【Article by CLC】
The Chinese Language Center is dedicated to providing students with strong language training while supporting their academic and career aspirations. To assist students planning to pursue higher education in Taiwan, CLC held university info sessions during the winter term (December to February) to help students prepare for the admission season in February. Recognizing that some students also aim to work in Taiwan, CLC invited French alumnus Thomas Goncalves to share his job-seeking journey at a career talk on March 14, the second week of the Spring term (March to May).

Under Taiwan’s employment regulations, foreign students with a local degree can apply for a work visa through a Points System, while those studying Mandarin must rely on employers to apply on their behalf. Furthermore, salary requirements also differ. These hurdles make job hunting particularly challenging for Chinese studying students in Taiwan.

Goncalves first came to Taiwan in 2016 on a Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) starting his language journey as a total beginner at CLC, and progressing to a high-intermediate level. He actively participated in competitions, winning awards in the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Speech Contest and the Rotary Club Mandarin & Taiwanese Speech Contest. Today, he works at Decathlon as an Omnichannel Sports Manager, leveraging his Mandarin skills and cross-cultural experience to gain a competitive edge.

During the talk, Goncalves emphasized, "A bold attempt is half success." Also, he further explained that Mandarin proficiency played a crucial role in his job-seeking process, helping him adapt to the workplace and enhancing his competitiveness. He recalled initially being rejected for a part-time job at Decathlon due to his limited Mandarin. Determined, he improved his language skills and reapplied—this time securing a position. At that time, Taiwan's regulations required Mandarin learners to study for a year before applying for a work permit, allowing up to 20 hours of part-time work per week Initially, Goncalves tested his adaptability to Taiwan’s work environment through part-time job under a student work permit. Later, he extended his stay with a Working Holiday Visa. Eventually, as he decided to build a long-term career in Taiwan, his proficiency in three languages and speech competition awards helped his company apply for a work visa under the "specialized skills" category. Although Taiwan’s work visa application process was challenging at the time—long and often discouraging—he received immense support from his Mandarin teacher, Ms. Kexin, WANG, as well as the CLC staff and colleagues at Decathlon. Thanks to their help, he successfully overcame these hurdles. He also noted that Taiwan has since relaxed work permit and Visa regulations, making it easier for foreign nationals to obtain work visas through various categories. In his case, he could get a Work Visa under the category of the "service, technical, cultural, and sports sectors."

Goncalves also shared insights on workplace differences between France and Taiwan, from professional etiquette to management styles. Adjusting wasn’t always easy, but his open mindset helped him navigate these challenges. Reflecting on his journey—from learning Mandarin to obtaining a work visa and building a life in Taiwan—he expressed pride in his persistence. Today, he is happily married and enjoys a fulfilling career.

During the Q&A, students asked about communication challenges at work. Goncalves admitted that understanding customers was initially tough due to Taiwanese accents and product terminology—a struggle that lasted three to four months. However, his Mandarin proficiency ultimately gave him a career advantage, helping him not only secure a job but also receive promotion opportunities. While he had the chance to transfer departments, he chose to stay in retail to interact more with customers to wanted to become more "Taiwanese."

The session received positive feedback, inspiring students to plan their careers early. Many expressed interest in similar talks featuring alumni from various industries. Goncalves also noted that several of his former CLC classmates have stayed in Taiwan for work, and they still keep in touch. The CLC even jokingly suggested hosting an "Alumni Homecoming" event.

Looking ahead, CLC will continue offering high-quality language training and career support, helping students transition smoothly into life in Taiwan.