Applying for jobs from Europe

[Mul252]

Hi,

I'm an engineer living in Europe. I really want to move to Singapore. There seems to be lots and lots of work in my area there. I have applied for some jobs already but I have not received any replies. I have created an account with jobstreet also.

Do companies in Singapore normally only hire people who are already living there? Or do they consider people who have not yet relocated?

Thanks

[rajagainstthemachine]

1. Locals & permanent residents have first preference then come the rest
2. It doesn't matter where you are if you don't belong to the above category, although having prior experience in Singapore may prove an advantage.
3.what is the area of your expertise?

[x9200]

I'm an engineer living in Europe. I really want to move to Singapore. There seems to be lots and lots of work in my area there.

You mean you are a specialist in society based behavioural engineering?

[JR8]

Do companies in Singapore normally only hire people who are already living there? Or do they consider people who have not yet relocated?

I think they will hire locally if they can fill the vacancy. Hiring someone in-country and more-so if they're SGn is usually much cheaper than hiring someone in from abroad. It's also often logistically easier; ie. an expat usually relo's his household goods and perhaps family too... which has a longer lead-time.

That said there is a point at which the balance gets tipped in the expats favour. That's where he has valuable niche skills that are not available from the local candidates. So it's not so much what you can do that's listed in local job ads, it's perhaps more what you can do that is under-provided by the local pool of job-seekers.

--- I'm not an engineer. But if you were to give a little more info on say field, age, years exp, your current job-title (not the company), ... maybe any material differentiators on your resume... then some of the engineers might be able to offer more for you to go on...

[...and, welcome to the forum ]

[Mul252]

I'm an engineer living in Europe. I really want to move to Singapore. There seems to be lots and lots of work in my area there.

You mean you are a specialist in society based behavioural engineering?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that ?

[Mul252]

Do companies in Singapore normally only hire people who are already living there? Or do they consider people who have not yet relocated?

I think they will hire locally if they can fill the vacancy. Hiring someone in-country and more-so if they're SGn is usually much cheaper than hiring someone in from abroad. It's also often logistically easier; ie. an expat usually relo's his household goods and perhaps family too... which has a longer lead-time.

That said there is a point at which the balance gets tipped in the expats favour. That's where he has valuable niche skills that are not available from the local candidates. So it's not so much what you can do that's listed in local job ads, it's perhaps more what you can do that is under-provided by the local pool of job-seekers.

--- I'm not an engineer. But if you were to give a little more info on say field, age, years exp, your current job-title (not the company), ... maybe any material differentiators on your resume... then some of the engineers might be able to offer more for you to go on...

[...and, welcome to the forum ]

I'm a embedded software engineer with about 4 years experience. I'm 31 years old.

I've read before that in Singapore, there always many jobs on offer in that area as there are not enough candidates there. I have not had many replies and was wondering is it because i'm not already in Singapore.

Also, do the companies normally apply for the employee's visa? I'm not sure how it works. I'm completely new the idea of moving to Singapore and don't know much. Thanks.

[JR8]

I have not had many replies and was wondering is it because i'm not already in Singapore.

Likely a good part of it, for the reasons stated.
We've seen people in this predicament before and sometimes the advice has been to draw up a shortlist of hiring companies and fly to Asia to get to meet them locally. Maybe stay somewhere a bit cheaper (i.e. outside SG, but near enough to travel in a couple of times for any interviews you line up). If you're doing an internal transfer within a multi-national it's different, but if you're doing your job-search from scratch, and from far away, it can be challenging.

Also, do the companies normally apply for the employee's visa? I'm not sure how it works. I'm completely new the idea of moving to Singapore and don't know much. Thanks.

Yes, it's quite similar to how it works in the US (IMO/E). The hiring company petitions for your visa; it has to a) have internal corporate quota to hire a foreigner, and b) present a solid case why you have something the locals haven't. Hence the importance of identifying your differentiators vs the locals. The hurdles to hiring expats ['FTs'] has been tightening over the past year or two as well.

Stick around and you'll pick up plenty of tips. Posting on a Friday pm can be [unbeknownst to you] a bit of a banter-filled Bermuda Triangle. Many of the regulars have downed tools for the w/e, others are kicking back as the w/e starts.

[Mul252]

I have not had many replies and was wondering is it because i'm not already in Singapore.

Likely a good part of it, for the reasons stated.
We've seen people in this predicament before and sometimes the advice has been to draw up a shortlist of hiring companies and fly to Asia to get to meet them locally. Maybe stay somewhere a bit cheaper (i.e. outside SG, but near enough to travel in a couple of times for any interviews you line up). If you're doing an internal transfer within a multi-national it's different, but if you're doing your job-search from scratch, and from far away, it can be challenging.

Also, do the companies normally apply for the employee's visa? I'm not sure how it works. I'm completely new the idea of moving to Singapore and don't know much. Thanks.

Yes, it's quite similar to how it works in the US (IMO/E). The hiring company petitions for your visa; it has to a) have internal corporate quota to hire a foreigner, and b) present a solid case why you have something the locals haven't. Hence the importance of identifying your differentiators vs the locals. The hurdles to hiring expats ['FTs'] has been tightening over the past year or two as well.

Stick around and you'll pick up plenty of tips. Posting on a Friday pm can be [unbeknownst to you] a bit of a banter-filled Bermuda Triangle. Many of the regulars have downed tools for the w/e, others are kicking back as the w/e starts.

I have not had many replies and was wondering is it because i'm not already in Singapore.

Likely a good part of it, for the reasons stated.
We've seen people in this predicament before and sometimes the advice has been to draw up a shortlist of hiring companies and fly to Asia to get to meet them locally. Maybe stay somewhere a bit cheaper (i.e. outside SG, but near enough to travel in a couple of times for any interviews you line up). If you're doing an internal transfer within a multi-national it's different, but if you're doing your job-search from scratch, and from far away, it can be challenging.

Also, do the companies normally apply for the employee's visa? I'm not sure how it works. I'm completely new the idea of moving to Singapore and don't know much. Thanks.

Yes, it's quite similar to how it works in the US (IMO/E). The hiring company petitions for your visa; it has to a) have internal corporate quota to hire a foreigner, and b) present a solid case why you have something the locals haven't. Hence the importance of identifying your differentiators vs the locals. The hurdles to hiring expats ['FTs'] has been tightening over the past year or two as well.

Stick around and you'll pick up plenty of tips. Posting on a Friday pm can be [unbeknownst to you] a bit of a banter-filled Bermuda Triangle. Many of the regulars have downed tools for the w/e, others are kicking back as the w/e starts.

Ok. Thank you for that