Would my wife be able to find a retail job?

[F1SC]

Hi everyone,

I will be moving to Singapore from Australia to work with my company in coming months.

I have read it can be hard for trailing spouses to find professional type jobs in Singapore but I was wanting to find out about the chances of my wife finding work in retail? She has a number of TAFE certificates and years of experience in retail/ retail management and some marketing experience.

Would it be possible for her to find work in a retail brand? Or would this prove even more difficult then a professional type role?

Thanks

[ecureilx]

Hi everyone,

I will be moving to Singapore from Australia to work with my company in coming months.

I have read it can be hard for trailing spouses to find professional type jobs in Singapore but I was wanting to find out about the chances of my wife finding work in retail? She has a number of TAFE certificates and years of experience in retail/ retail management and some marketing experience.

Would it be possible for her to find work in a retail brand? Or would this prove even more difficult then a professional type role?

Thanks

retail ? Tough, if not impossible.

Most local retailers want Chinese speaking staff and pay is not great.

And international brands too prefer Chinese speaking in front line

Good luck.

[F1SC]

Thanks for your reply, for some reason I thought perhaps the high end brands or places at Sentosa Island etc may want a Western person selling, I guess I didn't factor in the Chinese tourists etc.

What about customer service roles? Perhaps in the hotel industry? Same story?

Any other ideas?

Thanks

[bxagw]

I agree with Ecu, it's possible. However, you need to let her know retail hours in Singapore is long and no freedom on weekends. I worked in retail before, even those on higher posts in my previous job (and most of other companies in Singapore) working on weekend. We never see sunlight on weekends, and still busy with some work on our off day which fall on weekdays once a week. My friends who still in this line of work told me nothing has changed since I left retail world.

[F1SC]

Thanks for your reply, perhaps a customer service manager/admin type role would be better suited.

[bxagw]

Now, for customer service/admin role would likely required Mandarin speaking (at least), and the pay not so great either.

[F1SC]

Are there any fields/areas you would recommend that may be suitable for someone with marketing/customer service/administration experience/retail management experience?

[Barnsley]

Hi everyone,

I will be moving to Singapore from Australia to work with my company in coming months.

I have read it can be hard for trailing spouses to find professional type jobs in Singapore but I was wanting to find out about the chances of my wife finding work in retail? She has a number of TAFE certificates and years of experience in retail/ retail management and some marketing experience.

Would it be possible for her to find work in a retail brand? Or would this prove even more difficult then a professional type role?

Thanks

retail ? Tough, if not impossible.

Most local retailers want Chinese speaking staff and pay is not great.

And international brands too prefer Chinese speaking in front line

Good luck.

Some wasted talent going on in the Philippines then , as a large number of the ladies in the shopping malls are from there , seems odd if they can speak mandarin that they would working in H&M!

[F1SC]

Given some of the posts I have read, it seems trying for a admin position at one of the International Schools is probably her best shot - I guess that could take a very long time but I appreciate all the honest information anyway.

[ecureilx]

Some wasted talent going on in the Philippines then , as a large number of the ladies in the shopping malls are from there , seems odd if they can speak mandarin that they would working in H&M!

a fair number from PH make up the Lack of Mandarin with cheaper cost + longer hours + placement fee

[ecureilx]

I agree with Ecu, it's possible. However, you need to let her know retail hours in Singapore is long and no freedom on weekends. .

I am temporarily in retail, helping A friend.

Work starts at 10 AM, end at 930 PM, lunch is after 3 PM, (though lunch is provided ... ) and forget about off day on weekends.

On the positive side, week day off = no need to take leave to do any official work

most shops only allow 1 off day a month.

Some Sub con guy demanded more off from his boss, a neighbour ... , (supposedly a reputed business ... ) the boss told him to go back if working in Singapore is painful. Case closed. For every guy who leaves, they have dozens waiting...

[x9200]

I don't recall seeing ever a Caucasian woman working in retail (a man, yes), but in one of the clinics in Camden Medical Centre there was or maybe still is a Caucasian lady receptionist.

[ecureilx]

I don't recall seeing ever a Caucasian woman working in retail (a man, yes), but in one of the clinics in Camden Medical Centre there was or maybe still is a Caucasian lady receptionist.

Had some Caucasian promoters in APB, years ago. Not sure if they were employed full time or as Interns.

LVMH occasionally fielded Caucasians at trade shows, maybe from their Singapore office. Again no clue.

[x9200]

I would expect this kind of jobs go to the WHP guys. The Caucasian male I know about works at Tott / Bukit Timah. Other than these, I only noticed some population of Caucasians working in high end restaurants, and again, with the males dominating, but that is some completely different industry.

[PNGMK]

Keep at eye open for front desk.counter posiitons at the Australian High Comm, British Council etc... they seem to be high turn over positions and are open to hiring people like your wife it see,s.