Relocate to Bangkok

verdidnt

Is there anyone out there who has relocated to Bangkok and is not working as a teacher or set up their own business?

As expected, i'm finding it difficult hard to a get a look in job-wise in the IT sector as the bulk of jobs are reserved for "Thai nationals only". I hold a degree and have gained almost 10 years experience but still I fail to get a reply from most job applications. The fact that I am applying for jobs from outside of the country obviously doesn't help, but I'm sure this doesn't make it impossible either.

Is there anyone out there who has had any luck? I use the usual plethora of job sites such as jobsdb, thaijobs etc but I am unaware of any agencies or sites that are specific to relocating or geared towards foreigners seeking work there.

Any advice is much appreciated

daveyboy_1ie

Can you speak the language?

Travelled the region plenty of times and loved it, beutiful country and people (am sure some idiots are gonna quote that and come up with the usual 'I bet you did' stereotypical view)

But I was in a different situation, I was only travelling and had savings, and never ever thought of living there permantly and doing the everyday thing, for me it was a very extended holiday.

But like all countries, to live and work there you need the language of the locals otherwise how do you expect to be of value to an employer?

verdidnt

I don't speak Thai but the majority of working ex-pats in Bangkok don't speak Thai either. Funnily enough most of the IT jobs require fluency in English and I have been targeting mostly multi-nationals. Bangkok is a financial hub of SE Asia with many different nationalities working for many different multi-national companies. I don't think not being able to speak Thai is a big hinderance and most Thai's have a good command of US english.

What it seems to boil down to is that if you have a skill that an employer requires and they can't find a local with that skill, they will then hire a foreigner.

nitrogen

Verdidnt, the majority of expats there were transferred by their company. As you've seen from the job sites, most jobs are reserved for Thai nationals. What area of IT do you have your experience? You would want to be quite specialised in your field to even have a chance.

I've spent time there as a tourist and also residing there for a spell looking for IT work, which failed (Actually, I did get a job there but the pay was local standard and wasn't worth accepting). My advice is not to go without a job.

bringitdown

May not be 100% equal but here are my experiences in the IT sector in Kuala Lumpur:

- Salaries are 1/4 of Irish IT salaries on average for a 'normal' position.
- Do not expect any company to consider you for a 'normal' position.
- The only positions available to ex-pats are generally executive level (manager, VP, director, etc).
- Transfers are the norm - just as I was transferred.
- Ex-pat networking / referencing is probably the best way to learn of positions that don't arise from transfers, but generally you need on the ground experience in the culture and country to really be in with a chance at all.

The people I have encountered working in IT in Thailand are either as I said ex-pats execs or doing something such that they can work remotely from Thailand.

ArseBurger

Expat positions are a chicken and egg thing.

Most international companies only hire expats that have previously been expats before. This is for a number of reasons - primarily, however, they don't want you getting homesick and bailing after a few months only to find they have to replace you. And to prove you won't go nuts (a standard clause in expat contracts is that they release any duty of care if you "become unsound of mind").

Also note that expat positions are 'expat package' - as in you get the benefits for that type of job. i.e. tax free salary (the company will pay your local and external taxes (US citizens etc...) on your behalf), a number of return flights to your home country per year, moving allowance for your belongings, paid house with utilities, phone, international expat health insurance, vehicle, body guards if required, K&R insurance, schooling for your children, amongst other benefits.

As you might expect, they don't hand these positions out easily. You, generally, need to be expert in your field and have international experience. i.e. They pay for what they get.