My advice: READ THE ADVERTISEMENT. I can honestly say about 90% of applications I get do not read the ad properly - or equally annoying - try their luck when they don’t meet the requirements and send something in anyway. Now I have a disclaimer “Please do not expect a reply. if you do not follow the application instructions properly”. I used to make a point of replying to every application, but now when applicants can’t be bothered to read the ad, I can’t be bothered to respond.
As for Jimmy’s advice - it may work for some but for me,I file all digital applications under qualified-save for further consideration, not qualified but possible back up and the third type doesn’t get filed. Now the Hard copy hand delivered CV does stand out for sure, and if the details match, it will be placed on my desk. On many occasions, my desk gets more and more cluttered before I have a chance to open all those saved files for review and more often than not, I overlook the hard copy now lost deep under paperwork somewhere. This is perhaps just me - but this really happens!
What’s not been mentioned is the inability of Thais to say “no”. I have recently turned 60 which means I am virtually unemployable in Thailand due to the dept. of education’s ageist rules. It took some time for me to realise this as all but one employer chose to just not reply at all rather than say “Sorry, we cannot hire you because of your age” The one school who had the decency to reply and explain the situation was about the 25th application I had sent over a 4 week period. Of course I thanked them for their courtesy. There are many descriptions that can be applied to Thai employers, but ‘professional’ is certainly not one of them!
What about the schools that instruct you to attach your documents and prefer them to be in word 2003?
Might as well go ground slogging and meet the director face to face, I’m sure the Fed Ex special delivery would be pushed aside and perhaps discarded.
While they find out more about you could be a convenient time to hand them a copy of your CV and other supporting documents for their perusal. 
Send your resume as a PDF-file which can be opened on any computer and will always look exactly the same as on yours.
I agree with Baris; copying a CV or even cover letter in the body of an email looks sloppy. Surely decent recruiters have anti-virus software installed.
I’m with Nick all the way. READ THE ADVERTISEMENT.
As anyone who has looked at the ajarn jobs page or at some of the banners on the site will know - I am currently recruiting for teachers to work for Disney English in China. I’ve had a good response so far, but barely 10% of applicants have bothered to read the ad properly.
It clearly states in the ad that you must be 25-39 years old. 40 years old isn’t 39 years old. Neither is 63 years old. Hell, I’m 46 myself. I know what it’s like to be considered too old for a job - but that’s life. If you are 45 and look 35, then that’s still no good. You need to look 35 and ACTUALLY BE 35.
No one likes to tell teachers in a reply that they are too old for a job. But how else can you break the news?
The ad also states that you will be expected to attend an interview in Central Bangkok. I’ve had several teachers contact me from the other side of the world, and when I ask them if they can attend an interview in Bangkok, they go off at me as if I’m completely mad.
By philip on 2011-03-28