Job seeking in Chiang Rai

[Maleesa]

Hi everyone,

Is there any employment help centers, job seeking banks out there in Chiang Rai? (Specifically for foreigners)

Or do you just have to show up with a CV?

I am a canadian laotian. I speak french, english and basic lao. I'm here to stay with my thai family and looking for a good job. I hear Chiang Mai has much bigger opportunities, but I would also like to contribute to the development of Chiang Rai since this is where my family resides.

Any tips and recommendations, advices will be much appreciated.

MaleesaCV_EN-maleesa--.doc

[DonaldBattles]

Better to try on the Lao side as the Chinese are buying and controlling almost everything along the river to the border.

Nepotism is Chiang Rai most likely would keep any outsider from getting a job.

[bobbyd1]

Maleesa, try this web site - www.thjobsdb.com/th/job-location/chiang-rai

You have an impressive resume and you should have no problem finding what you want - Good Luck

[villagefarang]

Not being Thai your options are going to be quite limited. You might be better off getting a teaching job first and then developing your contacts over time. If people take a liking to you, offers to do something else may come your way. At least that is how it worked for me as a youngster in Bangkok, so many years ago. I would guess things are more difficult these days, however. Good luck on this new phase of your life.

[Maleesa]

Thanks @bobbyd1, I had that website bookmarked in my files, thanks. I will keep re-looking.

@villagefarang: You're right, I do find my options limited, not being thai, though i'm asian. Especially, out here in CR. That's why I thought about moving to CM, more opportunities...but my family is here and I also came to be with them. Gah. I have some teaching experience, but no official certification, which put me in the bottom of the list...still thinking if I should invest budget into that field.

My ideal would be to work in social corporate responsability. I'm still waiting on an employer's answer. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the good wishes, ya'll! Stay safe.

[Garry]

Thanks @bobbyd1, I had that website bookmarked in my files, thanks. I will keep re-looking.

@villagefarang: You're right, I do find my options limited, not being thai, though i'm asian. Especially, out here in CR. That's why I thought about moving to CM, more opportunities...but my family is here and I also came to be with them. Gah. I have some teaching experience, but no official certification, which put me in the bottom of the list...still thinking if I should invest budget into that field.

My ideal would be to work in social corporate responsability. I'm still waiting on an employer's answer. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the good wishes, ya'll! Stay safe.

Have you had a look at the hospitality industry? The (link=>) Le Meridian Chiang Rai Resort may be right up your alley (so to speak) as they do have some foreign staff.

[Tomtomtom69]

Thanks @bobbyd1, I had that website bookmarked in my files, thanks. I will keep re-looking.

@villagefarang: You're right, I do find my options limited, not being thai, though i'm asian. Especially, out here in CR. That's why I thought about moving to CM, more opportunities...but my family is here and I also came to be with them. Gah. I have some teaching experience, but no official certification, which put me in the bottom of the list...still thinking if I should invest budget into that field.

My ideal would be to work in social corporate responsability. I'm still waiting on an employer's answer. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the good wishes, ya'll! Stay safe.

What does "being Asian" have to do with your capability of getting a job here? Either you're Thai, or you're a foreigner so please don't bring race into this discussion...looking like the locals won't help you get a job and particularly since you don't speak Thai and you claim to speak only basic Lao with no ability to read or write Thai (or Lao, although that won't help you in Thailand anyway), your chances aren't great unless you want to try teaching, either English or French (the latter language is not in nearly as high demand as English, but due to this it might also increase your chances of finding something).

In Chiang Rai, I don't think you'll have much of a chance of finding anything decent - try Chiang Mai or Bangkok. But expect to be put into an English speaking expat role (well, obviously as you aren't Thai) and being able to compete with other expats for the position. If volunteering or similar is your forte, perhaps you could do something for Burmese refugees, but these jobs are invariably based either in Chiang Mai, Bangkok or Mae Sot. For some reason, Chiang Rai doesn't seem to have much of this despite sharing a border with Myanmar.

I don't think DonaldBattles cynical response is necessary - the Chinese are actually present in far greater numbers on the Lao side due to more flexible labor and land rental/ownership laws over there as well as greater geographic proximity to China. There are few opportunities in Chiang Rai in general and those that are available are generally only for Thais.

[Tomtomtom69]

Thanks @bobbyd1, I had that website bookmarked in my files, thanks. I will keep re-looking.

@villagefarang: You're right, I do find my options limited, not being thai, though i'm asian. Especially, out here in CR. That's why I thought about moving to CM, more opportunities...but my family is here and I also came to be with them. Gah. I have some teaching experience, but no official certification, which put me in the bottom of the list...still thinking if I should invest budget into that field.

