Has Anyone Lived&Worked in SE Asia (long-term)??

serotonin_sam

I am interested in living in SE Asia on a long term basis. The tricky part here being finding a job that pays western pay rates. Just wondering if anyone here has lived in this region. If so, what did you work as??

I'm not referring to people who were travelling and took on seasonal work. I'm interested to hear from people who had proper jobs.

This is a medium term goal - and if theres a work area that i could retrain in - to get me out there, then i would be prepared to do just that to make it happen.

p.pete

Teaching English is the most obvious and probably easiest job to get into out there. Pay should be reasonably good in places like South Korea and Japan

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/index.php?sid=924ddf0467b011d6870da025eec3c965

tinkerbell

Well do you have any qualifications?

serotonin_sam

Qualifications yes...professional skills no..

I have a B.Sc (Hons.) in Land Managerment - something that i did at the time, never followed up by doing anything related to the course - so its of minimal value.

This is a medium term goal - not a quick fix...so if I came across something where it really was worthwhile retraining, then I would make the effort.

On the plus side, i'm single, in my early thirties - have no attachments and can do contract work no problem. Living in a third/developing world country would be a hindrance to many but would be welcome to me...

p.pete: I was on the verge of doing the teaching gig in south korea about three years ago - had the job lined up..they were going to send me flight tickets...but i chickened out at the last minute. Had been living on mainland europe and decided to come back to ireland. May well consider the teaching thing again - although it has its ups and downs...have heard of both good stories and horror stories..

Loco

you been there yet? i'de go for a few months just to check it out before making any decisions

i would defo live there.. but im tied up at uni

serotonin_sam

Yes, i have been there a few times. Its a different world. Have run into a quite a few people who are priveleged enough to have specific skills that allow them to live there earning western currency...but paying out at local economy prices, they are living like kings!

empirix

www.jobs-in-thailand.com

the above link is for expats etc, will pay you fairly decent but obviously not top dollar, there is a very good thai site with some English advertised jobs, i was actually offered 2 jobs, i am in the Testing(automation)/Development line, but they only pay Thai rates - still enough to live well over there(for that particular career choice), unfortunately i cant remeber the link, but do a search etc or check the thorn tree on lonely planet(do a search again).

Australia is kinda a good base to get a job in Bangkok and Singapore(paying western rates if not more!!), i am here now and have been for an interview for a Bangkok role but i was just a little inexperienced(management role), having said that a few always crop up every couple a weeks here, so heres hoping.

BTW, if you apply through the Thai sites, 29 is the max age they will consider you and Thai people for a whole lotta professional roles, why i don't jknow, but i have been told this is very common in Thailand, 30 must be past it in their books!!!

Anyway, good luck with it.

Hixfunk

I worked in Southern China for a while, and there are literally hundreds of jobs there for ex-pats. The Shanghai Daily newspaper used to have a jobs section which was only for western applicants......and believe me, the money is far superior to anything you will earn here performing the same function.