Job Discussion Forums

[arbeitler]

I have been reading everyones posts in regards to finding a job in Thailand. I've decided to take the plunge and just quit my job. It seems that everyones advice is to first come to Thailand and then find a job- which is what I am going to do. However- I can not find anything on what to do before I have a job in terms of where to live. From what I read most schools and positions offer housing. So...do I get an apartment, find a cheap hotel, etc. etc. I plan on working in Bangkok. Also- it seems that 35,000 is the standard wage for a starting salary- can you negotiate this or are you wasting your time?

[tedkarma]

In my experience most employers do NOT provide housing. Find somewhere cheap to stay (a guesthouse?) and look for work. Bangkok is such a GIANT city with such horrendous traffic problems that you shouldn't rent a place until you know where you are working. Then - plonk yourself down within easy commuting distance - or preferably even within walking distance.

B35k would be an okay salary (not great - just okay). I am not an expert on negotiation - but I think it would hard to get most employers to change their numbers. Usually they have numerous other people working at that number and don't want to create problems.

Good luck! And welcome.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Ted's right. Most employers in Bangkok do not provide housing.

Out in the Provinces (a.k.a. Upcountry) some schools do,

but it's usually shared, which I wouldn't want anyway.


For temporary accommodation, try these:


BANGKOK :: BUDGET ACCOMMODATION
[from really cheap to 1,500 Baht per night]


Big John's Homepage (Big John's Guesthouse)

http://www.newjoe.de/ (New Joe Guesthouse)

http://www.winlongplace.com/ (Win Long Place)

http://www.pinnaclehotels.com/ (Pinnacle Hotels)

http://www.madrasthailand.com/ (Madras Hostel)

http://www.samran.com/main.asp (Samran Place)

http://www.newsiam.net/ (New Siam Guesthouse)

http://www.bangkokcityinn.com/ (Bangkok City Inn)

http://www.wendyguesthouse.com/ (Wendy House)

http://www.newworldlodge.com/ (New World Lodge)

http://www.chinatownhotel.co.th/ (China Town Hotel)

http://www.jimslodge.com/aboutus.html (Jim's Lodge)

http://www.ashaguesthouse.com/ (Asha Guesthouse)

http://www.bourbonstbkk.com/ (Bourbon Street Hotel)

http://www.siamorientalgroup.com/ (Siam Oriental Inn)

http://www.bangkoksuite.com/ (Bangkok City Suite Hotel)

http://www.eurasiahotels.com/bangkok/ (Eurasia Bangkok)

http://www.asiatravel.com/firsthouse/ (First House Bangkok)

http://www.tyha.org/map-bangkok.html (HI Hostels Bangkok)

http://www.khaosanroad.com/ (Khao San Rd Hotels & Rooms)

http://www.guesthouse-bangkok.com/ (The Urban Age Hostel)

http://www.bangkok-hotelpro.com/park-hotel/ (The Park Hotel)

http://www.bangkok.com/a_one-bangkok-hotel/ (A-One Bangkok)

http://www.kritthaimansion.com/ (Krit Thai & Muangphol Mansion)

http://www.5-rama-nine-54.com/ (5 Rama Nine 54 Guesthouse)

http://www.east-thai.com/238guesthouse/ (238 Guest House)

http://www.bangkokcentrehotel.com/ (Bangkok Centre Hotel)

http://www.bangkok.com/white-orchid-hotel/ (White Orchid)

http://www.baankaewmansion.com/ (Baan Kaew Mansion)

http://www.khaosanroad.com/kshouse/ (KS Guest House)

http://bangkok-sahara-hotel.th66.com/ (Bangkok Sahara)

http://www.khaosan-hotels.com/ (Rambuttri Village Inn)

http://www.shambarabangkok.com/ (Shambara Hostel)

http://www.riversidebangkok.com/ (Riverside Bangkok)

http://www.sawasdee-hotels.com/ (Sawasdee Hotels)

Frommer's Guide ([email protected] / Reno Hotel)

http://www.nasavegashotel.com/ (Nasa Vegas Hotel)

http://www.stayandtravel.com/ (Ban Yai / Homestay)

http://www.bestbkk.com/ (The Best Bangkok House)

http://www.discovery-lodge.com/ (Discovery Lodge)

http://www.malaysiahotelbkk.com/ (Malaysia Hotel)

http://www.thaicozyhouse.com/ (Thai Cozy House)

http://www.stardomegroup.com/ (Star Dome Inn)

http://www.nanaplaza-inn.com/ (Nana Plaza Inn)

http://www.woodlandsinn.org/ (Woodlands Inn)

http://www.pjwatergate.com/ (PJ Watergate)

http://www.silomcityinn.com/ (Silom City Inn)

http://www.samslodge.com/ (Sam's Lodge)

http://www.dynastyinn.com/ (Dynasty Inn)

http://www.nanahotel.co.th/ (Nana Hotel)

http://www.bhimaninn.com/ (Bhiman Inn)

http://www.suk11.com/ (Suk 11 Hostel)

AW Group Travel Agency (Business Inn)

http://www.wegret.com/ (White Egret)

http://www.aoneinn.com/ (A One Inn)

http://www.leelainn.com/ (Leela Inn)

Woraburi.com (Woraburi Sukhumvit)



If you're budget-minded and willing to share a room,

Big John's Guesthouse offers low rates & a good location.

