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bradwelljackson
Joined: 29 Aug 2004
Posts: 75
Location: Shakhty, Russia
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 Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 6:08 pm Post subject: Finding EFL job in Thailand by just showing up - likelihood? |
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What if I decide to just show up in Thailand and start looking for a job? Is the likelihood good that I will find one, especially in the current political climate?
Here are my particulars, though I hope this thread can benifit other as well:
Male US citizen in his 40's
Fomer EFL teacher - seven years experience
CELTA, B.A. degree
Thank you all in advance! |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:59 pm Post subject: Re: Finding EFL job in Thailand by just showing up - likelih |
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| bradwelljackson wrote: |
What if I decide to just show up in Thailand and start looking for a job? Is the likelihood good that I will find one, especially in the current political climate?
Here are my particulars, though I hope this thread can benifit other as well:
Male US citizen in his 40's
Fomer EFL teacher - seven years experience
CELTA, B.A. degree
Thank you all in advance! |
US passport = check
degree = check
transcripts = unknown but should be obtainable.
You can obtain a non-b visa and work permit (after you find a job).
Legal work is possible (provided you are under 60).
Most jobs are found while the applicant is in the country.
Most out of country applicants (for entry level EFL jobs) are ignored by everyone but the worst (who can't recruit locally due to their bad reputation).
The best times to be here are April (just before the school year begins) and October (the mid year break when replacement teachers are often sought as replacements for those who need replacing).
The worst times to be here looking are Dec - Feb (when the school year is winding down and the backpacker crowd will take anything they can find to extend their stay in the sun rather than go home to the snow).
*caveats for potential long timers
- if you plan to stay in Thailand for the long haul then you will need to get your Thai Teacher's license. Without it your stay will end at about 4 years OR you will live at the edges doing regular border runs and not having a work permit.
- The TCT (Thai Council of Teachers is making life more difficult) for teachers who are unlicensed. http://site.ksp.or.th/download.php?site=englishsite&SiteMenuID=29&Sys_Page=2&Sys_PageSize=20 . Start at number 23 and work your way to the top.
- immigration is cracking down on border runners and denying entry to "long stay" crossers with multiple border run stamps.
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bradwelljackson
Joined: 29 Aug 2004
Posts: 75
Location: Shakhty, Russia
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Thank you, Suphanburi! Much appreciated. |
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EFL Educator
Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 2:34 am Post subject: |
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Hello there,
Just show up plenty of Thai and ELT institutes and schools everywhere ...and don't forget to wear a three piece suit, tie and nice, polished, black, and super shined leather shoes to the busy nesses! Make sure your briecfase (DO NOT CARRY A BACKBACK) is also loaded with all your ORIGINAL documents...including degrees, transcripts and/or university registrar certificates, teaching certificates (your CELTA), work references (original company letterheads), a Police Report (FBI CBI Report if coming from the US), and make sure your bring enough money to last you for a few months till you receive any income...say US 3,000 +++....and don't forget to bring a return air ticket in case ALL your plans backfire. Good luck!  |
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MaiPenRai
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Location: BKK
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 2:50 am Post subject: |
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Mostly good advice, but a few problems
| Quote: |
| Most out of country applicants (for entry level EFL jobs) are ignored by everyone but the worst (who can't recruit locally due to their bad reputation). |
Many people accept jobs while out of country because they are entry level (beginner teachers). People who have been in Thailand for 1 year or more tend to make connections and get experience in order to move into better situations. Its not necessarily that these jobs have bad reputations (some do though), but that they are entry level jobs and are good for entry level teachers.
| Quote: |
*caveats for potential long timers
- if you plan to stay in Thailand for the long haul then you will need to get your Thai Teacher's license. Without it your stay will end at about 4 years OR you will live at the edges doing regular border runs and not having a work permit. |
It is also becoming more and more difficult to change employers while operating on a teacher license WAIVER (needed if you dont have B.Ed or PGCE/PGDE). A lot depends on a school's connections at Immigration, MOE, Labour Dept. and TCT.
