, I figure I’ll have two months with triple ten day thrown in there. I can take it slow. But I’d rather take it slow AND smart. So if ab-san was able to get in on the ground floor with a start up, I’d like to do the same. :bravo:
So…advice? Should I start networking now online? Join wreck and make a few friends on there? Or wait until I arrive and just shmooze until an attractive offer comes up? (I am looking to get into corporate training but would rather go in with a small outfit or somebody thinking of starting up and just needs another warm body and enough capital to get the ball rolling…)[/quote]
Well since hiring processes always take longer than expected I’d say start now. It’s fine that you’re not here as you will probably have more success conversing by email than getting face to face time with a stranger.
I think LinkedIn (facebook for professional purposes) is a GREAT resource. Back when I was in the US i had applied for a Field Engineer job with Schlumberger (an oil and gas service company) and had been granted a second interview where they fly you to their headquarters for a long weekend. I had wanted to get more information about the company and how to prepare so I used LinkedIn and searched for employees. I found one that was an alumni of my school. I emailed her and she graciously agreed to meet me for coffee to tell me about her experiences so far. I didn’t get the job (learned I didn’t want it anyway) but I still keep in contact with her every now and then.
They key is to make sure the meeting is about THEM, THEIR JOB, and THEIR company and not about you. They will naturally get to the YOU part and you can make a short pitch at the end. But DO NOT ask for a job etc, but DO ask them if they know others in the field who can give you more info or different perspectives. If you ask each person for one or two people you can find an UNLIMITED number of contacts.
I don’t have A LOT of experience with this (this is my first job out of school) but the few times that I have used these tools they have worked. Even if it doesn’t lead to a job opportunity, you’ll get a much better idea of what you really want to do and what kinda company you want to work for. That is just as valuable IMO. Good luck!
[quote=“itakitez”]
What is your input? sales? engineering? law?
Just curious[/quote]
My title is a “usability engineer”, basically designing the user interface and interaction process of our product. FWIW, I studied mechanical engineering but I think my passion and knowledge of mobile phones and technology is what mattered most.