Khon Kaen and Employment

[racyrick]

I may be forced to move to Khon Kaen from Phuket with my wife of 10 years who is 48 years old this year (who is from KK) and our son who will be 9 years old in July.

I lost my job and have not been able to find anything.

We literally have no money and that is why we may have to move.

Is there any chance for me to find employment there?

If so, what or where is the best place to look?

I am a 60 year old American with 40 years of sales and management experience. Teaching is not an option.

The perfect financial storm in 2008 wiped me out and we have been barely surviving the last 5 1/2 years here before I lost my job.

This has been very hard for me and I'm very scared and nervous, but I have no choice.

Thank you for your help and understanding.

[TerryLH]

"Teaching is not an option."

What kind of work are you looking for, if not as a teacher?

If you're not an expert in something in demand, or have some unique skill set, I think you;ll find it difficult to find something in KK.

Are you set for visas/extensions?

Good luck.

Terry

[Costas2008]

I want to wish you Good Luck with your future and may things go right for you.

Although, I live in KK, can't think of anything that would be to your assistance.

It will be hard, but keep your head up, and don't despair, nobody knows what the future can bring.

[racyrick]

I want to wish you Good Luck with your future and may things go right for you.

Although, I live in KK, can't think of anything that would be to your assistance.

It will be hard, but keep your head up, and don't despair, nobody knows what the future can bring.

I truly thank you for both of your replies and heartfelt wishes.

I know it will be almost impossible to find a job, but I have to explore all options.

In answer to your questions, my experience has been owning several retail businesses in the USA for 20 years , being a manufacturer's rep for NASCAR mechandise to stores, chains, casinos etc. and management in the vacation ownership industry for 15 years.

I currently have a 1 year marriage extension based on my marriage. This is what really scares me as well, as I may not have the money to get constant extensions and a 1 year renewal is out of the question as I would not have a job and I do not have 400,000 in the bank. My family is everything and to me!! Without them....

It is nice to know that there are decent people , such as yourselves, on this thread, with a heart.

Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your help and wishes.

[racyrick]

I want to wish you Good Luck with your future and may things go right for you.

Although, I live in KK, can't think of anything that would be to your assistance.

It will be hard, but keep your head up, and don't despair, nobody knows what the future can bring.

Forgot to tell you, had many Greek friends in my years in America and have been to Greece and the Greek islands many times.

Big Greek community in Tarpon Springs and Daytona Beach, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Went to the Greek festival every year and when I get to KK, you can tell me where I can get my favorite Greek dish, in fact one of my favorite foods of all time -PASTITSIO

OOPA

[cdmtdm]

best of luck mate , what about the wifes family ? are they farmers , retailers , any opportunities to expand on anything one of the family members may have going ? with a small input of money of course ..... remember the old saying " the darkest hour is just before the dawn " keep punching things will workout ....

[mike123ca]

At your age, does your country provide any social security or old age pension for its citizens? Maybe there is a program that you might be able to apply for. Try applying for sales jobs that are on the internet, sometimes location might not be that important.

good luck

[jackflash]

I know of a number of westerners in this situation.

Their only recourse was to return to their home country and try to get a job.

At least the Aussies could get unemployment benefits so they could send a little money back to their family in Thailand.

A very cruel situation indeed.

Edited February 4, 2014 by jackflash

[Andyfez]

I sympathize, however question why 'teaching is not an option'?

It's the easiest option you have, although the money is bad.

You can either find a school near you willing to employ you, or go ehole hog and invest in a TEFL/TESOL or whatever certificate.

The only other alternative I can think of is if you rent a small studio apartment in Bangkok (you can get respectable ones for about 6,000 baht a month if you look carefully), and find a job a Bangkok. Travelling up and back from KK at weekends.

Not easy, but in my opinion the only two obvious options open to you.

[USNret]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701589-have-ebaycom-account-how-to-sell-on-ebay-uk-australia-germany-france-etc/?utm_source=newsletter-20140204-0758&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=featured

[Jeffrey346]

I want to wish you Good Luck with your future and may things go right for you.

