Working in thailand as a foreigner?

Soutpeel · April 26, 2015

Sorry I didn't bother to read the other replies when I asked that question in my previous reply so you have thus answered it. Clearly you still can't speak much Thai after 14 years. Wow...I just don't understand how anyone can live in a country and not speak the language fluently after such a long period of residence? I understand that you may be OK with just English at work, but how do you get simple things done when you're not working? For example, shopping, grabbing a cab, reading small road signs in Thai (that you obviously can't read)?

I said my Thai is crap, I didn't say it was non-existent, unlike some on TV I am not that quick/arrogant to claim fluency in Thai, as I know myself I am not, I am good enough to get by and it hasn't hampered me I can assure you, I have a Thai drivers license, I drive myself...I can even ask for diesel at a petrol station in Thai , and never seem to get lost...

Who doesn't have a Thai drivers license?

"Dee-Sil kap" that's really learning the language.

I can top that and order strawberries too, "straw-bear-ree kap".

I think that makes me one of the nearly fluent, chai mai?

you would be surprised as to the numbers who do have them among the long term whitey's in Thailand...they rant and rave on about the BiB, corruption and law and order, but yet they think nothing of jumping in a car or riding a bike with no license...

Fullstop · April 26, 2015

The biggest hurdle is obviously the language

Obviously?

The majority of long term expats I've met here are Thai illiterate. And they have no inclination to change the fact.

Edited April 26, 2015 by Fullstop

Soutpeel · April 26, 2015

The biggest hurdle is obviously the language

Obviously?

The majority of long term expats I've met here are Thai illiterate. And they have no inclination to change the fact.

The biggest hurdle to foreigners working is Thailand is the fact most of the foreigner's who want to work in a decent job in Thailand, just don't have the skills/knowledge/experience that are actually needed/wanted in Thailand, irrespective of the high opinion they have of themselves

gandalf12 · April 26, 2015

Technical environment. What sort of job is it?

O&G

Soutpeel, is O&G, Oil And Gas. or O&G, Obstetrics & Gynecology?

O&G is always Oil & Gas

gandalf12 · April 26, 2015

The biggest hurdle is obviously the language

Obviously?

The majority of long term expats I've met here are Thai illiterate. And they have no inclination to change the fact.

alt=whistling.gif>

The biggest hurdle to foreigners working is Thailand is the fact most of the foreigner's who want to work in a decent job in Thailand, just don't have the skills/knowledge/experience that are actually needed/wanted in Thailand, irrespective of the high opinion they have of themselves alt=thumbsup.gif>

I am sure that is very true but there is the other thing of companies saying they have to employ locals

MaeJoMTB · April 26, 2015

The biggest hurdle is obviously the language

Obviously?

The majority of long term expats I've met here are Thai illiterate. And they have no inclination to change the fact.

The biggest hurdle to foreigners working is Thailand is the fact most of the foreigner's who want to work in a decent job in Thailand, just don't have the skills/knowledge/experience that are actually needed/wanted in Thailand, irrespective of the high opinion they have of themselves

SPs right, most of the employment in Thailand where you would need to speak Thai is prohibited to foreigners.

The skills needed to work in Thailand is not Thai language, the Thais can speak that themselves.

mikekiteboarder · April 26, 2015

Can start a niche business. As long as you hire 4 Thais you get a work permit and visa. I started a kite boarding school 9 years ago. Has worked out quite well and I even have 2 kids with a thai girl. I have to say I am one of the lucky ones. Most small businesses don't last 2 years.

Soutpeel · April 26, 2015

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The biggest hurdle is obviously the language

Obviously?

The majority of long term expats I've met here are Thai illiterate. And they have no inclination to change the fact.

alt=whistling.gif>

The biggest hurdle to foreigners working is Thailand is the fact most of the foreigner's who want to work in a decent job in Thailand, just don't have the skills/knowledge/experience that are actually needed/wanted in Thailand, irrespective of the high opinion they have of themselves alt=thumbsup.gif>

I am sure that is very true but there is the other thing of companies saying they have to employ locals

Why should companies not employ locals ?.. yours is a very bizarre comment considering its Thailand, why do you employ Americans in the US

or British citizens in the UK ?

