Introspection

I'd be very careful about how much money you pout into trading, better to do it with an online trading game before using any real money for a long time, it's not for the faint hearted!

The firm i work for develop trading systems and all sorts of technology for trading in investment banks and i can assure you this isn't a game, these folk are seriously intelligent, educated people that have had great training and many still don't make it.

Not a bad effort :-)

McKinsey is the one you want to go for if you can; although their outfit here in Thailand is a dog in the true sense of the word; Samran, do BCG do much work in the developing markets? Accenture is a bigger player, I think you'll possibly enjoy it there :-)

If not, you can always move to Australia and work down there, or perhaps move somewhere nice.

Unfortunately my lack of Oxbridge MBA kind of rules me out of Mckinsey & Bain etc., but I'm really happy to have got the job with Accenture and my friend who works there said they're currently trying to expand in Asia so if thats what I'm interested in it's definately a good company to be with.

p.s. As a management consultant, perhaps you can explain to me, why is a bad business a 'dog' in the BCG matrix? Dog is a man's best friend. Convince me, and Samran will get you a job. Maybe.

p.p.s. Yeah right.

Hmmm, because a dog has little in the way of independence and relies upon other people for almost everything, something that is definately not desirable in a business. Can i get a job now?

I actually applied to BCG but they don't process their applications till another month or two so If they give me an interview, I'll ask!

Steve and Samran, you both raise some really interesting points and i think the best thing for me to do would be to express and interest in Asia from the outset when I start at Acc. and do my own research on emerging markets.

It's interesting what your saying about the HR side of things and lay-offs though as Accenture HP were, as far as I'm aware, responsible for hugely downsizing BT's HR and reducing the complexity of various other companies HR.

With what your saying in mind it might be the way to go as often what HP at Accenture involves is automating HR processes and reducing the need for large complex HR processes (instead using technology) which, based on your thoughts on Thailand, is what businesses would want here. Do you see what I mean?

Thanks, I hadn't considered that actually but I'm sure I'll find out quite quickly which areas I'm really interested in. Human Performance is where I'd like to specialize in after a period of time.

Any industries/service lines that are particularly relevant for Asia?

Yeah that sounds exactly what I'm after, glad to hear there are opportunities for expats there and obviously appreciate that it's only with expertise in your field that you would get sent there.

I've already expressed an interest in doing a VSO project with them out there which would be great too.

Thanks for the help.

Yeah it's Accenture in th UK i'll be working with. The work-life balance is something that's an issue in most consulting jobs especially early on in the career, but I don't mind as it's generally rewarded well financially and in terms of career progression.

I'm more curious about further down the line when I have experience. Would there be a lot of opportunities in Thailand in other consulting companies and what sort of money are folk being paid? I couldn't see myself living in London forever and had always wanted to settle in Asia.

I'm about to start with a company called Accenture in management consultancy.

Are there a lot of oppportunities for farangs in this line out in Thailand and what sort of salary should I expect if I was to relocate out there rather than be on the usual 3-month contract after going a bt further up the ladder? any particular areas that are more or less in demand?

i think there is a big call centre opening up in chiang mai. there was details on the ajarn website about it. have a wee looky there.

Having no experience in the industry myself i can only go on what people have told me so take it as you like.

The general advice i've been given is that it's hard to make a good living without either substantial investment and long hours and the place being in the 'right' location or having a fair whack to stump up the costs for buying an existing successful venture.

how much is the property worth if you dont mind me asking?

the one's i'm looking at are about 100,000gbp. which in non-city centry parts of scotland actually gets you some ok property. not sure whether rent would outstrip mortgage payments though i'd need to see what rent i could expect on a property of that value.

I'd advise steering clear of Buying to Let while residing in Thailand. I know a few buddies who've had major headaches from this. Usually delayed payment etc.

Establish who it is you are going to have living in your property. I know my neighbour has a list of pre-requisites that tenants must qualify (not on the dole/DSS, non-smokers, 30 - 55 age range etc) for just to be eligable to stay at his pad! This is harsh but it weeds out possible 'undesirables' and homewreckers.

