Hello everyone,
This topic is near and dear to my heart (as those of you who know me will know by now...) and I thought it was high time to write a blog entry about the ups and downs of job hunting and working in Taiwan. This goes without saying, but even so I feel I need to say it again; these are my opinions only and although people have different experiences, I try my best to share the info I have collected over my time here (but it may not necessarily reflect your experience!).
Working in Taiwan: The Pros
I was chatting with Jenny the other day about a conversation she had with one of her Taiwanese colleagues regarding the treatment of foreigners (specifically white-collar, and usually Western/white foreigners... this does not include south east Asians, for example, who are treated very differently) and the truth is that white collar foreign workers are typically treated decently well. For example, if you come to work in Taiwan, your company will likely take care of all of the necessary paperwork, you will generally receive basic training, and although your company/school will probably not provide housing (which some may argue is a good thing!), they will help you find your own housing nearby (and really anything else you need). In fact, many companies will hold your hand through whatever it is that you need, including getting a plumber or electrician to your house should you need one, and even setting up your cell phone.
The reason for this is simple: while in English-speaking countries there is a clear expectation of English fluency, Taiwan has no such expectation with Chinese. In fact, in some cases (mostly if you teach English) you may even be overtly discouraged from learning or speaking Chinese. This means that such workers spend most of their day in an English-speaking environment and will probably have little need to actually use Chinese. In addition, it is relatively easy to get your daily essentials done (groceries, etc) without any use of Chinese at all. For many people, this may mean a smoother transition into working here since workers do not have to try very hard (if at all) to learn Chinese. And believe me, learning Chinese is no small hurdle!
Working conditions in general are favorable for the white collar worker. In fact, for those looking to maximize their profit for local travel while putting in fewer hours, Taiwan is one of the best places to be. Legal full time in Taiwan is not 40 hours a week, as in Western countries, but 14 hours a week paid per hour, and although you might be hard pressed to live lavishly on 14 hours (most people usually work around 20, but it is possible to live modestly on 14 hours), it is certainly possible to work fewer hours for your bread and butter. In this case, you may find you have a relatively open schedule to do other things you really enjoy like traveling around Taiwan, hot-spring hopping, or getting involved with local clubs or groups.
Typical, cross-boarder/cultures/country office drama aside (read: office drama happens everywhere, don't expect it to be any different here!), the average workplace itself often provides a supportive and pleasant work experience. As long as you're polite, you can pretty much get anything you need done, and usually in a timely manner. This makes the ease of transitioning into a position here relatively easy, both in terms of adapting to your new job and to the environment (within the job and in the community at large).
Standard of living in Taiwan is comparatively high to many of its Asian neighbors, and for just 30,000NT (about 1,000 USD) a month, a single person can maintain a good, but modest standard of living. Bare in mind that the cost of living is comparatively low. For about 45,000NT (1,500 USD) a month, a western foreigner can maintain a lifestyle similar to what they would enjoy at home with frequent drinks and meals out, and the sporadic shopping splurge on electronics. At about 60,000NT per month, this is estimated to be equivalent to earning 100K USD per year back home. With this amount, frequent traveling or child (or pet!) rearing is possible, and it just so happens that this is the bracket most western foreigners with work experience find themselves in; it's the reason most people stay. However, starting out, you can expect to make around $45,000nt per month as most places start the hourly wage at $600-$620nt, regardless of experience. Keep in mind that foreigners are taxed at 20% when they first arrive and health insurance is also taken out, so take home will be less.
Another tick in favor of working in Taiwan is the seemingly friendly nature of the Taiwanese people. Despite the general lack of Chinese ability, Taiwanese people tend to put their best face forward when dealing with white collar workers. In fact, many people I have encountered often regale me of tales in which they were helped or their lives somehow improved by a passing Taiwanese person who happened to be in the right place at the right time. And truth be told, Taiwanese people will help you out best they can (as most people hopefully would), especially if you can speak a little Chinese.
One final vote in favor of Taiwan is its health insurance. Rated as the best in the world, there really is no denying that Taiwan's health insurance is great for the everyday ills, especially since there are clinics everywhere and you can choose between Western and Traditional Chinese medicine. As long as you're working, you can pop into a clinic and see a doctor and get your medicine for about 100-150nt ($3-5 USD). Wait times at either type of clinic with an appointment are typically between 10-30 minutes, without an appointment up to an hour. Generally, health care in Taiwan is easy, cheap, and convenient!
*Update: Before leaving Taiwan I suffered from severe dehydration and had to have an ambulance called to take me to triage. The ambulance, three hours of IV, and misc. doctor's fees totaled $25.00 USD. Taiwan's health insurance is truly the best in the world. In the US, the ambulance alone would have cost $150, and the total would have been around $500, even with health insurance.
Sound good? The impression one gets is generally that Taiwan is a wonderful place to be and for the most part, it is- decent work, friendly people, no need to learn the local language, but be warned... for those of us who speak Chinese, there is another side to Taiwan...!
