Hi there . I am currently considering working in Thailand and eventually settling there. From my occasional visits to this amazing country since I was nine, I have found that its culture really agrees with me and my fiance. I'm a 28 year old Malaysian female with more than 8 years experience in the field of Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, Entertainment, Club Consultancy, A&P and MARCOM. I used to do the occasional freelance writing for a local lifestyle publication.

After reading the many job related topics in this forum, I find that I still need more advice on this matter. To my understanding so far, it seems that the only way for me to enter the job market there is with at least a recognised TEFL/TESOL/TESL certificate in hand. I'm not looking for a high and flying job, as long as it is enough for me to live comfortably with a moderate lifestyle. Even better are jobs that provides a clean, simple accommodation. I don't even mind getting jobs which pays between 25000-30000 Baht, provided I am working for them legally.

My other option is to work on a part time/freelance basis. Would I still require a work permit? Targeting islands like Koh Phangan and Koh Samui since I have been there a couple of times.

Appreciate comments/advice on the above.

Cheers!

i don't want to rain on your parade, but what specific skills do you think you have that are in short supply in Thailand, i.e., why should the Kingdom allow you to enter the country and reside there in the first instance. the thai economy's main task is to provide income and jobs for thais...not malaysians who have found that the atmosphere in thailand agrees with them. in that case, the Kingdom would welcome you with open arms to continue to enjoy that atmosphere that is so agreeable to you but it would really not want you to come here with some type of general marketing skills (which I am sure are already present in abundance in Bangkok and most other areas of the kingdom) and take a job that could and should go to someone born in thailand.

by the way, malaya and thailand are somewhat similiar countries...i said somewhat. just what is it that so attracts you to thailand rather than malaya? i have been to KUL, Cameron, and Penang and find your country quite enjoyable too.

I have the same idea as Jonnieb but sth more I would like to add. Have you ever been to Sabah and Sarawak? It has great environment there both for trekking and paradise for diving. I know the place you had mentioned quite well both. If you said you wanna work on that two island and won't mind to get 25,000-30,000 baht a month. Honestly, that's too much for the place like that. If you work the same thing like you did before you would get paid less there. probably would be 10000-15000 or less.

Other idea for you is to get the diving instructor course and get the job there. With luck, you could earn more than what you expected but remember there're bunch of people wanna stay in your paradise, doh. The competition for this job is high as well..

Good luck

The local laundry is looking for someone to shake farts out of shirt tales.

Google is your friend! Here is a collection of more then 60 links about the Thai Job market:

http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional/A...omy/Employment/

Almost no one is entitled to work here legally other than Thais. You have your western teachers, many of whom are unskilled and/or illegal. No surprise then that no one wants to pay them.

You have a largish pool in the middle of Internet types, farmers and so on who married Thai women and need to fill in the hours. That, or they are self-employed.

At the other end of the scale you have executive types working for overseas-based companies, who earn a fortune, employ maids and eat in places I can't afford.

Then there's the worst of the lot - journalists.

Then there's the worst of the lot - journalists.

Heheheheh are journo's the last card in the pack Mike ? Even Thaksin's proposed salaries for expats has a poverty pay clause for you lot. .

I don't want it to get out that we are better paid than that...just a little.

Was this not a pay cap ( maximum amount) for journalists

My pay is already capped - by the generosity of my employer!

My pay is already capped - by the generosity of my employer!

I'm only doing the Aussie thing to you Michael. Manual urine extraction. .

i don't want to rain on your parade, but what specific skills do you think you have that are in short supply in Thailand, i.e., why should the Kingdom allow you to enter the country and reside there in the first instance. the thai economy's main task is to provide income and jobs for thais...not malaysians who have found that the atmosphere in thailand agrees with them. in that case, the Kingdom would welcome you with open arms to continue to enjoy that atmosphere that is so agreeable to you but it would really not want you to come here with some type of general marketing skills (which I am sure are already present in abundance in Bangkok and most other areas of the kingdom) and take a job that could and should go to someone born in thailand.

So all the Thais working in every country in the world shouldnt be there as the jobs should go to countryman - is that right? Sounds a bit like racism JohnnieB!