Is it common for recruiters to ghost you after applying for job postings here even as a local?

[Skarsnik22]

I know there are multiple difficulties to getting hired in Thailand as a foreigner but in my situation, I’m actually a local here.

 

Im luk krueng Thai + British. Spent over 5 years working in Canada but had to leave due to an expiring work permit and the fact that the whole PR process was delayed due to my score (didn’t get ita yet). Basically I had to fly back to Thailand as I don’t have a home in the UK and I grew up here.

 

However I’ve been having a rough even securing interviews while here. I have a good resume with my photo on it along with a list of skills and highlights of my work experience. I’ve mostly worked in registration at a college in Vancouver for the past two to three years so have been looking for admin or office positions. However I’ve been submitting like over 500 apps through LinkedIn and jobs db but haven’t received many phone calls (only two interviews so far and the rest is just ghosting, not even a rejection letter). 
 

I wonder if my name is offputting as it is a western name so it could throw employers off into thinking I’m a foreigner instead of a local. The problem seems to be that even temp agencies are also ghosting me. Is it just common for companies to do this during this time of the year or are there some issues on display here?

 

Honestly I’ve only been unemployed for less than a month and I’m starting to freak out. I’m considering hiring a resume consultant here but I just find it weird since I used the same resume in Canada and got callbacks after like 10 applications.
 

 

[Cake Monster]

Its not about you

Its about the amount of work the Recruitment  Consultant / Company has to do on every application for Employment.

They may be receiving several hundred applications for a certain position, so have to sift through all the Applicants and designate their suitability.

All the non starters go to file 13, then some probable's, then the likely and so on until maybe 5 are considered worth interview,

All this takes time and resources, and to reply to each and every candidate is really a non starter.

Only the few for end interview will be contacted

This is the same the World over now..

 

 

[FriendlyFarang]

On 1/5/2023 at 4:10 PM, Skarsnik22 said:

I wonder if my name is offputting as it is a western name so it could throw employers off into thinking I’m a foreigner instead of a local. The problem seems to be that even temp agencies are also ghosting me. Is it just common for companies to do this during this time of the year or are there some issues on display here?

 

Honestly I’ve only been unemployed for less than a month and I’m starting to freak out. I’m considering hiring a resume consultant here but I just find it weird since I used the same resume in Canada and got callbacks after like 10 applications.

So a company is looking for a Thai employee and you are submitting a resume in English? No consultant required to spot the problem.

[nigelforbes]

If your application is in English, you will be ghosted.

[Nonthaburi Boy]

Ghosting is the norm. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Actually, even shortlisted candidates may not be contacted nowadays, depending on the process. That’s a bit rude but it seems to be increasingly the way.

 

However, if you have a degree and are capable with MS Office (basic qualification for most office positions) it’s possible something is wrong with your resume. If you lack either of those you should consider remedying it if you can.

 

Using the same resume you used in Canada may not be a good idea. Try to think what people in Thailand are looking for. Just for example, it’s completely fine that it’s in English (actually that’s normal) but try adding your name in Thai, with your Thai nickname + “nong” - assuming you are relatively young. Consider adding information that is none of their business and they are not supposed to consider when recruiting (but they do). And maybe put your statement of intent in Thai and English. If you don’t have a statement of intent or similar, make one. Your name and resume is a bit unusual and they may wrongly assume that you are not what they imagine they are looking for. 

 

If you don’t type Thai fluently, only apply for positions where this is not going to be needed. If you do, emphasize that.

 

Post on a Thai forum - or a ‘Thai returnee’ forum. You’ll get better advice for the current market. Also, networking is still the very best way to get started - and once you get started you won’t have this issue again. There are jobs out there for you. 25 years ago I could have told you what they were but I’m old and out of touch now.

 

 

 

[Skarsnik22]

2 hours ago, Nonthaburi Boy said:

Ghosting is the norm. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Actually, even shortlisted candidates may not be contacted nowadays, depending on the process. That’s a bit rude but it seems to be increasingly the way.

