It Project Manager, What Are The Chances For A Farang?

[JohnvdB]

Hi,

i'm seriously considering emigrating to Thailand and would like to know if it will be possible to find a job in my profession there, as an IT Project manager, with 39 years of age. I have over 18 years total IT experience, of which 10 years (project)management.

Any help would be appreciated.

John.

[Casanundra]

Hi,

i'm seriously considering emigrating to Thailand and would like to know if it will be possible to find a job in my profession there, as an IT Project manager, with 39 years of age. I have over 18 years total IT experience, of which 10 years (project)management.

Any help would be appreciated.

John.

If you are called in as an expat then it would probably be better. Maybe you should try HP in Thailand as they have a few senior expat foreigners working there as project managers.

More often than not however applying locally will see you coming up against the 'jobs for thai people only wall' or face being offered a local much smaller salary. Getting a job as a farang here (outside the English teaching lark) is very hard indeed, not entirely impossible, just hard.

[MarcHolt]

Hi,

i'm seriously considering emigrating to Thailand and would like to know if it will be possible to find a job in my profession there, as an IT Project manager, with 39 years of age. I have over 18 years total IT experience, of which 10 years (project)management.

Any help would be appreciated.

John.

If you are called in as an expat then it would probably be better. Maybe you should try HP in Thailand as they have a few senior expat foreigners working there as project managers.

More often than not however applying locally will see you coming up against the 'jobs for thai people only wall' or face being offered a local much smaller salary. Getting a job as a farang here (outside the English teaching lark) is very hard indeed, not entirely impossible, just hard.

Getting a job here with your qualifications and experience will be difficult. As Casanundra pointed out there are plenty of qualified Thais available. Also, immigrating here is impossible. All you can do is come here as a 'guest'. You will never qualify for any benefits, or even be accorded any respect and equality. You will always be a 'farung' in a strange country.

If you have stars in your eyes, time for a healthy dose of reality. Unless you are lucky enough to get an expat job on a contract with a large foreign company, the only other way to survive here is to open your own business. And that is no easy task. I have lived and done business here for 25 years, so I do know what I am talking about here.

Do your homework well before you make such a life-altering decision. If you come here i'll-prepared you will not last long. This place is a jungle and only the strong survive.

[1Rai.com]

What is "IT" - are you in software or hardware?

As a software project manager, you may find some work a Thai software house who has made a decision to sell systems to foreign companies (there must be a few with this in mind given the current level of consumer confidence in Thailand)... your role would typically be managing the developers and reporting to the boss and answering to the customers, which is really only a small part of project management. But it's a job nonetheless. You'll have to find such a job by yourself though

However, you're much more likely to find work as an IT guy or Web administrator in a private company in the tourism or real estate sectors.

I can't really give any advice on hardware project management, but I'd listen to Casanundra and speak to HP and the like.

Hi,

i'm seriously considering emigrating to Thailand and would like to know if it will be possible to find a job in my profession there, as an IT Project manager, with 39 years of age. I have over 18 years total IT experience, of which 10 years (project)management.

Any help would be appreciated.

John.

[markuk]

go the expat route, being hired locally will be near on impossible i think, look at all the international IT companies in Thailand and float your details to them, you never know.

[wamberal]

If you are serious, then I would suggest investing the time and money to fly out for three or four weeks to distribute your cv to potential employers and follow up to try to get an interview.

Have you thought about consulting? Obviously some consulting work involves project management, but you should be able to get more broadly involved with your background.

You should indicate to potential employers that you are not necessarily looking for the full expatriate package, that might give you an edge, to get a foot in the local door.

Also, have you thought about other Asian countries?

[JohnvdB]

If you are serious, then I would suggest investing the time and money to fly out for three or four weeks to distribute your cv to potential employers and follow up to try to get an interview.

Have you thought about consulting? Obviously some consulting work involves project management, but you should be able to get more broadly involved with your background.

You should indicate to potential employers that you are not necessarily looking for the full expatriate package, that might give you an edge, to get a foot in the local door.

Also, have you thought about other Asian countries?

Thanks for all the replies. Yes i have been considering Singapore and Malaysia as other possibilities. Can´t think of any advantages working there instead of in Thailand.

[Prakanong]

If you are serious, then I would suggest investing the time and money to fly out for three or four weeks to distribute your cv to potential employers and follow up to try to get an interview.

Have you thought about consulting? Obviously some consulting work involves project management, but you should be able to get more broadly involved with your background.

