When trying to find a job teaching English in Thailand, especially if it’s your first time, some prospective teachers turn to a hiring agency for help. Before settling for the first hiring agency you stumble upon, consider what they offer beyond the salary. Here are a few things to keep in mind while looking for the best hiring agencies in Thailand.
A hiring agency often bridges the language gap and professional responsibilities between a Thai school and an English teacher. More importantly, they take care of job placement, legal paperwork, paychecks, schedules and time off, and providing substitutes.
So what do the best hiring agencies in Thailand have to offer?
Finds You a Job
First and foremost, a hiring agency finds you a teaching position at a good school. To do so,Â
- you meet their minimum hiring requirements
- the hiring agency has a position available at one of their contracted schools.
The best hiring agencies in Thailand should also offer future job support. Will they help you find another job if your current position is not working out? Are they flexible in the positions to which they hire out, such as summer, part-time, or substitute work? These are all good questions to ask.
Although each school is different, our experience has been that it’s the school’s responsibility to pay the hiring agency, not you. We’d be wary about paying a hiring agency for finding you a job, whether a one-time fee or a deduction from your contracted salary. Once you’ve agreed to a monthly salary from the hiring agency, you should get the full amount without any surprise deductions when payday comes around.
Provides the Correct Paperwork to Obtain Legal Documents
At the very least, a hiring agency provides a teacher with all supporting paperwork to first apply for a single-entry Non Immigrant Business Visa and then later apply for a Work Permit. These are what you need to legally work in Thailand. Before the 90-day expiration date, a Non Immigrant Business Visa must be extended (to one year). The hiring company must provide the supporting paperwork for that extension (applied for at your nearest immigration office) and you must have been already approved for and received a Work Permit.
Thailand’s hiring agencies who are on top of their game will provide the paperwork in a timely manner. An acceptable time frame is within two to four weeks. If a hiring agency cannot or will not give you the paperwork to get a Non Immigrant Business Visa or a Work Permit, then it’s best to find yourself another hiring agency.
| TIP: It is ultimately your responsibility to have the correct paperwork when applying for a Non Immigrant B Visa. Double check the documents given to you (counting them is the easiest) against the online list of the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate to which you are applying. |
Your Paycheck is Paid in Full, On Time, Every Time
Whether you are paid weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, you should know exactly when and how much you will be paid. Establish a clear method of payment, whether it be cash, direct deposit, or check up front before you sign a contract.
The better hiring agencies will provide you with a paycheck that is always on time and paid in full. If any payment is docked, it should be accounted for, such as Thai taxes and time off. If you’ve signed a contract for a given salary and find yourself getting cut short for obscure reasons, you need to question your agency.
Provides a Clear Work Policy
Ask about the work policies of both the hiring agency and the school. This includes the hours you work, applying for time off, breaks and lunch hours, handling sick days, the grading system and submitting grades, completing and submitting lesson plans, and handling problematic students. You should be notified ahead of time and compensated for any time spent teaching on weekends, holidays, or after school. The best hiring companies make it clear upfront to prevent any misunderstandings later.
Schedules Substitute Teachers
If you need or want to take time off, a hiring agency should be responsible for scheduling a substitute teacher. In the case that the hiring agency does not provide substitute teachers and requires you to find your own replacement, you should be made aware of that up front.
Also, consider asking what you are required to give the substitute teacher. This may include detailed lesson plans, worksheets, or other materials. Or, the hiring agency may supply a general lesson plan on your behalf.
Pays for Legal Documents
Hiring agencies are obligated to provide the paperwork for the proper work documentation, but the best ones will actually pay for the legal documents, too, including:
- Work Permit (3,000 baht)
- One-year visa extension (1,900 baht)
These expenses add up quickly for a new teacher and can be a significant portion of your first month’s salary! On top of finding a place to live, buying work clothes, and generally adjusting to a new life in Thailand, it relieves much of the initial financial burden if the hiring agency pays for these legal expenses.
| NOTE: You will be responsible for paying for your own single-entry Non Immigrant Business Visa. This varies in price depending on which at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate outside of Thailand you apply at. For example, this visa costs 2,000 baht from Laos, 80 USD from the USA, and 60 EU in the European Union. |
Grants Paid Sick or Vacation Days
A typical semester runs around 18 weeks and full-time salaried teachers should receive paid sick or personal leave days. The typical amount is between two and five days paid leave. If not, ask what the hiring agency’s policy is if you want or need to take a day off (docked pay, counseling, loss of job, etc). You will also get time off during Thai government holidays, which is roughly four days per semester.
