Moving to Thailand Fresh out of University

[komsan6063]

Hey everyone, for a long time now I have been planning on moving to Thailand right after I finish my University here in Florida. I have done a decent amount of research and have been finding the complete opposite of what I have been looking for. Thus far I have basically found that everyone says it is hard to get a good job or a good paying job in Thailand as a foreigner. Im not sure if it is just a lack of good jobs for foreigners or if the people have a lack of necessary skills. So this is basically my situation.

Im 20 years old I am from Florida and I am studying International Business At University of North Florida. I speak Thai about 80% fluency and I am minoring and learning Chinese. I first went to Thailand when I was 15 as an exchange student through Rotary International. While I was there i met my girlfriend who at the time was my Host sister. We have been together for over 3 and a half years. She is 22 and comes from a upper middle class family that owns a logistics company in Laemchabang. Our plan is for me to finish my bachelors and masters degree here so I can move to Thailand marry her and I can work. I was wondering what the chances of getting a good Job would be like in Thailand doing some sort of business either with a Thai company or a Multinational Company with a Bachelors degree in International Business , Logistics and Transportation, and also a Global MBA as a masters degree. I will also have English, Thai and Chinese down well enough so that I could use them for business. Does anyone know what type of salary I could get with that?

Thanks for the help in advance.

[kingwilly]

Good plan, finish your university first. You should be able to get a job, but it might be tricky at first. You could make 267,850 baht per month.

[Davis Knowlton]

^How much is that in US$? More than $100?

[kingwilly]

I was being smart, the question is too open ended to answer. But i imagine he could obtain a reasonable job , with a little work.

[FailSafe]

You can't swing a dead cat without hitting somebody with an MBA these days (it's true- try it)- there are plenty of experienced people with actual credentials with whom you'd be competing for a position- you should try getting a job in the States first and build some sort of resume before dipping a toe into international waters.

Do you have a shot? Sure, why not? Is it likely? No, not really.

My wife worked as a corporate recruiter in BKK for years- I just mentioned your post to her, and she said 'No way' without at least a couple of years working at a company in the US as you'd be competing with Thais who are returning from studying abroad with the same or better credentials than you, and they'd have the inside track unless you could bring something unique to the table. Thai companies want to see corporate experience, and you don't have any.

[Davis Knowlton]

^Exactly. I don't know the employment situation in LOS as well as I do the Philippines, but here he would have little chance. Jobs here pay slave wages, and qualified applicants abound. Only a job with a multinational pays a decent wage, and they can hire qualified Filipinos with experience for a fraction of what a foreigner would cost. I have worked here for the past 14 years since retiring and own my own company, but I had 30 years of experience and entered a corner of the market where Filipinos couldn't compete, lacking the experience and skills.

I guess if he really does speak functional Thai, and some Chinese, that would help, but a lot of native Thai speakers also have Chinese.

Might be a chance, at a very low-paying entry level job, but he would be well served getting both an MBA and, more importantly, some experience. I don't even look at resumes once I read down to the point where it's written: Experience: None.

[Bobcock]

I'd say that is good advice.

I get CV's from expats all the time all trying to work here.

At the moment we don't hire them, the policy at my company like many others is: They cost too much, we don't need then. Overpaced nationalisation is the policy, I added the first word cos all it has achieved is to find some good guys and hitre a lot of people without the experience to do their jobs properly putting more pressure on people like me.

If I was to get a CV from anyone under 24 with zero working experience, it'd be in the bin within seconds. Doesn't matter what the level of qualifications..... it's that simple, there is too much competition and the salaries we pay are attractive enough to attract much better people. University doesn't teach people how to do their job at the end of the day.

I also reject anyone who asks me the driving time from the office to Pattaya, which has happened twice.

[Necron99]

Work for the girls Daddy....

Seems obvious.

[Davis Knowlton]

I'd say that is good advice.

I get CV's from expats all the time all trying to work here.

I also reject anyone who asks me the driving time from the office to Pattaya, which has happened twice.

I once got a resume from a former Royal Marine. Good qualifications - tons of experience. Stated reason for wanting the job: To work in a country where the women actually look like women."

[Thormaturge]

The thing going against you at the age of 20 is lack of experience. Not just work but life.

A large number of people who come here to live return within a year. As attractive as it is, Thailand really isn't for everyone.

On the plus side, if it doesn't work out you are young enough to recover from any mistakes.

Thailand is one of the world's red tape capitals. Bureaucracy is rampant here. Whenever anyone promises to cut the red tape the chances are they will do it lengthways.

[kingwilly]

I also reject anyone who asks me the driving time from the office to Pattaya, which has happened twice.

Wow, it's amazing how dumb some people are.

[Norton]

you should try getting a job in the States first and build some sort of resume before dipping a toe into international waters.

Spot on. Get a job with a company doing business in Asia/Thailand. Make it clear you want to gain domestic experience with eventual position in Thailand or any another Asian country. US companies are looking for people who want to work abroad. After a few years of experience you are prime for expat consideration. Young, single, willing, with language ability.

