Computer management jobs

[anthemite]

After reading an earlier post by a 1 year programmer looking for work in Thailand, I thought I might throw out a follow-up question.

I'm a 31 year old Program Manager and Software Developer with almost 10 years design, management, and programming experience. I have begun the hunt recently as well, and while I have had several replies, I have had no success in getting beyond the application stages.

Oh and I can speak and read a lot of Thai, though I would not yet consider myself fluent in the "government"-related words.

What can I expect? Are my chances also "nil" as one of the previous posters replied to the young man in the original post? Where can my Thai-speaking skills come in handy?

Or would I be better off trying to hook up as a teacher at a Thai University?

Thanks for your help, everyone, this site is The One.

[kwiz117]

Your nationality matters when trying to get a job in Thailand as an expat.

I am working as an IT & Finance Consultant and lived in Thailand for around 3 Yrs with my Thai GF.

The number of Expats working in Thailand in this category is not much compared to English Teachers.

Therefore, many think that it has limited chances for an expat to find a job in your Area.

But, I believe it has Opportunities [Not a Demand] for an expat to work in this area if you can make sure;

1. You apply to a Foreign Owned Company [if it has a vacancy].

2. Your Resume will go to the Foreign Expatriate Managing Director or CEO [if not, then forget about it]

May be you can call and find out whether they have an Expatriate Managing Director and if so, arrange a time for a Telephone Call to make him aware that he is having another Option to think about.

I think an Average Thai ###### with the English Speaking ability will cost around 50,000 Bht minimum in Thailand [bangkok]. I know you can get them lower than this Salary. But to match with the requirements of a Foreign Owned Company, I doubt they can get a Thai Guy for an amount Below 50,000 Bht per month.

Your ability to speak in Thai will also add to the Formula.

If you are a Native English Speaker and from an European Country, or US it won’t be much difficult to get Increments after you join the Company.

With this in mind, If I were you, will start at 60,000 Bht Salary Range. [with all due respect to the experience and skills you have more than me.]

In Thailand, the problem I see is, many Companies do not understand the Benefits they can get by having a well developed Internal Business Processors and a good Computer System. Therefore, it is hard to convince them at the time of the Interview. They will basically look for the Name and the Size of applicants Previous Company, Number of Projects, Programming Langauages and specially the Salary he/she ask for.

That is where a reasonable Salary [in line with a Thai person] will come into play.

I also know a Company that might consider recruiting an expat for an IT Position. If you are interested, send me a PM with your details.

Pls note that this is my personal thinking and can not be generalized. :cool:

Good Luck.

[Zendesigner]

hi kwiz,

i'm experiencing exactly the same phenomenon you describe. up till now i've applied to 130 company's by letter and i suspect they just get trown away by a thai hr manager.

i'm focusing now on getting to know ceo's or managing director of farang owned company's.

i myself am an ###### / Network consultant / project manager with 8 years of experience.

i must say that i've never experienced such a racist attitude to finding a job anywhere else in the world.

If i as a ceo put in a belgian job add "belgian nationality only" I will be in jail in two weeks.

bart

[kwiz117]

The reason for this is, Thailand do not have HR Managers in many Companies. For me, all so-called HR Managers including the guy in my Company are just doing a job of a “Personal Manager”.  Thai People love to copy what ever the Jargon without even realizing the exact meaning of it.

In UK, you get HR Management Clubs, Chartered Accountants, Certified Information Systems Specialists, Chartered Marketters etc. But they all have Professional Ethics, Code of Conduct and also they have a thing called “Continuing Professional Development” aiming to make the member’s upto date with the things happen around you.

But in Thailand, you only see the Designation.  Like CEO Governors.

Believe me, these guys do not know the value of HR in a Company. [With due respect to the few Companies who really practice HR in Thailand.]

If you and me talk about this Management stuff we practice and the skills in our professional words, the Thai HR manager will not be able to understand most of it. So the easiest thing they do is, avoid it.

I also noted another interesting thing. Out of 10 Interviews I faced in Thailand at the time of finding a job, 9 were arranged by lady HR Managers in the Company. I think these male HR Guys are scared to speak in English and also they have a high ego. They do not want anyone to come with more knowledge than a Thai Guy in the Company.

If you go to an Interview, the key question they will ask from you is, Why you change the Job?

What a stupid way of interviewing a Candidate. In one Interview, I said “Same reasons why you change the job”. Obviously the Interview ended with that.

Did you get my PM?

[Pls note above are my own opinions]

[Zendesigner]

hi kwiz,

sorry didn't get your pm apparently. send you one myself