Thread: Living in Thailand and job prospects in Chiang Mai

Hello,

My name is Lorin Pearce.

I am 21 from Sydney, Australia.
Currently I am planning on travelling to Bangkok and then subsequently Chiang Mai in the pursuit of an English teaching position.
I am leaving on October 8.
I have a 60 day tourist visa, obtained from the Thai consulate here in Sydney.
I have a 100 hour TEFL qualification, and a spirit of adventure.

My plan is to stay in Bangkok for a few weeks, then travel to Chiang Mai, find an employer, make a commitment to teaching there, get a work permit and then a working visa (I am not sure of the conditions requiring you to change your visa type), and then hopefully survive on an English teacher's salary for a while (with my savings as a backup).

I am curious to know what the demand for English teachers in Chiang Mai is, and whether there are many jobs available, and just to get a general overview of the trials and tribulations that I might face in my mission to secure a job and visa and live in Thailand!

Any input is greatly appreciated. I would love to hear someones story about teaching in Thailand!


Thanks,

-Lorin

Holding a university degree is currently a necessity to get an extension of the temporary permission of stay and a work permit, Lorin. Especially when your employer is an government of private educational institution in basic education. i.e. K12.

look like a catalog model? dont sound like crocodile dundee? if yes to both, then you got a good chance of landing a (low) paying job in chiang mai. if anything less than yes then you might have issues finding something more than part time work until you make a name for yourself.

Well thats good, I don't sound like any of our various crocodile hunters (I have more of an international accent), and as for the catalog model, i'm not so sure? I am a guy (although many people make that mistake when they see my name). A low paying job is fine. Anything that I can live off really. 25,000 sounds alright to me, I mean thats about $700 Australian, but Thailand is so cheap that shouldn't be a problem as long as I can budget myself correctly right?

I love khao soi! Lorin, I can tell you what I did when I first went to Bangkok. I started teaching at a summer school, which was pretty crappy, but it had short hours and it was easy work. Once the school year started, I worked for an agency, then after a couple of months, a better job came along. After that, my income increased dramatically, with a combination of regular day work and night classes, and a bit of tutoring.

Was this in CM Nat? If not then it isn't really related at all to the OP. If you could put up with BKK you would find work much easier to come by. CM, as a fresh teacher with no experience may be a bit optimistic. EVERYbody wants to live in CM, or so it seems. There is a lot of competition. A minor plus would be the fact that you would be there and have time/resources to look around. I've heard that most schools in CM will only take people on who are already there (though whether this is just simple logistics regarding interviews, or what, I'm not sure)

Hi, I m already certified TESOL teacher, just look for the hiring in Chiang Mai, is there any I could apply ?

thanks

No, I'm afraid they've all been taken... if you leave your contact details we will keep you on our records, and we will let you know about any future openings

Well that all sounds good to me, I just have heard from so many people that BKK is not the place you want to live. And considering that it is so close to Chiang Mai, I can just visit whenever I like really.
Luckily my uncle will be in Chiang Mai as well so he can show me around and he would have quite a few connections there as well. I guess the only real way for me to learn about the place is by travelling there myself.

I want to be this lucky when I go!!

Originally Posted by Big Bill

Inflation makes Thailand not a cheap place to live in my opinion.

very true.

roughly a 30% increase in daily costs since i first arrived in '03.

Of all the cities I visited CM is the best, and the most courteous Thai people. I'd do with a smaller wage to live there. They have an inversion problem tho. But if you grew up in LA it ain't nothin but a thang.