Could My Boyfriend Find A Job In Thailand?

[phuturatica]

My boyfriend got a job in IT in Bangkok but it wasn't that easy...

Best place to look is th.JobsDB.com he says.

There are some multinational companies which do accept foreigners in their companies in Bangkok...

Hope that helps.

[phuturatica]

Also, he probably won't get paid as much as he would back home.

[ragamuffin]

Helps indeed, thanks a lot!

[Beetlejuice]

What is his specialty in IT?

From the OP...

>... specialised in software solutions for printing and copying devices...

Doh!

In response to the OP, no, he is too old.

I would not say that he has absolutely no chance at all of finding an IT job in Thailand, but his age will certainly go against him.

There is extreme agism in Thailand concerning employment, plus over here at most times, it`s who you know and not what you know.

Wishing you all success and hope he acquires a desirable result.

[ExpatOilWorker]

rene123, on 06 Mar 2013 - 17:36, said:

ExpatOilWorker, on 06 Mar 2013 - 16:34, said:

Morakot, on 06 Mar 2013 - 16:30, said:

The OP is in Thailand. Best to read the thread before commenting.

Since the OP already is in Thailand and she sound pretty smart, she could also dump the current bf and date somebody who are already working in Thailand. Problem solved, next!

I hate to say it, but I agree with you. Long distance romances seldom work and a male in Thailand with time on his hands and some jingle in his pockets is going to find some NEW pleasure to occupy his time. Ragamuffin is obviously a strong, capable women, who knows what she wants for herself, but looking after a man with nothing to do is a recipe for disaster if he comes here. And, considering his options, I doubt if he can find a career in Thailand that would match his qualifications.

Great now that we have a consesus on the dumping the bf solution, let's get the ball rolling. I might be able to free up a slot for dinner Wednesday evening.

NB: Bring your best lingerie

[ragamuffin]

Mai ao, mai pen rai ka.

[arthurwait]

My boyfriend got a job in IT in Bangkok but it wasn't that easy...

Best place to look is th.JobsDB.com he says.

There are some multinational companies which do accept foreigners in their companies in Bangkok...

Hope that helps.

My mate did as well . BOI company, low wages though.

Edit: on his second job now.

Edited March 7, 2013 by arthurwait

[ragamuffin]

How low is low?

[damaja]

I have been in a similar situation - came to live in Thailand with my girlfriend 3 years ago, after already visiting here many many times while living the prior 8 years in neighbouring Cambodia. My girlfriend got a transfer to her organisation's Bangkok office, so got a proper visa and (eventually) a work permit sorted. I was on a 'companion' visa with her. I didn't have high expectations for finding work here, but thought I'd surely be able to find something half decent within a year. I did get bits of work, freelance (I'm a creative/art director/designer), but permanent jobs for foreigners employed locally, at a decent salary (>60,000 bht/mth), are *very* thin on the ground and highly sought after.

I've eventually managed to sort out some decent work, but it took nearly 2 years (!!!!) and I've accepted a very substantial drop in pay compared to what I was earning 4 years ago (in Asia). Plus, the 'career' considerations I used to have, have been all but shelved till i leave Thailand. And as I'm a similar age to your bf (early 40s) I'm pretty depressed about that at times, as I have had an otherwise fairly good and steady career progression for nearly 20 years in my industry; but I know that it only gets more and more difficult to reinvigorate even a very good career path that you've diverted from after 40.

I've known several other foreigner couples in very similar position here (one partner is in a full-time 'proper' job, while the other is trying to find work) and they've all ended up leaving within 2 years, mainly because the partner without a proper job has become depressed/dissatisfied with either the lack of prospects, or the nature of work they've had to accept just to keep things ticking over (often teaching).