Although, I live in KK, can't think of anything that would be to your assistance.

It will be hard, but keep your head up, and don't despair, nobody knows what the future can bring.

I truly thank you for both of your replies and heartfelt wishes.

I know it will be almost impossible to find a job, but I have to explore all options.

In answer to your questions, my experience has been owning several retail businesses in the USA for 20 years , being a manufacturer's rep for NASCAR mechandise to stores, chains, casinos etc. and management in the vacation ownership industry for 15 years.

I currently have a 1 year marriage extension based on my marriage. This is what really scares me as well, as I may not have the money to get constant extensions and a 1 year renewal is out of the question as I would not have a job and I do not have 400,000 in the bank. My family is everything and to me!! Without them....

It is nice to know that there are decent people , such as yourselves, on this thread, with a heart.

Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your help and wishes.

I live in KK and I agree that finding work may be difficult. As for your Visa, You can get an income letter from the US Embassy stating you have 400,000 in income per year. The Embassy does not require any verification and Immigration accepts this for your extension.

If you are getting Social Security, then you should not have an issue.

[rotary]

I think it will be hard if not impossible to find anything job wise in KK if not teaching. Also do you think you will like living in KK? Khon Kaen is an acquired taste like BEER. If I were you I would be coming up with plan "B".

[Notable]

Teaching might be the only option for you, there are plenty of jobs available in that area that will pay you about 25k. Very best of luck to you!

[brit1984]

given your age (and thai employers' attitudes to age) i think you will struggle to find a normal salaried job in khon khaen

however, given your experience (and no doubt hard working attitude) i think you could make much more than a normal salaried job through commission from selling on behalf of other businesses (i.e. as an agent)

just ask around any business in khon khaen (ideally selling big ticket items) if they want more sales and if so how much commission will they pay if you find more sales for them

[bender92]

All that and you did not save any money? Tough.

[GinBoy2]

Do you speak Thai, or Lao? Without that I think that teaching is probably your only option. Since you're over 59.5, do you have any 401k or IRA back in the States you can pull from?

The worst case, you could always go back to the US for a year or so to work and save a little cash before you come back

[ozyjon]

It's not only tough in Thailand but it's tough world wide, all countries i live in have the same unemployment problem, therefore crime is on the rise there, do investigate plan A and plan B because in Thailand there are no hand outs, in this forum and other places there are always people needing things, find out what the needs are and fill the needs with your expertise, getting paid work will be hard, teaching is always the option but many schools now require teaching qualification, if you were single it would be different, you would have ease of movement but as a family, i recommended to my friend in the same situation to get a job abroad for a while, save up then return to Thailand,, you have to look deep to find something that suits your lifestyle,, good luck, it's a shame you didn't investigate internet shopping / sales and set something up (i'm not really talking about e-bay) it's a huge growing market but you would have needed to be set up already.. otherwise ask many people and good luck.

[Notable]

Only international schools require a teaching degree, on the outskirts of KK city you will get work without a degree or TEFL very easily.

[racyrick]

Once again, I want to thank all of you for taking the time to reply and help.

Let me answer all the questions asked in the above threads.

My wife's family in KK are old and poor and do not work. Her sister and brother help them and we do as well when we had any extra money.

I am not eligible for social security in the USA until I am at least 62 years old-still 1 1/2 years away.

Can't go back to America as first and foremost, I literally have no money and even if had, which is a moot point, my wife could not get a visa to stay with me because I couldn't qualify to support her

Teaching is not an option as not to be redundant, I don't have the money for the course. By the way, can a 60 year old get a teaching job in KK?

Are you positive immigration in KK only needs a letter from the embassy showing 400,000 income for the 1 year extension? In Phuket, very strict and they do not accept just a letter, need to show income slips or other proof if not in the bank.

