Job Discussion Forums

[Mark Lyon]

Hi I am new and was wondering about prospects in Thailand. Mostly the education needed or not needed, ability to save up money, and likely hood of finding work. If anyone knows anything, it would be really helpful.

[tttompatz]

[Mark Lyon]

Wow. That's a lot of really helpful information. Thank you very much.

[MaiPenRai]

Tom posted some good info. Here my 2 cents.

Please dont come here if you dont have a degree. It is getting WAY harder to get work legally without a degree and you will most likely work for peanuts and get taken advantage of. The stories you may hear saying otherwise are usually teachers who have worked at the same place for many years and thus they can operate on the older rules. However this puts them in the position of being a "captive" to their school. If they change schools, they will have to start the work permit process again and this be subject to the new rules making it near impossible to get a woprk permit without a degree.

Accomm in Bangkok can be found for less than 8000 in many areas. Bangkok is a huge place with schools in all areas, not just "downtown". I know people with decent places for 5000-8000/month. It mostly depends on location.

BA+Tesol+Exp can potentially net you more than 40-50 if you fit the other requirments and get lucky. White (sorry but true in most cases), presentable, good smile, hard worker, no complaining, etc. Should be able to supplement an extra 10K/month fairly easily after making come contacts (6 months) or take a weekend/evening language school gig and start making right away. That being said Tom is right that you can expect on average about 40K to start.

Best of luck.

[Mark Lyon]

Thanks. What Tesol is good? I am guessing the one advertising on this page is a choice pick. And does anyone know about martial arts lessons? Things such as cost and location would be a big help. And how much would a job not in a major city pay?

[tttompatz]

[PattyFlipper]

tttompatz, as usual, gives good, objective advice, however I am going to contest a little the notion that the cost of living in the provinces is substantially cheaper than Bangkok.

Accommodation may be cheaper, and also possibly some restaurant meals (though the selection may also be limited), but most of the other goods and services you may want to/have to purchase, e.g. groceries, booze, cigarettes, toiletries, clothing, medicines, electrical items, computer equipment, books, utilities, phone connection and calls, internet service, satellite TV, transportation (nationally and internationally), 'international standard' medical care (and insurance), taxes, visa and work-permit costs, are fairly uniform throughout the country, with little price fluctuation between Bangkok and the provinces. Indeed, some of the aforementioned items may actually be more expensive outside Bangkok, due to limited selection/availability and not having the luxury of being able to shop around.

I think what it boils down to is that there are fewer outlets and temptations on which to spend your hard-earned, out in Nakhon Nowhere. Costs in Phuket and some of the southern islands can actually be substantially higher than in the capital.

Bear in mind also, that opportunities to supplement your income and/or escape an abusive or exploitative employer will likely be similarly limited in provincial towns and cities.

[Placebo]