MEDIA CAREERS: Thailand on brink of talent crunch as economy picks up

<p>Thai agencies appear to be facing a talent crunch as the country's </p><p>economic recovery gains momentum, according to Mr Paisit Vatjanapagorn, </p><p>DDB Thailand general manager. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We have a number of talented, well-educated people, but there may not </p><p>be enough of them when business recovers and is back up to full speed </p><p>again," he told MEDIA. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He said the problem is compounded by the fact that little attention is </p><p>given to education and training to bolster the ranks of savvy agency </p><p>professionals. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"This is a weakness in Thailand. We don't have proper programmes which </p><p>can give appropriate knowledge and training to people. Formal </p><p>educational institutions do not seem to be up-to-date as to the needs of </p><p>today's world or working environment. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"One important factor is that funds are always limited and the system </p><p>does not support teachers and talented academics." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The most sought after talents are Thais who have been educated abroad, </p><p>said Mr Paisit. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>But he stressed that they must still have within them Thai values and </p><p>culture; that is, not to be too Westernised. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He said that people wishing to enter the marketing and advertising field </p><p>should have vertical and horizontal knowledge. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>They should have expert knowledge of their business, but at the same </p><p>time have knowledge of another field that may be useful to their core </p><p>business skill, Mr Paisit added. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Regarding cyberspace, he said Internet knowledge can be an advantage but </p><p>"it is not a must". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Whether that knowledge is advantageous or not depends on "your field of </p><p>business", said Mr Paisit. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>