Singapore Expats

Job consideration - Need advice

Discuss about getting a well paid job or career advancement. Ask about salaries, expat packages, CPF & taxes for expatriate.
Post Reply
Nlucy
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:41 pm

Job consideration - Need advice

Post by Nlucy » Tue, 26 Apr 2016 11:07 pm

Hi everyone,

I am newly registered here. However, i have been reading around the forum for about a month now and found many useful information and advices here.

Now it comes to my own case that needs some advice from you.

I am in Sg on LTVP, moved here for a few weeks and looking for a job. I am having invitation for final round interview for a job in a new industry. It maybe prematured, but i want to carefully think through. In case i get the offer, yes, i will have a job and a monthly salary to feed myself and relieve the burden from my husband financially. Only problem is i need to switch from something I have few years of experience to something totally new.

Other option is not to do new things and stay on hunting mode until i get something relevant to my experience, which could take another few months, or forever, of stress and without income.

My questions:
1. Has anyone in the forum experienced the same situation? How did you handle and do you regret about your decision?

2. I can also take the job, and still on the looking for another one that is more relevant. This seems more realistic. But my question is whether there would be any difficulties or complication when the new firm seeks new LOC for me while i am still under current LOC? If i need to terminate current LOC before seeking new one, is there any chance that MOM takes negatively on job hopping and will not give it?

Any inputs are much appreciated.

Thanks,
Last edited by Nlucy on Wed, 27 Apr 2016 9:04 am, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40533
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Wed, 27 Apr 2016 12:54 am

Anything is possible at any given moment in time here. However, the odds of the LoC not being granted if it's something that you have experience in should not be a problem. They have, however, been tightening up giving LoC for trailing spouses without any relevant credentials but if you have a tertiary education, I doubt that that make any difference. Waiting until the right position comes along, might never happen.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

User avatar
valleyman
Regular
Regular
Posts: 73
Joined: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 4:54 pm
Location: Singapore

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by valleyman » Wed, 27 Apr 2016 8:22 am

Waiting for the right job to come along in this market would not be a wise move. I know of many trailing spouses, with relevant experience as well, who didn't get an opportunity for the longest time. Unless your hubby is on an expat package and is bringing in the big bucks I would suggest that you take what is in the hand. Or if you are experienced in some niche, high specialised industry, where talent is in short supply.

Not sure on the LOC, I haven't heard of anyone's LOC being rejected. Although smaller firms are reluctant to apply for it, maybe due to ignorance.

Nlucy
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:41 pm

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by Nlucy » Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:16 am

Thanks SMS and valleyman. Yes that's what I think too. My husband keeps saying that taking a totally new industry will ruin my CV etc. I think it's no different from leaving it blank for a whole few months or whole year in the CV.

Thanks for the advice and your sharing on LOC thing. I am more clear on how to go about it.

Nlucy
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:41 pm

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by Nlucy » Wed, 04 May 2016 10:02 am

Hi all,

So now i got the offer. The company suggested they would apply for an independent work pass for me instead of LOC.

Could you please share some thoughts on which one is better for me, LOC or EP as i understand i will have to hand back my LTVP once the EP is issued?

Thanks
Lucy

BBCWatcher
Editor
Editor
Posts: 1035
Joined: Sun, 13 Sep 2015 4:43 pm

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by BBCWatcher » Wed, 04 May 2016 12:43 pm

The Letter of Consent is almost certainly better. One important reason is that you might be upgraded to a LTVP+ in the future (at your LTVP renewal), and that status would entitle you to lower medical fees at public hospitals and clinics (and lower Integrated Shield Plan premiums if I'm not mistaken, and if you choose to sign up for one). EPs don't enjoy these privileges.