[Thormaturge]

One thing worth considering is that embassies are forever looking for staff who are fluent in both languages. The salaries are usually hopeless but they serve as a foot in the door.

Gain whatever qualifications and experience you can now but keep an eye on the US embassy website in Bangkok and be prepared to drop everything in the US if you get lucky.

[Davis Knowlton]

^You sure about that? All Embassy positions (American) are filled by members of the Foreign Service. There are some jobs at a low level which are occasionally filled by the spouses of Foreign Service personnel. All other positions are filled by Foreign Service Nationals (Thai). I don't recall any local hire or hired from the US Americans, ever.

[charleyboy]

An American I knew used to work for/at the American Embassy in Bangkok.

He worked there for several years, something to do with the air con system.

[Necron99]

^ From there website..

The U.S. Mission in Bangkok provides equal opportunity, and fair and equitable treatment in
employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability,
political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. We also strive to achieve equal employment
opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.


Vacancy Announcement No. / Position Title

FSN# 2013/115 (T) / Medical Equipment Technician
FSN# 2013/115 / Medical Equipment Technician
FSN# 2013/119 / Receptionist
FSN# 2013/128 (T) / Voucher Examiner (PSU)
FSN# 2013/128 / Voucher Examiner (PSU)
FSN# 2014/01 (T) / Computer System Analyst
FSN# 2014/01 / Computer System Analyst
FSN# 2014/02 (T) / Mason
FSN# 2014/02 / Mason
FSN# 2014/4 / Secretary

Seems to be a demand for masons...

[Necron99]

An American I knew used to work for/at the American Embassy in Bangkok.

He worked there for several years, something to do with the air con system.

Was he paid local rates?

[Gilbert]

Go and work for her daddy's firm. Job done.

[Davis Knowlton]

^ From there website..

The U.S. Mission in Bangkok provides equal opportunity, and fair and equitable treatment in
employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability,
political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. We also strive to achieve equal employment
opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.


Vacancy Announcement No. / Position Title

FSN# 2013/115 (T) / Medical Equipment Technician
FSN# 2013/115 / Medical Equipment Technician
FSN# 2013/119 / Receptionist
FSN# 2013/128 (T) / Voucher Examiner (PSU)
FSN# 2013/128 / Voucher Examiner (PSU)
FSN# 2014/01 (T) / Computer System Analyst
FSN# 2014/01 / Computer System Analyst
FSN# 2014/02 (T) / Mason
FSN# 2014/02 / Mason
FSN# 2014/4 / Secretary

Seems to be a demand for masons...

Please note that all of those are FSN positions (Foreign Service Nationals) i.e. Thai.

[Bettyboo]

Some good advice on this thread, OP. Davis, Failsafe and Bobcock have explained the situation and reasoning very clearly.

I'd not consider moving from the land of opportunity to a developing nation that's very nationalistic and trying it's hardest to be closed to outsiders.

How's about trying to get some work experience while you're doing your MBA? Apply to some companies in the US for work. Doing an MA and working in that field at the same time is an excellent combination, imho. Moving to Thailand because of a woman, especially at your age, is a major error, imho. If you're part-Thai that'll make more sense, if not... don't do it.

[Davis Knowlton]

An American I knew used to work for/at the American Embassy in Bangkok.

He worked there for several years, something to do with the air con system.

I actually did think of one. When I arrived here in 1990, an American who had been hired from the US ran the Embassy Club and Commissary; had a background in the food and food service industry in the US. Only one I can think of, though.

[Thormaturge]

^You sure about that? All Embassy positions (American) are filled by members of the Foreign Service.

Not sure how the American embassy works but a good friend of mine from the UK applied for and obtained a job at the British embassy (yes the money was local rate), then after enduring that for a while he was in place to apply for a better job as manager of the Commonwealth War Graves in Kanchanaburi.

Most people here would give their right arm just for his free house.

He was the one who caught the big fish featured on the fish thread a few months ago.

[Dillinger]

I thought this was a troll thread at first. However reading his previous posts he sure sounds like a genuine American student, with mention of where to buy cheap prescription meds, fake id for nightclubs, hookah pipes, shrooms shakes and where to camp in Thailand.
He's a boy

[Bettyboo]

where to camp in Thailand

Silom soi 4 is a good place; be as camp as one wants to be...

Even though the OP doesn't wanna hear it, to move to Thailand rather than developing his career back home is an awful error for a young man to make. Having said that, a year here then back to the US to start a career could be good for developing/maturing his outlook, and employers like that. I did similar many moons ago: finished uni, went around the world (a bit) for 18 moths then went back to the UK and got a good job. Not sure if economic times are quite the same though...

[Bobcock]

I find it amazing that a 20yo who's only lived her a short time is 80% fluent.

I've been here on an off for 23 years and can read, but I would call myself close to 80% fluent.

Fluent after all is fluent.