Having said that, it did happen for me in time and there are many perks to living here as I'm sure you already know. Just be sure that if you do decide to come, that your bf has plenty of motivation and drive and patience. It's best if he has a year's worth of activity already planned out - even if it's just things like travelling and research. Plus, it's best if he can develop work/projects outside of Thailand. Certainly don't come hoping for him to find a job he'd like to do within the first year - that could well lead to a lot of very depressing disappointment. If he stays active and outgoing and involved in things, he's got a good chance of coming across opportunities for work eventually. I would actually agree with a previous poster's suggestion of him looking into enrolling in a course of some sort for at least the first year he's here. I'm sorry I didn't do that myself when I had the finances to do so. I could have done a Master's degree in film-making while here if I'd wanted. Plus, there's distance post-graduate degrees that can be done with European and American universities online. All would be a very valuable outcome for him and a positive thing to be doing while he keeps an eye out for work opportunities. Plus, of course, if he had another post-grad qualification his prospects in Asia would definitely improve (they're very focused on post-graduate - Master's/Doctorate - academic credentials for both employment and immigration requirements).

Anyway, good luck and get in touch if you do decide to make the move.

[P.S.: may I ask, how old you are? Sounds like you have the comparative optimism of youth still! ]

[meatballs]

Why hire a foreigner when a Thai is a fraction of the salary??

[ragamuffin]

Just turned 31 today .

[ihunnieibee]

Maybe if he isn't able to find a job he could enroll in some sort of school in Thailand.

Maybe you would like to check out the international schools, just to keep him from being bored?

He is not qualified to be a teacher and he does not like to be a teacher. And you are suggesting he joins an international school 'to keep him from being bored'? Spare a thought for the children.

I'm suggesting that he ENROLL in school, meaning taking classes there as a STUDENT

[MrHammer]

Hey,

I'm 30 and I am confident I will have a job in online marketing in Thailand within 2 months. It's just a question of having skills and being realistic about salary. Now, the mistake many people make is either thinking they can walk in to any office and get a 200,000 baht month job on their 'resume' alone or the other mistake is thinking there isn't any opportunity.

Today, LinkedIN, Meetup and similar sites help meet business people much more easily.

As I understand it, your boyfriend works in sales? Salespeople all around the world have always worked for commission, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get a contract with a low base salary and then commission on top of that.

If you know you can add value to a company, it's just a question of finding the price point at which the company can't afford not to hire you.

[MrHammer]

Why hire a foreigner when a Thai is a fraction of the salary??

Because a foreigner speaks English and likely looks good to parade around an office.

[yannic]

happy birthday ragamuffin you are almost exactly 1 year older as my wife. If your bf does not have an academic degree and he wants to change in career anyway then use the time to study again. A friend of mine did his Bachelor at the Fernuni in Hagen (google it) while living in Australia its not really that expensive. Afterwards he could start a new career. You mentioned that you can earn for the two of you. You just need to have a proper Internet connection. Even if he does not have Abi with his dual Berufsausbildung and experience he can study. Consider it...

Edited March 7, 2013 by yannic

[Morakot]

Just turned 31 today .

HB!

[Ministry of Som Tam]

Why hire a foreigner when a Thai is a fraction of the salary??

Because he/she might actually do some work and bring some value to the position and company?Instead of stand in a huddle with all the other Thais,gossiping,eating,sleeping or exchanging make-up tips!

[ragamuffin]

happy birthday ragamuffin you are almost exactly 1 year older as my wife. If your bf does not have an academic degree and he wants to change in career anyway then use the time to study again. A friend of mine did his Bachelor at the Fernuni in Hagen (google it) while living in Australia its not really that expensive. Afterwards he could start a new career. You mentioned that you can earn for the two of you. You just need to have a proper Internet connection. Even if he does not have Abi with his dual Berufsausbildung and experience he can study. Consider it...

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, I had a great day .

Just to clarify: my boyfriend does not work in sales. He's a consultant linking sales and clients. Part of his income is commission-based.

He has a German Abitur and then finished an Ausbildung. He's not interested in uni whatsoever but that might partly be due to not wanting more work next to his job.

[whistleblower]

He's an IT Consultant for an international company from Japan, currently working in Munich.

Why would he want to work in Thailand? He's probably making more money in Munich than in Thailand.