As Valleyman pointed out, some employers are unfamiliar with LoCs, or at least they feign ignorance. The MoM explains everything here clearly, and you can provide that link to your employer. The employer simply files a LoC application online, using the same online application (EP Online). Unlike an EP application there is no application fee, so the employer saves a little bit of money. There's also less paperwork to submit, fewer restrictions, and LoCs tend to be approved more quickly, allowing you to start work more quickly. You might mention these facts and perhaps express some mild incredulity that your employer would even think about taking a more difficult, more expensive path.

The only reason I can think of that an EP would be better for you is if you want to sponsor somebody (your parent, typically) for immigration into Singapore now, your citizen or PR spouse (I presume) is not eligible to sponsor that relative, and you would meet the income requirement for sponsorship. However, if you only want to do that later, your employer can file an EP application later -- you don't have to pursue that option now. One reason an EP might be better for the employer is that the employee is somewhat "stickier," that you'd be naturally more reluctant to leave or change jobs because you'd have to re-apply for a LTVP (or another EP). Also some employers are concerned that LTVP status is inherently dependent, so if your citizen or PR sponsor leaves Singapore then you must also. The employer would at least prefer the option to try to keep you in Singapore in that event, and an EP means they can try. But that's a weak argument, particularly for spouses of PRs and citizens, since you would need to agree to that plan anyway, and if you agree to that plan your employer could apply for an EP then, in the future.

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40533
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Wed, 04 May 2016 2:13 pm

One thing is not quite clear. What is your husband's status here? EP or PR? It's possible that you are a de facto wife, so you could be on an LTVP with a PR or EP spouse. If your spouse is an EP holder, then applying for the work visa is better than applying for the LoC as that way, you can retain your job if your spouse loses his. However, if your marriage is to a PR holder than yes, the LoC is much better as noted by BBCW.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

Nlucy
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:41 pm

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by Nlucy » Fri, 06 May 2016 11:28 am

Thank you very much for your detailed and insightful advice, BBCW and SMS.
I think LOC is better too, so will go ahead with that. Btw my husband is PR. I think EP's spouse will be under Dependant's Pass.

User avatar
PNGMK
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 9248
Joined: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 9:06 pm
Answers: 11
Location: Sinkapore

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by PNGMK » Fri, 06 May 2016 12:21 pm

If your husband is PR I didn't think LOC was an option... only an actual EP.
I not lawyer/teacher/CPA.
You've been arrested? Law Society of Singapore can provide referrals.
You want an International School job? School website or http://www.ISS.edu
Your rugrat needs a School? Avoid for profit schools
You need Tax advice? Ask a CPA
You ran away without doing NS? Shame on you!

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40533
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Fri, 06 May 2016 12:29 pm

Nope. Changed. As of Jan 1 this year. LTVP spouses of PRs are now able to apply for LoC's like LTVP spouses of SGCs. (Formerly for spouse of SGC it was LTVP+. The government finally saw the inconsistency of not allowing LTVP holders of PR & SGCs to work even though the trailing spouse of an EP holder could. So they corrected it. ;-)
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

User avatar
PNGMK
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 9248
Joined: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 9:06 pm
Answers: 11
Location: Sinkapore

Re: Job consideration - Need advice

Post by PNGMK » Fri, 06 May 2016 1:45 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Nope. Changed. As of Jan 1 this year. LTVP spouses of PRs are now able to apply for LoC's like LTVP spouses of SGCs. (Formerly for spouse of SGC it was LTVP+. The government finally saw the inconsistency of not allowing LTVP holders of PR & SGCs to work even though the trailing spouse of an EP holder could. So they corrected it. ;-)
Thanks. There has been a LOT of inconsistency and unfairness in how the spouses of PR/SC have been treated vs the spouses of FT's.....
I not lawyer/teacher/CPA.
You've been arrested? Law Society of Singapore can provide referrals.
You want an International School job? School website or http://www.ISS.edu
Your rugrat needs a School? Avoid for profit schools
You need Tax advice? Ask a CPA
You ran away without doing NS? Shame on you!

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Careers & Jobs in Singapore”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: mathsciencetuition and 3 guests