Hard to find a Thai Worker???

Post by **KelpieKiss** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:39 pm

Hi all,

I've just opened a new office in Khoa Takiab and I'm looking for a Thai Office worker. So far I'm having difficulties finding someone suitable. They need to be friendly, computer literate and have good English. Can anyone suggest a good job board for Hua Hin where I can post the job?

KelpieKiss

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:47 pm

Afraid I can't help, but I know a couple of people who are having exactly the same trouble as you. I'm sure they'll be enlightening you in due course.

Post by **buksida** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:59 pm

Good luck, my observations and experiences are as follows:

Many just can't be arsed to turn up for work, have no ambition or just want to "look nice".

Or won't take a job because its not in a shiny office despite the fact it pays more.

Or expect to have 50% of the month off "sick" because a member of their family has a a cold.

Or turns up to do a 4 hour day as its their civil right to take a 2 hour lunch break.

Or has a CV longer than the Great Wall but can't speak a word of English.

Or wants to simply quit the only thing providing them an income because their boyfriend/girlfriend doesn't like them working.

Or has a farang boyfriend and doesn't really need or want to work but is just going through the motions to please them.

Or expects a farang employer to pay them double for doing half.

Welcome to HHAD by the way, most of that is tongue in cheek but there are a lot of truths in it. Good, reliable employees are rarer than rocking horse shit so good luck with your search.

Post by **Roel** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:29 pm

So buksida you got rid of a few frustrations there!! But unfortunately you are right. Same experience in our (Thai) company. Around HH it seems to be impossible to find someone reliable and who can speak basic English and/or is willing to learn on the job.

Reminds me also of a (not direcly related) case years ago (Hilton was still Melia). A farang showed me the refusal of his work permit application. Melia wanted to employ him as an English teacher for all their staff (managers to room maids). Work permit refused because - and then it said something like - "by now the English skills of the avarage Thai national high school graduate can be considered equal to native English speaker's skills". And this was almost 15 years ago!

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:55 pm

buksida wrote: Good, reliable employees are rarer than rocking horse shit

Not heard that one before - like it!

KelpieKiss (and Roel, maybe) - I'm not in business, but I teach at a local university. There are four or five around HH. It might be worth advertising through them. Who knows, you might pick up a graduate with reasonable* English and computer skills, who doesn't expect to be paid the earth, who's not encumbered with husband and kids, and who's prepared (and able) to learn.

Please note the use of the word 'might.'

*The use of the word 'reasonable' in reference to English skills is used without liability by the author. It should not be taken as any form of guarantee that the person referred to can actually speak English. Furthermore, should the person have a respectable vocabulary of English words, there is absolutely no reason to suppose that these words can be used by said person to form a comprehensible sentence. In such cases where English has been the major subject of the person's studies, particular caution should be applied. This advice is given without prejudice and reserving all legal rights.

Post by **arrts** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:11 pm

buksida wrote:Good luck, my observations and experiences are as follows:

Many just can't be arsed to turn up for work, have no ambition or just want to "look nice".

Or won't take a job because its not in a shiny office despite the fact it pays more.

Or expect to have 50% of the month off "sick" because a member of their family has a a cold.

Or turns up to do a 4 hour day as its their civil right to take a 2 hour lunch break.

Or has a CV longer than the Great Wall but can't speak a word of English.

Or wants to simply quit the only thing providing them an income because their boyfriend/girlfriend doesn't like them working.

Or has a farang boyfriend and doesn't really need or want to work but is just going through the motions to please them.

Or expects a farang employer to pay them double for doing half.

Welcome to HHAD by the way, most of that is tongue in cheek but there are a lot of truths in it. Good, reliable employees are rarer than rocking horse shit so good luck with your search.

you have such a negative thinking of Thai

Post by **buksida** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:14 pm

arrts wrote: you have such a negative thinking of Thai

Sorry for the generalisation, I know it is not everybody, just going on my past experiences with Thai staff and making a bit of a joke out of it, apologies if it offended.

Welcome to the board by the way, if you are Thai we'd love to have your input!

Post by **arrts** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:40 pm

buksida wrote:
arrts wrote: you have such a negative thinking of Thai
Sorry for the generalisation, I know it is not everybody, just going on my past experiences with Thai staff and making a bit of a joke out of it, apologies if it offended.

Welcome to the board by the way, if you are Thai we'd love to have your input!

Yes I'm Thai but used to live in the USA for a serveral years, understand your previous happen with your Thai staff. I'm the one who looking for a job in HH (need to move my self away from BKK)
Thank you for welcome me aboard.

Post by **klikster** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:58 pm

arrts wrote: Yes I'm Thai but used to live in the USA for a serveral years, understand your previous happen with your Thai staff. I'm the one who looking for a job in HH (need to move my self away from BKK)
Thank you for welcome me aboard.

Arrts .. please tell me you are a PHP, C++ programmer and will work part time.

Post by **arrts** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:15 pm

klikster wrote:
arrts wrote: Yes I'm Thai but used to live in the USA for a serveral years, understand your previous happen with your Thai staff. I'm the one who looking for a job in HH (need to move my self away from BKK)
Thank you for welcome me aboard.
Arrts .. please tell me you are a PHP, C++ programmer and will work part time.

sorry I'm not programer , thanks for asking.

Post by **KelpieKiss** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:44 pm

Thanks for all the input so far. Posting in the Universities is a good idea. Might give that a try. We're not looking for a rocket scientist, just someone who can speak decent English, perform basic admin and use internet. I'll keep up the search...

Post by **PJG** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:21 pm

Sorry not going to help much but I have been doing business in Bangkok for nearly 20 years and still have the same problems as outlined by Bucksida. With the addition of having to find extra cash before Thai public holidays so that the worker can have extra time off until the money runs out and then come back to work.

Good luck with your search.

Post by **richard** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:25 pm

KK

I think I know a man who can

pm me and I'll give you his number

Post by **Winkie** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:40 pm

Don't think anyone is being negative.

I'm an employer in Bangkok, and finding staff is tougher than anyone (without experience ot Thailand can imagine).

Realising that you made the correct choice is far more difficult, and if you reach that level, keeping them is even more difficult.

Post by **migrant** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:35 pm

I'm not a employer in Thailand, I am, though, here in California. A lot of what you all are saying could apply here.

It makes me feel like a old fart to use the expression, but the "new generation" are not as motivated as it seems my age was.

Of course this is a generalization, like Buksida said, but there is a marked increase vs what I experienced in the past.

Let me also add my (soon to be) brother-in-law has been working at the Springfield for about 4 years. When we go to Thailand he arranges for a vacation, but sometimes gets called by them. A few times while we were in Bangkok he got a call from work. He left Bangkok, worked his shift, and came back. I wouldn't hesitate to hire him.

So they are out there, just seems few and far between (like the States seems to be getting to)