Sales job in Singapore

[KiaKia]

Hi all,

I am Italian and I currently live in Dublin (Ireland) since 5 years. I have 5 years experience as a sales rep in big multinational companies. My boyfriend just got an offer for Singapore and he will probably move there Mid September. I know that obtaining a Visa is extremely difficult, so I will stay here in Dublin a bit longer (at least till the end of October) trying to see if something comes up also for me. I am trying to be relocated internally within my company but it looks a bit hard at the moment and I also applied to many sales job on companies websites, Linkedin, Indeed and local job posting websites but with no success so far. Does anyone have any recommendations on other ways I can follow (different websites, better agencies e.g.)? In case nothing comes up from here, would it makes sense to move there with a tourist visa for a couple of months to try my luck directly from there?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

[Strong Eagle]

What is it that you would like to be selling? And who are your target clients? Answers to these questions might make it easier to form an opinion as to what your chances might actually be.

[KiaKia]

What is it that you would like to be selling? And who are your target clients? Answers to these questions might make it easier to form an opinion as to what your chances might actually be.

Hi Strong Eagle,

thanks for your answer. I have been working 3 years in IBM selling IT services and now I am working for Tripadvisor as Account Manager. I always managed and sold to Italian accounts but it wouldn't be a problem at all to work in English since I have been living for 6 months in Scotland and 5 years in Ireland.
I would be also open for Marketing opportunities.
Thanks a lot

[Strong Eagle]

Well... I'll never say never... and you have a tough road ahead of you. In all of the MNC's I ever ran into, any expats present in Asia were transferred into the company... some have moved on to other jobs at difference companies in Asia... the point being, though, that there isn't much incentive for an MNC to bring you in cold.

You don't know the market. You don't know Mandarin. Your ways and culture are not Asian, and you will be dealing with Asian managers for the most part in order to make your sales.

However, several IT related firms do have a strong presence in Singapore... Dell, Toshiba, HP, AtoS, Getronics to name a few. Perusing their job boards may be of some help, better still is to try and identify real people in Singapore in order to make the personal contact. The managed services business in Asia is cut throat. Dimension data is a big project player. While the hardware manufacturers in some cases, provide their own managed services, it is much more common to farm these out to folks like Getronics and AtoS who work both for clients directly and under contract for warranty and repair services.

One big issue with selling any significant size IT services in Asia is that, for the most part, the IT function in MNC's has been globalized, and the PMO that makes the decisions is in the US, or Europe, or Australia but not in Asia. You'll have zero luck breaking into the local market without first developing your Rolodex working for an MNC.

[ecureilx]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Try start ups.

Especially those in digital marketing.

They do recruit expats since they work across the region.

[okonu]

Actually, you are probably better off than most. Singapore is APAC hub/ HQ for a number of travel IT firms. Sabre, Amadeus, TTI, Tripadvisor itself, Expedia etc all have their regional HQ here. Obviously having asian language would be a huge help, but at least for your niche (assuming that is travel) it is the right place. Normal advice, network in Dublin (also a centre for travel IT), network on LinkedIn, apply for any travel IT jobs you see going.