You should indicate to potential employers that you are not necessarily looking for the full expatriate package, that might give you an edge, to get a foot in the local door.

Also, have you thought about other Asian countries?

Thanks for all the replies. Yes i have been considering Singapore and Malaysia as other possibilities. Can´t think of any advantages working there instead of in Thailand.

I have worked as a PM in Thailand - had to set up my own consultancy to do it and had good contacts who hired me.

Now I am Regional It Mnger (Asia Pacific) (sorry the word is banned here) for a division of a large MNC based in Singapore. I could have had the job re-located to Thailand but chose not to. Personal reasons as well as better lifestyle here.

If I was you look for a company to re-locate you and Singapore (IMVHO) is a better option than Thailand for what you want to do. Earn your money here and play in Thailand is commonly heard.

Full expat package outside of Banking and Law is rare from what I hear but YMMV although I do know some recent expats from the likes of Seagate are doing OK.

I think we are looking for SAP manufacturing guys but I do not know much of anything else. I do know a recruiter here though socially and will ask him what he thinks

[Briggsy]

Advantages of Singapore or Malaysia

Higher salary

Less corruption

Fewer or no laws on foreign business holdings

Fewer or no laws banning foreign property ownership

Lower murder rate

Better English

A chance to avoid institutionalised racism

That's just for starters. I think they're worth a look.

[Prakanong]

Advantages of Singapore or Malaysia

Higher salary

Less corruption

Fewer or no laws on foreign business holdings

Fewer or no laws banning foreign property ownership

Lower murder rate

Better English

A chance to avoid institutionalised racism

That's just for starters. I think they're worth a look.

Now you have done it - Thaigoon will not sleep for a week after reading your post ;-)))

[JohnvdB]

If you are serious, then I would suggest investing the time and money to fly out for three or four weeks to distribute your cv to potential employers and follow up to try to get an interview.

Have you thought about consulting? Obviously some consulting work involves project management, but you should be able to get more broadly involved with your background.

You should indicate to potential employers that you are not necessarily looking for the full expatriate package, that might give you an edge, to get a foot in the local door.

Also, have you thought about other Asian countries?

Thanks for all the replies. Yes i have been considering Singapore and Malaysia as other possibilities. Can´t think of any advantages working there instead of in Thailand.

I have worked as a PM in Thailand - had to set up my own consultancy to do it and had good contacts who hired me.

Now I am Regional It Mnger (Asia Pacific) (sorry the word is banned here) for a division of a large MNC based in Singapore. I could have had the job re-located to Thailand but chose not to. Personal reasons as well as better lifestyle here.

If I was you look for a company to re-locate you and Singapore (IMVHO) is a better option than Thailand for what you want to do. Earn your money here and play in Thailand is commonly heard.

Full expat package outside of Banking and Law is rare from what I hear but YMMV although I do know some recent expats from the likes of Seagate are doing OK.

I think we are looking for SAP manufacturing guys but I do not know much of anything else. I do know a recruiter here though socially and will ask him what he thinks

Would be great, thanks in advance!

[JohnvdB]

Advantages of Singapore or Malaysia

Higher salary

Less corruption

Fewer or no laws on foreign business holdings

Fewer or no laws banning foreign property ownership

Lower murder rate

Better English

A chance to avoid institutionalised racism

That's just for starters. I think they're worth a look.

Ok, that are a lot of arguments! So where to start for finding a job (and living space) there?

[Prakanong]

If you are serious, then I would suggest investing the time and money to fly out for three or four weeks to distribute your cv to potential employers and follow up to try to get an interview.

Have you thought about consulting? Obviously some consulting work involves project management, but you should be able to get more broadly involved with your background.

You should indicate to potential employers that you are not necessarily looking for the full expatriate package, that might give you an edge, to get a foot in the local door.

Also, have you thought about other Asian countries?

Thanks for all the replies. Yes i have been considering Singapore and Malaysia as other possibilities. Can´t think of any advantages working there instead of in Thailand.

I have worked as a PM in Thailand - had to set up my own consultancy to do it and had good contacts who hired me.

Now I am Regional It Mnger (Asia Pacific) (sorry the word is banned here) for a division of a large MNC based in Singapore. I could have had the job re-located to Thailand but chose not to. Personal reasons as well as better lifestyle here.

If I was you look for a company to re-locate you and Singapore (IMVHO) is a better option than Thailand for what you want to do. Earn your money here and play in Thailand is commonly heard.