I'd stick any spare cash in a high interest account and go for five months to test the waters, your only 22 <deleted>! If you have'nt ever tought english before in Thailand then think carefully before committing yourself!

Have you even got a job waiting for you in thailand. Forget verbal rumours and half truths, expect nothing when you first get there.

100K a month?? They told you that much huh. Don't take their word for it, ask other teachers to find the real rate! The only guys/girls I know who get that are high school/college graduate teachers! And at 22 I don't think you'll get that!

A friend of mine who teaches english (A prior qualified and experienced english teacher) to kids gets about 45,000 baht NET a month tops.

The registration/licence and work permit fees (yes the schools supposed to pay but they often don't) and tax will bring it down to the dizzy heights of 50 - 60K.

Bangkok living isn't easy so get wise and good luck!

ok, firstly, i have taught english in thailand before but that is not what i want to come back to do. i want to teach uk curriculum in international schools after getting qualified in the uk and getting the required experience under my belt.

i think you're getting accredited international schools mixed up with every other school and efl teaching with teaching in a uk curriculum school. the salaries, working conditions and pre-requisites for eligibility of such jobs are very different.

you also didnt read what i said about going to thailand eventually. that means not now.

however, i appreciate your comments about the headaches that come with buy-to-let and the more people i speak to , the more headaches are being uncovered.

can anyone point me in the direction of a few reputable volunteering companies/charities in thailand?

i previously volunteered with i-to-i but they are a complete rip-off. however there appears to be loads of other companies out there so just wondering if anyone knows of particularly good ones that don't cost a fortune or are free?

i want to work with kids because whilst obviously i like working with them, it's to boost my cv a bit more for getting into my pgde next year. the last placement i did was teaching efl but i'd also be up for working with kids with learning difficulties or really anything else.

hope you can help.

currently looking at www.travel-to-teach.org

I don't want to rain on your party, but you state that you're 22 and at 22, I'd hardly consider you an experienced teacher, more like a rookie teacher.

Would I have considered myself an experienced software engineer at the age of 22?

Well, maybe.

Would others have termed me an experienced software engineer at the age of 22?

No way.

where did i say i was an experienced teacher? i said the jobs go to experienced teachers. i.e those with 2 or more years in the uk/us/aus curriculum, some you need a more i'm sure but there are jobs for young teachers overseas even if not in thailand. i'm in no rush. i only said i want to eventually move abroad to teach.

as you point out, i'm 22 so i've plenty time to get the necessary years in to get a crack at the jobs in overseas schools.

The average starting salary at an international school for uk qualified and experienced expat primary teachers is about 100,000 baht p/m so i reckoned i could use around 30-35000 baht (or 500 pounds) a month towards the mortgage whilst living comfortably

#1 If you are working in an organization where everyone is earning 100K and you are sending 50K back to the UK you are going to segregate yourself from those around you.

#2 Paying a mortgage from overseas currency is subject to a very much higher risk- fluctuations in exchange rates, bank charges etc can have an enormous impact on your income.

#3 I think your average starting figure is high. Teaching in Thailand (qualified teaching in Thailand) is an area of employment where supply outstrips demand.

Thanks for the response.

1. 500 pounds is actually just over 30,000 baht so i think 70,000 a month wouldn't segregate me too much from my colleagues and would still afford me a good quality of life in Bkk.

2. Thanks for highlighting this, it's something that i need to look into in far greater detail and get advice on.

3. I don't agree with this. 100k is the average starting figure based on a number of contacts i have had with schools themselves to seek advice and from teachers themselves. Maybe supply outstrips demand with unqualified or local hire teachers or efl in internattional schools but the majority of well paid jobs are recruited for from overseas to experienced teachers and as far as i'm aware this demand is still high.

