Sometimes when you are looking for an English teaching job in Taiwan, you don’t always have a lot of time. Perhaps your last employer didn’t give you much notice that they were not going to renew your contract, thus leaving you without an ARC. Or maybe you are new in Taiwan and your visitor’s visa is getting short on time. You need a job quick!
For help with finding work people often enlist the aid of a recruiter. Recruiters sometimes get a bad rap in Taiwan, and some of that negativity may be justified, but not all recruiters are the same. Regardless, it’s always a good idea to know what you are getting yourself into.
Pros
One major benefit that you get from working with a recruiter is that they have infinitely more contacts than you. While you may only need to look at different buxibans every year or so, it’s their job to be in contact with them daily. They will also have built relationships with smaller schools which you may never see advertise on any of the major English language outlets, if at all.
Because of their network, you have a very good chance at finding a job much faster with their assistance than on your own. If you are new and just want to get an ARC and revenue stream rather than spending a couple of months looking for the perfect situation, then a recruiter is right for you. They most likely already have openings that they want to fill so they too can get paid.
Cons
Just as they have some benefits, recruiters have some potential problems inherent with their services. Their business is to provide service to their customers, and never forget that their customers are the schools. They may treat you like you are the center of the universe for awhile, but that is because they want to sell you and your service for their gain, thus they don’t always have your best interest at heart.
Another potential downside of using an agent or recruiter is that they usually represent lower paying positions. It could be because of their commission taking a chunk of the available salary budget, or it could be due to the fact that many of the smaller schools simply cannot afford to pay huge salaries, but whatever the case, they often pay near the industry minimum. It’s very rare to find a higher paying English teaching job through a recruiter.
So Should You Use a Recruiter?
It’s really up to you and dependent on your situation. There are good recruiters out there that actually do want to treat both the buxibans they represent and the teachers they place fairly and equally. And while they often take a lot of heat for not offering the best positions and highest paying contracts, they are providing a valuable service to those in need of employment that they can not find on their own or in a timely manner.
If you choose to use a recruiter to help you find work then make sure to choose them carefully. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and if you don’t like what you hear or see remember that it’s OK to move on. Like buxibans, there is more than one recruiter in Taiwan.
I would like to apologize for the bad reputation that some
of the recruiters have branded themselves with. Most of the “horrible
recruiters” are probably independent recruiters working for themselves, thus
scamming teachers and schools for a higher profit.
But please do not categorize all recruiters to be dishonest
and a scam.
My name is Roy, I am a recruiter from Dewey International,
a multinational company, and the largest and most professional of our field in
Taiwan.
We offer contract transparency and most importantly, safety to all the teachers
who wish to come to Taiwan to teach.
We cooperate with public schools, private schools and cram schools all over
Taiwan.
Accommodation and Air fees (single or with spouse), airport pickup, insurance,
work permits and ARC’s are provided by us and we will personally assist you in
any problems you will encounter while living in Taiwan. For example, finding a
suitable apartment near your school, driving you to interviews, getting a
scooter/bike/car, showing you the best places to visit or shop, helping with
certificates and documents, and the occasional visit to your school to see how you are doing(with you
permission of course).
Of course we are still “recruiter”, we all have to make a
living, BUT we do not charge anything from the teachers. WE CHARGE ONLY THE
SCHOOLS FOR OUR SERVICES. Rest assured you will not have to pay a single dollar
to us.
We also filter, select and match-make the most suitable
teachers and schools to ensure the best quality for schools and Teachers alike.
We are strictly professional and would like to overturn the
awful reputations of recruiters.
If you could give me a chance and allow me to assist, I
would be ever-grateful!
Please contact me if you have any questions or are
interested in what I have to offer!
Email: roy@dewey.com.tw
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/esldewey/?fref=ts
Official Website: http://www.esldewey.com.tw/
Hello Roy,
My associate and I are planning to move to Taiwan to teach English in January 2017. I am in need of the many of the aspects that your above post touches on. I’d like to discuss this in more detail, if possible.