Living in Bangkok/negotiating pay
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 10:45 pm
So I have been offered my first international teaching job. The contract is still yet to be negotiated and won't be finalised until Jan-Feb but at this stage they have said either 70,000 baht or 80,000 baht. Sadly, there is no housing allowance or really any other benefits. It's a bit of a weird situation. I got the job through a friend put me on to an admin who works there who was very keen on the recommendation my friend gave me. This admin says that I should be able to get 80,000baht. Being Australian, all teachers wages are government/union mandated so I have never had to negotiate a contract before.
Does anyone have any tips for negotiating pay? I have a masters degree from one of the better universities in Australia and three years teaching experience. No international teaching experience.
I was thinking of trying for 90,000 baht a month plus a yearly plane ticket home/them covering my ticket there (happy to fly a cheap airline). It seems likes I'm pretty sure housing allowance is out of the question. How do you go about negotiating a salary? Any tips? They did seem very keen to have me and pretty much offered me the job during the skype interview.
LIVING IN BANGKOK.
Some more general questions.
I was thinking of moving to Bangkok a month before starting, just so I can get settled in and enjoy myself. I have been to Bangkok a few times before so I am reasonably familiar with the city.
1. How does one go about finding an apartment? The websites for apartments in Bangkok seem to be pretty useless. I'd be wanting a one bedroom fully furnished apartment. Doesn't need a pool or anything like that. Just decent internet and to be secure. I was thinking of paying around 15,000-20,000baht a month. The school isn't in the city center and is near Bang Khen (sort of near Chutachuk market and Don Muang airport). Would it be difficult to find an apartment for that price around there? Are there any good websites for finding apartments.
2. I'd try my best to be within walking distance to the school. However, how do people cope with Bangkok traffic on a day to day basis? The school isn't near the sky train or BTS. Should I just go with a motorcycle taxi each day?
3. Is 70,000-80,000 baht a decent wage to live off? I'm happy to eat thai food most days, street food included. I wouldn't mind going out for some drinks over the weekend. I'd also like to join a gym/ do muay thai also. Maybe travel to nearby countries during the holidays/ do some weekend trips around Thailand.
4. What are the holiday periods for international schools? Is there a website that lists all the Thai national holidays in English?
5. I know one family in Bangkok (expats) but I want to make more friends when I am there. How do you go about making friends in a foreign country as an expat? I'm 30 and male if that helps.
Does anyone have any tips for negotiating pay? I have a masters degree from one of the better universities in Australia and three years teaching experience. No international teaching experience.
I was thinking of trying for 90,000 baht a month plus a yearly plane ticket home/them covering my ticket there (happy to fly a cheap airline). It seems likes I'm pretty sure housing allowance is out of the question. How do you go about negotiating a salary? Any tips? They did seem very keen to have me and pretty much offered me the job during the skype interview.
LIVING IN BANGKOK.
Some more general questions.
I was thinking of moving to Bangkok a month before starting, just so I can get settled in and enjoy myself. I have been to Bangkok a few times before so I am reasonably familiar with the city.
1. How does one go about finding an apartment? The websites for apartments in Bangkok seem to be pretty useless. I'd be wanting a one bedroom fully furnished apartment. Doesn't need a pool or anything like that. Just decent internet and to be secure. I was thinking of paying around 15,000-20,000baht a month. The school isn't in the city center and is near Bang Khen (sort of near Chutachuk market and Don Muang airport). Would it be difficult to find an apartment for that price around there? Are there any good websites for finding apartments.
2. I'd try my best to be within walking distance to the school. However, how do people cope with Bangkok traffic on a day to day basis? The school isn't near the sky train or BTS. Should I just go with a motorcycle taxi each day?
3. Is 70,000-80,000 baht a decent wage to live off? I'm happy to eat thai food most days, street food included. I wouldn't mind going out for some drinks over the weekend. I'd also like to join a gym/ do muay thai also. Maybe travel to nearby countries during the holidays/ do some weekend trips around Thailand.
4. What are the holiday periods for international schools? Is there a website that lists all the Thai national holidays in English?
5. I know one family in Bangkok (expats) but I want to make more friends when I am there. How do you go about making friends in a foreign country as an expat? I'm 30 and male if that helps.