Working in Thailand Series: How to be a Messenger in Thailand

Ryan left journalism for an international PR agency in Bangkok and found the job through a retweet. He puts starting pay at THB75,000 to THB100,000 a month, and this chapter covers what the work involves and how foreigners get hired.

The following post is a chapter from our book, Working in Thailand: How to Ditch the Desk, Board the Flight, and Land the Job, written by Patrick Taylor and Karsten Aichholz.

Our premium subscribers get access to this book for free, including interviews with people in seventeen professions in Thailand. They share how they landed a job here, the requirements, and what to expect.

Key Takeaways

Foreign PR consultants are hired in Thailand to bring the two-way communication style that many local firms still struggle with.
Most PR consultants come from journalism, and Ryan credits his journalism degrees and newsroom years for getting him in.
The daily work shifts with the client list.
Being tech-savvy and knowing some SEO and social media gives you a real edge over other applicants.
Networking is the main way in, and Ryan found his own job through a retweet.
Ryan puts starting pay at THB75,000 to THB100,000 a month, with more for people who have a proven track record.
How you present yourself on interview day matters, because you will be representing the agency and its clients.

The Messenger

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes by Ryan (last name withheld for privacy), public relations expert.

In September 2010, just months after waves of protests and subsequent government crackdowns had left Thailand reeling and facing an uncertain future, the prominent travel trade publication eTurboNews (eTN) published a scathing attack on the state of public relations in Thailand.

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