在泰國外派8年後,許多想法及心態漸漸產生一些變化;隨著年紀上升,長期下來慢慢內化看到泰國人的生活觀念,形成自己新的想法。
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最開始來泰國外派的初衷
來泰國前,因為是在台灣高壓、加班時數多的公司就職,累積了經驗後,想外派看看,主要四個原因:
(一)想挑戰自己,嘗試到海外工作,拓展視野;
(二)期望海外較高的外派薪資,認識外派的朋友;
(三) 耳聞泰國是一個工作步調慢,準時下班的天堂國度;
(四)會說流利的泰文感覺很酷 ;
綜合上述這些原因,下定決心後,認真投履歷後,很幸運獲得泰國外派的工作機會,因而開展了泰國外派的生活。(延伸閱讀: 怎麼有勇氣外派到海外? 、泰國外派長期發展思考,新手外派可一併看看)
初來乍到泰國時
剛開始到了泰國,雖然出發前早就知道泰國沒有法定周休二日,周一至周六要上班,但仍然不是很適應每周只有一天休假,感覺一下子又得回到工作崗位,休閒時間非常少,周末感很淡。
然而,五點準時下班倒是跟想像的一模一樣,泰國人都在下班前五分鐘就收拾好包包放在桌上,準備時間一到就立刻離開;我們這些台幹,當然配合這個氛圍,入境隨俗早早就離開了,哈哈 ;
薪資上確實比台灣工作來得高,畢竟是離家背景來到海外,多了外派加給及各種福利等,外加泰國物價低於台灣許多,自然支出少、儲蓄多,三餐住宿又都是公司負擔,因此即便平時過著很享受的生活,每月仍可存到不少錢,非常不錯;
生活習慣漸漸開始慢活,不像在台灣那樣步調快,不再追求每件事情快速完成,開始偷閒聽音樂,三不五時跟其他台幹小酌聊天、愜意地過日子;
泰文能力因為身處泰國,不用特地用力學習,日常工作中,逐漸也就會說、會開會了。
外派泰國至今8年後的心境變化
雖然這些年來漸漸受到泰國人樂觀影響,但自己本質上還是台灣思維,過了幾年相當放鬆的日子後,靜下來反思後,逐漸有了危機意識,開始思考:
(1)我可能一輩子待在泰國嗎?
(2)是否該提升競爭力,為之後轉職做準備?
(3)在泰國期間是否應考慮投資理財、房地產,特別是在泰國期間,可以就近在當地找泰國好物件,親自查勘,畢竟投資泰國房地產,成本比台灣低很多;
(4)現在我的泰文已達可流暢溝通的程度,開會/電話/談判等都沒問題,近幾年東南亞發展快速,會泰文真的拓展出更多機會;除了語言能力,其實其他工作技能,如: 帶團隊管理能力、自身投資理財規劃等,都是不論外派與否,應琢磨學習成長的必要技能。
意識到這點,開始在台灣/全球學習網站上,學習管理經營、業務技巧、財務會計知識等,並將這些新技能,帶入泰國工作情境中運用,進一步提升自己及團隊整體工作效率;同步也著手規劃理財目標,不管在泰國、回台灣或接著到其他地方工作,都必須要有個基本可支持自己的被動收入規劃。
📚海外職涯專業躍進資源
#無論外派海外或在台灣工作,該有的職場專業技能都是通用的,我都會定期在線上學習平台學習各種技能,PressPlay學院上有超過百種專家實務課程(輸入泰亮專屬優惠碼【AFICPPA54】都享9折優惠),如:
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#身邊沒有泰文環境,若對先修泰語有興趣,想接觸更完整泰語系統課程/教材,這邊整理如下:
- Udemy Thai Courses (Taught in English)
- Hahow好學校泰文課(中文授課)- I'm lucky to have Thai teachers and colleagues who help me learn the language. If you don’t have access to a Thai-speaking environment or local friends/teachers, I highly recommend these two well-reviewed courses on Hahow. Thai is relatively easy to pick up, and the content is well-structured. The key is to find a teaching style that suits you best—this applies to learning any language. The teacher’s style makes a huge difference! 😆
在泰國,確實可以拿比當地人高許多的薪資,過著很舒適的生活;但同時也要思考,這樣的生活是不是自己想要的、自己有沒有其他理想夢想要達成、是否一輩子要在泰國、在泰國學到的觀念及知識,對自己後面的職涯/生活有什麼啟發?離開了泰國,自己帶走的經歷是什麼? 這些都是需持續不斷地思考的課題!
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