Job Discussion Forums

[argonfly707]

Hi Guys,

I would love to work in Thailand but as far as education goes all I got is a College Diploma (2 years) and I will have a TESL certificate. I am a 22 year old male. Please someone let me know my chances of getting a job.

Thanks

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hello argonfly707


This topic seems to pop up about once a week on this forum.

The simple answer is "YES" - you can find a TEFL job in Thailand.

The slightly more complicated issue is ...

whether or not you'll end up with a work permit.


With a 2 year College Diploma and a TEFL cert,

I'd say your chances are pretty good.


By the way, don't mention the 2 year thing.

There's a very good chance that nobody will ask.

Just be sure to bring along the original diploma; not a copy!


reposted from The Master Index Thailand sticky post:



Q2.1: Do I need a university degree to qualify for a work permit? I'm getting conflicting information.

A2.1: Having a university degree is a general prerequisite for most schools in Thailand when it comes to hiring, but there are some exceptions to this rule, and there are people teaching English in Thailand without a degree who have also managed to obtain a work permit. In such cases, it's very important for the applicant to bring along original copies of all documentation he/she may have with regard to previous education & employment, including letters of reference, awards and any certificates one may have obtained over the years; whether directly applicable to TEFL or not. Documents which are notarized or have an official-looking stamp or seal on them will help to impress Thai Immigration Officials and assist your application. Your eventual success in obtaining the WP will depend to a large extent on 2 factors; the strength of the relationship between you and your employer, and the strength of the relationship between your employer and the Bureau of Immigration. Also worth mentioning here: Informed Thai TEFL Vets have reported that people without a degree have a greater chance of success in obtaining a work permit if they accept a position out in the provinces, rather than in Bangkok. i.e., Thai Immigration Officers (who have a lot of individual discretion in whether to approve your WP application or not) tend to be more lenient out in the provinces.