My ideal would be to work in social corporate responsability. I'm still waiting on an employer's answer. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the good wishes, ya'll! Stay safe.

Have you had a look at the hospitality industry? The (link=>) Le Meridian Chiang Rai Resort may be right up your alley (so to speak) as they do have some foreign staff.

Significant experience in the hospitality experience is probably necessary for such a position except after 2015 when skilled ASEAN nationals will also become eligible for positions in other ASEAN member states, including Thailand. However, is the OP also a dual national of Laos? If so, then she stands a chance, although improving her Thai/Lao skills would help immensely. If not, then she won't likely stand a good chance though she could see if there are any vacancies anyway and see what happens.

[Garry]

Thanks @bobbyd1, I had that website bookmarked in my files, thanks. I will keep re-looking.

@villagefarang: You're right, I do find my options limited, not being thai, though i'm asian. Especially, out here in CR. That's why I thought about moving to CM, more opportunities...but my family is here and I also came to be with them. Gah. I have some teaching experience, but no official certification, which put me in the bottom of the list...still thinking if I should invest budget into that field.

My ideal would be to work in social corporate responsability. I'm still waiting on an employer's answer. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the good wishes, ya'll! Stay safe.

Have you had a look at the hospitality industry? The (link=>) Le Meridian Chiang Rai Resort may be right up your alley (so to speak) as they do have some foreign staff.

Significant experience in the hospitality experience is probably necessary for such a position except after 2015 when skilled ASEAN nationals will also become eligible for positions in other ASEAN member states, including Thailand. However, is the OP also a dual national of Laos? If so, then she stands a chance, although improving her Thai/Lao skills would help immensely. If not, then she won't likely stand a good chance though she could see if there are any vacancies anyway and see what happens.

still worth a shot

[Tomtomtom69]

Thanks @bobbyd1, I had that website bookmarked in my files, thanks. I will keep re-looking.

@villagefarang: You're right, I do find my options limited, not being thai, though i'm asian. Especially, out here in CR. That's why I thought about moving to CM, more opportunities...but my family is here and I also came to be with them. Gah. I have some teaching experience, but no official certification, which put me in the bottom of the list...still thinking if I should invest budget into that field.

My ideal would be to work in social corporate responsability. I'm still waiting on an employer's answer. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the good wishes, ya'll! Stay safe.

Have you had a look at the hospitality industry? The (link=>) Le Meridian Chiang Rai Resort may be right up your alley (so to speak) as they do have some foreign staff.

Significant experience in the hospitality experience is probably necessary for such a position except after 2015 when skilled ASEAN nationals will also become eligible for positions in other ASEAN member states, including Thailand. However, is the OP also a dual national of Laos? If so, then she stands a chance, although improving her Thai/Lao skills would help immensely. If not, then she won't likely stand a good chance though she could see if there are any vacancies anyway and see what happens.

still worth a shot

Yes, you never know. Anyway the ASEAN changes won't happen for more than 2 years. However, it might be worth remembering in case the OP finds another job first, say English teaching and later on wants to make the transition to hospitality or something else as part of the ASEAN/AEC 2015 rules. But only if she's eligible by being a citizen of a member state, in her case Laos, of course.

[pomchop]

Thanks @bobbyd1, I had that website bookmarked in my files, thanks. I will keep re-looking.

@villagefarang: You're right, I do find my options limited, not being thai, though i'm asian. Especially, out here in CR. That's why I thought about moving to CM, more opportunities...but my family is here and I also came to be with them. Gah. I have some teaching experience, but no official certification, which put me in the bottom of the list...still thinking if I should invest budget into that field.

My ideal would be to work in social corporate responsability. I'm still waiting on an employer's answer. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the good wishes, ya'll! Stay safe.

Have you had a look at the hospitality industry? The (link=>) Le Meridian Chiang Rai Resort may be right up your alley (so to speak) as they do have some foreign staff.

Significant experience in the hospitality experience is probably necessary for such a position except after 2015 when skilled ASEAN nationals will also become eligible for positions in other ASEAN member states, including Thailand. However, is the OP also a dual national of Laos? If so, then she stands a chance, although improving her Thai/Lao skills would help immensely. If not, then she won't likely stand a good chance though she could see if there are any vacancies anyway and see what happens.

