Help please - where to start looking for jobs?!

[tbank12]

Hi there,

My partner and I are weighing up our next move, having spent time working in Sydney and the UK. We both have fond memories of time spent in Singapore and always felt it was a place we could see ourselves living and working.
My question is, where to start with jobs? I appreciate there are multiple job boards online but are there any recruitment agencies anyone would particularly recommend contacting in the first instance?
I've got 12+ years in banking and my partner has 7+ years - we're both keen to continue in our current industry and from the research we've done, we understand you need a job offer to be secured with a particular level of earning before you can apply for a visa.
Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks in advance.

Tom

[smoulder]

If you have niche skills in banking technology, you can look out for jobs on LinkedIn. Most other roles - it's going to be quite hard unless you are in an MNC which is open to relocating you.

[tbank12]

Thanks for your reply - would there be any suggestions of recruiters to start with either way?

[smoulder]

Honestly, none that I would recommend that will give you any edge over trying your luck via LinkedIn. Well, that's my opinion anyway.

Do keep in mind that successfully searching for a job in Singapore when you are overseas has been difficult at the best of times. It's now quite hard even for people who are here to switch jobs if they aren't either citizens or PRs. Most people who have managed to move here have done so through internal transfers.

[Myasis Dragon]

I ran my own company in Singapore for eight years, 2004 to 2013. I have moderated this board under a different handle since 2004. I have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of posts regarding coming to Singapore to find a job, cold.

The fact is that almost nobody comes in cold and get a job. Nobody. The vast majority of new EP's are issued to MNC's bringing in internal transfers. Once you're here, things are much better. An EP can get a job with another company and get a new EP.

I'd say that you have a five percent chance of coming in cold and getting a job but I would be seriously overestimating your probabilities. There are too many factors working against you.

The gahmen doesn't want you and is making it increasingly difficult for companies to get work permits.

The companies don't want you.
You're a hassle to interview.
You're going to want relocation.
You're going to want school allowances because school is hellishly expensive for foreigners.
The company has to repatriate you if you don't work out.
You don't have a network.

And, why go to all the trouble of hiring a foreign based employee when you can poach the known quantity, the EP at the the company down the road, with far less hassle.

In any given field, Singapore is a tight knit community. I had an IT project management company. During my 8 years, I saw many expats change companies... and many locals, too. The guy I worked with on my first project at Dell was also my contact when I did a deal with Lenovo. The fellow at HP who went to work for one of his clients and became my client interface.

If you're serious about Singapore, you've really got to go to work for a company and get an internal transfer. If you question this assertion, do some reading in some of the social forums here... anyone posting was transferred in.

[PNGMK]

Hi there,

My partner and I are weighing up our next move, having spent time working in Sydney and the UK. We both have fond memories of time spent in Singapore and always felt it was a place we could see ourselves living and working.
My question is, where to start with jobs? I appreciate there are multiple job boards online but are there any recruitment agencies anyone would particularly recommend contacting in the first instance?
I've got 12+ years in banking and my partner has 7+ years - we're both keen to continue in our current industry and from the research we've done, we understand you need a job offer to be secured with a particular level of earning before you can apply for a visa.
Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks in advance.

Tom

LinkedIn is the answer (or networking in the old boys network). You need to pull the recruiter to you.

Some arsehole from this board wrote this a few years back.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin ... 0UZw%3D%3D

[tbank12]

Honestly, none that I would recommend that will give you any edge over trying your luck via LinkedIn. Well, that's my opinion anyway.

Do keep in mind that successfully searching for a job in Singapore when you are overseas has been difficult at the best of times. It's now quite hard even for people who are here to switch jobs if they aren't either citizens or PRs. Most people who have managed to move here have done so through internal transfers.

Thanks for your help, I'll look further into the points you've raised. Appreciate the help!

[tbank12]

Thanks all, appreciate the help and the honesty - would much rather people be up front with me about the task ahead and will most definitely be looking further into all points made.

Cheers!

[Lisafuller]

LinkedIn or try just searching for the position you are interested in. Or else reach out to a higher up in the organization you wish to work for, a little contact goes a long way.