Don Mega · April 26, 2015

The biggest hurdle is obviously the language

Obviously?

The majority of long term expats I've met here are Thai illiterate. And they have no inclination to change the fact.

Been working here in manufacturing for almost 10 years. I cannot speak a scrap of thai and yet it has no impact on my work or social life.

go figure.

gandalf12 · April 26, 2015

It isnt bizarre it is a fact. There are as an example a handful of Thais that are as qualified in my discipline as I am. I am not boasting just stating a fact. The whole subject is about foreigners working in Thailand or maybe you have forgot that.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The biggest hurdle is obviously the language

Obviously?

The majority of long term expats I've met here are Thai illiterate. And they have no inclination to change the fact.

alt=whistling.gif>

The biggest hurdle to foreigners working is Thailand is the fact most of the foreigner's who want to work in a decent job in Thailand, just don't have the skills/knowledge/experience that are actually needed/wanted in Thailand, irrespective of the high opinion they have of themselves alt=thumbsup.gif>
I am sure that is very true but there is the other thing of companies saying they have to employ locals

Why should companies not employ locals ?.. yours is a very bizarre comment considering its Thailand, why do you employ Americans in the US
or British citizens in the UK ?

Actually in the USA and Canada they employ their own citizens first. The UK is a little different in that but this is not the place to go into depth. The original question was about foreigners working in Thailand and my comment irrespective if you like it or not is that there has to be a certain number of Thai's for every foreigner. What I stated is a fact you cant deny it.

For me I dont want to work in Thailand but that is nothing about the country that is for my own reasons

Suradit69 · April 26, 2015

O&G...and I speak to Thai nationals every single day so not sure what your trying to get at...

so you have a good grasp of thai both spoken and written? Well if that's the case obviously language wouldn't be an issue for you would it?

I don't see where he said he spoke Thai.

In the rural areas English is less widely used and Thais working in gogo bars usually speak a form of pidgin English, but hiring foreigners in those areas or occupations is less likely ... for several reasons.

Businesses in urban areas that are likely to hire some foreigners and anything to do with tourism or those that have foreign customers or in providing medical care, financial services, etc the ability to communicate in English is fairly common, A foreigner fluent in Thai might have an advantage, but he would still need to have the skills and experience required before language skills were considered.

As Soutpeel suggested, a lot of people on TV seem to think they possess skills in demand here and at a superior level to Thai nationals simply because they are farang. Seldom the case. The better paying work available will still require demonstrable, verifiable qualifications and experience and of course most companies here would prefer to hire a Thai if he possesses the skills and qualifications.

Edited April 26, 2015 by Suradit69

April 26, 2015

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Many of the foreigners are ex military so I hear... They are all employed in security.

That leaves a small percentage of non ex military expats working here... If you are a sucessful professional in your home country.. You can get a job here easily.

Sent from my c64

In all my years here I don't think I have met one ex military expat who are employed in security in Thailand.

Not saying it doesn't happen, but I can't think of many sectors that would need foreigners for security full time. Majority of security work is contract anyway.

Ditto Chrisinth,

I think we have just seent the value of "...so I hear."

Expats in Security? Securing WHAT may we ask? LOL.

Soutpeel · April 27, 2015

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Many of the foreigners are ex military so I hear... They are all employed in security.

That leaves a small percentage of non ex military expats working here... If you are a sucessful professional in your home country.. You can get a job here easily.

Sent from my c64

In all my years here I don't think I have met one ex military expat who are employed in security in Thailand.

Not saying it doesn't happen, but I can't think of many sectors that would need foreigners for security full time. Majority of security work is contract anyway.

Ditto Chrisinth,

I think we have just seent the value of "...so I hear."

Expats in Security? Securing WHAT may we ask? LOL.

Jeez,

WOW64's comment was a tongue in cheek remark, referring to the large numbers of foreigners in Thailand, who typically inhabit bars who claim to be EX-SAS, CIA, Navy seals, MI5, MI6, Mossad or members of Gaddafi's revolutionary nuns

stay with the plot boys, it was a p*ss take

Beng · April 27, 2015

Lots of foreigners working in the Hotel and tourism businesses as Tour Reps,Chefs, Hotel Managers.

