Getting a contract job in Singapore

[AussieInNYC]

Hi All,

I am an Australian currently working in banking compliance in New York (AML, Sanctions, KYC, etc) with about 8 years’ experience.

I am relocating to Singapore with my husband in the next month, and will be on a Dependent Pass and am eligible for a Letter of Consent to work.

I need to find a job, and it seems like I’ll have the most luck targeting contract roles.

1. Has anyone has any luck finding contract roles in a similar circumstance?
2. Has getting a contract job as a non-local been an issue?
3. Has anyone had any trouble getting a Letter of Consent?

Thanks very much for sharing any experience with this, or any advice!

[Barnsley]

Hi All,

I am an Australian currently working in banking compliance in New York (AML, Sanctions, KYC, etc) with about 8 years’ experience.

I am relocating to Singapore with my husband in the next month, and will be on a Dependent Pass and am eligible for a Letter of Consent to work.

I need to find a job, and it seems like I’ll have the most luck targeting contract roles.

1. Has anyone has any luck finding contract roles in a similar circumstance?
2. Has getting a contract job as a non-local been an issue?
3. Has anyone had any trouble getting a Letter of Consent?

Thanks very much for sharing any experience with this, or any advice!

Isn't compliance the "in thing" in banking these days?

I should think you should be able to get a job on your own merits via EP.

Maybe need to do a bit of networking

[bgd]

Isn't compliance the "in thing" in banking these days?

I should think you should be able to get a job on your own merits via EP.

Maybe need to do a bit of networking

It used to be. I think machine learning, etc is starting to make inroads and that will only ramp up.

OP, being in Sg will give you an advantage and getting an LoC isn't difficult in my (limited) experience. I'm on the IT side of banking and contractors are cheap labour here. Nothing like the contract rates available in London, a market I am familiar with. Perhaps it's different on the business side?

Barnsley's advice about networking is good, it can be hard to break into roles here.

[Barnsley]

It used to be. I think machine learning, etc is starting to make inroads and that will only ramp up.

As you can tell I am not in banking

[brian_singapore]

Compliance is still a big thing here. The OP should have no problem finding a compliance position when she is here in person.

More then likely her employer will convert her to her own EP as they don't want to run risks on cancellation of her husbands EP leaving her high and dry.

Machine learning etc. are starting to help, but its still a huge, manually intensive endeaver and these technologies only help manage the 'hits' that need to be resolved (and are usually false positives). It still requires an army of people to oversee and enforce and in particular figure out how to respond to changing regulations.

[Strong Eagle]

Maybe need to do a bit of networking

Indeed... hang around Boat Quay at Harry's or Penny Black after work and meet all sorts of bankers.

[AussieInNYC]

Thanks for your responses guys. By the sounds of it, there isn't much I can do until I get there in person.

If anyone has any recommendations for good recruiters who work with LOCs, etc, by all means please let me know

[Strong Eagle]

If anyone has any recommendations for good recruiters who work with LOCs, etc, by all means please let me know

Using "good" and "recruiter" in the same sentence in Singapore is enormously hilarious.

Seriously... having a few drinks at Boat Quay is a great way to meet a lot of folks. So is hooking up with various organizations. As an American, I hooked up with the American Association of Singapore, AmCham, and a couple of others. Met a lot of professionals who knew a lot of professionals.

And there is a guy I know who is a pretty good professional recruiter... an American... PM me and I'll provide details.