They have shared dorm-style rooms as well as private rooms.

About a 10 minute walk (1 minute on a motorbike) to BTS Thonglor,

with internet cafe, Wi-Fi, a friendly lobby with big-screen TVs,

a pool room and good food made by Big John himself.

note: the rooms are very basic but very clean;

shared bathroom, which some don't like.


Over the past couple of years, members have commented

favourably on A-One Inn, Dynasty Inn and Suk 11 Hostel.

All three are centrally located in downtown Bangkok.


I've also read good reports about Krit Thai Mansion

@ BTS National Stadium / 20,000 Baht per month,

Woraburi and Business Inn on Sukhumvit Road.


After you land a job & know where you'll be living, you

can browse these links for something more permanent:





BANGKOK :: APARTMENT HUNTING


http://www.mrroomfinder.com/ (Mr Room Finder)

http://www.click4apartment.com/ (Click 4 Apartment)

http://www.thaiapartment.com/ (Thai Apartment)

http://www.easyhorpak.com/ (Easy Horpak)

http://9apartment.com/ (9 Apartment)





re: negotiating a higher salary


It's probably smarter to apply to schools that are offering more,

than to try 'to up' an existing offer - for the reason ted mentioned.

If you want 40K Baht, just don't apply to the schools offering 32 to 36.


Depending on your quals and experience, and how badly they need a teacher -

you might be able to negotiate a couple thousand Baht more, but that's about it.

[Pauleddy]

Ted and Kent are spot-on.

You need to stay somewhere short-term while you look around. If you take a condo quickly, you may find that the job you get is miles away. Many of the areas in BKK are not directly on the subway, so you get taxis or motorbikes around some places. Then, you may get stuck in the lethal gridlocks, especially in taxis.

When I first came here I stayed in Silom, which is the central business zone and good for the subway and skytrain. Howver, it's not ultra-cheap. For a budget hotel, there are several around the Patpong/Surawong area. The Rose Hotel is OK, and is 1500bt which is about 35-40 usd. There are cheaper places, of course, but it depends on how "basic" you want to be.

Most salaries are not negotiable. 35k is not too bad. If you work in a Gvment Uni, as I do, you will get about 28k, but you can do overtime.

If you want a lot more advice from people who have been around a while, look at www.ajarn.com

There is also a guy called Stickman (google it) who writes a weekly column about BKK. On his site there is a very good article about Teaching in Thailand. Read it!

Cheers

P Ed

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi pauleddy und Gr�� Gott Herr Arbeitler


Here's a link to Stickman's Teaching English in Bangkok Guide.


If you arrive with an updated resume & a few appointments lined up,

you should have a firm offer in hand within a couple of weeks.


Plan on one month in a hotel or guesthouse to be safe

and to give yourself enough time to make the best choice.


Within that first month, you'll learn your way around the city

& how to make use of the various forms of public transportation.


You might even discover that you hate Bangkok; some people do.

One month in a hotel allows you to test the waters -

and to back out painlessly if need be.


On your first day on the ground, drop by

MBK Center and spend $50 on a mobile phone;

check the job offers on Ajarn and TEFLAsia

and then e-mail your resume w/ cover

to the schools that interest you.


Dear Mr. John Doe:


I am applying for the position you advertised recently on Ajarn.com.

I am in Bangkok and available to interview at your convenience.

My resume and photo are attached for your review.

You can call me at: 06 555 5555.


Thank you for your consideration;

I look forward to meeting you soon!


Yours faithfully,

Arbeit Ler


By following this advice, you can expect call-backs within the first 3 days

unless you're hideously deformed or have a serious speech impediment.


re: the hotel links in the list above


I've tried to locate everything I can find in the 1,200 Baht and under price range;

most are under 1,000 Baht and quite a few are in the 500 to 800 Baht range.


note: some hotels offer lower rates if you book online;

otherwise you pay the walk-in rate, a.k.a. the rack rate.


If I were in your shoes, I think I'd book a room for 2 weeks;

you should be able to extend at the online rate if you need to.


re: currency exchange rates (this link is working now!)


At the moment, the US dollar is down a bit from 40 Baht

and is now trading at $1 = 38 Baht, $10 = 380 Baht, etc.

[arbeitler]

Great!

The help is much appreciated!!!!