Also many farang running their own business like dive centers, bars, restaurants

BernhardO · April 27, 2015

"The biggest hurdle is obviously the language well has anyone found work in thailand that wasn't an expat"

I came here with one company on a short term job and was hired on locally by another company as an "expat"

so yes it can be done, and to be honest the language thing hasn't been an issue in the last 14 years either

Could you perhaps just give some indication of what you do?

If the language hasn't been an issue and you don't really speak thai this means you don't have to speak to people in your job so you aren't front line like front desk or involved in sales.

O&G...and I speak to Thai nationals every single day so not sure what your trying to get at... alt=blink.png>

I also got an Expat Job here almost by accident, have been doing the current Job now for just under 4 years, the only Thai I know I have picked up (no Thai lessons although i tell myself I will get round to it one day) The Company I work for is quite big and I am one of 3 expats they have in Thailand

chrisinth · April 27, 2015

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Many of the foreigners are ex military so I hear... They are all employed in security.

That leaves a small percentage of non ex military expats working here... If you are a sucessful professional in your home country.. You can get a job here easily.

Sent from my c64

In all my years here I don't think I have met one ex military expat who are employed in security in Thailand.

Not saying it doesn't happen, but I can't think of many sectors that would need foreigners for security full time. Majority of security work is contract anyway.

Ditto Chrisinth,

I think we have just seent the value of "...so I hear."

Expats in Security? Securing WHAT may we ask? LOL.

Jeez,

WOW64's comment was a tongue in cheek remark, referring to the large numbers of foreigners in Thailand, who typically inhabit bars who claim to be EX-SAS, CIA, Navy seals, MI5, MI6, Mossad or members of Gaddafi's revolutionary nuns

stay with the plot boys, it was a p*ss take

alt=rolleyes.gif>

OK, teddy bear, rattle & dummy back in the pram.................

Kudos wow64, I honestly never saw your dry humour hidden in there. Nice one!

Bit quick today SP, had to read wow64's comment again.................

Edited April 27, 2015 by chrisinth

zierf1 · April 29, 2015

The only way I've figured out how to get a job in Thailand is by creating a job for myself via self employment. Teaching is definitely not for me.

Howitzer · April 29, 2015

O&G...and I speak to Thai nationals every single day so not sure what your trying to get at...

so you have a good grasp of thai both spoken and written? Well if that's the case obviously language wouldn't be an issue for you would it?

I don't see where he said he spoke Thai.

In the rural areas English is less widely used and Thais working in gogo bars usually speak a form of pidgin English, but hiring foreigners in those areas or occupations is less likely ... for several reasons.

Businesses in urban areas that are likely to hire some foreigners and anything to do with tourism or those that have foreign customers or in providing medical care, financial services, etc the ability to communicate in English is fairly common, A foreigner fluent in Thai might have an advantage, but he would still need to have the skills and experience required before language skills were considered.

As Soutpeel suggested, a lot of people on TV seem to think they possess skills in demand here and at a superior level to Thai nationals simply because they are farang. Seldom the case. The better paying work available will still require demonstrable, verifiable qualifications and experience and of course most companies here would prefer to hire a Thai if he possesses the skills and qualifications.

I assumed he probably knew thai that was why he got employed working in thailand. I don't know the employment situation in thailand and if you read my OP i stated other than being employed by a foreign company typically an MNC that sends other natiionalities from one country to the next i would assume being employed by say a thai company would require one to know how to speak and read/write thai that's it. If that's not the case then so be it.

Howitzer · April 29, 2015

The fact is, if your skills are needed in Thailand, as you have correctly stated, a good paying job can be had in Thailand

Problem being, most people asking questions in posts like this are usually totally unskilled at anything.

And often unemployable in their home countries too.

I'm assuming if OP was qualified to do anything at all, he would have stated that in his OP.

Assumptions assumptions only in this case you're the @ss. Also can't someone ask a question without it applying to himself? I start a thread asking this question this definitely means i want to work in thailand and i have no skills in anything. I'll let you know i am working for a fortune 500 company.

It is exactly people like you that makes asking questions so difficult in the forum.

