Job Discussion Forums

[allgetabong]

Hey, I've been looking through a few faq's and alot of it contradicts itself depending where I've read it, so it's time to ask you guys personally.

Long story short, early 20's, tired of America, always loved SE Asia, undergraduate with no degree, no prior experience, so I've heard Thailand's my best bet. I've read all about the hassles of working illegally (border hops etc), and I have no shame in working illegally as long as it isn't highly enforced by the Ministry of Edu. I've read the maximum amount of money someone in my position can make is roughly 20-25,000 baht a month. Some have told me that its quite easy to live on that, considering you dont get go whoring around every weekend and trying to afford too many luxuries. Some have told me that the lowest you can live on is about 30,000 a month, and that they're still close to starving when payday comes around. I know it all depends on whether you talk to party-animals, or total conservatives. I'm somewhere in between the 2, such as maybe a 6 pack of chang a night, some Thai street food, a tv, an A/C, and few other minor things here and there. Nothing fancy, pretty moderate actually. I mean I'm 22 years old, give me a one room important and I'm satisfied, get the picture?

So, all-in-all, what are my chances of landing a job if I arrive in maybe 4-6 months? Consider the fact that I'll be calling up every possible school on http://www.ajarn.com/Jobs/index.php, and of course the local newspapers. I'd also basically just pay a tuk-tuk driver to take me to as many schools as he knows within the area, and I'd simply try to pop in for interviews with my resume and respectable attitude (nicely dressed, of course).

Also, if anyone knows if any schools are willing to assist on obtaining a TEFL or CESOL through some sort of earn-while-you-learn kind of deal, that'd be interesting, seeing how TEFL and CESOL courses in the USA cost an arm and a leg. I would do the cheap $300.00 online course, but I don't think it'd help me with any confidence or ideas in an actual classroom. What do you veterans think?

If you can think of any other alternatives to Thailand that are in SE Asia that is practical for a person in my situation, I'm open to alot of opinions and options. Actually, anywhere in Asia besides Japan, Korea, Phillipines, since I obviously can't get a job there. Thanks