Info on Construction Mgmt Industry for English Speakers

3POSTS

8 years ago

Hey guys,

New to this forum so I apologize in advance if its already been discussed and also hello - nice to meet you!

I have been flirting with idea of moving to Vietnam for some time now. I currently work as a Project Manager in construction, typically commercial or institution new or renovations. My question is: is this position a possibility for me only knowing english and very little Vietnamese? It doesnt seem to be when perusing job postings so I thought I'd ask you experts!

Also, if you know of any popular or good construction companies to work for, please respond too! Thanks so much !!

1 member reacted to this post

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Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

8 years ago

You should look into what certification that is required to gain this type of job. The VN government loves university degrees to take many of these jobs.

1 member reacted to this post

Bazza139 ViP

1257POSTS

8 years ago

"The VN government loves university degrees to take many of these jobs."

..but the back door may be better...聽聽

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matti_ih Member

3POSTS

8 years ago

Great. I'll look into it. I'm from Canada and actually hold a finance degree from a university and constitution engineering technologist degree from a provincial community college.

Will take a look. Thanks a lot for suggestion

THIGV ViP

4427POSTS

8 years ago

matti_ih wrote:
....constitution engineering technologist degree from a provincial community college.

Does this degree enable you to engineer constitutions?聽聽 Sorry, I couldn't resist.聽 Better watch your auto-speller.聽

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matti_ih Member

3POSTS

8 years ago

Hahah. Damn iPhone !! **construction 馃槀

Guest2023 Guest

0POSTS

8 years ago

matti_ih wrote:
Great. I'll look into it. I'm from Canada and actually hold a finance degree from a university and constitution engineering technologist degree from a provincial community college.

Will take a look. Thanks a lot for suggestion

I owned and operated a small construction company for 14 years. The employers here wouldnt employ me due to a lack of a degree related to construction.

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Vietnam traveller Member

3POSTS

8 years ago

Just to answer your question with regards to project management jobs in Vietnam I have been looking myself now for sometime I live in Vancouver British Columbia I have sent out numerous resumes to large construction companies all over the country and the problem is is they all want you to have bachelor's degrees and then if you do have a bachelor's degrees the maximum they will pay is 1500 us to 2,000 us per month the cost of living is cheap in Vietnam but that money that they offer is not very much and believe me I have tried for the last year so good luck if you find anything that will pay you any more than that it'll be one of a kind job I've even tried International companies working in Vietnam but because of the wage scale

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thiensan31 New member

6POSTS

8 years ago

Heyyyy !!

I am also a Canadian civil engineer and have been trying to find a job as project manager in VN but no luck.. not calls back, nothing..

Any luck guys?

@Vietnam traveller, did you get any offers ? if so, how and where

Thanks so much,
Thien

Vietnam traveller Member

3POSTS

8 years ago

#10

I have had some replies but like I said the most anyone will pay is 2000 us per month and English teacher can make 2500 with no credentials聽 just a 4 week course in Vietnam
Personally I'd love to go over and teach English聽 in an air conditioned class room lol

THIGV ViP

4427POSTS

8 years ago

#11

I think the three of you have an over inflated idea of your worth as civil engineers in the Vietnam labor market.聽 This goes back to 2012, six years ago, but I had a neighbor who was an electrical engineer with a major high rise developer.聽 Based on his age he probably had from 5-10 years of experience.聽 He told me that his salary was 17 million.聽 I would guess he is not over 30 million to this day.

Check this publication:聽聽聽In particular check pages beginning at 50.聽 A project Engineer with a degree and 7-10 years experience is listed at 34-40 million VND or $1500-1750.聽聽Although Thien may have a degree (and may speak Vietnamese) neither of you should really expect more.聽

Although English teachers may make more, very few of them are making $2400/month.聽 At the common salary of $20/hour, that would be 30 hours a week, which is actually a fairly steep schedule as ESL salaries are for "face time" only.聽 There is no pay for off periods or even the ten minutes between classes.聽 A more reasonable estimate would be about $1600/month.聽 Also although the degree requirement may be rather non-specific, one is required to be a legal employee, not just a TEFL course.聽 Most important, the ESL native speaker has a skill that local Vietnamese do not have.聽 There are plenty of Vietnamese engineers but very few fluent English speakers.聽 The law of supply and demand certainly applies in most labor markets.

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thiensan31 New member

6POSTS

8 years ago

#12

Thank 脿 for th茅 quick reply and good luck in your research. I鈥檓 not looking much for money but more of an experience in my field and in VN

Any recommended website ?

Do you have Facebook or LinkedIn ?

THIGV ViP

4427POSTS

8 years ago

#13

thiensan31 wrote:
Thank 脿 for th茅 quick reply and good luck in your research. I鈥檓 not looking much for money but more of an experience in my field and in VN

Any recommended website ?

Do you have Facebook or LinkedIn ?

I wouldn't have a clue as to where to apply as I am not an engineer but a retired agriculturalist.聽 My hunch is that applying for such jobs is like ESL in that you need to be in town and put some shoe leather into it.聽 Also note that Vietnamese business ethics do not seem to require negative replies.聽 No answer means "No."聽 If you have even basic command of Ti岷縩g Vi峄噒, you should be even more hireable.聽聽Having a US or Canadian educated engineer on staff could be seen as adding to the prestige of a firm.聽 However, I think you may need to be in the country to have your applications taken seriously.聽 If you feel secure in your ability to find a new job, or your old job back on return, why not go to Vietnam with a few months living expenses and look around?聽聽Some of the firms that did not reply may be positive if you are in the country.

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drutter Serial expat

332POSTS

8 years ago

#14

I think THIGV has some very good advice. I am not in the same line of work myself but my experience here in VN tells me that your chances of finding employment will be greatly improved when your physical body walks through the door. It might also help if you have a Vietnamese friend or two who can help you make some connections. Here in VN who you know seems to have a lot of pull.