Would anyone happen to know if there is much work for an expat coming from an engineering background (minerals & O&G) as a planner/scheduler (non senior) with Oil & Gas engineering qualifications from Australia?

And if so, what remuneration would be possible?

Edited February 23, 201016 yr by AnotherWorld

Can I bump this...

You could try asking for it to be moved to the correct forum

SC

Moved to the General Forum where you may get more answers.

I am assume you are talking about work in Thailand specifically and not the business as a whole ?

Think you will find Thailand will present very few opportunities for you in O&G, 99.99% is done by Thai nationals.

Not trying to p*ss on your plans, but giving you the reality from someone in the business in Thailand, its getting harder and harder by the year.

Not going to say getting yourself sorted out is impossible, but will take lots of contacts and a whole lot of luck..

^Contacts, that's the key.

In my experience a lot of the jobs that expats get in Thailand while 'on the beach' are word of mouth.

My advice for someone like this to get a job with an MNC in Australia and try to get an overseas assignment anywhere. Once you have done that, you will start to get the contacts within your company and the industry that may some day lead to job here. In the meantime, you can take your holidays here.

Trying to get a job at your level in Thailand is very hard and any company that hires you will take advantage of your eagerness to work in Thailand and generally screw you on the deal.

TH

Yeah the whole luck+contacts+time+sh*tloads of experience is pretty much what I've heard in the past regarding employment in Thailand in that industry.

So Thais really do high 90% of the engineering work? I haven't researched at the size of the resources industry in Thailand yet but am interested. I am assuming they aren't suffering from a skills shortage in that field currently?

Yes, Thais really do real engineering work. Though you would never believe it from what you read here. There are a number of world class Thai EPC companies in addition to all the main MNC players doing business in Thailand, all employing Thai engineers at all levels.

Thai companies employ Thais in manager/supervisory/lead (as do MNC’s in many cases). Thai companies of course conduct their business in Thai, though virtually all the senior people I have dealt with speak good enough English to lead or participate in meetings. Some MNC’s employ expats in some of the same positions but they rarely hire “local expats” preferring to instead transfer in existing people. Some MNC’s do go the “local expat” route, but it is a very small cliquey group of people.

I wouldn’t call it a skills shortage, but a good Thai engineer with 10+ years experience is in high demand and can get a salary in 100k+ range.

TH

Hi Anotherworld

I spent a long time myself looking for work in the gas and oil industry (ndt/welding Insp) in Thailand, almost 4 years, defiantly more about who you know more than what you know here.

I still live here and work outside. I think it’s worked out even better, tax free wages, shortish work trips, it’s like coming on holiday every time I come home, best of both worlds. Drop me a line I’ll give you a work contact…. If you want.

Some MNC's do go the "local expat" route, but it is a very small cliquey group of people.

TH...never heard it being described like that.... ...at the end of the day in my experience the whole of the O&G business is cliquey....

If you're an Aussie McConnell Dowell are usually desperate for people.

But then so are the people that work for them!

If you're an Aussie McConnell Dowell are usually desperate for people.

But then so are the people that work for them!