Is There Any Work For Engineers In Thailand?

[Datsun240Z]

As I am planning to move there. I've searched alot on the internet. Very hard to find anything related in the technical field in Thailand, and also good pay. Anyone know more?

[H2oDunc]

You will find that 99% of engineering vacancies in Thailand will stipulate a Thai national.You may get lucky if your engineering discipline covers offshore work. here are some gas platforms off the coast of Songkla.

As for well paid engineering jobs. This is Thailand.

Certain jobs can only be done by Thais. It may pay to take a look at the list and then decide.

Good luck

[PhilHarries]

To go to Thailand and get a job in engineering is very difficult approaching impossible. As said most adverts stipulate Thai natonals although there are occasionally openings in the oil and gas industry that expats can slot into but usually the company will be offering salary more in line with local rates.

If you are in, or have experience in, the oil and gas industry contractors like Foster Wheeler, Bechtel and Technip have operations in Thailand and they might be your best bet. The key is to get the name of the chief engineer and try and make personal face to face contact and discuss their requirements. If not you could e mail your resume direct to him but I wouldn't bother going through Human Relics as they have no interest in hiring the right people.

Other option is more long term in getting a job with one of these companies in your home country, working bluddy hard for five years and build up a good reputation then discuss a possible transfer.

[thaihome]

“Engineer” covers a very wide field. Can you be more specific as to what your discipline is?

TH

[brianinbangkok]

I agree with the postings so far.

I have worked here in Thailand as engineering management for last 8 years and its near impossible to find an engineering job right now.

They will only hire a foreigner in senior management engineering positions.

All lower ranks are Thai Nationals only jobs.

In your own country a Masters degree level engineer could choose to do a lower level job just to keep working but in Thailand that is not an option as the lower and middle level jobs are not open to foreigners.

Edited April 28, 2009 by brianinbangkok

[thaihome]

I agree with the postings so far.

I have worked here in Thailand as engineering management for last 8 years and its near impossible to find an engineering job right now.

They will only hire a foreigner in senior management engineering positions.

All lower ranks are Thai Nationals only jobs.

In your own country a Masters degree level engineer could choose to do a lower level job just to keep working but in Thailand that is not an option as the lower and middle level jobs are not open to foreigners.

I agree with your post, except to point out the reason lower level jobs are not open to foreigners is due to cost, not any legal issue. In the past, on large projects, we have had many non-managment type expat engineers.

The problem today, is just like the rest of the world, projects that have not actually started are being defered as operating companies wait and see how things go the rest of this year. There are many large projects going on in Thailand right now, but they will generally finish over the next 18 months and are fully staffed.

TH

[brianinbangkok]

I agree with the postings so far.

I have worked here in Thailand as engineering management for last 8 years and its near impossible to find an engineering job right now.

They will only hire a foreigner in senior management engineering positions.

All lower ranks are Thai Nationals only jobs.

In your own country a Masters degree level engineer could choose to do a lower level job just to keep working but in Thailand that is not an option as the lower and middle level jobs are not open to foreigners.

I agree with your post, except to point out the reason lower level jobs are not open to foreigners is due to cost, not any legal issue. In the past, on large projects, we have had many non-managment type expat engineers.

The problem today, is just like the rest of the world, projects that have not actually started are being defered as operating companies wait and see how things go the rest of this year. There are many large projects going on in Thailand right now, but they will generally finish over the next 18 months and are fully staffed.

TH

The legal reasons are: needing a Work Permit for these jobs and immigration will not issue a Visa/Extension if the salary is not above 60.000 bath or whatever it is now, basicly pricing foreigners out of the mid level job market. (for Thai workers mid level non management this is between 35 and 45k).

Also there are immigration regulations that the company has to show proof the foreigner is needed and a Thai can not do the job.

This is much easier to prove to immigration for high level management or specialist engineering positions.

The higher cost to hire a foreigner is a direct result of Thai Immigration regulations that are intended to protect Thai jobs for Thai nationals.

So for general mid level engineering jobs I think they are practicaly not available to foreigners and thats what I wanted to tell the OP.

Edited April 28, 2009 by brianinbangkok

[teacup]

“Engineer” covers a very wide field. Can you be more specific as to what your discipline is?

TH

exactly!!

