| If are a native English speaker with a college degree in | | | | Bangkok will ask for a photo as part of your |
| ANY subject you can easily find work teaching in | | | | application package. You can find numerous photo |
| Bangkok within 10 days, just follow the steps below. | | | | shops around the Khao San Road area where you |
| Before You Leave: | | | | can get passport sized photos for around 100 baht for |
| There are several things you'll want to have in order | | | | four. Get 12 or more. |
| before you leave to make your job search easier | | | | Next go check your email since you might have |
| once you arrive in Thailand. | | | | responses from yesterday's inquiries. Immediately call |
| 1. Make several copies of your college degree and | | | | and/or email any schools that have shown an interest |
| pack them along with the original in a protective case. | | | | to schedule an interview. Make sure to get directions |
| 2. Some employers in Thailand will ask for University | | | | to the school. |
| transcripts so get several copies to bring along with | | | | The rest of your day will be spent visiting schools. It's |
| you. | | | | not the most efficient way of conducting a job search |
| 3. Create a resume specific to teaching abroad before | | | | due to the traffic in Bangkok, but it is good to get |
| you leave. Make sure it emphasizes any teaching, | | | | some face to face exposure and practice interviewing. |
| training or travel experience that you have. Save your | | | | The top thing to keep in mind when interviewing is to |
| resume to either CD or flash drive before you go so | | | | smile and show enthusiasm. |
| you can print it at an internet shop in Bangkok. | | | | When looking for walk-in interviews the best place to |
| 4. Most employers will ask for references so make | | | | start is Siam Square because of the large number of |
| sure to get 2-3 letters of reference from employers, | | | | English schools. Get a taxi and tell the driver "Siam |
| co-workers or teachers. | | | | Square". He'll get you there and once you arrive take |
| 5. Send contact emails to the big English schools in | | | | some time to walk around. You'll find that there are |
| Bangkok before you leave. You should summarize | | | | branches for Siam Computer, ECC, The British Council, |
| your qualifications, let them know when you're arriving | | | | English First and Go Chula in or around the Siam |
| in Thailand and ask for an interview. | | | | Square area. Visit them all and drop off a resume and |
| 6. Pack 2-3 nice outfits for interviewing. This means | | | | get an appointment if possible. |
| suit and tie for men and business attire for women, | | | | After you're done at Siam Square get on the BTS and |
| either skirt or pants is fine, but I think a skirt is viewed | | | | take it to the Ratchidamri station. Once you arrive at |
| more positively by the Thai's. | | | | Ratchidamri station walk south towards Lumpini Park |
| Day 1: Arrival in Thailand | | | | about 5 minutes to get to AUA, which is one of the |
| Hopefully you booked a hotel before you arrived, but if | | | | larger and most well known English schools in |
| not don't worry. There are hundreds of hotels in | | | | Bangkok. Drop off a resume and try to schedule an |
| Bangkok with prices starting under $10 a night. Do | | | | interview. |
| some internet research before you go or simply head | | | | Don't be discouraged if nothing happens. Remember, |
| right to Khao San Road when you arrive. | | | | the purpose of walk-ins is to grow more comfortable |
| Day 2: Get Your Bearings | | | | talking to employers. |
| Sleep in late and let your body start to adjust. No job | | | | You've very likely had a long, hot and tiring day. Head |
| searching today, instead just wander about and start | | | | back to your hotel and take a long relaxing shower |
| to take in your new surroundings. Back at your room | | | | and go get some dinner. Head back to bed early |
| unpack your resume, transcripts, degree etc. Unpack | | | | because your next day should be just as busy. |
| one set of interview clothes. If they are wrinkled take | | | | Day 6: Searching The Bangkok Post and The Nation |
| them to the hotel or guest house laundry and get them | | | | After you have breakfast head straight to a coffee |
| ironed. Have a good dinner and get to bed early. | | | | shop or bookstore and pick up copies of The Bangkok |
| Day 3: Get a Mobile Phone | | | | Post and The Nation. These are the top two English |
| You'll need a number for prospective employers to call | | | | language newspapers in Bangkok and are a decent |
| you at. Don't give them the number to your hotel or | | | | source of job ads, although not as good as they have |
| guest house and ask them to leave a message. This is | | | | been in the past. Scan through the classifieds circling |
| both unprofessional and unreliable. Many messages will | | | | any promising looking advertisements. Immediately call |
| go astray or be delivered late. Mobile phones are | | | | those with a phone number to schedule an interview. |
| cheap and easily available in Bangkok. Go to one of | | | | Make sure to mention that you meet their qualifications |
| the large shopping centers such as Central Pinklao | | | | and are looking for work immediately. |
| (close to Khao San Road) or Mah Boon Krong - MBK | | | | Now go to the internet cafe to check for any email |
| (close to Silom, take the BTS and get off at the | | | | responses to the inquires you've been sending out. |
