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How to find work in Taiwan
Finding work in Taiwan, questions, how to and help
Are you thinking about moving to Taiwan and finding a job opportunity there? Not sure what is the best way to do it? Read on to find out more.
Common issues and questions
The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese. Although the locals are well educated in English knowing some mandarin Chinese will always come to your advantage. Usually the younger locals will speak some or fluent English, but it is best for expats to try to learn the basics to handle any unexpected situations or deal with every-day life there. Even if your pronunciation is poor and the sentence may be gramatically incorrect, the locals can understand what you are trying to say surprisingly well.
Working in Taiwan can be very stressful, especially in the IT industry. According to reports, Taiwan has some of the longest working hours in the world and unpaid overtime as a culture is quite popular. Luckily, if you are looking to be an ESL teacher there, you do not have to worry about this, as your teaching hours are comparably lower than the locals and the salary is also higher, which is similar to back home. Conversely, in the case that you want to accept a non-teaching job, you may have to adapt to the work style of Taiwan.
There are some minor cultural issues that you may find difficult to understand. For instance, Taiwan has its own calendar, starting from 1911, which is the year when the government was found. Although you won’t have to use that, as western calendar is more popular.
The public bathroom of some older buildings may only have a squat toilet, which is very difficult to use for a majority of foreigners. Meanwhile, you cannot put your used toilet paper into the toilet because sometimes they may block the toilet. Instead, throw them into the provided bin nearby. While walking or driving in the street, be aware of scooters as they may ignore the road rules and switch the lanes without flashing their lights.
Due to differences of Taiwanese culture, the way of getting along with the locals is definitely different from back home. When they feel upset or do not agree with you, they won’t tell you directly and you may have to find out their real feeling by yourself. Additionally, family always comes first for Taiwanese, which means you should expect the locals may cancel or change plans anytime due to family affairs. “Face” is considered an important matter here so never embarrass the locals in the public. Last but not least, don’t be surprised if they ask you lots of private questions such as your weight, age or marital status.
Types of work in current job market
If you come from a native English speaking country, then the best and easiest option for you must be teaching English to students. The general salary of ESL teacher is 50000 – 66000 NT (approximately 1500 - 2000 USD), and teaching hours vary from 25 hours to 30 hours (40 – 50 min per class). The teaching routine starts from 8:00AM to 4:00PM with weekends off, including office hours and unpaid preparation time. Your curriculum is set and you have to use provided materials to teach, or play ESL games with students to keep learning English fun(teaching jobs in Taiwan). In the case that you prefer a non-teaching job, it would be harder to find because a lot of job opportunities require a good level of Chinese language skill. Even if you have found job opportunities without knowledge of Chinese, such as teaching English, you are required to have a bachelor’s degree and at least 2-5 years experience within relevant fields. Typically, expats can find non-teaching jobs such as (English) editing jobs, (international) sales jobs, management jobs, engineer jobs and modeling/TV jobs (Non-teaching jobs in Taiwan).
Apply for jobs in Taiwan
To apply for the jobs, first please register your account on Find Work Abroad, uploading your CV and relevant documents, including a recent photo of you, photo of your passport, a degree and certificates (if you are applying for an English teaching position, it's advised for you to have a TEFL certificate. No TEFL? Click here. Although most employers do not require a TEFL in Taiwan) Use the top left drop-down menu to choose “Taiwan” and click the job section below. Remember to use the filters (type, city and salary) to quickly reach the job you want. After successfully submitting your application, you will promptly receive a call from us and you can discuss how to select the best job for you with our consultant. Once you confirm an online interview time with us, you should prepare for the interview and show the best of you to the interviewer. If the interview is successful (occasionally there is a second round interview or more), you will receive a contract after a few days and when the contract is signed you, that means the position is secured by you. Meanwhile, don’t forget to communicate with your employer about your application of working visa.
Future Prospects
There would be plenty of options for you after the contract is completed. With enough teaching experience, you can opt for a high paying job easily here. Or relocate to other locations, such as China (a huge land to explore with dynamic culture), South Korea (highly developed country with good living and working environment), and Thailand (enjoy “working holiday” and beautiful beaches) etc.
