First Interview

Wooohoo! My first job interview went well. I learned what to expect in future interviews, gained some insight into the expatriate network here, and most importantly, received an offer for a teaching demonstration.

NB: victory, not D-bag

In sum, it was pretty relaxed. I met the school's local recruiter at a Starbucks - in the Kaohsiung Cultural Center. Yep, Cultural Center. Oolong tea cost more than my usual lunch. Ok, anyhow, me: dress pants, shirt and tie. Him: cargo shorts, polo, bowling ball in camouflage. The interview was more a conversation. I talked about why I was in Kaohsiung and interested in teaching, my experience with kids, and my comfort-level presenting in front of groups.

In the process, I learned more about the expats and English teaching scene. There's a lot of camaraderie amongst the foreigners here - we come and go so exchange housing, mopeds, and furniture. It is definitely insular but inviting - I will take up the offer to go bowling on Mondays, but only after I lock down a job.

 When the interview ended I got an offer to teach a demonstration. It felt nice. I hitched a ride on the back of my interviewer's scooter and went to the school. I looked at the books, peeked in some classrooms, and met a few of the teachers. It seems like a cool place to work and I'm excited to demo tomorrow.