Going Rate For Decent English-Speaking Entry-Level Staff

[cheechoo]

A girl in my office gets 20k per month - university degree, 29 years old. She's a shared PA between me and one of the bosses

I would rate her at 90% fluent as much of the work 'English' is technical and not just everyday conversation.

what kind of sharing? is she hott?

[BigJohnnyBKK]

It is worth noting that outside of tourist areas and Bangkok, it is exponentially more difficult to hire and retain English speaking Thais, and you generally have to pay significantly more money, unless you get lucky.

Wow, didn't realize that, assumed that the places you mention would be more expensive, not cheaper!

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Regardless of what other companies may or may not be doing, not paying overtime for employees is against the law.

I'm not gathering this information from the POV of the employer, but that of the job seeker.

[Familyonthemove]

I've seen a big difference in rates for qualified staff and those with only basic educational qualifications. Our people are all graduates+ and we need decent English, so straight from college will start on 16,000 to 20,000 upwards depending on experience and we also have health benefits etc. We need to offer fast progression so we can retain good people.

But I've also known people working in hotels and restaurants with good English on 7000 -10,000 THB. An odd feature in Thailand is that some of the people with the best English are the least qualified. Look beyond qualifications and skin colour - and for customer service/sales type roles and there's many good people in Thailand.

All of our recruitment has been through recommendations/friends/university professors/business contacts .... this network tends to be very effective at finding good people who will fit in with our culture and values.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

But I've also known people working in hotels and restaurants with good English on 7000 -10,000 THB. An odd feature in Thailand is that some of the people with the best English are the least qualified. Look beyond qualifications and skin colour - and for customer service/sales type roles and there's many good people in Thailand.

Yes my girls are all upcountry bumpkins, probably considered dark by central Thais, couldn't say myself, don't pay attention anymore.

Most of them already working outside are making well over that already, even the ones with stands at the market. Just thinking that maybe some of them could deal with the boost in confidence working in a more upscale environment, and guesthouse receptionist would probably be a good fit if the degree's not important.

[Familyonthemove]

But I've also known people working in hotels and restaurants with good English on 7000 -10,000 THB. An odd feature in Thailand is that some of the people with the best English are the least qualified. Look beyond qualifications and skin colour - and for customer service/sales type roles and there's many good people in Thailand.

Yes my girls are all upcountry bumpkins, probably considered dark by central Thais, couldn't say myself, don't pay attention anymore.

Most of them already working outside are making well over that already, even the ones with stands at the market. Just thinking that maybe some of them could deal with the boost in confidence working in a more upscale environment, and guesthouse receptionist would probably be a good fit if the degree's not important.

Yes - the experience would be good - and could lead on to better work in offices or international hotels - but typical rate for receptionist in small hotel is around 9000 for 6 days a week (which is not much for long hours). There's an obsession with qualifications in Thailand, but good English and experience of working as a hotel receptionist would overcome that. Really good English is a big asset for customer-facing work in hotels and restuarants - so landing a job should not be difficult - but they'd need to move on to make better money. Cashier work is also good - as finding people you can trust can be hard ..... and girls from good upcountry families can be ideal - strong values counts for a lot when handling cash.

[mogandave]

It is worth noting that outside of tourist areas and Bangkok, it is exponentially more difficult to hire and retain English speaking Thais, and you generally have to pay significantly more money, unless you get lucky.

Wow, didn't realize that, assumed that the places you mention would be more expensive, not cheaper!

People (particularly young people) usually do not want to move from life in Bangkok to life in rural Thailand, and people in rural Thailand that learn English and go to university generally do not want to stay in rural Thailand.

[jacktrip]

i recall your former thread where you were having difficulty with the domestic help and offering very low wages.

you may want to consider not going this route here or you will run into the same problems.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Thanks very much, very encouraging!

Cashier work is also good - as finding people you can trust can be hard ..... and girls from good upcountry families can be ideal - strong values counts for a lot when handling cash.

As does knowing where exactly where the family shack is located 8-)

[BigJohnnyBKK]

i recall your former thread where you were having difficulty with the domestic help and offering very low wages.

you may want to consider not going this route here or you will run into the same problems.

