Graduation marks a transition in student's identity and serves as the starting point for experiences in the workplace, family, further education, and self-realization. Throughout this exploration, confusion, anxiety, challenges, and setbacks may be encountered. Remember to look around and consider that we may not need to face these challenges alone, perhaps we can make our journey more stable by seeking support. If you are a graduate, let's take stock of available resources before leaving and, when needed, explore relevant services and support after leaving school to help yourself !
Preparation before leaving school
1. NTU Career Center (NTUCACE)：
Various career exploration resources (UCAN Employment Competency Diagnosis Platform, CPAS Vocational Aptitude Diagnosis Test and lectures, etc.) can help assess your work abilities, aptitude, and occupational suitability.
Offers guidance on resume writing and interview skills, and consolidates internship and job information platforms both within and outside the school.
2. Application to leave school:
After logging into the NTU account, you can search for graduation, check the relevant procedures and unlocking progress before leaving school.
3. Student Counseling Center Office of Student Affairs：
Students identified under the "Special Education Evaluation Placement and Counseling" program can inquire with the Case Management Counselors before graduation for information on career lectures or employment transition resources.
Post-graduation livelihood resources
1. Employment-related resources:
Job searching can be a daunting and uncertain path for graduates. Before stable employment is secured, career exploration and skill enhancement can be viable options. The process of exploration may bring unexpected rewards upon successful employment.
- TaiwanJobs
Integrates services such as self-assessment, career exploration, skill training, job information, and entrepreneurial assistance provided by current labor agencies.
- Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor
Provides pre-employment exploration, training and enhancement resources during initial employment, and training services for those transitioning due to unemployment. Some training and exploration programs offer corresponding incentives. Besides vocational skill enhancement, the process of further education can also receive financial support.
- Local Government Labor Bureaus
In recent years, some local governments have implemented policies such as the "Youth Career Accumulation Passport Trial Program" and "Job-seeking Allowance" to encourage job-seeking plans. These policies usually target youth who are unemployed or not stably employed within a certain period (e.g., within four months after graduation). There may be rewards for those who successfully find employment after participating in relevant training or exploration tasks. It is recommended to search for the career development center or labor bureau of the current city to understand the available programs for the year.
2. Entrepreneurship-related resources:
To encourage youth innovation, the government provides support such as loan interest subsidies and incentives for innovative projects. It also organizes community resources to establish information platforms.
Living Resources
Housing is undoubtedly a major burden for young people. The current government-provided housing resources mainly include: the Ministry of the Interior's rental subsidy and social housing programs by various city and county governments. (Subsidies for special welfare groups, such as low-income households' housing repair subsidies, are not listed here.)
1. Ministry of the Interior Rental Subsidy：
Mainly divided into three categories: rent subsidies, self-purchased housing loan interest subsidies, and housing repair loan interest subsidies.
Restrictions: There are corresponding standards for the number of family-owned residences, total household income, movable assets, etc. (Check whether you qualify on the application page.)
2. Local Government Social Housing:
Based on the financial conditions of various city and county governments, this includes physically constructed social housing and "Social Housing Lease Management" through the platform, providing reasonably priced rent and basic quality through landlords within the jurisdiction.
Social Housing Application:
- Applicants usually need to be "registered, employed, or studying in the city or county," and family members should not own a residence in nearby cities or counties (e.g., New Taipei City specifies no ownership in Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung). They must also meet the family asset standards specified by the applying city or county. (The following provides links to social housing in Taipei and New Taipei)
- https://www.udd.gov.taipei/Collection/rng0lfk?page=1
- https://social-housing.planning.ntpc.gov.tw
Some cities promote the "Youth Feedback Program for Social Housing." If the proposal is approved, the applicant may enjoy a priority position separate from ordinary youth.
1. Social Housing Lease and Management
- This model involves providing a list of landlords within the county or city who have signed contracts, along with related rental subsidies and house insurance, and quality inspections. Eligible individuals or families can apply, and the eligibility criteria are similar to those mentioned for social housing. (Currently, Keelung City in the Taipei metropolitan area operates under this model.)
Resources for self-care after leaving school
Below is presented in three aspects: Workplace Employees, Public Sector Employees, and General Public.
- Self-Care Resources for Workplace Employees
- The physical and mental health in the workplace is a crucial factor affecting both work efficiency and personal life quality. If you are an employee, it's important to remember the following resources and channels.