Some people call themself "an engineer" when they're not a "real engineer"

The term Engineering---- is used quite loosely by some people,

........ however there are many "real engineers" working in thailand also. Most of them are working for multi-national firms, or as a "consultant" for a thai company.

One main thing is that...."real" engineering practices are prohibited works for foriegners by the department of labor ---check out the law first before looking for your dream job here. If you are a "real engineer" that is.

Hint: A real engineer here means....you have the qualified "professional license" to practice in your home country also.

Edited April 28, 2009 by teacup

[Datsun240Z]

Yes I am a real engineer, maybe take a look at my adv. i posted in the "Jobs wanted" section. I have the licenses that are required. But I agree with you guys, it's very hard to find something in Thailand for a Mechanical Engineer. I can do many things, not only good with a wrench guys. But I can notice the problem of finding the right job. Offshore is not exactly what I am looking for, to long away from home and wife.

What I do find out, is that in Thailand, also here I think. The word manager of whatever higher positions, look it sounds great in the ears. Everybody wants to be a manager and make the big bugs. The problem today is, if your CV doesn't look perfect on paper, forget your chances, that is also here in Netherlands. You have to be a Salesman to get a Mechanic job, before you even touched a wrench of whatever and proofed yourself. In the main goal, I thought Thailand would be easier in this.

[Datsun240Z]

"Engineer" covers a very wide field. Can you be more specific as to what your discipline is?

TH

Hi,

In the Mechanical field.

Gr,

[Datsun240Z]

"Engineer" covers a very wide field. Can you be more specific as to what your discipline is?

TH

before looking for your dream job here

If i really needed a dream job, I didn't go to Thailand for sure. That's not what I am looking for at all.

[trompelemonde]

It depends on what engineering discipline you are from.

We currently employ around 25 expat engineers but these are mainly senior guys or engineers in disciplines such as SCADA, telecoms, AC/CP, metallurgists, marine civils, E&I where local engineers are simply not available on the market.

When I say ‘expat’ I am also including Malays, Filipinos, Indians etc in the description.

If you have an oil and gas background, also try companies such as CUEL, PTTEPI and WorleyParsons who all employ quite a number of expat engineers.

However, given the current market conditions I think you will find it very difficult to find something suitable at present.

I agree with the poster above - don't bother with HR departments, get the details of people in the companies to which you want to apply.

[teacup]

"Engineer" covers a very wide field. Can you be more specific as to what your discipline is?

TH

before looking for your dream job here

If i really needed a dream job, I didn't go to Thailand for sure. That's not what I am looking for at all.

Dream job: Sorry....It was just a matter of speech, didn't mean anything to it.

I "think" mechanical engineering is ok by the labor dept - better to double check

Just thought you might be in civil/structural engineering,....this one is a NONO according to the law, unless partnering or working/ or got sponsored under the thai company.

[Datsun240Z]

Yeah, i'm not in the civil/structural part. It's the mechanical. You talk about the labor dept, how can i check?

Any guys in here, that can bring me further to some things? Good contacts is the most important to find something.

[brianinbangkok]

Okay I looked at the job posting.

The OP is 22 years old with Dutch MTS (about a Thai BA level)

Primary school most kids finish at 12 so add 4 years for his Mavo Highschool brings him to 16 and add 4 years for his MTS BA brings it to 20 years old.

Then he did work for 5 different companies in 2 years time.

Hardly what I would call "Several years of experience".

I think with Thai society being one thats respects older people he can forget about a management position at his age.

There are thousands of Thai nationals with his skills and experience.

I have hired over a 100 engineers in Thailand over the years.

Tell me what makes you so special OP ?

Not trying to put you down OP just trying to tell you how hard I think it will be for you here.

If you have special skills like being able to program CNC machines from CAD drawings well now that would help.

[Datsun240Z]

I'm currently a Supervisor with a transformer company. Age does mean some things in the term of experience, for sure. But I can't say that it is an obstacle here, because everybody needs to proove himself. I'm putting people to work of over 40 years of experience in the company, I very realize what they can and know, that's why i devide some task to them. And spread the process to go quick, ass the boss wants. Time is money.

Anyhow, I agree with you, it would be hard to find anything overthere

[Datsun240Z]

Hardly what I would call "Several years of experience".