If my father was a financial adviser, I'd listen to him. I'd also check your earnings potential as a teacher - I'm no expert, but everything I've read seems to suggest teachers are VERY poorly paid in LOS.

that's certainly true for EFL teaching which is what i used to do briefly, though salaries do appear to be getting a bit higher. I just decided if i was to come back and make a career of teaching, I'd do what's necessary to get into an accredited international school. Big difference in salary and qualification/experience requirements between uk curriculum schools and government/private/non-accredited international schools.

They work you very hard but pay accordingly.

Thanks for that Harry. The average starting salary at an international school for uk qualified and experienced expat primary teachers is about 100,000 baht p/m so i reckoned i could use around 30-35000 baht (or 500 pounds) a month towards the mortgage whilst living comfortably and then if i have a tenant that can only help though that added income isn't essential. I just felt whilst I wouldn't need a tenant for the money, making money off it would be more productive than having it sit there dormant.

You do raise some interesting points of thought though that my old man has also brought up about problems in the flat while i'm abroad and being a financial advisor he also reckons mutual funds, isa's etc. sre where my money would be safer.

thanks guys, sounds like some really good advice there.

the way property prices are going in scotland i think it's unlikely they will fall in the near future so if i buy now it should save me money in the long run.

i'd hope i would incur very little tax if i was earning my main income abroad as the total income from renting a flat here in scotland would proabbly be less than or close to the threshold for tax free income (around 5k or so if i remember correctly). i;d need to check that out aswell as the rent a room scheme you mention.

are there many opportunities in sales in thailand for expats outwith real estate that pay well?

i work in sales just now and it's going well though it's only meant to be temporary till i do teaching so just curious.

well if my sums are correct, i should be able to pay off the mortgage without taking on a tenant but i was going to try and find out about charges,if any, for making accelerated payments by using the rent money so the mortgage could be cleared quicker.

i'd like to keep the amount borrowed as low as ppossible thats why i'm working and saving for 2 years or so to be able to put down a decent deposit.

maybe i just don't 'get it' but whats the problem with paying sinsot if you get it back, surely if you get it back it doesn't matter how much it is if you got the dough?

i appreciate there was a few 'if's' in there though

Intro

I would suggest that you first have a word with your mortgage lender and secondly a Landlord agency and get then to advise if this is possible

Johnb

yeah i will do, i just wanted to get some advice from folk that aren't trying to sell me products as the last time i spoke to the bank about this kind of thing he was trying to sign me up to all sorts of stuff and i didn't know what to believe.

i'm lucky to have a good job here (uk) which i'm gonna do for a year or two (couldn't do it forever) to save before doing a pgce and moving abroad eventually teaching - thats what i want to do careerwise.

the idea was to be able to put down a deposit for a flat here before i move abroad and pay off the mortgage from there, taking on a tenant to add to my mortgage payments. i just felt it would give me a bit of security if teaching didnt work out or i had to come back, or even if i stayed abroad it would give me a wee boost to my income after the mortgage is cleared should i retire outwith the uk.

are there any problems with doing this i've not considered?

i'm only 22 so i don't know a great deal about mortgages etc.

I've missed the deadline to get into the pgde this year so i kinda have a year on hand. I'd thought of doing an MEd in TESOL thinking it would help me to get jobs at these schools when i'm applying. I know the language we teach is in english but it might prove i understand the needs of ESL students in the class. would such a qualification help me get these jobs ya think or a lot of effort for nothing?

I suspect it'll be effort for nothing. I don't think an MEd in TESOL will add anything to your PGDE, but a couple of years in the UK post-PGDE will.

well a few others have said similar things, basically that a 4 week TEFL might help me but an MEd isn't really worth the effort unless i'm wanting to go into TESOL as a career.

Thanks for all the advice.

I've posted this question on other forums but maybe you guys can help too.

I've missed the deadline to get into the pgde this year so i kinda have a year on hand. I'd thought of doing an MEd in TESOL thinking it would help me to get jobs at these schools when i'm applying. I know the language we teach is in english but it might prove i understand the needs of ESL students in the class. would such a qualification help me get these jobs ya think or a lot of effort for nothing?