Someone asks about the criminal and justice system in thailand = he must have committed some crime in thailand. That is the type of assumption you are making here.

StreetCowboy · April 29, 2015

I have a friend who works for a Thai company, who doesn't even have the local language capability for an O Level from Nana Polytechnic. He does have years of international experience in a specialist field, though

SC

BernhardO · April 30, 2015

I have been reading the posts and some seem a bit off topic for myself

I work for a privately owned Thai Company

I was employed here in Thailand

I have a cross between a local and Expat package

That said I have skills to do the Job required (as many people stated that is a key requisite.)

I cannot read or write Thai at all but I have picked up enough to get by in meeting that take place in Thai and to make myself understood.

I was very lucky to get this job which is up country in Khonkaen and luck does play a key part to get a good job after that it is down to you showing you were worth employing to retain the job

This is what I have found and I have now been doing this Job for almost 4 years

fatfather · April 30, 2015

The fact is, if your skills are needed in Thailand, as you have correctly stated, a good paying job can be had in Thailand

Problem being, most people asking questions in posts like this are usually totally unskilled at anything.

And often unemployable in their home countries too.

I'm assuming if OP was qualified to do anything at all, he would have stated that in his OP.

Assumptions assumptions only in this case you're the @ss. Also can't someone ask a question without it applying to himself? I start a thread asking this question this definitely means i want to work in thailand and i have no skills in anything. I'll let you know i am working for a fortune 500 company.

It is exactly people like you that makes asking questions so difficult in the forum.

Someone asks about the criminal and justice system in thailand = he must have committed some crime in thailand. That is the type of assumption you are making here.

... and I have no skills in anything.... This statement tells a lot about your chances to find a job at home and here in Thailand as well. No need to go into further details.

I did many jobs here in Thailand and was offered more than once a contract to stay with the company, but I always denied because I love my freedom. Being employed here in Thailand means that you have special skills and if these skills are needed then there is no weekend, no holiday and no eight hours a day... The payment and social security is also below international standards IMHO. The decision to work in Thailand is an individual decision, depending on opportunity and whether it is worth it. I'm sure that Soutpeel made his decision to stay in Thailand was not only based on the fact that the salary was a "one in a lifetime"....

Fatfather

GarryP · April 30, 2015

Sorry I didn't bother to read the other replies when I asked that question in my previous reply so you have thus answered it. Clearly you still can't speak much Thai after 14 years. Wow...I just don't understand how anyone can live in a country and not speak the language fluently after such a long period of residence? I understand that you may be OK with just English at work, but how do you get simple things done when you're not working? For example, shopping, grabbing a cab, reading small road signs in Thai (that you obviously can't read)?

I said my Thai is crap, I didn't say it was non-existent, unlike some on TV I am not that quick/arrogant to claim fluency in Thai, as I know myself I am not, I am good enough to get by and it hasn't hampered me I can assure you, I have a Thai drivers license, I drive myself...I can even ask for diesel at a petrol station in Thai , and never seem to get lost...

Who doesn't have a Thai drivers license?

"Dee-Sil kap" that's really learning the language.

I can top that and order strawberries too, "straw-bear-ree kap".

I think that makes me one of the nearly fluent, chai mai?

Been here 32 years and don't have a license to drive a car. Did not even take my test in the UK. That is, I can't drive. No problem for me there. I have full time employment, a good salary and benefits. Speak and read Thai fluently, but can't write. I do not have any special skills, just experience gathered through my current job. At the time I arrived in Thailand it was a whole different ball game. If I was just arriving in Thailand for the first time now, I would not have a hope in hell of getting a decent job. As I said, no special skills, never went to university. Came to Thailand when I was 19 and still wet behind the ears/.

Soutpeel · April 30, 2015

The fact is, if your skills are needed in Thailand, as you have correctly stated, a good paying job can be had in Thailand

Problem being, most people asking questions in posts like this are usually totally unskilled at anything.

And often unemployable in their home countries too.

I'm assuming if OP was qualified to do anything at all, he would have stated that in his OP.

