I wanted to write up a few words to help others from not wasting too much time in trying to obtain work in Thailand from outside the country.

As a highly experienced professional computer specialist i've been trying for about 15 months to get a job in Thailand from outside the country.  In Europe, America, Canada and Australiasia this is possible, however in Thailand, it's just about impossible.  After considerable searching on the Internet, i've collected a fantastic list of good companies to work for, recruitment websites and so forth, in fact from these I found some great careers that were absolutely perfectly suited to me.  However the majority of times after applying, you just don't get a response and when you do, occasionally it's in Thai and rarely it'll be a formal rejection. I was told that positions have to be advertised within the country first, before recruiting foreign talent from abroad in order to be eligible for a work permit.

This lack of response apply's to the small companies as well as the large multi-nationals who sometimes only have a small office in Bangkok, it's just very difficult.  Remember there is also a global recession on too.  My overall view on working in this great land of smiles is that globalisation is not within the national consciousness of the Thai's yet, give it another 10/20 years and they will be, things are changing rapidly.  Ultimately I would like to see free world trade, so that Governments don't restrict people working in any country they choose.  Something like a Europe of the world perhaps...

Then there is the issue of salary.  Are you content with a Thai salary?  Or are you attached to a higher western salary?  If so, this is going to make it much more difficult to sustain a Western income in an Eastern country.  You don't need that much money to live on, but many appear to fall into this trap too.

So, if you do want to work in Thailand, don't waste time applying from outside the country, you've got to decide if your in, if so go there in person with enough money to survive on while you try and find a job.

Prepare properly, start learning the language, learn about Buddhism, learn about Thai culture and so forth else keep the dream, but just don't chase it, it's like a dragon chasing it's own tail.

Have a loolk at http://www.jobsdb.co.th

and

http://dmoz.org/Regiona....loyment

and

http://www.ethailand.com/channels/default....keyword=careers

Some good links for job recruitment etc

GEORGE WRITE THIS.

ME SAY GET ON PLANE & DO THE FOOT WORK.

I've applied for many jobs off jobsdb.co.th, good website for jobs, very poor response from most employers on there, including everyone from the large multi-nationals to the small companies.  Believe me, i'm pretty talented too so it's not that.

My list so far has 32 related Thai IT jobsites and agency's.  I've also got a seperate list of company's in Thailand who have recruitment positions on their website.  It's the approach that they advertise their job and you can apply for it, that seems not to work very well there.  My theory is twofold, in that the family approach like the "older Chinese family work practise style" is one reason.  You have to be introduced to the firm through an existing employee.  Second is that Asia has fallen head first into the IT certification game, because they don't understand experience is more valuable than certification because in Asia, face is everything, even if it means your technically crap, you have the pieces of paper that make you look good.  Re - read that.

I think a degree is mandatory for a work permit too, although i'm not 100% sure on that.  Would dearly love to know if this is true or not as it would clarify a few things for me.

Bangkok Post also has a IT recruitment section.

The odds are stacked pretty high against farang from applyinhg from remote.

However, and this is the good section if your paying attention.  Skills such as CCIE's (Cisco Certified Internet Engineers) and SAP people can walk over this, because their in worldwide supply.  From what little I know, SAP is boring as hel_l though.  Cisco's are great areas to get into.