That is so, but working for 10 or 20 years, for one company, doesn't give you much experience also, because your learnings are on one thing. I've done work in those 2 years, on powerplants, ships, airplanes ( Stork ), factory's, Trains, whatever... that makes my knowledge spread widly.

[brianinbangkok]

Maybe so but to get a job here u need some specialist skills that the Thai BA guys your age do not have.

And you can't get these skills in a short time.

[Datsun240Z]

Yup, I got that Brian . If you guys now any people or information that can help me further in my search, would be welcome. I'm also looking for Dutch companies working in Thailand. Cheers

[bkklife]

What the guys are saying is true but their is still a chance you could get employed if your in the right place at the right time and know the right people. Forget about trying to get work via websites, HR departments etc... If you really want to work here, you should put a list of possible employers together and then just visit there office, talk face to face and sell yourself. If you attack as many as possible you will find something in the end. Also another thing to bear in mind, you should be able to work on local rates to start with until you gain respect, confidence, experience then move your way up from there.

It realy does depend on how much you want to work here!!!

This is from experience,

Hope this helps ?

[Datsun240Z]

Yeah..I understand, in personal converstation is the way to go. But for me that means a big risk also. Going to Thailand from here. Means i need cash for at least a few month, but it ends anyhow, so i need a job for income, as all other Thais do, or i have to go back again. I maybe allready send a 50 e-mails to diverce Thai companies, but no reaction at all. Seems your thing is the way to go.

[Datsun240Z]

At least i got some e-mails today, maybe this can help me in going the right way. Alot of companies also suggest me to dig in to the expat scene.. but then on the other hand, where to find? My search goes on.

[GuestHouse]

Given your age I'd advise you to focus more on building your career and experience rather than focusing on being in Thailand. That's not to say you should not seek work in Thailand, rather don't make Thailand your primary objective.

If you are happy with being an engineer and see engineering as your career then your aim should be to progress your professional development such that as you get older you have more to offer employers, and with that more choices - one of which might be to live/work in Thailand.

By focussing on Thailand is that you will undoubtedly miss other opportunities elsewhere and there is the added real risk that if you did find work in Thailand it might not be at a level or offer the experience you need to sell in the market later in life.

It's not news to anyone that right now there is a recession - the claim made above that big projects are being shelved is only true in part (many projects are taking advantage of the significant drops in capital expenditure that are being realized due to the reduction in orders of equipment and material) nevertheless the job market has shrunk and I would advise you to seek the best paid position you can offering the right experience.

Are there well paying expat engineering jobs available in Thailand? Well yes there are, I've just taken one.

But they are almost entirely available to people with experience - or I would add - to young graduate trainee engineers within international corporations/companies.

An observation I make of my own career is that while I was in my early twenties I was eager for the chance to be able to choose good postings as I've got older the eagerness to choose has changed to a real need to choose - Choice when you are young is a nice to have, choice when you are older is essential - and to get that choice you need to have experience and qualifications to sell.

Best of luck with finding a job in Thailand but do keep in mind your career matters your whole life, don't choose Thailand over career - Build the right foundations and you can choose Thailand later.

[Datsun240Z]

I understand that very well. Due some reasons i have not much choice, my girlfriend is over there, and we both want to live and work in Thailand. I currently found a major Thai company that does the same business, as my current company does, in the energy industry. I contacted them, there just a small compared to our worldwide company, but good oppertunities could be with them as well i hope.

[PhilHarries]

What GH has said above is dead right but don't be too quick to write off other opportunities in the region as being "too far" from family. Breaking into the oil and gas business is tough as everyone want experienced guys particularly for offshore. So you need to look at a wider picture and be prepared to take a job that's outside Thailand but within the region. There are good deals to be had with respect to leave rotations, flight costs and salary packages but they only offer these deals to recompense for the upheaval of being apart from your family. There are also married status deals where your wife and kids go along with you but that often presents problems as many worksites are not exactly holiday destinations. Plus you then have to think about the welfare and safety of your family when you are at work.

But I think GH's opening piece of advice is your best bet. Hunker down, do your time and gain the experience because they can teach engineering at college and college graduates are ten a penny. What they can't teach is practical experience and you gain that alongside some other attributes like wrinkles and grey hair (sad but true).