Finding work in Cambodia

For those looking to work in the private sector or at an NGO, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Finding a job once you are already on the ground in Cambodia is much easier than securing one before you arrive. Many companies won’t respond to CVs from outside of the country. On the other hand, if you’re looking for the sort of high-paying job that comes complete with a sweet expat package, know that salary offers are often lower for in-country candidates than for those applying from outside of the country. Either way, finding work in Cambodia isn’t too hard to do, especially if you’re willing to be flexible.

Popular job listing sites like CamHR and Bong Thom Classifieds are a good place to start. The English-language newspapers also have job listings; they are a particularly good place to find NGO jobs. The Phnom Penh Post has a print and online version with job listings, while the Cambodia Daily is print only.

There are also a few headhunter firms working in Cambodia, namely Top Recruitment and HR Inc. If you’re looking for a job in the private sector, these are a good bet. They also offer many NGO and development opportunities and are a good place to look for consulting gigs.

For those looking in the NGO and development sectors, Reliefweb Cambodia has job postings by the various development organizations and the United Nations. You can find additional UN jobs in the procurement section of specific UN websites. Idealist also offers many job listings and internships in Cambodia.

See our complete list of Cambodia job-hunting and professional resources.

The easiest way to find jobs in Cambodia, though, is through other expats. While the expat community is growing larger every day, it’s still small enough that finding a job the old-fashioned way–through someone you know–isn’t too hard. There are many opportunities for networking, particularly in Phnom Penh. Many of the networking events in the capital can also lead to employment in other parts of the country.

The American Cambodia Business Council, known as AmCham, “serves as the voice of American business within the Cambodian private sector” and regularly holds networking events and other activities, sometimes cosponsored with the British Chamber of Commerce Cambodia. The British Chamber also holds its own regular networking events and is a good business resource for expats of all nationalities, not just Brits.

This is an excerpt from Move to Cambodia: A guide to living and working in the Kingdom of Wonder. To learn more about 100+ topics that pertain to Cambodia expats including a section on how to find work as a English teacher, please consider buying the book.