I have been to KK many times over the past 12 years. It is not my ideal place to live by any means, but I can adapt and as I said many times, have no choice. I will do anything for the sake of my son and family.

There is no plan B unfortunately, I wish there was, that is one of my problems and why I opened this thread. I guess this is my plan B.

I do not speak Thai or Lao

I really should not address this, but to bender92, don't judge somebody's life. I did not ask for sympathy, I only asked for help and information for me and my family.

I appreciate everybody's help and understanding and wish you all the best.

[patongphil]

Try asking the same question in khonkaendotcom forum. Maybe somebody there could help.

[Notable]

You could get a teaching job on the outskirts of kk without any qualifications or experience. The semester is about to end and they'll be looking to fill positions in March and April. Ask on the teaching forum for advice from teachers in that area.

[shaurene]

Hi Buddy, sorry to hear your problem, I am 72 and live in Khon Kaen, they say I look more like 55-60 I am married but cannot see any chance work here, you would need work permit, KK is getting quite busy with lot of people fromBangkok area and other areas moving here.

Lot of Falange here, not much call for Falange sales men.

[Notable]

If you go into the provinces you'll see people from Africa teaching English. Plenty have dodgy credentials, as well as appalling grammatical and pronunciation skills. Anyone who is a white native speaker can get work teaching English, Maths or science. Plenty of schools aren't bothered about which visa you're on either.

[racyrick]

If you go into the provinces you'll see people from Africa teaching English. Plenty have dodgy credentials, as well as appalling grammatical and pronunciation skills. Anyone who is a white native speaker can get work teaching English, Maths or science. Plenty of schools aren't bothered about which visa you're on either.

Will they give me a work permit?

I don't want any problems with immigration.

Very tough here in Phuket if you do not have a work permit.

Many people jailed, big fines and some deported.

It's great that I don't need a teaching degree and that certainly gives me an option, but I do want a work permit.

Please let me know.

Thanks again for your help

[Notable]

It is possible to get a work permit without a degree but they'll most probably ask you for one in order to make a work permit. I worked as a teacher many years ago but I have friends who remain active within the education system. Just remember Issan is a long way from Phuket, attitudes are very different. I don't base my comments on falang gossip either, I studied at KK university and my Thai language level is almost that of a native speaker.

[robertthebruce]

Hi

Just been reading your Post, Heart goes out to you, at least you are trying and willing to do most things just to provide for your Wife and Son..

I always say, ''We never know whats around the corner'' so , with a bit of luck, you might find something..

Another option might be for your Wife to find a job ??? is that possible ???

Cheers, and hope it all works out...

[duanebigsby]

Being older isn't an issue for teachers. We have a fellow teacher who is 67. You will need to enjoy kids and will need a hell of a sense of humour.

A degree in any subject is very helpful for the work permit and if you stayed teaching long term you probably need it for the Thai teaching Permit.

You can go several years before facing that though. The Education Ministry can change the rules on us of course.

It takes a semester to acclimatize and can be stressful for the first few months for newbies (like me) but after a while very enjoyable.

[KarenBravo]

You say you can't go back to the States.

Seems to me to be your best option. At least you can work there without having to jump through all the administrative hoops.

Of course, you will have to go alone and send money back to your family.

If you're serious about "doing anything" to help your family, then this really is the best way, but, it requires sacrifice on your part.

[Notable]

There are plenty of teachers working with fake degrees who have been here for years I'm sure. There is a lot of misinformation and scare mongering on these forums, so be aware. Someone wrote last week that immigration are 'getting good at spotting fake degrees now, the reality is that they only ever see a photocopy of the original document. I have 3 friends from the UK who came here without the original copies of their degrees and had to have scanned copies sent from home. The system needs a massive overhaul.

[Jasun]

If teaching is out, i'd take the 400K baht you've (hopefully) still got sitting in the bank and buy an open ended ticket back to the US. Then i'd throw the balance into a some kind of venture - use your imagination - and hope it starts paying you back before the ticket expires.