Expat or trailing spouses/partners - finding jobs

[Kiwi tuu]

I am sure there must be more around and would like to know how you have overcome this problem. Seems there are a lot of expats whose spouses or partners arrive here and then struggle to find jobs. Eventually getting stuck at home or bored and frustrated with not being able to use their skills. Some of us may have children and that keeps us busy, but what if we want to get back to work or have no children?

I have come across quite a few who go back to studying, or start their own businesses. Is there anywhere to post our details if we are looking for positions? I know we can reply to job ads or go to employment consultants, but am thinking here more of marketing skills to the market. I have seen this in other countries, but not sure where to get started here.

This is just something that puzzles me. My husband will be looking for a role in the future and I would appreciate any advice on how others have approached this in the past in a proactive manner.

Thank you

[ching]

How about starting off with a non-profit to get a feel for the local market?

Depending on one's line of work, volunteer organizations or your home country's embassy could be a good place to start making some contacts. I have some friends who started off teaching basic finance seminars on the weekends, as volunteers.

Hope this helps!

[sundaymorningstaple]

I am sure there must be more around and would like to know how you have overcome this problem. Seems there are a lot of expats whose spouses or partners arrive here and then struggle to find jobs. Eventually getting stuck at home or bored and frustrated with not being able to use their skills. Some of us may have children and that keeps us busy, but what if we want to get back to work or have no children?

I have come across quite a few who go back to studying, or start their own businesses. Is there anywhere to post our details if we are looking for positions? I know we can reply to job ads or go to employment consultants, but am thinking here more of marketing skills to the market. I have seen this in other countries, but not sure where to get started here.

This is just something that puzzles me. My husband will be looking for a role in the future and I would appreciate any advice on how others have approached this in the past in a proactive manner.

Thank you

The following link would be the best place to start.

Dependent's Pass & Working in Singapore

It's rather easy for an employer to get a "Letter of Consent". Only requires around 2 weeks and 'bob's your uncle'. The Letter of Consent would run concurrent with your spouses EP validity.

sms

[spgc]

SMS - Thanks for the tips & advice posted. I am looking at the best (i.e. least stressful) way for my partner to join me here in Singapore on some kind of long term pass, ideally allowing a search for work. Looking at the advice so far posted and the MOM site you pointed at for dependents - it appears to only cater for legal (i.e. certified) wives and husbands, as opposed to long term partners. Is that the case ?

If so - do you have any recommendations for an alternate path to get a non-certified partner in here ? I am an EP, and have been here almost 2 years and am expecting to stay for at least another year or more. I will probably go PEP in the next few weeks - although I don't think that helps. Seems like the alternates are (grateful for your comments) :

1) Come in on a 30 day visa, and then apply for an extension based upon sponsorhip from a friend who is PR (we do have a few PR's that may be willing to do this)

2) Sign up for a 3-6 month course e.g. Mandarin, and have the school arrange the SVP

3) Apply for a EPEC, although despite being highly qualified, multi-lingual and with 10 years of business experience - the tertiary quals are from a LatAm university (albeit the best one) and so I worry that this process would result in rejection and subsequent morale issues ...

Appreciate any thoughts or further advice.

Cheers,
spgc

[ching]

Hi SPGC,

Have you checked out the thread entitled Personalized Employment Pass (PEP)?

Not sure if you've seen it, there's a discussion going on there about sponsoring partners (not just spouses) if you have a PEP - that should help a bit...