Full expat package outside of Banking and Law is rare from what I hear but YMMV although I do know some recent expats from the likes of Seagate are doing OK.

I think we are looking for SAP manufacturing guys but I do not know much of anything else. I do know a recruiter here though socially and will ask him what he thinks

Would be great, thanks in advance!

Hi

I spoke to the guy last night and he is a specialist in supply chain/logistics recruitment but he works alongside a IT Recruiter. PM me and I will give you his email address and he said he will pass your details onto the other guy.

[Prakanong]

Advantages of Singapore or Malaysia

Higher salary

Less corruption

Fewer or no laws on foreign business holdings

Fewer or no laws banning foreign property ownership

Lower murder rate

Better English

A chance to avoid institutionalised racism

That's just for starters. I think they're worth a look.

Ok, that are a lot of arguments! So where to start for finding a job (and living space) there?

There are plenty of agents who look for housing etc for you.

My fee's were paid by the company and it depends on how much your condo is who pays the housing agents fee's.

If you did get something here I can give you the details of my relocation consultant. She has relocated quite a few from my company and everyone only has good things to say about her. She is a very nice older Chinese "Auntie" who took great care of me and my then Thai wife when we moved.

[Wolfie]

Ok, that are a lot of arguments! So where to start for finding a job (and living space) there?

Try jobsdb.com they have a lot of jobs around the Asia area. This might be a useful resource for you

[steveromagnino]

Advantages of Singapore or Malaysia

Higher salary

Less corruption

Fewer or no laws on foreign business holdings

Fewer or no laws banning foreign property ownership

Lower murder rate

Better English

A chance to avoid institutionalised racism

That's just for starters. I think they're worth a look.

Of these reasons, I actually think that the first and 6th are the key relevant ones; the others are for some either less relevant or can be overcome.

However, fairly typical of the list of issues heard across Asia from expats; get used to listening to whinges a lot if you come over here - you'll get about the same amount (and the same stories even) in every Asian country from Korea to Singapore to Japan to China to Thailand.

Singapore is the better of the two IMHO by a long shot for the 2 key reasons; Malaysia is the stress of Singapore (and I liked workiing there but Singaporeans do get stressed up a fair bit) with the inefficiency of Thailand. A lethal combo. Singapore also will tend to get you more money, and with less tax and a better infrastructure to enjoy yourself.

Personal safety is fine in all 3 places for the most part unless you go looking for problems; the ownership issues are irrelevant for most expats and only start to kick in with major lifestyle changes/choices and for that agani Singapore trounces Malaysia in almost every way except price; things cost money in Singapore. And if you spend time in Malaysia, well let's just say at some point every non Malay comes up against institutionalised Racism.

Although a bit sterile, Singapore would be my pick, if I didn't speak Thai. The chance to really build something for yourself there consulting wise. And holiday throughout the region. HK would be second pick.

Thailand is at least for me, a great place to live, but harder if you cannot speak Thai to work or live here.

Edited March 13, 2007 by steveromagnino

[kiakaha]

Decent well paid IT positions for foriegners in Thailand..it's not what you know, it's who you know...then once you got the job it's what you know

[samran]

Ok, that are a lot of arguments! So where to start for finding a job (and living space) there?

Try jobsdb.com they have a lot of jobs around the Asia area. This might be a useful resource for you

jobs db is indeed a great resource, but you are are going to be competing with many, many Thai's.

Sound cliche, but it is best if you have a skill that no-one else in the market has, but you are convinced there is a need. You may have to identify your targets and try and talk to them on a reccy trip to Thailand.

People have mentioned HP. Amadeus is a travel IT firm with a regional HQ in BKK and have a very large set up. IBM has a presence here, and they are located up around the Aree area of BKK (Paholyothin Rd). The Accenture's of the world are all here. I know Accenture are hiring last I heard.

In Banking, you may want to talk to GE capital, they too are undergoing a bit of an expansion into the retail space.

Thailand is great in the sense that you can be a big fish in a small pond in some respects. This has a down side if your goal is to rule the world, but, on the otherhand, I find it is great as it gives you responsibilites that you would have had to have waited years for back home.

So it is all Swings and Roundabouts.

It is possible to do well here without being on the expat package. It may take a couple of years though to work yourself up however. There is a good critical mass of people here who are doing their own thing, paid well and generally kicking goals all the time.