Because it's not all about the money?

Ragamuffin

I know of 2 people who have got work in the IT field in Thailand. In one case the person was employed from overseas on an expat contract, the second case was locally employed (less money) but still earns a decent enough salary for Thailand. In the second case, the company is owned by a German. I am not an IT guy im afraid but if you PM me with your phone number we can have a chat and I can put you into contact with these people. Where are you from originally? The 2 people I am talking about are Americans.

[ragamuffin]

We're both German .

I'll get in touch with you soon!

[VocalNeal]

What hobbies does your B/F have? Maybe something there. He needs to stay in his German job until he has enough years in to qualify for the German pension. Not much but he would be silly if only a year to go.

Can he take a long holiday and come and have a look? I know at least one "family" where the woman is the bread winner. The husband does occasional work here and there.

Also might help if the printing and whatever software or whatever he does is specialized. Ie a certaim print process, machine, industry.

[Forethat]

Securing a job in the IT sector is difficult unless you carry a special skill. Typically, a Thai programmer can be hired for 25.000, and there are good ones too! Try to find someone who's knowledgeable in QA or governance and you will end up blank, and these are the type of positions larger international companies usually look elsewhere to fill. The other option is senior management, at least Director level, positions with large companies and organisations.

[muythai2013]

IT in Thailand, pays peanuts.

[Forethat]

IT in Thailand, pays peanuts.

It does. However, I know specialists residing in Thailand that works for large IT companies and clear > 250.000 net / month, so there IS a chance.

[scorecard]

If his company has a branch here why not try and get sent here by them permanently.

I wasn't sure whether this is easily possible.

1. Does his company actually have an expat program? Does the company need to have expats all over the place?

2. From my reading I think your saying he doesn't write code, just suggests existing software packs to clients, in other words a salesman? If most potential clients are Thai companies then he'll need to speak Thai.

3. What 'wow' factor could he solidly contribute every day to justify the costs of an expat?

4. Further to 3. above, he would need to continuously show the Thai staff that he's super clever and higher pay is justified, or the company will have problems with the Thai staff asking whe he is paid more than they are.

Different angle. There are many local / international / professional recruitment / headhunters here in Thailand. Google their names and send a CV. Normally the employer pays the profesional fees these agencies charge but it may be possible to reverse this and he pays the charges for the headhunter to seek out posssible employers for him?

Edited March 8, 2013 by scorecard

[Fookhaht]

Talk him into teaching. If you both really really wanna live there, its his easiest path.

Yeah come and live high on the hog on 30k per month and all the hassles that go with the TEFLr world.

Eh, no thanks, would rather stay in the west.

If you both TEFL as hard as you can for a decade or two who knows,you may even rise to the position of TV moderator at some point,the sky's the limit!

There is to be no discussion of moderation on TV, even if it includes the "halo effect."

[MrWorldwide]

Why hire a foreigner when a Thai is a fraction of the salary??

Because he/she might actually do some work and bring some value to the position and company?Instead of stand in a huddle with all the other Thais,gossiping,eating,sleeping or exchanging make-up tips!

And that's just the guys !

[ExpatOilWorker]

Mai ao, mai pen rai ka.

I understand and respect.....that Wednesdays are not good for you. Sorry, that is the best I can do.

[varun]

Your husband's vocational degree in Thailand is next to useless, however valid his actual work experience maybe.A Bachelor's degree should be a bare minimum, especially for foreigners.

Also makes the process of applying for visa's and work permits easier.

Edited March 11, 2013 by varun

[Baerboxer]

Talk him into teaching. If you both really really wanna live there, its his easiest path.

Yeah come and live high on the hog on 30k per month and all the hassles that go with the TEFLr world.

Eh, no thanks, would rather stay in the west.

Eh, wasnt talking to you.

Teaching is a profession, and requires committed trained people. It's not a last resort for expats who can't find another job. The Thai MOE are much more demanding now. Also, what will he teach?

When you post on a forum you open your post to comments. If you don't want to "talk to everyone" try using the PM function.