HR interview flexability

[Nicky_sayers]

Hi,

I have a querie. I was wandering if someone could offer me some feedback.

I’m moving to Singapore in January. I’m definitely going. If I get a job, I’ll stay. If I don’t, it will just be a holiday. I just have a few events to attend over there, year round, so it made sense to maybe try my luck with work.

I was expecting the job bit to be tough. I’ve heard the market sucks at the minute. So I thought I better get started on the job hunting bit straight away. Even though I won’t be there until January. I guessed, if I was going to get one, it would take a while.

I was pretty shocked to get a job interview, for the very first job I applied for. Which surprised me. I have experience, and a degree, but I wouldn’t say I’m that I’m the type of person they probably couldn’t get locally.

Ironically, the interview offer is creating the problems. You see, I don’t really want to start work over there until January 2010. I wasn’t actually expecting to get a reply from these guys, and was maybe just using the application process to test the water a bit, and maybe get some decent feedback after inevitable rejection!

This is my situation basically, on dates:

I have a wedding to attend in the UK in November and December. They are non negotiable as one is my sister, and I’m the best man in the other!

So starting any job in 2009 would be a case of flying back and forth between the UK and Singapore. I can’t afford to do that. And that’s why I want to start in 2010.

My ideal situation would to actually interview (and how I originally planned it!) Jan 2010 in fact. That way I could start a fresh in Singapore, without having to keep coming back and forth.

My job – I’m planning on quitting in December anyway, probably. So interviewing in January would be very tidy for me. I could interview, hang around, attend the functions I am over for anyway, and then just start immediately if I got it. If I don’t, come back home.

This is the crux of my query. I probably would if it came down to an ultimatum, but I really don’t want to be interviewing for this job any time in the next few months (they want me to head over next month). At a push, I’d prefer December. Ideally, I’d like to wait until January.

Do you think these companies would be very flexible with this sort of thing, or am I really pushing my luck a bit!?

As in, again, even more ideally, I’d prefer to telephone interview. And then go over for second interviews. However, I’m probably not in a position to dictate terms!

I was just wondering, anyone working in PR – are they flexible with ex pats? As in, they must realise it’s a really tough thing to do – attending interviews at 2-3 weeks notice, thousands of miles away.

Nick

[sundaymorningstaple]

Nick, it is not hard to get interviews for positions here in Singapore. Even common positions. But, that is only from the Company you are being interviewed. The problem comes in when they apply for the Employment Pass. The MOM is the agency who issues the EPs, the employer has to apply for it and also must convince the MOM that they need to hire a foreigner to do the job. This is were the stumbling point happens. If the company cannot show good reason why they NEED to hire a foreigner, the odds are, if there are sufficient numbers of locals with the necessary educations and experience/skillsets, they normally will reject the application.

Good luck, but be prepared for the worst.

sms

[Nicky_sayers]

Nick, it is not hard to get interviews for positions here in Singapore. Even common positions. But, that is only from the Company you are being interviewed. The problem comes in when they apply for the Employment Pass. The MOM is the agency who issues the EPs, the employer has to apply for it and also must convince the MOM that they need to hire a foreigner to do the job. This is were the stumbling point happens. If the company cannot show good reason why they NEED to hire a foreigner, the odds are, if there are sufficient numbers of locals with the necessary educations and experience/skillsets, they normally will reject the application.

Good luck, but be prepared for the worst.

sms

Hi there,

Thanks for the reply. I spoke to the HR manager, for the company, on this very subject. He basically stated that they wouldn't have any problems getting me an employment pass, if I was offered a job.

As I said, this is the only company in the country that works in this sort of internet field. And it's not something you can really do without experience working in it. And this company, in truth, is pretty start-up, and undistinguished. Well compared to where I work in the west.

So I was maybe thinking that it would probably be a role that they would struggle to fill locally. As in, where could these people possible be getting 4-5 years experience, if this is actually the only company in the country? And even if they have, I'm not sure it would match up to favourably, to what I've done to be honest.

I guess I'll just have to see what happens, but I'd hope the HR guy I was speaking to knows what he is talking about! He was the HR manager, so should I guess

[sundaymorningstaple]

Did you check my profile?

[Nicky_sayers]

Did you check my profile?

Ah, I see. So in your experience, would you say the HR manager is being straight down the line with me, when he says they wouldn't have any problems getting me a employment pass?

Not that I'm questioning his integrity. I just thought he may be trying to maybe paint a better picture, than it actually is to get me to apply?

But then again, why would he be trying to encourage me to apply if he knew I would have no chance of getting a work pass?

Very confusing!