 

However, if you have a degree and are capable with MS Office (basic qualification for most office positions) it’s possible something is wrong with your resume. If you lack either of those you should consider remedying it if you can.

 

Using the same resume you used in Canada may not be a good idea. Try to think what people in Thailand are looking for. Just for example, it’s completely fine that it’s in English (actually that’s normal) but try adding your name in Thai, with your Thai nickname + “nong” - assuming you are relatively young. Consider adding information that is none of their business and they are not supposed to consider when recruiting (but they do). And maybe put your statement of intent in Thai and English. If you don’t have a statement of intent or similar, make one. Your name and resume is a bit unusual and they may wrongly assume that you are not what they imagine they are looking for. 

 

If you don’t type Thai fluently, only apply for positions where this is not going to be needed. If you do, emphasize that.

 

Post on a Thai forum - or a ‘Thai returnee’ forum. You’ll get better advice for the current market. Also, networking is still the very best way to get started - and once you get started you won’t have this issue again. There are jobs out there for you. 25 years ago I could have told you what they were but I’m old and out of touch now.

 

 

 

Thanks. I have a western name unfortunately so I guess a lot of that throws potential employers off as they may think I’m a foreigner. Recently on jobs db at least I’ve been specifying in the pitch area that I’m of Thai and British nationality. 
 

im pretty certain it has to do with my resume as I have been applying to jobs that don’t list thai as a requirement. I’ll hire a resume coach this Monday. 

[Skarsnik22]

7 hours ago, FriendlyFarang said:

So a company is looking for a Thai employee and you are submitting a resume in English? No consultant required to spot the problem.

The company lists the job description and everything in English, asks for someone who is fluent in English, and doesn’t list fluency in Thai as a requirement. Connect the dots.

 

”gee I wonder why this guys resumes in English instead of Thai”

[Everyman]

22 hours ago, Skarsnik22 said:

The company lists the job description and everything in English, asks for someone who is fluent in English, and doesn’t list fluency in Thai as a requirement. Connect the dots.

 

”gee I wonder why this guys resumes in English instead of Thai”

Figure out the number 1 place you want to work and show up there. It may take a couple of visits. Convince the boss you should work there. 

 

The easiest way is to make them like you and that’s easier than it sounds. Ask them for a very small favor, like a drink of water. They will rationalize that they did you the favor because they like you. Then confirmation bias will take over and they will have a “good feeling” about you without knowing why.

 

But you have to literally show up, Thai people are intimidated by the idea of responding to emails in English. 

 

Showing up in person will also let them see that you are Thai.

[Skarsnik22]

4 hours ago, Everyman said:

Figure out the number 1 place you want to work and show up there. It may take a couple of visits. Convince the boss you should work there. 

 

The easiest way is to make them like you and that’s easier than it sounds. Ask them for a very small favor, like a drink of water. They will rationalize that they did you the favor because they like you. Then confirmation bias will take over and they will have a “good feeling” about you without knowing why.

 

But you have to literally show up, Thai people are intimidated by the idea of responding to emails in English. 

 

Showing up in person will also let them see that you are Thai.

It seems weird that they would do this. Why not write the job description in Thai and specify that you’re looking for someone fluent in Thai. If you write everything in English, you open the room up for expats and dual citizen Thai nationals to apply.

[KhaoNiaw]

26 minutes ago, Skarsnik22 said:

It seems weird that they would do this. Why not write the job description in Thai and specify that you’re looking for someone fluent in Thai. If you write everything in English, you open the room up for expats and dual citizen Thai nationals to apply.

I see new university graduates applying for jobs every year. They always send English-language resumes to apply for jobs advertised in English. They also don't just show up at companies without being asked to attend interviews. 
In the past my daughter has found that it may be several months after submitting an application before a company actually contacts her. No acknowledgement that they have received the application and then out of the blue four or five months later an invitation to interview.