Finding Job in LOS and Moving

[valley boy 0]

Big Chief I definately understand protecting you resourses.  But, you come across as Chief Hot Shit, the know it all.  You have a bullying way of talking down to others and that sucks.

Described perfectly.

 

Big Chief,well done on your success,if you worked hard for it,you deserve it,BUT that doesn't mean you have to be a total twat with your attitude.

I did martial arts for 13 years,fighting for my country 4 times and gaining medals at european and world levels,but you will not meet a more mellow person than me.Do i go around strutting,sticking my chest out with a bad attitude because of what i have achieved,no i most certainly do not.Being successful doesn't mean you have to be an arsehole.

Edited June 19, 2006 by valley boy

[Rhoel 2]

Couple of things to consider.

• Have the right visa - if you are involved with business get a Non-I B. Getting caught working without and you will be deported, period.
  
• Being here - time and again, people being in the right place at the right time have fallen into jobs. I am no exception - I came here to teach and discovered a company looking for staff in my specialist field - 8 hours later, I was in Chiang Mai being asked how much salary I was looking for, when I could start, etc.
  
• generally, you will not get Western wages. Expect up to a quarter of the Western rate - that is no problem since the cost of living here is 1/4 that of the west.
  
• Thais get 6 days annual leave (excluding bank/public holidays (of which there are many) - you might have to negotate a special rate if you expect to return to "home" every year.
  
• You have a choice - you can work ïn Thailand or you can "work abroad" but be resident here. In other words, if you can retire here officially, and have you income from overseas, this is one way of residing long term. Many run off-shore companies successfully.
  
• Not speaking good Thai is not generally a problem but if you do, then it will greatly help in your dealing with the Thais - especially if they don't know you speak Thai well: My spoke Thai is dreadful but I understand (and read) alot more Thai than I admit to - it can be useful to know if they are not being 100% upfront about something.
  
• Never piss the officials off, ever. If they loose face, you'll have bucklies chance of getting anything done in your favour. What was a possible before, becomes a no way afterways
  
• Thai officials love paperwork and lots of stamps - I counted 37 on one girls desk at the work permit office.
  
• Remember to bring your licence AND international driving licence with you. I forgot my International was only for 1 year and now its expired, I have to go through the whole driving test routine.
  
• Sort your medical insurance out in advance - if you have any previous illnesses, pay special attention as the exclusions and refusals by BUPA and others are high.
  

Hope that adds to the list, and leaves room for people to build on.It woud be helpful to know your age and your area of expertize.

 

Rhoel

[BigDUSA 71]

Here is my advice in a nut shell. Very easy things to do.

 

 

1) Move to Thailand. Being here already helps a ton!

2) Learn the langauge. You will be more valuable to employers.

3) Learn the culture. Business in Thailand is conducted significantly different.

4) Join some of the expat clubs and start socializing. Don't ask too many questions.

5) Create relationships with Thai business men.

6) Be prepared to do things you would normally look down upon.

7) Be ready to kiss Thai business mens ass! Very important. Makes them feel good.

8) Take as much training as you can about as many things as possible.

9) Remember that business is done with smiles here, not pushy attitudes.

10) Dress nicely and don't act like an ass. You never know who is watching.

 

 

Couple of things to consider.

Have the right visa - if you are involved with business get a Non-I B. Getting caught working without and you will be deported, period.

Being here - time and again, people being in the right place at the right time have fallen into jobs. I am no exception - I came here to teach and discovered a company looking for staff in my specialist field - 8 hours later, I was in Chiang Mai being asked how much salary I was looking for, when I could start, etc.

generally, you will not get Western wages. Expect up to a quarter of the Western rate - that is no problem since the cost of living here is 1/4 that of the west.

Thais get 6 days annual leave (excluding bank/public holidays (of which there are many) - you might have to negotate a special rate if you expect to return to "home" every year.

You have a choice - you can work ïn Thailand or you can "work abroad" but be resident here. In other words, if you can retire here officially, and have you income from overseas, this is one way of residing long term. Many run off-shore companies successfully.

Not speaking good Thai is not generally a problem but if you do, then it will greatly help in your dealing with the Thais - especially if they don't know you speak Thai well: My spoke Thai is dreadful but I understand (and read) alot more Thai than I admit to - it can be useful to know if they are not being 100% upfront about something.

Never piss the officials off, ever. If they loose face, you'll have bucklies chance of getting anything done in your favour. What was a possible before, becomes a no way afterways

Thai officials love paperwork and lots of stamps - I counted 37 on one girls desk at the work permit office.

Remember to bring your licence AND international driving licence with you. I forgot my International was only for 1 year and now its expired, I have to go through the whole driving test routine.