| National Stadium station) and you'll find many shops | | | | Respond to them immediately by phone if possible and |
| selling both new and used mobile phones. Expect to | | | | schedule an interview. Also, send emails to contacts |
| pay 2000 baht (around $60) or upwards for a decent | | | | from The Bangkok Post and The Nation that did not |
| phone. Try to buy new if you can afford it. You can | | | | have phone numbers listed or couldn't be reached by |
| get used phones cheaper, but I don't recommend it. | | | | phone. |
| The used phones will generally only last anywhere | | | | By now you should have a good sized list of |
| from 2 months to 2 days and there is no return policy. | | | | interviews scheduled so you'll spend the rest of the |
| Save yourself some hassle and buy new, it's still | | | | day heading off to interviews. Remember to dress |
| inexpensive. | | | | your best, smile, be enthusiastic and polite. |
| Day 4: Hit the Computer | | | | Day 7: More Interviews |
| Get your resume CD (or the flash drive) and head out | | | | After a good breakfast check you email again and call |
| to one of the internet cafes. Open your resume and | | | | to schedule more interviews with any schools that |
| add your new phone number to it and then print out 20 | | | | have responded. You should still have a decent list of |
| copies. The cheaper internet cafes will charge just 5 | | | | interviews and the rest of today will be another |
| baht a copy. Keep your resumes in a thick folder to | | | | interview day. |
| keep them safe and unwrinkled. | | | | Day 8: Relax |
| Next, fire up the browser and head over to TEFL Asia | | | | You've had three very busy days so unless you have |
| where you'll find one of the best lists of available | | | | a very promising interview scheduled take the day off |
| teaching jobs in Thailand. Take a look through and | | | | and relax. Sleep late, get a massage, do some |
| copy any that seem promising to you. Send an email | | | | sightseeing, but relax. Do check your email and follow |
| to each of the promising one's and paste your resume | | | | up with inquiries, but try to take it easy today. |
| directly into the body of the email rather than attaching | | | | Day 9 & 10: Interviews and Contracts |
| a file. In the email tell the school that you're in Bangkok | | | | Both days start by checking your email and responding |
| and are looking to start immediately. Ask them to | | | | to any inquires. By this time you should have at least |
| review your resume and ask for an interview. Close | | | | one job offer, but do not accept the first offer. Make |
| the letter with your phone number and email address. | | | | sure you examine the contract first carefully. |
| By now you could probably use a break to clear your | | | | Check your prospective school at TEFLWatch before |
| head, stretch your legs and get something to eat. Head | | | | you accept a position. TEFLWatch has a pretty good |
| out to get some great and cheap Thai food. | | | | list of Bangkok schools with comments from current |
| Now back to the internet cafe and fire up your | | | | and past teachers about the working conditions. |
| browser again to visit Dave's ESL Cafe. This site isn't | | | | Ask questions about the contract and the job. How |
| specific to teaching English in Thailand, but there are | | | | many hours a week are you required to teach |
| usually some Thai jobs listed. Browse through the list | | | | (anything over 25 is too much)? Will the school |
| and send emails to any of the jobs that look good to | | | | sponsor a work visa (they should)? Will the school help |
| you. Just like before, tell the school that you are in | | | | you to find an apartment? What is the pay (less than |
| Bangkok and are looking to start immediately. Ask | | | | 35,000 baht a month is too low)? If you can talk to |
| them to review your resume and ask for an interview. | | | | other teachers at the school and see if they are |
| Close the letter with your phone number and email | | | | satisfied with the job. Are they treated well? Are they |
| address. | | | | paid on time? Once you are satisfied go ahead and |
| Finally, send follow up emails to the big English schools | | | | sign the contract. |
| that you contacted previously, if you haven't heard | | | | By following the steps above anyone with a college |
| back from them yet. Refer to the previous email and | | | | degree can easily find a job teaching English in |
| let them know that you are now in Bangkok and | | | | Thailand in 10 days or less. Keep in mind that TESL |
| ready to start working immediately. Close the letter | | | | ESL jobs in Thailand do not pay very well by western |
| with your phone number and ask for an interview | | | | standards, but the cost of living in Thailand is quite low. |
| again. | | | | If you are able to live simply you will be able to cover |
| Day 5: Hit the Pavement | | | | your expenses and save a few hundred dollars a |
| Time to actually get yourself out there in front of | | | | month. And there are a huge number of jobs available |
| some employers, so put on your business clothes, grab | | | | for English teachers. With a nice appearance and |
| your resumes, diploma and transcript copies and | | | | some organizations finding a job and becoming an |
| copies of your reference letters and get moving. The | | | | English teacher in Thailand in 10 days is virtually |
| first place you want to go is a photo shop to get | | | | assured. |
| some passport type photos. Most of the schools in | | | | |