Assumptions assumptions only in this case you're the @ss. Also can't someone ask a question without it applying to himself? I start a thread asking this question this definitely means i want to work in thailand and i have no skills in anything. I'll let you know i am working for a fortune 500 company.

It is exactly people like you that makes asking questions so difficult in the forum.

Someone asks about the criminal and justice system in thailand = he must have committed some crime in thailand. That is the type of assumption you are making here.

... and I have no skills in anything.... This statement tells a lot about your chances to find a job at home and here in Thailand as well. No need to go into further details.
I did many jobs here in Thailand and was offered more than once a contract to stay with the company, but I always denied because I love my freedom. Being employed here in Thailand means that you have special skills and if these skills are needed then there is no weekend, no holiday and no eight hours a day... The payment and social security is also below international standards IMHO. The decision to work in Thailand is an individual decision, depending on opportunity and whether it is worth it. I'm sure that Soutpeel made his decision to stay in Thailand was not only based on the fact that the salary was a "one in a lifetime"....

Fatfather

your were almost believable until you started writing tosh like "i love my freedom. Being employed here in Thailand means that you have special skills and if these skills are needed then there is no weekend, no holiday and no eight hours a day"

This is a complete BS statement, further

Soutpeels decision to come to Thailand was to do being an offered money which was higher than international going rates for a comparable postion and the reason Soutpeel has continued to stay is fact they continued to pay Soutpeel above market related money and these days I do enjoy the job..

Don Mega · April 30, 2015

I assumed he probably knew thai that was why he got employed working in thailand. I don't know the employment situation in thailand and if you read my OP i stated other than being employed by a foreign company typically an MNC that sends other natiionalities from one country to the next i would assume being employed by say a thai company would require one to know how to speak and read/write thai that's it. If that's not the case then so be it.

I work for a Thai company and cannot even count to ten in Thai let alone speak it, been here for near on 5 years now

Edited April 30, 2015 by Don Mega

billd766 · May 1, 2015

I used to work for Motorola building cellphone networks wherever I was sent.

I first came to Thailand in 1993 for a 3 month contract working with AIS. I came in 1994 on the same deal but after 2 months I was sent to Indonesia.

I came back to Thailand again in 1994 and stayed as an expat for 3 years not only doing my job working with DTAC but also teaching Thais how to do my job. When the financial crisis came most of the Motorola guys moved on.

I quit Motorola in 1999 and went contracting and came back to Thailand once again this time building a CDMA network for Hutch. That lasted nearly 18 months and I was out of work for a while and then got a job with a Thai company who were working with DTAC and Motorola for another 9 months.

Part of my problem with Thai is that I am about 45% deaf in my right ear and 30% in the left ear. I can speak and understand some Thai but as it is a tonal language what I think I say in Thai may not be what the Thai person I am talking to actually hears.

I could find my way around Thailand reasonably well using a paper map but with GPS (Iwish we had that years ago) it is so easy. If I really get stuck in Thailand I will ring my wife and between us we can work out what I need.

Yes I was lucky to come to Thailand but as quite a few people have said, luck is one thing but being damn good at your skills and being needed are something else.

Sadly whilst I am ex military I was an aircraft radion engineer and not SAS, SBS, special forces, CIA or any of those things so there is no reserved stool for me in the bars of Pattaya but a nice house with some land, a great Thai wife and a wonderful Thai/English son instead, none of which I would swap for a barstool anywhere. Besides I am retired now and too old for all that crap.

rayongchelsea · May 1, 2015

Most employers want to see that an expat also has " international " experience. This is a big plus. Even if you have the skills and just plonked yourself in Thailand , sometimes just isn't enough.

rayongchelsea · May 1, 2015

Also, if you don't speak Thai really fluently in a job environment , with complex issues and requirements you should speak English , even as in my case Thai is ok. Can lead to mis - interpretation of requirements, tasked to be done etc..at a certain level with certain skills the language just isn't as important as some on here would suggest. The language helps however enormously in the social aspects of team building, interpersonal relationships etc..

Sign In

Working in thailand as a foreigner?

Recommended Posts

Guest

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Recently Browsing 0 members

Announcements

Topics

Latest posts...

Popular in The Pub

ASEANNOW

MORE INFO

POPULAR AREAS

CONTACT US