If you're talking to me, for the third? time now I'm not talking about hiring myself but sending inexperienced Thais out to gain work experience. Therefore I'm hoping that the rates will be relatively high, since as I said the ones already working outside are doing pretty well and probably won't want the extra "challenges" unless it also pays well.

Also I think you may be mixing me up with someone else, I haven't had any trouble like that, same maid for four years now.

But thanks for your concern. . .

[petedk]

There's a huge difference in what companies offer. I have a friend who works in a lower lever managerial position for Citibank. She speaks and writes very good English ( and is often called upon to help others).

Her working day is 8.30 to 21.30 (22.00) EVERYDAY including Saturdays.

Salary 20K. No bonus.

dam_n Yanks 8-)

And I believe you mean a 6-day week? AFAIK that's standard, few staff at this level get a five-day work week in Thailand.

78 hours per week is not standard for an office job, even in Thailand.

Btw the law says 48 hours per week, and beyond that you must pay overtime rates at 50% more per hour. Of course no one really cares about the law except for government agencies, but if you want to be covered you need to pay overtime.

Don't know where you're getting 78 hours, just clarifying petedk's "EVERY DAY" statement as not including Sundays.

Do many hotel and office environments pay overtime? I've only come across that among my ex-factory worker gf's.

And BTW I've known plenty of government jobs where people are working those kinds of hours, especially around marking time 8-)

PS I'm not gathering this information from the POV of the employer, but that of the job seeker.

Sorry. I forgot to mention that the working hours are 8.30 to 17.30, 5 days a week but the "culture" of the company says they must finish their work. She often works Sunday mornings as well.

As she is of management level (20K a month!) she doesn't get overtime. Her subordinates on a salary of 14 - 15K get overtime and take home more than she does.

Actually I know several people who work in that company and they all say the same. "Citibank's culture is work, work, work".

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Wow.

As she is of management level (20K a month!) she doesn't get overtime. Her subordinates on a salary of 14 - 15K get overtime and take home more than she does.

But of course having big face is worth its weight in gold eh!

[mogandave]

The management thing is pretty tricky. Can they hire and fire staff without approval from "upper" management? Just calling them management only works if they don't fight it. Been there done that.

If I had a kid with excellent English/Thai skills I would get them at least a 2 year degree and have them looking at multi-national manufacturing facilities or engineering firms. The work may be less pleasant (at first anyway) but much more up-side potential than hotels, banks or retail where only conversational English is required.

I’ve been here 12 years and gone through hundreds of staff and have only interviewed a handful that were truly fluent in English, and I could not land them.

[tolsti]

3 smallish hotels ranging between 2 - 4 *. .... Rank and file, no English, 6 days off per month. Public holidays and annual leave. Uniform, food and transport. Decent accom (max 2 per room) at minimal cost. 9,000.00 per month + service charge (average so far in 2012 5,200 per month). Supervisor 13-14,000. manager 20,000+ according to length of service. Dept manager over 3 properties 30,000. Resort manager 2 properties 50.000. Holidays according to length of service increases, starts with 7 days. All national holidays according to govt published document. Sick leave as set by law. Death leave, monk hood leave as set in terms and conditions.

[The Pundit]

A girl in my office gets 20k per month - university degree, 29 years old. She's a shared PA between me and one of the bosses

I would rate her at 90% fluent as much of the work 'English' is technical and not just everyday conversation.

Is she hot?

[BigJohnnyBKK]

3 smallish hotels ranging between 2 - 4 *. .... Rank and file, no English, 6 days off per month. Public holidays and annual leave. Uniform, food and transport. Decent accom (max 2 per room) at minimal cost. 9,000.00 per month + service charge (average so far in 2012 5,200 per month). Supervisor 13-14,000. manager 20,000+ according to length of service. Dept manager over 3 properties 30,000. Resort manager 2 properties 50.000. Holidays according to length of service increases, starts with 7 days. All national holidays according to govt published document. Sick leave as set by law. Death leave, monk hood leave as set in terms and conditions.

Location(s)?

And if you needed a "just receptionist" with reasonable English as I described, where do you think you'd slot them in? Remember little formal education, not light-skinned hi-so looking. . .

Or would you simply not hire someone like that?

