Hello, I am from the USA interested in working abroad after graduation. Cambodia is the only country that doesn't require 2 years relevant work experience, or has that changed with the new work permit law? I am mainly interested in the massive amount of economic growth southeast Asia is about to see. I am studying economics from a good university, and have some decent work experience for an undergrad, I am extremely proficient with computers, and know some programming. Of course I will need to learn Khmer.

I am wondering how easy it would be for me to find a non-teaching job in Cambodia, and around how much it would pay?

In comparison to the USA, as finding a job anywhere is hard especially without full-time work experience.

Also, what are the most in demand jobs and skills in Cambodia?

The field I am most interested in is economic development.

PirateBootyLord wrote: ↑Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:45 am Hello, I am from the USA interested in working abroad after graduation. Cambodia is the only country that doesn't require 2 years relevant work experience, or has that changed with the new work permit law? I am mainly interested in the massive amount of economic growth southeast Asia is about to see. I am studying economics from a good university, and have some decent work experience for an undergrad, I am extremely proficient with computers, and know some programming. Of course I will need to learn Khmer.

I am wondering how easy it would be for me to find a non-teaching job in Cambodia, and around how much it would pay?

In comparison to the USA, as finding a job anywhere is hard especially without full-time work experience.

Also, what are the most in demand jobs and skills in Cambodia?

The field I am most interested in is economic development.

Define "decent work experience for an undergrad". To me that sounds like you had part time jobs for 4 years to pay for beer and possibly worked summers at the mall.

Cambodia doesn't have a 2 years relevant experience rule per say, but even in Cambodia, employers aren't going to pay what a westerner considers a living wage to someone without full-time work experience and only a bachelors degree.

I hate to be the one to pop your dream-bubble, but economic development in Cambodia mostly consists of crooked Chinese businessmen laundering dirty money through real estate projects that they bribed government officials to allow them to start in the first place. That, or some Okhna buying his spoiled rotten kid a rubber plantation to go with the new yellow Ferrari. I'm afraid that there is very little going on that someone like you could get involved in.

I think you are going to have to settle for TEFL work, but I wish you luck.

Work experience involves a general business internship, sales, retail, and being a caddy. The internship and sales experience were short and I didn't get much out of it.

I hate to be the one to pop your dream-bubble, but economic development in Cambodia mostly consists of crooked Chinese businessmen laundering dirty money through real estate projects that they bribed government officials to allow them to start in the first place.

So if I learn chinese and Khmer(a hard task) you think I can do some economic analysis for these guys? Even crooks need economic analysts for their real estate projects or whatever.

They teach you in international business to EXPECT corruption and to have to pay bribes in order to do business in developing countries.

And so to put what your saying simply, work experience is more valuable in Cambodia compared to the USA, and I would be taking a MASSIVE paycut?

Thanks for the help.

PirateBootyLord wrote: ↑Wed Jun 13, 2018 7:02 am Work experience involves a general business internship, sales, retail, and being a caddy. The internship and sales experience were short and I didn't get much out of it.

I hate to be the one to pop your dream-bubble, but economic development in Cambodia mostly consists of crooked Chinese businessmen laundering dirty money through real estate projects that they bribed government officials to allow them to start in the first place.

So if I learn chinese and Khmer(a hard task) you think I can do some economic analysis for these guys? Even crooks need economic analysts for their real estate projects or whatever.

They teach you in international business to EXPECT corruption and to have to pay bribes in order to do business in developing countries.

And so to put what your saying simply, work experience is more valuable in Cambodia compared to the USA, and I would be taking a MASSIVE paycut?

Thanks for the help.

Nothing you learned in business school in the west can prepare you for the KOW.

PirateBootyLord wrote: ↑Wed Jun 13, 2018 7:02 am Work experience involves a general business internship, sales, retail, and being a caddy. The internship and sales experience were short and I didn't get much out of it.

I hate to be the one to pop your dream-bubble, but economic development in Cambodia mostly consists of crooked Chinese businessmen laundering dirty money through real estate projects that they bribed government officials to allow them to start in the first place.

So if I learn chinese and Khmer(a hard task) you think I can do some economic analysis for these guys? Even crooks need economic analysts for their real estate projects or whatever.

They teach you in international business to EXPECT corruption and to have to pay bribes in order to do business in developing countries.

And so to put what your saying simply, work experience is more valuable in Cambodia compared to the USA, and I would be taking a MASSIVE paycut?

Thanks for the help.

You will not be able to learn Khmer and Chinese to any sort of business level (unless you give 3 years to each, that is reading, speaking and writing formal versions) to make them even consider you and whilst they are considering you they will then hire a Khmer Kid who has learned chinese for the last 6 years and pay him half of what you would be expected to get.

Another thing that turns people of hiring newly arrived folk is that they worry about how they can handle living here. No point going through all the process of hiring someone from overseas and waiting for them to arrive only to find that they cant hack being away from the west (not saying you couldnt, but it plays on recruiters minds).

To get to your last point, yes work experience is very important, especially having done it in a south east asian (ideally Cambodian) context, understanding the country and the culture etc. What would make a fresh faced economics grad stand out over here over an educated local? Sure economics is a better degree than most out there but still with no experience (although they do have some golf courses for your caddy experience - sorry joke)

Some international firms might be interested (KPMG etc) it depends what you want to do and how much you expect to get paid. As mentioned without experience you wont have a chance to make any higher than say $1200 pcm. sure you can live off that but it aint a great life, but get higher and progress further takes experience.

Now this is gonna sound sucky but have a look around at internships, some pay (but not much) it is a pathway into working over here that you could consider.

Sorry it ain't more positive but thats the hard truth here, you could get lucky but best to have your expectations set low.

Anyway good luck

Kammekor wrote: ↑Wed Jun 13, 2018 9:17 am Sorry OP, but your employability except for being a teacher is close to zero. At the moment loads of uni graduates are coming from uni each year, and while a uni graduation from a Cambodian uni might be incomparable to a US uni graduation - these guys and girls are way ahead of you because they know about Cambodian culture, can speak the language, and are willing to start working in the 400-600$ per month salary range. There's no way you can compete with them unless you have very special skills unavailable from local staff.

$400 for just graduated ? It's even more than Thailand it seems.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Wed Jun 13, 2018 10:17 am

cannabistourist wrote: ↑Wed Jun 13, 2018 10:13 am

Kammekor wrote: ↑Wed Jun 13, 2018 9:17 am Sorry OP, but your employability except for being a teacher is close to zero. At the moment loads of uni graduates are coming from uni each year, and while a uni graduation from a Cambodian uni might be incomparable to a US uni graduation - these guys and girls are way ahead of you because they know about Cambodian culture, can speak the language, and are willing to start working in the 400-600$ per month salary range. There's no way you can compete with them unless you have very special skills unavailable from local staff.

$400 for just graduated ? It's even more than Thailand it seems.

Minimum wage is Thailand is about 10 USD per day, so I don't think so.

Minimum monthly salary in Thailand is $280 (9000 thb)