Finding Work in Indonesia

Before chasing vacancies, settle the legal question: a foreign national cannot simply take an Indonesian job. An Indonesian company must sponsor you, securing an approved RPTKA (foreign worker plan) from the Ministry of Manpower and paying the DKP-TKA levy of about US$100 per month, after which you obtain a work KITAS. Some roles, notably human-resources posts, are legally closed to foreigners, and working without the correct permit risks fines and deportation. See our Immigration, Visas & Work Permits section, or Okusi Associates' authoritative guide.

With a sponsor in place, the main channels:

RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

Executive-search firms place most foreign professionals in mid-to-senior roles. Robert Walters, Michael Page, Monroe Consulting, JAC Recruitment and Korn Ferry all operate in Jakarta. Lodging a CV also buys you an honest read on your market value here.

JOB PLATFORMS

Hiring has moved online. JobStreet by SEEK (which absorbed the old JobsDB), LinkedIn, Glints, Kalibrr and Indeed carry most listings; LinkedIn and Indeed suit foreign and bilingual candidates best. The market is heavily oversupplied.

NETWORKING

Relationships matter more here than a polished CV. Social and business events remain one of the better routes to work.

NEWSPAPERS

Largely obsolete: the Jakarta Globe went digital-only in 2015, and print classifieds no longer matter.

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