Job Discussion Forums

[ricardo]

Can someone out there give me a clear a definite answer? Yes or No

Is it possible to work in Thailand without a 4 year degree?
I have a 3 year associate degree/college diploma in Engineering and a certificate in teaching TESOL (both obtained in Canada;legally) and some teaching experience from China.

Can anyone recommend which path I COULD take, if it is indeed possible for me to find work.

I have heard the millions of stories of buying a degree on the street,being hired and having to do the visa run from time to time etc.Are there schools out there who would hire me and support me with the paper work?

Thanks

Rick

[Sheep-Goats]

Yes, you can find work here.

However, your Associates is as good as no degree to the Thais. Without a four year BA you CANNOT work legally in Thailand. Luckily for you, there's plenty of illegal work here and much of it is very low risk -- but please note that I didn't say no-risk.

Getting a fake degree on Khao San is about as helpful as just lying and saying you have a degree on your resume. If the school cares about you having a degree or not (eg: is totally above board and/or associated with the Thai government) either they will find out or the folks at the Labor Dept. will find out that you're lying. At which point they're likely to stick you in a cell and send you packing on your dime -- be thankful you're not Cambodian, they can go to a Thai prison for working in Thailand without qualifications or on an improper (tourist) visa.

Better to simply say you don't have a degree and roll with it. Many private language schools offer you a choice: "Do you want a work permit or not?" and if you don't your degree isn't as big a deal to them as whether you look good and can do the job. British American is infamous for hiring underqualified folks, as are Direct English and ECC. Note that they all pay low salaries, and therefore draw what it essentially illegal labor. Basically, what I'm saying is that without a degree NO school can support your paperwork -- all they can do is lead you by the hand through the process of eternally getting and renewing new tourist visas -- a practice that Thai Immigration is finally starting to put some major clamps on (must show 10,000B cash at Mai Sai checkpoint for one month visa, new computer system in place at all checkpoints, etc etc).

It may be easiest for you to find two part time gigs instead of one full time job. Less legal hassel, more focus on skills. Can you sell yourself to a school? If all you have to offer is "some experience in China, no degree, TEFL cert." expect about 300B an hour. You'll have to work awfully hard to have an acceptable lifestyle here on that.

If you're more enterpernurial or have some capital there are a lot more options. But if you're a little wet behind the ears this may be a good way to waste money instead of make it.

Cambodia might be a safer bet, or get yourself back in school in Canada (or get one of the cheap and fast BEds available in Austrailia) if you're interested specifically in EFL for some reason.

[kenkannif]