Working in Asia?

Wishfulthink

Hi all

Just wondering if any of you are or in the past have worked in asia? What type of work did you do and how did you get it?

I want to spend a few years there at least as i love the energy of the place (well the places ive been anyway) and the lifestyle expats can enjoy over their with out actually being extremely wealthy.

I have an undergraduate and masters degree (Research) in a very small and not very commercialized field. Just recently graduated so have no experience (summer jobs were laboring etc etc) Unfortunately their are no major Irish companies in this area so getting good work in this field here or even the dream of being posted to asia is not possible.

I am willing to do the whole teach english thing (have the cert!) for a short while to get my foot in the door but thats all (tis not a career and too many bitter old men in that field especially in asia, well from what i have read over on esl cafe anyway).

The countries i am looking at going too would be the SE asian (1. Thailand 2.Cambodia 3. Nam) and also mainland China. I would prefer the south east asian countries but i think the greater opportunities and career progression is to be found in China. Knowing this i have begun to learn mandarin and have got the oral basics down (thank you pimsleur!!)

So i suppose what i am asking is what is the general situation for expats securing relatively well paid job in asia and what is the best way about getting them? Secure before you go with Multinational (im restless!!) or get them when you are out there? Am i just dreaming or do i stand a chance, or there many other people in the same boat as me?

Well any thoughts, advice, suggestions or experiences are all welcome

tomrei

Hi Wishfulthink,

I'm glad that you are interested in exploring Asian.

For my experience, china is a much better place to live and work than 1. Thailand 2.Cambodia 3. Nam.
those countries are more suit for travel for a short time.

With the Economic booming, may industries have grown fast, china needs more people with high educations and skills.
same time facing the challenge around the world, Chinese people are really interested in study English.
there are many "English language schools" in big cities along the east cost which have all the foreign people teaching English.
as from a english speaking country, you can get a reletively well paid job in one of those schools.(what a easy money).
you don't need to find the job before you go.
by doing this, you can live reletivly easy in china, but not be able to save much money(the exchange rate is low). it's good for to get to know the place.


there may not be an irish compay in china, but there are plenty american and british company there, you may as well find a work in an american company here and ask to transfer to china later.(believe me, china is becoming a big market for many of the company now).

anyway, carefully choose the city you are going, different city there could be really different.
i'm sure you'll have a good time there.

Wishfulthink

hey tomrei

thanks for your advice.

Yeah i know my best chances probably lie in china but i think maybe there are so many ppl looking that way that there could be a good niche market in thailand approx population 65M vietnam approx population 82M?

Oh well i will keep looking

still looking for experiances and advice

thanks

Millionaire

I moved to Thailand in Dec 05, and I work recruitment into ireland, thanks to VOIP phone technology.

Its the best move I ever made, I love it here, cheap living, hot sun, thai kickboxing daily and making money out of Ireland!

Great to leave the Dublin expensive rat race behind!

Teaching english is what many foreigners do over there.

Wishfulthink

Hey

Was sent this link seems like a great site for working in asia

wwww.jobsdb.com

orangen

Japan, Korea and China are probably the easiest places to get teaching jobs in Asia. Each has their own benefits:
Japan pays best and has a high standard of living (but also has a high cost of living)
China pays less, has a lower standard of living and a lower cost of living.
I recommend Korea though, It has a nice standard of living, it's not awfully expensive and the pay is ok. You can easily save 500 dollars a month (800 if you "go Korean").
Work there for a year and spend 6 months lying on a beach in Thailand.