Worried PA, help!

[Carla London]

Hello all,

My husband and I are moving to Singapore this summer. My husband job is transferred to Singapore, but for me means that I have to resign from my current job in London to move to Singapore. I am worried that it would be hard for me to find a job there and I have to be jobless for months, especially as global recession and there are lots of companies cutting jobs.

I am currently working as an Assistant to a Director in the Financial industry. I have 6 years experience. Ideally I would like to have a similar role in Singapore.

Do you think it will be hard to find a job in Singapore, especially for my role? Like London or NY, currently it's really hard to find a job. How about Singapore?

Advise please. Thanks before.

[smayrhofer]

With many companies on a hiring freeze, you may find it pretty difficult. No harm trying of course. I'm sure it's not impossible.

Otherwise, consider alternatives like volunteering!

[St Georgie]

Hi Carla

I have a similar career background also, only with Legal as well as a bit of Finance. I have found it really hard so far, we moved out to Singapore at the end of May from London, my partner having transferred offices. It took some months for my Long-Term Visit Social pass to come through, and I was told that I should have this in place first if I were to be taken seriously when jobhunting. Now that the pass has come through I have been applying everywhere for office support roles, but there is now a problem, that for a time at least, I cant get around! Almost all the roles that I have come across have stated "Singaporeans or Permanent Residents need apply only". I am not Singaporean and in order to become a PR you need to have resided in Singapore for at least one year, and my partner needs then to have the correct work permit for us to apply for PR status. Thankfully he has the correct work permit, but we havent been residing in Singapore for a year yet so I cant see that I am going to get very far until this is in place!

My advice is to hang on in there, I have found it very frustrating and losing my independence in terms of my own salaray has been a bit of a shocker too. I thought being a lady of leisure would be lots of fun, but all of the lovely friends that Ive made so far are all working, so its been a lonely experience during the days! Just keep applying for anything and everything that you come across and im sure that something will come up sooner or later (but be prepared for the latter). Also, networking is a great way of finding jobs, thats something I shall try and tackle now. Perhaps your husband's colleagues in the Singapore office could look out for you, dont be afraid to put your name about!

I also tried a bit of volunteering, helping underachieving or underprivileged children with their homework. Now all my time is taken up decorating our new flat and job hunting!

If you need any help or advice when you get to Singapore then give me a shout. Hopefully I'll have a job by then!

[ksl]

Unfortunately the UK finance industry hasn't finished posting their losses, wait and see what Barcleys come out with, I just don't believe they haven't been hit just as hard.

The effects will vibrate through Singapore's finance sector like an earth quake from hell! Work is not easy for anyone, although if you are multi skilled, you should have a better chance than most degree holders.

Maybe this is also a wake up call for those with only one skill, to look at other way's of improving their positions for the future.

[Carla London]

Thanks everyone.

Thanks Hannah for sharing, it's very useful. I am quite worried to move as it sounds like that I might have to be jobless for months. In London, eventhough there are lots of job freeze or job cuts but there are still PA jobs around. Not as many as last year but as long as you have the right skills/experience, it's still easy to find one.

In terms of Visa, I think I can only apply for a dependents pass. Hannah, is this type of pass that you have? Can we apply for jobs with that? I look around the job using jobsdb.com, you are right mostly says PR/ Singaporean citizen only. Frustrating! Good luck for job hunting! Please let me know if you get a job

[BodyBlitz]

I think in a pragmatic way, if you can't find anything that suits you..you can try other entry level jobs.

[ksl]

Hello all,

My husband and I are moving to Singapore this summer. My husband job is transferred to Singapore, but for me means that I have to resign from my current job in London to move to Singapore. I am worried that it would be hard for me to find a job there and I have to be jobless for months, especially as global recession and there are lots of companies cutting jobs.

I am currently working as an Assistant to a Director in the Financial industry. I have 6 years experience. Ideally I would like to have a similar role in Singapore.

Do you think it will be hard to find a job in Singapore, especially for my role? Like London or NY, currently it's really hard to find a job. How about Singapore?

Advise please. Thanks before.

If you are on dependant pass, you can also look for employement. Most companies do not know the rules for dependant pass holders, which are in fact more beneficial for the employer, although the employement will be tied, to your husbands EP, so when his EP runs out, your's will too!
SMS knows more about it I believe, than i do myself! But it's not a problem to work!

[sundaymorningstaple]

IN addition to what ksl has already pointed out. It would also be good to realize that the pay scale is considerably lower for the same position here. If that isn't bad enough, the ability to speak Mandarin is usually a requirement here as well. You will have to educate yourself on the MOM website regarding Dependents Passes and working. Not that much to it as ksl pointed out. The problem is selling it to employers as they don't even know about DP's not needing working permits.