still worth a shot

A friend of mine is a 23 y.o. Chinese girl who speaks reads writes Chinese, English, Thai and has lived in CR for couple of years teaching Chinese/English ...very personable and hard working....university grad. Contacted every major hotel in CR for any entry level job....while one might think a hotel would grab her for her language abilities NOT ONE even replied to her requests for an interview.....frankly I was surprised ..if I were a CR hotel GM I would have certainly been interested enough to give her an interview......seems to me the hotels here figure they can get by with Thai and English and really aren't recognizing the tremendous potential of future Chinese guests....from what I have seen they have very little if any Chinese staff which OF COURSE is necessary if you ever want to be serious about getting significant Chinese business....some of the hotels seem to think that oh the Chinese all have an English speaking escort to help but that is very shortsighted..there are a lot of wealthy independent Chinese travelers who speak neither thai nor English...they would be unable to order room service or communicate in any significant manner...I asked at Dusit front desk if anyone spoke Chinese and was told no. If I were Chinese why would I stay at a "deluxe" hotel that couldn't even see fit to hire ONE Chinese speaking staff? Amazing.

[sceadugenga]

I wonder if just going down to Le Meridiene for lunch one day and speaking to the French manager in the restaurants there could do any good.

He might be able to advise her.

[Garry]

I wonder if just going down to Le Meridiene for lunch one day and speaking to the French manager in the restaurants there could do any good.

He might be able to advise her.

How true, nothing better than showing your face and making an impression.

[Tomtomtom69]

Significant experience in the hospitality experience is probably necessary for such a position except after 2015 when skilled ASEAN nationals will also become eligible for positions in other ASEAN member states, including Thailand. However, is the OP also a dual national of Laos? If so, then she stands a chance, although improving her Thai/Lao skills would help immensely. If not, then she won't likely stand a good chance though she could see if there are any vacancies anyway and see what happens.

still worth a shot

A friend of mine is a 23 y.o. Chinese girl who speaks reads writes Chinese, English, Thai and has lived in CR for couple of years teaching Chinese/English ...very personable and hard working....university grad. Contacted every major hotel in CR for any entry level job....while one might think a hotel would grab her for her language abilities NOT ONE even replied to her requests for an interview.....frankly I was surprised ..if I were a CR hotel GM I would have certainly been interested enough to give her an interview......seems to me the hotels here figure they can get by with Thai and English and really aren't recognizing the tremendous potential of future Chinese guests....from what I have seen they have very little if any Chinese staff which OF COURSE is necessary if you ever want to be serious about getting significant Chinese business....some of the hotels seem to think that oh the Chinese all have an English speaking escort to help but that is very shortsighted..there are a lot of wealthy independent Chinese travelers who speak neither thai nor English...they would be unable to order room service or communicate in any significant manner...I asked at Dusit front desk if anyone spoke Chinese and was told no. If I were Chinese why would I stay at a "deluxe" hotel that couldn't even see fit to hire ONE Chinese speaking staff? Amazing.

That's a good point you make. However, I suspect the problem is the nationality of your friend - she isn't Thai. A Thai with Thai, English and Chinese abilities (many Thais are now going to China to learn Chinese) would be best for this situation. Your friend would really need to have significant experience before the hotels here would even consider contacting her and at 23 that is unlikely since most 23 year olds are just finishing their studies or only recently completed them. After AEC 2015 is implemented ASEAN nationals (not Chinese) in certain categories will be allowed to move freely between member countries thus a 23 year old graduate from Singapore, Myanmar, Laos or any other ASEAN country could thus be eligible for employment in say a CR hotel, but not now. There are still a lot of roles closed to foreigners in Thailand and entry level jobs are generally only for Thais, which makes sense if you think about it. If your friend got a job at a hotel in China, perhaps one in Kunming or Jinghong or somewhere with a lot of Thai guests she could gain some experience and come back in say 5 years to attempt to get a hotel job in Thailand then.

[bobbyd1]

I wonder if just going down to Le Meridiene for lunch one day and speaking to the French manager in the restaurants there could do any good.

He might be able to advise her.

Renaud is no longer at LeMeridien Hotel, moved to Indonesia

[sceadugenga]

Oh, ok, that is bad news.

[Garry]

I wonder if just going down to Le Meridiene for lunch one day and speaking to the French manager in the restaurants there could do any good.

He might be able to advise her.

Renaud is no longer at LeMeridien Hotel, moved to Indonesia

Oh, ok, that is bad news.

I was in Central with a buddy just before I left for the ME again, when by chance we met up with Renaud and he told us he was going. If I remember correctly he's off to Malaysia. In fact he should be there now.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Garry

[sceadugenga]

I found him a perfect host at Le Meridien and certainly wish him all the best for the future.

[villagefarang]

I found him a perfect host at Le Meridien and certainly wish him all the best for the future.

We don’t get to the Sunday Brunch as often as we used to, but fortunately we bumped into Renau and is family at the mall and were able to wish them luck and say how sorry we are to see them leave. He is moving to a much bigger hotel so that will be good for their future.