Working in Hospitality in Pattaya: Jobs, Hiring and How to Get In

I started in Pattaya as a bar manager, and now I hire managers for my own restaurants and pubs. Here's what I'd tell anyone wanting to work in hospitality here.

Which jobs are open to foreigners?

There are four main ones:

Translators. If a big hotel attracts a nationality that doesn't speak Thai or English, it needs people who can bridge the gap.
Marketing. It's hard to market to a particular group if you're not from it, so hotels and restaurants hire people who are.
Chefs. Good international chefs are sought after here.
Restaurant and bar managers. In a smaller restaurant, the manager runs the whole operation: the staff, the marketing, the finances, and greeting customers at the door.

What do I look for in a manager?

First, that they're settled here. I want some sign that Thailand is home: their children are in school here, they have a Thai partner, whatever it might be. I need to know they're here to stay.

Second, that they're someone I'd like to work with. We're not necessarily going to be friends, and I don't hire for that. But in hospitality, if I find someone likeable, approachable and friendly, most of our customers will too.

So someone overqualified who doesn't come across as confident, friendly and kind isn't for me. They might be excellent at stock-taking and at communicating with staff, but for me the job is more than that.

How do you get in?

It depends on the size of the business. For the big hotels, networking is very hard, so if you're qualified, send your CV out and aim for an interview.

For smaller restaurants and bars, it's all networking. As I wrote in finding a job in Pattaya as a foreigner, don't walk in asking for a job. Get to know the owner first, then mention that you're looking.

Even if they're happy with their staff and not hiring, they'll know someone who is, sooner or later. So leave them something: your number on a piece of paper, or a copy of your CV. I guarantee that as the months go by, you'll get a call.

For more, read running a restaurant and bar in Pattaya, managing Thai staff and from bar manager to seven businesses.