Career progression in Taiwan... is there hope?

[Deuce Dropper]

Non teaching options:

1- have a foreign company send you here
2- get hired by a company here, but you'll need two years experience in the field
3- come here and slave away at local wages (not recommended, and you'll still need the 2 years)
4- start your own business (this usually involves being here a while and learning the lay of the land).
5- smuggle drugs and sell them

Number 4 is the option if you really want to make a lot of money. The reason why a lot of people never get out of teaching is they do not have a clue how to do so, nor do they have a plan to get out, or if they do have a plan, they have trouble with the execution. Also, starting your own business means going into the red, something a lot of people do not have the gonads to do. Ideally you want to work for someone and then do the same job on your own, gain valuable experience with someone else's money instead of your own.

BUT BEING HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. People will hire you because they like you, not because you are some Google Generation punk who thinks his shit doesn't stink and he is too good to toil in mediocrity for a while before catching his break. Your familiarity with instant gratification will only harm you in the real world. I don't care how good your fuckin resume is either, I wouldn't hire ANYONE who hasn't been in Asia, no matter how sexy the CV is, people in and just out of academia struggle with this but in reality that MBA doesn't teach you much except how to do paperwork, it certainly doesn't teach you how deal with a dodgy factory laoban in Dongguan, how to handle incredibly unprofessional suppliers, or any of the other tightrope walks you need to pull off daily in this new economy hack show.
There are a lot of talented people here working jobs below their abilities, you are nothing special, and if you want to be something special you need to come prove it, whinging on a messageboard about not wanting to teach is a bad look.

[Mr He]

I do better than I would do in any teaching job here, a damn sight better, to be honest.

So eating a turd sandwich is better than eating a raw turd? Yummy.

Did you arrive speaking Mandarin? Did you arrive in the middle of a global depression? You must make your situation clear, if you want your evidence to be listened too...

I would not call my life here eating a turd sandwich, I am the master of my destiny, and I have done nicely here, thank you. Better than most. May I put it that way, I am not taking orders from a Taiwanese boss, I am the one giving them, end of story. Gives you a different perspective on things.

I arrived during the dot com bust, actually. Moreover, I have introduced people to my former workplace earlier, and they got jobs. It is indeed possible. Still now. I have seen people with a semi-decent grasp of Chinese doing it. That said, my Chinese was good when I arrived, I have a masters degree in Asian Studies.

I say that with a degree in economics and good Chinese, he should try something similar. There are openings here, and succesful foreigners too.

You need determination and you need to work hard initially, however that's the same all over the world.

[Mr He]

Non teaching options:

1- have a foreign company send you here
2- get hired by a company here, but you'll need two years experience in the field
3- come here and slave away at local wages (not recommended, and you'll still need the 2 years)
4- start your own business (this usually involves being here a while and learning the lay of the land).
5- smuggle drugs and sell them

I would not recommend no 5. I do not know the amount of experience our OP has, however it can be... errm doctored. I came out with a fresh masters, and applied for my work permit based on some semi-bogus references and my BA.

Deuce Dropper knows what he's talking about, I have tried 2-3 and ended up with 4.

Note that it took me 3 years before it was giving me a regular income. If you can teach part time while getting the company off the ground, you are set.

Whatever - I calculated that since starting my average salary has only been some NT$170k per month, however most of that has fallen since 2008, go figure. Starting is tough.

Also, nothing gets you nothing, you have to work hard for it. I did not get what I have for free.

[superking]

I have seen people with a semi-decent grasp of Chinese doing it. That said, my Chinese was good when I arrived, I have a masters degree in Asian Studies.

I say that with a degree in economics and good Chinese, he should try something similar. There are openings here, and succesful foreigners too.

You need determination and you need to work hard initially, however that's the same all over the world.

So really if you didn't have any Chinese when you arrived would you still offer the same advice?

Pretty much NOBODY who can't speak Chinese can do fuck all in Taiwan. English teachers in Taiwan are not fuck knuckles. They are just illiterate. Is there a decent life in Taiwan that doesnt involve teaching? YES, but you either need to stay for 20 years and be lucky, or arrive with something to sell, or you need to speak the Mando like you are native.

[tommy525]

Being able to speak Mandarin will very much broaden your horizon in TAiwan . And very good if your horizon is small to being with. It may be good to start by teaching english to get your foot in the door.

Ultimately Taiwan is about LIVING. Theres lots to learn living in Taiwan. Its fast paced in many ways while laid back in others. Your life can take a dramatic turn by meeting the right person or persons and new doors can open while old ones close.

It really is about being alive. Being in Taiwan is about being alive, taking chances, doing what you have to do, maxing on opportunities. Once you can hack it, and it takes a while to gain that skill, you will for sure be a better man for it.

Try it, it will either repulse you or attract you but it wont be neutral.

[Mr He]

The OP speaks Chinese, he alluded to that in his post.

And - for f**** sake. If you want to stay here and you need to learn chinese, teach part time, and enroll in a university program for a year learning the lingo. Supplement by getting a local girlfriend. How hard can that be??!!??

I came here as a student in 1995, and spoke a little only. After 18 months here on a not very strenious schedule, I spoke it well. It is by no means impossible. I know several here who have done it.

[headhonchoII]

You wouldn't come to Taiwan to further a career in the old sense of the word. But unless you work for the government or some specialised industry career is something that most of us have little knowledge of these days. I know many quality people all over the world who have been made redundant/laid off/fired numerous times. So careers are over rated too. Just pick up skills, experience and be flexible.
There are supposedly more easy entries in China but now everybody and their donkey is thinking the same thing I don't think that is so true. People want to see your skills and experience, then you will get a decent job.
Usually you just have to start from somewhere and play if from there.

[superking]

The OP speaks Chinese, he alluded to that in his post.

And - for f**** sake. If you want to stay here and you need to learn chinese, teach part time, and enroll in a university program for a year learning the lingo. Supplement by getting a local girlfriend. How hard can that be??!!??

I came here as a student in 1995, and spoke a little only. After 18 months here on a not very strenious schedule, I spoke it well. It is by no means impossible. I know several here who have done it.

WHERE is the allusion? I can't see it. And I bet most of your mates would surprise you by how little Mando they can speak... even after 20 years.....

The only people I know in Taiwan with GOOD jobs either speak flawless Mando, or they have been there so long the locals just gave them a good job to shut them up.

[Mr He]

... I really enjoy getting to use my Chinese in daily life...

OP speaks at least some.

And for f**** sake, if he is fairly young, and his chinese still needs some buffing up, he can spend 6 months learning, and doing some teaching to keep him in beer and girlfriends.

Again, come on how hard can that be.

Friends here I know speaking Chinese well. 1. German college professor, lawyer. Learned for one year, speaks well.

A handful of finance professionals, some with degrees in it, some who learned at the MTC while teaching.

My GF learned it in her workplace, she speaks well, but has been here for umpteen years.

Heck, a guy like MJB speaks Chinese too.

It's not an impossible task, a little planning goes a long way.

[superking]

OP should just move to DC and stop worrying about the coins in his cousins' pockets.

Mr He, I have no desire to argue with you, but you are looking through rose tinted specs. Is it worth leaving USA to move to Taiwan to try to make better money and NOT teach? DUH. NO. YOU have a never say die attitude. I've been reading your posts for 8 to 10 years. Nothing beats you down, my hat is off to you for that. You are resilient BUT other people are not you.

Should I move to Taiwan to make better money? NOPE NOPE NOPE.
Should I move to DC? YES YES YES.