Sort your medical insurance out in advance - if you have any previous illnesses, pay special attention as the exclusions and refusals by BUPA and others are high.

 

Rhoel

 

 

Excellent advice that guys who want to live here should print out and FOLLOW. Do the above and most likely in a year you will be successful and getting more free pussy then you can handle.

[Owen` 2]

Guys,

 

Everybody's got their own agenda. After a number of years in life, especially in management, and you learn that critical reality. You learn to turn off your own set of evaluation criteria and just look at what you see.

 

So . . . I know ahead of time that what I'm about to say doesn't apply to many who will read it. But I suspect it DOES apply to most of the young guys on this thread and I hope they are self honest enough to know it.

 

1) Why are you doing this? Why must you work in Thailand? Yes, of course if you're married you are not in this category, but all those who are not and just want to swashbuckle in Thailand . . .why? Is it the inexpensive women? Guys, think real careful about this. Are you choosing to have ZERO career in your entire life for cheap women? It does appear that guys trying to work in Thailand are getting "jobs". Not a career. Is that what you intend?

 

2) Be real sure this is what you want for an entire life. If you someday find yourself competing for a Vice President position, you'll be competing against guys who were preparing a lot longer than you have and the winner of that competition will likely be decided by experience.

 

3) That reality doesn't have to wait for VP slots. Every slot upwards towards VP is going to be the same thing. Guys who learned the ropes and want to be 1st line supervisor, 2nd line supervisor, 3rd, 4th, 5th and upwards . . . they'll all have been preparing to compete while you were doing "jobs" in Thailand and chasing the inexpensive women.

 

The allure is what it is, but you can satisfy that tingle several times a year and remain unjaded rather than commit yourself to low pay, probably no Social Security, no progression up a career ladder and a hamstrung list of options for your future.

[bane718 0]

Guys,

 

Everybody's got their own agenda. After a number of years in life, especially in management, and you learn that critical reality. You learn to turn off your own set of evaluation criteria and just look at what you see.

 

So . . . I know ahead of time that what I'm about to say doesn't apply to many who will read it. But I suspect it DOES apply to most of the young guys on this thread and I hope they are self honest enough to know it.

 

1) Why are you doing this? Why must you work in Thailand? Yes, of course if you're married you are not in this category, but all those who are not and just want to swashbuckle in Thailand . . .why? Is it the inexpensive women? Guys, think real careful about this. Are you choosing to have ZERO career in your entire life for cheap women? It does appear that guys trying to work in Thailand are getting "jobs". Not a career. Is that what you intend?

 

2) Be real sure this is what you want for an entire life. If you someday find yourself competing for a Vice President position, you'll be competing against guys who were preparing a lot longer than you have and the winner of that competition will likely be decided by experience.

 

3) That reality doesn't have to wait for VP slots. Every slot upwards towards VP is going to be the same thing. Guys who learned the ropes and want to be 1st line supervisor, 2nd line supervisor, 3rd, 4th, 5th and upwards . . . they'll all have been preparing to compete while you were doing "jobs" in Thailand and chasing the inexpensive women.

 

The allure is what it is, but you can satisfy that tingle several times a year and remain unjaded rather than commit yourself to low pay, probably no Social Security, no progression up a career ladder and a hamstrung list of options for your future.

I need a . What you wrote is probably what most of us, including myself, are thinking. I want to move there to live the good life, but I'm aware that if I were to ever move there at my current age that life would be difficult.

 

I will nevertheless try hard to get there!!

[valley boy 0]

Well i'm going to try and go down the oil/gas industry route.I have my offshore survival course booked for the 3rd of next month and if i'm successful i will spend a year or so off Scotland getting experience and then i will try to get in with a company in SEA.Then i will spend my "off" time in LOS

[ginseng 0]

Valleyboy,

 

I've considered the oil/gas offshore drilling route too, but having no experience in the field I'm not sure where to start. The month on month off is very desirable, no matter how bad the month on was, the month off would be sweet, though I'm sure the time would FLY when off and DRAG when on.

[Big Chief 0]

I know a bunch of guys that do that offshore stuff. I doubt you will have any luck without having experience. Could happen, but would be much more likely if you had experience.

[valley boy 0]

I know a bunch of guys that do that offshore stuff. I doubt you will have any luck without having experience. Could happen, but would be much more likely if you had experience.

From what i have been told by a few friends working in the industry,they are screaming for workers at the moment.Plus as an ace card a friend of mines' father in my home town is very good friends with a VERY BIG noise in Shell Oil and he told me that once i get my courses done to give him a ring and he will put me in touch.