How to Find Part-time Jobs As an International Student in Taiwan

Pursuing higher education in Taiwan has only become increasingly popular this past decade -  students from Southeast Asia, Latin America, and all parts of the world all gather to study in Taiwan as international students. Not only is Taiwan a safe, convenient and affordable country to study in, Taiwan’s quality education and open field of wonderful opportunities are factors that truly attract students to study in Taiwan. Additionally, planning to study in Taiwan can be hassle-free if prepared well.

Have you ever wondered how part-time jobs in Taiwan for students are? Are there plenty of opportunities? Opportunities for part-time jobs are often considered by many when deciding which overseas country to study in, and there is great news for incoming international students going to Taiwan!

Known to many, part-time jobs for international students in Taiwan are not at all difficult to land on, pays well and also pleasant to do! Your lack of Chinese fluency will not make you jobless here - you just need to prepare a few documents, search for the right opportunities and let your CV or interview performance impress your recruiter. 

Can students do part-time jobs in Taiwan? Yes they can, but only with proper documents! Without the correct documents, you might lose your chance of landing your part-time job in Taiwan! Taiwan regulates the job market quite strictly, and employers will not be able to legally recruit you without the following documents:

1. ARC

Alien Residence Certificate, or known short as ARC, is your identification card that acts as a proof of legal residence in Taiwan. In other words, people will know that you are legally registered as an international student at an official Taiwanese education institution if you have your ARC! International students are usually required to apply for one straight away after landing in Taiwan. 

2. Work permit

Every student needs to apply and obtain an official work permit issued by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) in order to be able to work legally in Taiwan. Each permit is usually valid only for one semester or six months - students need to reapply whenever their work permit is no longer valid.  

Remember, you can't work in Taiwan, no matter what the position might be, part-time, intern, to name a few. Without a valid working permit, you can be fined and even deported from Taiwan.

There is a wide variety of jobs in the Taiwanese job market for foreigners - chances are, you will easily find one that perfectly suits you! Every job requires different capabilities and terms, below are the different kinds of part time jobs in Taiwan for international students: 

1. Non academic jobs

If you are worried that you do not have any specific skill sets or expertise to offer for your part-time job, worry not - there are many opportunities that do not require you to have a specific academic background!

Examples of non-academic jobs:

• Working in a restaurant
• Working as a barista
• Working as a sale assistant (only if you know Chinese)
• Modeling / acting 
  

Non-academic part-time jobs in Taiwan for international students are not paid below the minimum wage, which is currently NTD 180/hour (backed up by the Taiwanese government). Considering that living expenses in Taiwan are relatively affordable, this minimum wage can be said to be great indeed!

2. Academic jobs

Academic jobs will offer you more than just being able to earn additional bucks for your studies here - the experience and growth it rewards you with, can certainly be useful for your future career. Some part-time academic job opportunities require some sort of qualification, such as academic background or certificates. That being said, most of them can be considered quite standard and reasonable. 

Examples of academic jobs:

• Research assistant / Teaching assistant
• Translator
• Teaching language in a cram school 
• Internships at companies (may require more experience) 

In order to look for ​part time job in Taiwan for foreigners that really suits you, you should do your job-hunt well! There are several ways you can look for an internship or  part-time job in Taiwan:

1. Online job search portal — CakeResume

CakeResume is a job search platform with thousands of postings for work in Taiwan, including internship and part-time opportunities for students. Many of Cakeresume’s job listings are foreigner-friendly opportunities, which is perfect for international students. 

Cakeresume also has specific features that can ease the process of finding a job that suits you best! Land on an internship or part-time job in your desired field, at your desired company/area, with your desired pay through Cakeresume!

2. Facebook groups

Facebook groups have been a popular resource for both local and international students to look for part-time jobs in Taiwan. Communities can indeed help you a lot - just in case a friend of a friend of a friend has the perfect opportunity for you! 

People usually join FB groups through friends’ invitations, broadcasted FB postings from groups, or by simply searching directly on the app. There are plenty of unique opportunities such as modeling or acting, and project-based part time job opportunities that can be found through FB groups!

3. School website or program

Many schools and universities post job listings and opportunities on their school website. Although most Taiwanese education institutions will most likely post using Chinese, if you are super lucky, they might just have one that is especially for international students. Some schools also have special internship programs that are created for international students - if you ever come across such opportunities, learn more about them to save the hassle of having to find one by yourself!

In addition to preparing the correct documents and searching for opportunities properly, there are still some useful tips if you are hunting for part-time jobs for international students in Taiwan:

1. Exceptional CV 

An outstanding CV will definitely catch the eye of your recruiter when your application is pooled with many other foreign talents! Normally, when applying for internships or other academic-related jobs, you will need a CV that stands out to make it to the interview stage before being offered the job. 

Cakeresume is also a resume builder website, providing a wide variety of templates to choose from, that allows you to build your CV with custom information directly on the website with ease.

2. Learn Chinese 

Even though there are plenty of opportunities for international students in Taiwan that do not require Chinese fluency, it cannot be denied that being able to converse, read and write in Chinese is definitely a plus point for you as a candidate when applying for jobs! 

Utilize your resources: take on a Chinese course at school, practice your Chinese with local friends, and continuously review what you have learnt to polish your Chinese fluency! 

3. Attend networking and job-related events

As international students, networking with university alumni and professionals through events such as job fairs can really expose you to the more special opportunities that might be available out there. Their advice and perhaps introductions to potential recruiters can be a great help! Additionally, it is always a good idea for students to be aware of the availability of university resources like career services offices and centers for international students for assistance in getting your part-time job in Taiwan. 


Conclusion

Taiwan presents a wide array of academic and non-academic job prospects for international students. Regardless of one's interests and skills, there is something suitable for everyone. Nevertheless, it is crucial for international students to obtain valid documents, such as an Alien Residence Certificate (ARC) and a work permit, to lawfully work in Taiwan.

International students can explore part-time job opportunities in Taiwan via various channels. For instance, CakeResume offers thousands of job postings, including internships and part-time work for students. Additionally, students can join relevant Facebook groups, refer to university websites and programs, and participate in job fairs and events to expand their professional network and search for part-time jobs in Taiwan. All these resources can significantly aid international students in their pursuit of part-time work in Taiwan.

— Originally written by Lorencia Ang —