Common issues and questions
The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese. Although the locals are well educated in English knowing some mandarin Chinese will always come to your advantage. Usually the younger locals will speak some or fluent English, but it is best for expats to try to learn the basics to handle any unexpected situations or deal with every-day life there. Even if your pronunciation is poor and the sentence may be gramatically incorrect, the locals can understand what you are trying to say surprisingly well.
Working in Taiwan can be very stressful, especially in the IT industry. According to reports, Taiwan has some of the longest working hours in the world and unpaid overtime as a culture is quite popular. Luckily, if you are looking to be an ESL teacher there, you do not have to worry about this, as your teaching hours are comparably lower than the locals and the salary is also higher, which is similar to back home. Conversely, in the case that you want to accept a non-teaching job, you may have to adapt to the work style of Taiwan.
There are some minor cultural issues that you may find difficult to understand. For instance, Taiwan has its own calendar, starting from 1911, which is the year when the government was found. Although you won’t have to use that, as western calendar is more popular.
The public bathroom of some older buildings may only have a squat toilet, which is very difficult to use for a majority of foreigners. Meanwhile, you cannot put your used toilet paper into the toilet because sometimes they may block the toilet. Instead, throw them into the provided bin nearby. While walking or driving in the street, be aware of scooters as they may ignore the road rules and switch the lanes without flashing their lights.
Due to differences of Taiwanese culture, the way of getting along with the locals is definitely different from back home. When they feel upset or do not agree with you, they won’t tell you directly and you may have to find out their real feeling by yourself. Additionally, family always comes first for Taiwanese, which means you should expect the locals may cancel or change plans anytime due to family affairs. “Face” is considered an important matter here so never embarrass the locals in the public. Last but not least, don’t be surprised if they ask you lots of private questions such as your weight, age or marital status.
Types of work in current job market
If you come from a native English speaking country, then the best and easiest option for you must be teaching English to students. The general salary of ESL teacher is 50000 – 66000 NT (approximately 1500 - 2000 USD), and teaching hours vary from 25 hours to 30 hours (40 – 50 min per class). The teaching routine starts from 8:00AM to 4:00PM with weekends off, including office hours and unpaid preparation time. Your curriculum is set and you have to use provided materials to teach, or play ESL games with students to keep learning English fun(teaching jobs in Taiwan). In the case that you prefer a non-teaching job, it would be harder to find because a lot of job opportunities require a good level of Chinese language skill. Even if you have found job opportunities without knowledge of Chinese, such as teaching English, you are required to have a bachelor’s degree and at least 2-5 years experience within relevant fields. Typically, expats can find non-teaching jobs such as (English) editing jobs, (international) sales jobs, management jobs, engineer jobs and modeling/TV jobs (Non-teaching jobs in Taiwan).
Apply for jobs in Taiwan
To apply for the jobs, first please register your account on Find Work Abroad, uploading your CV and relevant documents, including a recent photo of you, photo of your passport, a degree and certificates (if you are applying for an English teaching position, it's advised for you to have a TEFL certificate. No TEFL? Click here. Although most employers do not require a TEFL in Taiwan) Use the top left drop-down menu to choose “Taiwan” and click the job section below. Remember to use the filters (type, city and salary) to quickly reach the job you want. After successfully submitting your application, you will promptly receive a call from us and you can discuss how to select the best job for you with our consultant. Once you confirm an online interview time with us, you should prepare for the interview and show the best of you to the interviewer. If the interview is successful (occasionally there is a second round interview or more), you will receive a contract after a few days and when the contract is signed you, that means the position is secured by you. Meanwhile, don’t forget to communicate with your employer about your application of working visa.
Future Prospects
There would be plenty of options for you after the contract is completed. With enough teaching experience, you can opt for a high paying job easily here. Or relocate to other locations, such as China (a huge land to explore with dynamic culture), South Korea (highly developed country with good living and working environment), and Thailand (enjoy “working holiday” and beautiful beaches) etc.
Date published: 07/09/15 03:39 Views: 6975
