Research positions with Travelfish

Travelfish jobs: Part-time researchers

The research positions are now closed -- following is for background only.

Travelfish is a regional travel website focused on providing impartial, independent and original travel content for backpackers and independent travellers who are travelling to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

We're looking for six Thailand-based, native-English speaking researchers to expand content for the Travelfish (www.travelfish.org) website.

The positions

The positions are as follows:

Bangkok & surrounds -- preferably based in Bangkok
Central Thailand -- preferably based in Kanchanaburi
Northern Thailand -- preferably based in Chiang Mai
Northeast Thailand -- preferably based in Khon Kaen
Southern Thailand (east coast) -- preferably based in either Songkhla, Surat Thani or Ko Samui
Southern Thailand (west coast) -- preferably based in Phuket

This is part-time, contract-based work -- ideally suited to those who travel frequently within Thailand and enjoy it. This is not full-time work.

The requirements

1) Must be a native English speaker.
2) An eye for detail, an ability to work quickly and write well.
3) At least conversational Thai is an asset -- it will make your tasks far easier.
4) Considerable past travelling experience -- your main readership will be backpackers and independent travellers.
5) Familiarity with Thailand -- we'd expect you've already lived in the country at least 12 months.
6) An ability to reliably meet deadlines -- this is very important.
7) Must own a digital camera
8) Must have easy access to an internet-enabled computer and be computer literate

The task

The researching and writing of content and the updating and/or expanding of existing content.

Content required includes:
1) Background information and orientation
2) Accommodation listings
3) Restaurant and bar listings
4) Attraction and activities
5) Transportation information

Guidelines

You'll be supplied with a list of exactly what we want covered for each task. This is up for discussion and negotiation -- we look forward to hearing your opinions on what you think should be included or discarded.

You'll be supplied with an easy-to-use template for new destinations.

You'll be given a clear deadline.

Deadlines

Deadlines must be met.

Fees

An agreed fee is payable on a per-destination basis. This fee is all inclusive and negotiated before a task is assigned. Payment is made as soon as the the work has been submitted and revisions cleared up.

Fees are low -- this is part-time work -- you will need other employment to pay off your mortgage.

A little-touristed province with few points of interest to a first-time visitor to Thailand (eg Amnat Charoen) will attract only a nominal fee -- the lowest fee payable is US$75. Busier destinations can attract fees as high as $500, with an average fee being around the $200 mark. All regions have a mix of well-priced and less-so destinations. Researchers are expected to cover both the better-paying and the lesser-paying provinces in their region.

Some destinations, for example Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket will need frequent updating. Updates vary considerably in content, but generally require either a minimum number of words or a minimum number of new and/or updated entries. The more good content you supply us with, the more you will earn.

A researcher doing a couple of trips a month could expect to earn on average around US$150-300 a month depending on the destinations covered.

More money

Opportunities also exist to write feature stories relevant to the researcher's region. These are of 800 words in length and require at least two photos. Features are required on an ad-hoc basis. We pay 3 baht per word fee includes supply of photos.

Opportunities also exist to sell advertising on a commission basis for the Travelfish website (this is totally optional).

Payment

Payment can be by:
1) Direct deposit to a Thai bank account.
2) Direct deposit to an Australian bank account.
3) Payment by an Australian dollar denominated cheque.
4) Paypal.

Expenses

The researcher is responsible for all expenses with the exception of the following:
a) National Park entry fees.
b) Cases where a substantial expense is required to undertake research. This will be covered on a case-by-case basis.

Other rules & requirements

All work MUST be original. Any evidence of plagiarism will result in immediate termination and forfeiture of all payments due.

The research is for Travelfish and Travelfish alone. You are not permitted to research and write listings for other parties on the same trip. You're welcome to do other writings -- travel stories and so on, but the listings are for Travelfish alone.

No comps (freebies) whatsoever can be taken -- not even a free beer -- there are no exceptions to this rule. Ideally the research work will be undertaken on an anonymous basis. Evidence of comps being taken will result in immediate termination and forfeiture of payment.

FAQ

1. Where is Travelfish?

We're an Australian company, though we're currently based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

2. $75 to research a province -- are you joking?

No, we're not joking. Bear in mind the fees listed above are estimates only, but some destinations will incur this minimum fee. Take a province like Amnat Charoen, which, to be fair has just about zero of touristic interest. It is a small town with a handful of hotels and a few restaurants. It will not take you a week to research Amnat Charoen -- we'd expect you to be able to do it in a day (yes we have been to Amnat Charoen). Of course, if you know about some great hidden gem of an attraction in rural Amnat Charoen that nobody else knows about, discuss it with us and if we're convinced, we'll add it onto the task list and the fee will increase.

It will work in the researcher's interest to bundle provinces together and do them in a combined trip. For example Roi Et, Mahasarakham and Kalasin may not be very appealing at $100 a pop when you do them in individual trips, but work them into a short loop, then you've got $300 for the single trip.

3. If Travelfish is in Jakarta, how will I be able to get in contact?

Email, msn, yahoo messenger, skype and in dire emergencies, telephone. We're in Thailand frequently, so we'll no doubt cross paths.

4. What about Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam?

One you've demonstrated you can do the work, if you're off on a trip to another country we cover, there will be the possibility of extra work.

5. What if I'm not a native-English speaker, but still can write perfectly?

Sorry, but we're only considering native-English speakers at this time.

6. Am I credited with the work?

You'll be listed on the contributors page, which you can see here. We'll need a mugshot, a short bio and a link to your own website or blog (if you want to put one in).

7. What provinces is each position responsible for?

Bangkok & surrounds Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ratchaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkram

Central Thailand -- Ang Thong, Chainat, Kanchanaburi, Lopburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Sawan, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, Singburi, Suphanaburi, Uthai Thani

Eastern Thailand - Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat

Northern Thailand -- Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak, Uttaradit

Northeast Thailand -- Amnat Charoen, Buriram, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Loei, Mahasarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Nong Khai, Roi Et, Sakhon Nakhon, Si Saket, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Yasothon

Southern Thailand (east coast) -- Phetburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Phattalung, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat

Southern Thailand (west coast) -- Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun

What's next?

If you'd like to apply, please send us the following:
1) A two-page curriculum vitae;
2) Two samples of published writing, if you're a published writer;
3) A 100-word review of a guesthouse you have stayed at in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand or Vietnam;
4) A 100-word review of a restaurant in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand or Vietnam;
5) A summary of where you have travelled or lived in the region; and
6) A 200-word explanation of why you like to travel.

Please do not send attachments. Copy your writing into an email instead and send it Stuart McDonald.

Travelfish jobs: Part-time researchers

The positions

The requirements

The task

Guidelines

Deadlines

Fees

More money

Payment

Expenses

Other rules & requirements

FAQ

What's next?

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