Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia, however, it isn’t often a popular destination for foreigners to live. The more popular cities in Cambodia for foreigners are Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Kampot. Having said that, many non-Cambodian nationals do find themselves living and working in Battambang. This article will take a look at the different opportunities available in this city.
Volunteering
Although Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia, it is still a relatively small city. Moreover, it is a very poor part of the country and many of the locals are living in extreme poverty. For this reason there are many volunteering positions available for foreigners. This would include positions such as teaching English, helping at orphanages, providing support and education to families living in poverty and supporting the local farming community.
Tourism
Battambang is becoming a more popular destination for visitors that want to escape from the thousands of tourists in Siem Reap and the hot, humid and incredibly busy Phnom Penh. For this reason there is a growing need for tourist services such as guest houses, hotels and restaurants. A number of foreigners are setting up small businesses to cater for this growing demand. The Cambodian government make it very easy for foreigners to set up their own business and with very little capital people can start a small business.
On top of starting a small business, you might be able to find a job working in a foreign owned business. Some guest houses, hotels and bars employ foreigners to work for them. However, the salary is often very small, but free room and board is provided. If you’re looking for a short term stay to supplement your travel, this might well be the best option for you.
Teaching English as a Second Language
Teaching English is undoubtedly one of the more popular jobs for people living in Cambodian and indeed Battambang. There is a real need for both paid and volunteer teachers in this city and jobs are usually quite easy to come by. One of the reasons for this is the relative ease in finding a job, low competition for employment and the low standards of the schools with regards to qualifications and experience. There are many language schools in the area and moreover there are many universities that offer English courses. If you want to work in a university, the standards are usually much higher and will require some kind of qualifications and/or experience.
As you can see there are some varying opportunities for paid work, volunteering and setting up your own business. If you visit or live in Battambang, you’re also likely to find other opportunities that aren’t listed in this article by speaking to other friends both expats and locals.