This topic is near and dear to my heart (as those of you who know me will know by now...) and I thought it was high time to write a blog entry about the ups and downs of job hunting and working in Taiwan. This goes without saying, but even so I feel I need to say it again; these are my opinions only and although people have different experiences, I try my best to share the info I have collected over my time here (but it may not necessarily reflect your experience!).
Working in Taiwan: The Pros
I was chatting with Jenny the other day about a conversation she had with one of her Taiwanese colleagues regarding the treatment of foreigners (specifically white-collar, and usually Western/white foreigners... this does not include south east Asians, for example, who are treated very differently) and the truth is that white collar foreign workers are typically treated decently well. For example, if you come to work in Taiwan, your company will likely take care of all of the necessary paperwork, you will generally receive basic training, and although your company/school will probably not provide housing (which some may argue is a good thing!), they will help you find your own housing nearby (and really anything else you need). In fact, many companies will hold your hand through whatever it is that you need, including getting a plumber or electrician to your house should you need one, and even setting up your cell phone.
The reason for this is simple: while in English-speaking countries there is a clear expectation of English fluency, Taiwan has no such expectation with Chinese. In fact, in some cases (mostly if you teach English) you may even be overtly discouraged from learning or speaking Chinese. This means that such workers spend most of their day in an English-speaking environment and will probably have little need to actually use Chinese. In addition, it is relatively easy to get your daily essentials done (groceries, etc) without any use of Chinese at all. For many people, this may mean a smoother transition into working here since workers do not have to try very hard (if at all) to learn Chinese. And believe me, learning Chinese is no small hurdle!
Working conditions in general are favorable for the white collar worker. In fact, for those looking to maximize their profit for local travel while putting in fewer hours, Taiwan is one of the best places to be. Legal full time in Taiwan is not 40 hours a week, as in Western countries, but 14 hours a week paid per hour, and although you might be hard pressed to live lavishly on 14 hours (most people usually work around 20, but it is possible to live modestly on 14 hours), it is certainly possible to work fewer hours for your bread and butter. In this case, you may find you have a relatively open schedule to do other things you really enjoy like traveling around Taiwan, hot-spring hopping, or getting involved with local clubs or groups.
Typical, cross-boarder/cultures/country office drama aside (read: office drama happens everywhere, don't expect it to be any different here!), the average workplace itself often provides a supportive and pleasant work experience. As long as you're polite, you can pretty much get anything you need done, and usually in a timely manner. This makes the ease of transitioning into a position here relatively easy, both in terms of adapting to your new job and to the environment (within the job and in the community at large).
Standard of living in Taiwan is comparatively high to many of its Asian neighbors, and for just 30,000NT (about 1,000 USD) a month, a single person can maintain a good, but modest standard of living. Bare in mind that the cost of living is comparatively low. For about 45,000NT (1,500 USD) a month, a western foreigner can maintain a lifestyle similar to what they would enjoy at home with frequent drinks and meals out, and the sporadic shopping splurge on electronics. At about 60,000NT per month, this is estimated to be equivalent to earning 100K USD per year back home. With this amount, frequent traveling or child (or pet!) rearing is possible, and it just so happens that this is the bracket most western foreigners with work experience find themselves in; it's the reason most people stay. However, starting out, you can expect to make around $45,000nt per month as most places start the hourly wage at $600-$620nt, regardless of experience. Keep in mind that foreigners are taxed at 20% when they first arrive and health insurance is also taken out, so take home will be less.
Another tick in favor of working in Taiwan is the seemingly friendly nature of the Taiwanese people. Despite the general lack of Chinese ability, Taiwanese people tend to put their best face forward when dealing with white collar workers. In fact, many people I have encountered often regale me of tales in which they were helped or their lives somehow improved by a passing Taiwanese person who happened to be in the right place at the right time. And truth be told, Taiwanese people will help you out best they can (as most people hopefully would), especially if you can speak a little Chinese.
One final vote in favor of Taiwan is its health insurance. Rated as the best in the world, there really is no denying that Taiwan's health insurance is great for the everyday ills, especially since there are clinics everywhere and you can choose between Western and Traditional Chinese medicine. As long as you're working, you can pop into a clinic and see a doctor and get your medicine for about 100-150nt ($3-5 USD). Wait times at either type of clinic with an appointment are typically between 10-30 minutes, without an appointment up to an hour. Generally, health care in Taiwan is easy, cheap, and convenient!
*Update: Before leaving Taiwan I suffered from severe dehydration and had to have an ambulance called to take me to triage. The ambulance, three hours of IV, and misc. doctor's fees totaled $25.00 USD. Taiwan's health insurance is truly the best in the world. In the US, the ambulance alone would have cost $150, and the total would have been around $500, even with health insurance.
Sound good? The impression one gets is generally that Taiwan is a wonderful place to be and for the most part, it is- decent work, friendly people, no need to learn the local language, but be warned... for those of us who speak Chinese, there is another side to Taiwan...!
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