A little background: I’m currently an English teacher in Thailand with 1 years experience, a BA, and a TEFL cert. I’m Korean-American (I know it will make it difficult for me) and I have a US passport. I’m coming to work there with my British girlfriend.
So I’ve been trying to find work in Taiwan from here in Thailand, but I’m thinking that I might just show up and find a job rather than going through recruiters and big chains like I have been. I’m going to look for work in every city but Taipei (high living expenses). I know it will be more difficult to find work because I’m Asian, but tell me what you think of what I’m about to do.
I’m going to come to Taiwan around the 1st of Feb, and couchsurf (couchsurfing.com) around city to city. I know for gov’t schools, the new term starts in the middle of Feb, so Feb 1 seems like a good time to come (should I come earlier?). From my couch surfing hosts I can get addresses to different schools and cram schools and walk in to give them my CVs. Many couchsurfers and hosts are also English teachers, so I figure I’ll specifically look up the ESL teachers to surf with. I’m going to spend everyday from morning to night handing out my CV to gov’t schools and cram schools. I figure I’ll eventually land a job right? If I’m lucky a few days, if not, a month? To complicate things further, my gf needs a job too, but I’m not really worried about her finding a job because she’s a cute blonde caucasian female. I figure I’ll find a job somewhere first, then she can find one in the same city. I hope being asian isn’t as much of a problem as it was here in Thailand as far as getting a job goes.
Any suggestions for improving my chances? Any input would be appreciated!
Dude! There must be literally DOZENS of threads on here that address your exact questions. Use the search function (do it through Google, it works better) and then post any other questions you might have.
You’re surely not asking us to read through all those threads and think of other points to raise? You must be joking! Its all been covered. Many many times. Now, if you want to start a new thread about finding sour cream, go right ahead. There can never be too many threads like that.
You’re surely not asking us to read through all those threads and think of other points to raise? You must be joking! Its all been covered. Many many times. Now, if you want to start a new thread about finding sour cream, go right ahead. There can never be too many threads like that.[/quote]
Yikes! You gotta be careful with sandman, D. Sky. He’ll cut your balls off.
Short of saying “Don’t do it,” the only other point I can think of is (and yes, it’s been repeated ad infinitum in other threads) is that now is not a good time for anyone trying to get a teaching gig in Taiwan, ABK or otherwise. I’m not saying you won’t find a gig. It won’t be easy and – this is a huge and – it really depends on who you know. The more contacts and friends you can make, the higher your chances of survival. i.e. they don’t hand out those gov’t jobs like betel nut in a jiuba. Therefore, try to think outside the box in terms of your marketability. What else can you do besides teach? I know for a fact that The China Post has been looking for a copy editor (3pm-12am shift) for freaking months. Got any computer programming skills? Those cats are hungry for English-speaking drones.
Meanwhile, how do you feel about the girlfriend supporting you for a while? There’s two parts to your plan I think is solid, the first of which is the girlfriend. The second is that you’re willing to travel around and perhaps settle in a city other than Taipei, which from my observation, is pretty saturated with folks like yourself. Good luck.
I don’t think the China Post will be applying for ARCs for anyone though, unless they’re really getting desperate. One word of advice, don’t arrive on a landing visa. They can’t be changed into ARCs after you find a job.
I have actually heard that the opposite is true. However, it is not easy. I have also heard that it is easy to work for them, but hard to get hired. People should try if they are really desperate.
I have actually heard that the opposite is true. However, it is not easy. I have also heard that it is easy to work for them[/quote]
In that you don’t actually need to be an editor, or even have any kind of grasp of English whatsoever, then yes, its easy. The money, hours and conditions REALLY suck, though. Its a real wage-slave gig, without the wages.
If you have at least a few tools in your bag, sure, show up here without a job. No big deal. If you can’t get a job in a month, then it’s not for you or you’re hopeless.
Just to add my two cents. Coming in on a Visa Exempt (you carry a passport that allows this) is ok to change to an ARC without leaving the island. But if you needed what is called a Landing Visa, you can not. But you likely will not be coming on a Landing Visa because those are only for people who arrive with a passport (otherwise eligible to enter on visa exempt) with less then six months validity. And you likely wont be doing that. Because they could deny you entry and also that sort of visa costs quite a bit of money.
But coming in Visa Exempt, you can change that to a ARC without needing to leave the rock.
I have actually heard that the opposite is true. However, it is not easy. I have also heard that it is easy to work for them[/quote]
In that you don’t actually need to be an editor, or even have any kind of grasp of English whatsoever, then yes, its easy. The money, hours and conditions REALLY suck, though. Its a real wage-slave gig, without the wages.[/quote]
I was referring specifically to the point about ARCs. I have heard they are always looking for people and would apply for ARCS if it is necessary.
My second point is that while they seem to be desperate and would apply for ARCs, I also heard it is still not easy to get hired by them.
They like to invite people to come and edit and keep them on “tryouts” for ages, and also bring in more new people.
Yeah, the hours and wages probably do suck a lot. I have heard that from quite a few sources.