- How to Access Health and Safety Information for Employees:
- Center for Occupational Accident Prevention and Rehabilitation：Provides various news, activities, and advocacy.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Ministry of Labor：Allows self-assessment of mental state and finding corresponding resources.
- Regional Labor Health Service Centers in North, Central, South, and East Taiwan: Provides information on counseling resources available nearby and inquiries about workplace health and safety maintenance issues.
- Free Consultation Hotline for Labor Health Services (0800-068580): Relevant information can be directly accessed on the Ministry of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Labor Health Care Information Platform.
- Company Support Available to Employees:
The Ministry of Labor offers assistance programs for company employees and subsidies for on-site medical professionals' services. Employees can inquire whether their company has applied for and provided these services.
- Employee Assistance Program（EAP）：Depending on the execution plan cooperated by each enterprise, it may include mental health seminars (such as providing employees with lectures on marriage, family, finance, law, stress management, emotional release, and work adaptation) or counseling services related to workplace and job issues to enhance employees' mental state and work effectiveness.
- On-site Medical Professional Services：Available for applications from employers with 50 or more employees, basic services include on-site health services for workers conducted by medical personnel. This includes analysis and assessment of health examination results, assessment and case management for high-risk workers, maternal health protection, prevention of work-related diseases, etc. Advanced services: If medical personnel assess that workers have prevention needs for mental illness, contracted personnel providing further consultation services (such as psychological counselors) can be engaged.
- Self-Care Resources for Public Sector EmployeesYou can inquire about the "Employee Assistance Program" from the personnel office of your department or agency. For example, in New Taipei City, Services such as counseling, career development exploration, and legal advice for employees can be found at the corresponding window in the New Taipei City Government's Personnel Office. Similarly, at national universities like National Taiwan University, the Personnel Office provides an Employee Assistance Program (Comprehensive Care Services).
- Community Counseling Resources
- City health bureaus provide community counseling services, offering affordable counseling resources to address emotional distress, stress adaptation, etc. They also provide mental health information, counseling after disasters or unfortunate events, etc. Additionally, community mental health centers organize growth courses or groups periodically.
- For more information, you can visit the Taipei City Mental Health Center's website. In Taipei City, residents can make appointments online or by phone to consult at various outpatient departments of Taipei Municipal Joint Hospitals (including district health service centers). The fee is NT$250 per session, including NT$50 registration fee and NT$200 self-pay counseling fee (fee adjustments may occur periodically based on frequency).
- Mental Health Support Program for Young People: From August 1, year 112 to July 31, year 113 (trial period of one year), individuals aged 15 to 30 with a need for psychological counseling can make appointments at cooperating institutions providing mental counseling services in various counties and cities. They are eligible for up to 3 free counseling sessions within one year.
List of Common Resources and Hotline
- List of Community Psychological Counseling Services in Various Cities
- Health and Welfare Department's Anxiety Hotline (24 hours): 1925
- Teacher Zhang Counseling Hotline: 1980 with service hours: Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 21:00, Sunday 09:00 - 17:00
- 24-Hour Protection Hotline: 113
- Social Welfare Consultation Hotline: 1957 with service hours: Daily 08:00 - 22:00
- Men's Care Hotline: 0800-013-999 with service hours: Daily 09:00 - 23:00
- Long-term Care Service Hotline: 1966
- Health and Welfare Department's Quit Smoking Service Consultation Hotline (including methods, diet, exercise): 0800-636-363 with service hours: Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 21:00
- Family Caregiver Care Hotline: 0800-507-272
- Elderly Counseling Service Center Hotline (for elderly family, interpersonal relationships, etc.): 0800-228-585 with service hours: Monday to Friday 08:30 - 12:00, 13:00 - 18:00
- Ministry of Education's Family Education Consultation Hotline (including marital parent-child communication, life adaptation, interpersonal relationships): 02-412-8185 with service hours: Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 12:00, 14:00 - 17:00; Monday to Friday 18:00 - 21:00
- Consumer Service Center: 1950 with service hours: Monday to Friday 08:30 - 17:00
- Tax Consultation: 0800-580-739
Wishing all graduates a safe and smooth journey, and a prosperous future!
NTUCSW
Edited by：王培根、方誼綸、程鈺欣
Date：111.5.30