The agency should give you a work schedule that lists work days, holidays, and semester breaks. You should be able to know exactly what your schedule is upfront if you want or need to take time off.
Offers Insurance
Some hiring agencies offer their employees health insurance. Healthcare is relatively affordable out-of-pocket and there are many insurance companies to choose from. However, it’s convenient to have coverage right at your fingertips.
Pays for Traveling Expenses
It’s great to find a hiring agency that pays for your traveling expenses during a visa run. Some pay for the transportation, accommodations, and the neighboring country’s visa fees accrued while leaving Thailand to apply for a Non Immigrant B Visa.
Others say they pay for a round-trip ticket to Thailand once you’ve completed your contract. The best hiring agencies in Thailand will offer a helping hand to cover these major expenses.
Our Picks for Best Hiring Agencies in Thailand
While we aren’t aware of the perfect hiring agency that covers everything we’ve mentioned above, we do have a few in mind that come close.
Sine Education, which hires and trains teachers for their schools in Greater Bangkok, Central Thailand, and Northeastern (Isaan) Thailand, is a great contender, especially for first-time teachers. We wrote about them in a more recent post, where we answer the question, “Should first-time teachers use a teaching agency in Thailand?”
There are also several hiring agencies in Chiang Mai that come close. It’s a small town in Northern Thailand and it’s a great place to live if you don’t want to be in the city.
Keep in mind, a hiring agency should meet the minimum requirements of finding you a job; providing the correct paperwork for your Non Immigrant Business Visa, Work Permit, and extension; and always paying you in full.
Good luck with your future teaching endeavors!
Hi Chris and Angela! I was just given a conditional offer from Media Kids Academy to start in May. Do you know anything about this agency? There isn’t a lot of information about them online that I could find. I have been given the choice between three school in different locations in Thailand. A high school in Muang, Prachin Buri, an elementary school in Watthana Nakhon, Sa Kaeo, and another in Namphong, Khonkaen. I am researching all of these places and not sure which area would be my best choice. I currently live and teach in Madrid, Spain. I like… Read more »
We have not heard of the Media Kids Academy and would have to dig around for reviews. As far as different locations, Prachin Buri is closest to Bangkok, which is great for socializing and having a weekend vacation in the city if you’d like, but the country is right there if you’d prefer that, too. We’d probably choose that one for the variety. Khon Khen has a small expat community but is far away from any major city with English speakers and we’ve only been to a market in Sa Kaeo. It’s a tough decision!
Is it possible to find a hiring agency that does not require you to go through their own TEFL/TESOL program? I will already have the TEFL certificate but would love the comfort and assistance that a hiring agency can provide.
Any suggestions?
We know of one, called Upgrade Academy and they do private classes (not at a school). Another way to find companies are to contact schools and ask them directly which hiring agencies they use.
Thanks Chris & Angela! You always have such great info, tips and advice. It really is so helpful to us “newbie’s”! We really appreciate it very much! :)
You’re very welcome!
Hi Chris and Angela, What a helpful post. I’d strongly recommend anybody who wants to teach in Thailand to use an agency. Why? It’s Thailand. My fave country in the world, and the country where I feel happiest and yep, it’s where I feel most at home but, it’s Thailand. The cultural barriers, language barriers and politics or inconsistency of rules being applied puts a premium on paying pros to deal with this stuff for you. Everything may sound easy and clear, yet when you go anything like this on your own in Thailand, it could well become difficult and… Read more »
Absolutely! We definitely think it’s a good choice for first time teachers to go through an agency. At the very least, use it as a learning experience. When you’re already trying to adjust to life in a new country and then hang-ups happen over miscommunication, it can be a relief to have the middle man there to take care of everything. And thanks for the comments.