OP: With 7 years exp and a CELTA and B.A., if you look and act professionally, you should have no problem finding work. Look for 40,000-50,000 in Bangkok, but if you find a good situation that pays less, you can always supplement your income with private/evening/weekend classes.
Assumption BELL program is almost always hiring. I think they start at about 50,000/month. Mostly Brits, but can always try. |
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EFL Educator
Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 5:20 am Post subject: |
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Hello there,
In Thailand appearances mean everything so showing up at one's doorstep or company reception desk is probably the best way to find a decent job teaching English. Otherwise one must literally compete with the hundreds (if not thousands) of EFL teachers looking for jobs on EFL websites in Thailand! Good luck! |
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bradwelljackson
Joined: 29 Aug 2004
Posts: 75
Location: Shakhty, Russia
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 1:15 am Post subject: |
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Thank you all for your gracious replies. This is much appreciated.
So, do you *have* to bring your original documents, or can you get by without them? |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 1:51 am Post subject: |
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| bradwelljackson wrote: |
Thank you all for your gracious replies. This is much appreciated.
So, do you *have* to bring your original documents, or can you get by without them? |
In the past you could get by with copies or just "letters" on letterhead.
Currently, they (immigration for the change of status on your visa, labor for the work permit, and the Teachers Council for your provisional teacher's permit) are asking to see the originals to compare with.
They don't take them or keep them but they do compare the copies in the applications to the originals in your possession (then hand the originals back to you).
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EFL Educator
Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 2:53 am Post subject: |
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Hello there,
Bring ALL your originals with you...they just want an excuse to reject your application,,,,don't give it to them! Good luck! |
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IvanaShaanxi
Joined: 18 Jun 2012
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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hello, what about a on/native English speaker_ is it possible for us to find a job in Thailand
and what do teachers without work permits do> is the situatioon similar to the one in China
thank you |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| IvanaShaanxi wrote: |
hello, what about a on/native English speaker_ is it possible for us to find a job in Thailand
and what do teachers without work permits do> is the situation similar to the one in China
thank you |
Non native speakers can find work and get work permits.
In addition to the degree they also need to produce a TOEIC certificate (IELTS or TOEFL) are also acceptable. The minimum score is 600 and the certificate needs to be less than 2 years old at the time of your visa application.
You will usually be paid less (15-25000).
Teachers without a non-b and work permit will have a short career. Currently, immigration is allowing 2 or 3 back to back border runs (180 days in total) then denying entry for 180 days.
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IvanaShaanxi
Joined: 18 Jun 2012
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:25 am Post subject: |
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thanks
are you sure about the work permit? in china it's impossible to get it now if you're a non-native.
but the salaries offered in thailand are too low- in china non-natives can earn at least 1200 euros per month (in bigger cities like shhenzhen, beijing, etc)
thanks again in advance |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:51 am Post subject: |
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Sure about the visa and work permit = yes.
I have more than 50 NNES teachers on staff. They all have a proper visa (non-B) and a work permit as a teacher.
Sure about salaries = also yes.
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IvanaShaanxi
Joined: 18 Jun 2012
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you. what does it take to get that higher amount of 25000? is it possible to earn some extra money by moonlighting?
also, do years of experience count?
Thanks! |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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| IvanaShaanxi wrote: |
Thank you. what does it take to get that higher amount of 25000? is it possible to earn some extra money by moonlighting?
also, do years of experience count?
Thanks! |
for 25k? A TOEIC of 900+, teacher certifications, experience, all count toward what you are worth to an employer.
A post graduate level degree in a teachable subject will earn you more than you would earn teaching EFL.
With a generic BA, a TEFL cert and a bit of experience you will pretty much start where every else starts; at the bottom.
In a government school you get the fixed rate (<20k) and will likely never rise above that level.
In a private school you are worth the number of students you can bring in and keep.
If you are very good and very popular then you can expect to make more.
If your student retention rates for students is high then you can earn more.
If students regularly leave after 1 teaching session (20 hours of classes) on a regular basis then you can expect to earn less or lose your job pretty quickly.
In all cases you will, like any other teacher changing countries, start at the bottom of the EFL ladder and have to work yourself up.
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