I hope you are all well.
With 2010 almost over, this seemed like a good time to send out an ajarn.com newsletter and keep you informed of what's going on.
Teachers Looking for Work
If you haven't already seen it, we have a new section of the ajarn website aimed at teachers looking for work. I started this section to help teachers who, for whatever reason, are finding it difficult to find teaching work. Often it's not just lack of qualifications or experience, but sometimes a teacher can even feel that age is against them.
I didn't create this service to compete with our existing resume database. I simply felt that some teachers would appreciate some extra help and the opportunity to promote themselves in a different type of shop window. And so far, we've managed to find full-time contracts for at least three of our featured teachers.
If you would like to appear in the 'teachers looking for work' section, then send me an e-mail philip@ajarn.com with a short paragraph about yourself. Don't send me a photo and resume at this stage. I'll get these from you later.
All I ask is that you currently be living in Thailand and actively seeking work. As we already know, employers are generally not interested in considering an applicant who is applying for Thailand positions from overseas.
Paying in advance for a teaching job
I've recently had a few teachers direct me to a Bangkok-based recruitment website, where the company is asking for a 20,000 baht refundable deposit to secure you a teaching position that quite honestly, you could easily find for yourself. I'm not going to provide the link, because the company hasn't fundamentally done anything wrong. But I would approach with extreme caution.
You may well get the 20,000 baht deposit back eventually, but in my opinion, you should never pay money in advance for someone to find you a teaching position.
Competitions
Don't forget that we regularly run several competitions on ajarn.com. You can win free meals at restaurants, polo shirts, EFL textbooks. Last month we had a competition sponsored by a local Irish pub and they gave away a free barrel of beer for one group of lucky drinkers.
It would be nice to see a few more teachers enter these competitions so why not try your luck.
TikTokThai is coming
Now here's something we are promoting on the ajarn website and something I'm really excited about. I mean who wouldn't want to get amazing discounts of up to 90% on pubs, restaurants, spas, concerts and various activities all over Thailand. TikTokThai is based on a concept that has already been very successful in The USA but now it's here in Thailand. It's free to sign up. All you have to do is wait for those fantastic deals to come to you via e-mail or text message. There will be one great deal every single day. It's already creating quite a buzz so don't miss out.
TikTokThai have also asked us to remind everyone that their Halloween Thailand 2010 Photo Contest is still open for entries until 3rd November. So, if you snapped any good pics of you and your mates over the weekend, stick them on TikTokThai's Facebook Wall and you could win prizes worth a total of 23,000 Baht! All you have to do is get the most Facebook "Likes" for your photo and you've won. TikTokThai's main website can also be reached here.
We are here to help
Although most of the time our resume database and job posting systems run like a Swiss clock, occasionally people have minor problems and ask us to solve them. If you are having difficulty using the system and contact us via the website, please tell us as much as possible about the problem. You can't give too much information. Contacting us and just saying "my resume doesn't work" or "I can't see your website" doesn't really help us to help you - and will usually require further, time-consuming e-mail communication.
All contributions gratefully received
I love ajarn readers to get involved with contributions to the ajarn website.
Do you live in a remote town or city in Thailand? Perhaps somewhere a little off the beaten track? Why not offer to write a region guide
Have you got a story to tell, a lifestyle to shout about? Is it something that would interest ajarn readers? Then put yourself in the ajarn hot seat.
One of the most popular sections of the website is the cost of living section, and let's face it -- money makes the world go round. Tell other teachers where your money goes. You'd be amazed at how many teachers look at this feature before they plan their arrival in Thailand. You could be helping them with some crucial facts and figures.
OK that's enough from me. Is it too early to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Never mind, I'll do that anyway. All the very best for 2011 from ajarn.com
If you don't want to receive ajarn.com's infrequent newsletter in the future, just click here to unsubscribe. We send out about 2-3 newsletters per year.
- Bangkok Phil
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