Hi Ryan, It’s Ann.. I’m super interested to apply in Thailand for English Teacher, but I cannot make it for the month of May. Can I apply in Thailand this coming October?. Hope I can receive reply. Thanks a lot
You two are the best! Appreciate the practical relevance of this information. As a former ESL teacher through the Dept. of Defense Dependents Schools (with 27 years total teaching experience in 3rd-12th grades, much of this in Japan) this info may come in very handy to me should I miss teaching and want to return at some point. Thanks so much for taking time to post this.
You’re welcome, Lori. Glad we could provide an easy checklist if you ever go back to teaching :)
What about non-teaching jobs? Teaching jobs, at least in my opinion, tend to pay low, besides my own lack of enthusiasm for the teaching profession. I’d love to know about non-teaching jobs which require, say, my level of English language proficiency – I’m sure in Bangkok there would be such jobs! Do you think hiring agencies could assist in identifying such jobs and also help with the entire placement process? Having visited Thailand 10 times at last count, I’d LOVE to live there long term, but there is no point if you are financially struggling in a fun destination; the… Read more »
We are not familiar with any hiring agencies for non-teaching professions, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any out there. Generally speaking, if a Thai person can do a job (mechanic, doctor, florist, etc) then a foreigner cannot. But speaking native English and teaching it is something that a foreigner has a one-up on many Thais. This helps explain why the majority of job opportunities in Thailand are English teaching positions. If a hiring agency has connections with companies other than schools, then there might be a chance to land a job other than teaching. This will require a little… Read more »
There is some great info here but many of these “offers” are legal requirements. According to the Labor Protection Act (LPA) of 2008, employers must provide sick days and holiday leave, insurance, a clear working policy and punctual payment of salary. The English-version PDF of this document is readily available on line. One critical bit that was left out is that a good placement agency will pay on a 12-month contract rather than the 11-month contract that many agencies are moving to now. It’s a ploy and we can safely assume the agency is getting paid by the school for… Read more »
Excellent advice! Knowing what is a legal requirement is a good way to weed out the bad hiring agencies. Unfortunately, there are agencies who count on newbie teachers not knowing any better. We’ll update the post accordingly with a link to the LPA.
You can definitely get travel insurance, or insurance on top of the government-mandated packages while you’re in Thailand.
Hey Guys I haven’t commented on here in a long time, been really busy. Just a random question, do you guys or your friends know of any good local clothes makers / tailors???
Reason being I have favourite shorts and I don’t like wearing anything else, so I was thinking of getting a fair few pairs made up of different sorts and colours.
Was simply going to compare the cost of getting them made over there and shipped vs a price from a clothes maker here in Aus.
Cheers guys
Mark.
There are tons of tailor shops in Chiang Mai, but we’ve never used their services. Unfortunately, we’ve heard that they can be both inexpensive and expensive, you just have to find the right one that gives good quality and doesn’t over charge you. Wish we had a recommendation!
Really solid advice that removes a lot of the hassle. And there can be hassle in Thailand. My buddy worked at ABAC (Assumption) University and loved it.
http://www.aroundtheworldin80jobs.com/teach-english-in-bangkok-thailand/
Nice to see there are lots of options in Thailand.
Cheers.
A hiring agency can really make or break your experience as a teacher. Glad to hear your friend loved his experience teaching at ABAC.
Hi Chris & Angela, I would like to ask a question about health insurance you mentioned in the blog. If coming from Australia (as we are) or the US like you guys, can you buy health insurance from within Thailand while you are there or is it best to purchase it from the origin country? Just wondering if you have come across more of that info? Love your blogs by the way, very helpful….keep ’em coming!
We haven’t done enough research on international health insurance to give you a recommendation, but there are definitely affordable international health insurance and traveler’s insurance available. We suspect that if you bought it from a company outside of Australia, your premiums will be a lot lower…
These are some great tips!! :)
Thanks! I wish I had known a few of these before I started teaching! Glad to help the next person out.