[tolsti]

Receptionist does need to have experience unfortunately. If this was an exceptional person then I might consider building him/her up with training but they would start on basic wage for Phuket ....9,000 but with all the benefits everyone else has. Receptions staff GSAs are always in demand and often in short supply but a recent ad-run produced some very good candidates. If a good candidate with experience was available I might start on 9500 but with a small increase after probation.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Receptionist does need to have experience unfortunately. If this was an exceptional person then I might consider building him/her up with training but they would start on basic wage for Phuket ....9,000 but with all the benefits everyone else has. Receptions staff GSAs are always in demand and often in short supply but a recent ad-run produced some very good candidates. If a good candidate with experience was available I might start on 9500 but with a small increase after probation.

OK thanks - and that B5,200 was a monthly share of the tip/SC pool, for a total of 14-15K?

Usually they get snapped up as mia farang before they're fully ready to be out on their own in a place like Phuket, but you never know, one might want to set their sites higher than what they usually end up catching online. . .

[tolsti]

Receptionist does need to have experience unfortunately. If this was an exceptional person then I might consider building him/her up with training but they would start on basic wage for Phuket ....9,000 but with all the benefits everyone else has. Receptions staff GSAs are always in demand and often in short supply but a recent ad-run produced some very good candidates. If a good candidate with experience was available I might start on 9500 but with a small increase after probation.

OK thanks - and that B5,200 was a monthly share of the tip/SC pool, for a total of 14-15K?

Usually they get snapped up as mia farang before they're fully ready to be out on their own in a place like Phuket, but you never know, one might want to set their sites higher than what they usually end up catching online. . .

We reward service charge in a different way due to our nature of our client source. We base it on occupancy and guest feed back. Not particularly scientific I realise, however we need to make sure that staff do feel rewarded but understand that their input matters not just that of the marketers and reservations staff.

So yes, 14-15 is achievable.

Nearly 100% have no farang boyfriends/husbands, they won't put up with the fact that the girl must work according to the house rules, hours and restrictions. The odd few that do either don't last or the relationship doesn't last. Mostly it's the relationship as we will not accept it intruding in the workplace.

[The Pundit]

Receptionist does need to have experience unfortunately. If this was an exceptional person then I might consider building him/her up with training but they would start on basic wage for Phuket ....9,000 but with all the benefits everyone else has. Receptions staff GSAs are always in demand and often in short supply but a recent ad-run produced some very good candidates. If a good candidate with experience was available I might start on 9500 but with a small increase after probation.

OK thanks - and that B5,200 was a monthly share of the tip/SC pool, for a total of 14-15K?

Usually they get snapped up as mia farang before they're fully ready to be out on their own in a place like Phuket, but you never know, one might want to set their sites higher than what they usually end up catching online. . .

We reward service charge in a different way due to our nature of our client source. We base it on occupancy and guest feed back. Not particularly scientific I realise, however we need to make sure that staff do feel rewarded but understand that their input matters not just that of the marketers and reservations staff.

So yes, 14-15 is achievable.

Nearly 100% have no farang boyfriends/husbands, they won't put up with the fact that the girl must work according to the house rules, hours and restrictions. The odd few that do either don't last or the relationship doesn't last. Mostly it's the relationship as we will not accept it intruding in the workplace.

Better to have Somchai waiting on his motorbike to take them off to Bangla for the nightshift then?

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Nearly 100% have no farang boyfriends/husbands, they won't put up with the fact that the girl must work according to the house rules, hours and restrictions. The odd few that do either don't last or the relationship doesn't last. Mostly it's the relationship as we will not accept it intruding in the workplace.

Yes of course, in Phuket a beautiful young English-speaking girl who actually wants to land a farang husband wouldn't last long behind the reception desk.

From my POV the question is whether the quality of the guy they'd end up would on average be higher or lower than via their current hunting contexts, at this point mostly online.

The two main challenges are getting them to the point where they're "polished" enough to attract the high rollers, and also savvy enough to actually distinguish the genuine article from the wannabe's - and of course mature enough to ignore the latter long enough to still be available.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Better to have Somchai waiting on his motorbike to take them off to Bangla for the nightshift then?

I doubt if management cares about the quality of its staff's love lives, they just want to keep them in the job.