I have no degree and am coming on a DP - unemployable? Help!

[brunoP]

Hi there - i've read through lots of posts on here and tried to do quite a bit of research, but just hope someone can help. My boyfriend is moving to Singapore and I want to come but if I can't work I wont come and I don't know what we'll do.

I am 27 with 6 years financial and accounting experience (I have the UK financial planning certificates CF1, 2, 3 & 4) but I don't have a degree. I have been told that I should be able to get a DP visa, but if this is true after reading the posts it seems unlikely i'd get a job.

I'd be happy to work as a PA to an expat, and accounts/finance assistant/administrator or even try being a recruitment consultant but I need to work fulltime an want to progress my career.

in all honesty is it pretty unlikely i'll get a decent job??

Thanks to anyone that can help!!!

[sundaymorningstaple]

First of all, you won't get a DP. You will only get a LTVP and with that you cannot work at all. You can try to find a job and qualify for an Employment Pass in your own right but frankly, without a degree, I'm afraid it's not going to happen. The only way to get a DP is to get married before you come here. Then you can get a DP and a prospective employer can apply for a Letter of Consent to allow you to work for them.

[brunoP]

Okay, I didn't realise you had to be married to get a DP. I'm quite upset as I don't think I can really come if I can't get work but I wanted a frank answer so thanks for your help!

[matilda]

Hi there

Your questions was answered, but I just wanted to stick my two cents in and offer a bit more friendly advice to you and any other person in your position who is reading this column.

I don't usually post, but I've seen what happens to girlfriends without degrees here and I feel morally obliged to add my voice so that ladies in your position don't come here under any allusions whatsover.

My friend was in the position of "non degree holding LTSV pass girlfriend" here in Singapore. It took her over a year (of misery, rejection and loneliness) to find a job (she was eventually employed on an S pass). She only got the job through a personal contact. Her application was initially rejected and went to appeal. She had a supportive employer and a specific skill set and some further (non degree) educational qualifications.

But her situation would be very very rare.

I saw another girl go home (she had already quit her job and given up her flat back home however) a few weeks after arriving when she realised she wasn't going to get a job and therefore was going to be leading a rather weird permanent tropical holiday lifestyle (without any of her close friends and family around her) largely financially and emotionally dependent on her boyfriend.

So...please beware of well meaning friends, family, colleagues, associates etc who tell you things like 'you don't need to be married to get a DP' and 'they know of girlfriends who didn't have a degree who got jobs really easily'. There is a lot of misinformation out there. These well meaning people who are trying to comfort you won't be able to help you when you are stuck out here without a job. Don't allow yourself to be lead down the Road of Blind Optimism: it's very short, and goes on to become the Road of Unemployment (which is just off the corner of Had a Fight with the Boyfriend Because It's Alright For Him But What Am I Doing Here ).

Beware also of local recruiters - my friend was pumped up by a recruiter she spoke to and lead to believe that it would be easy to get a pass to work - they claimed they had arranged it for another person in her situation. The got her to make application to the Ministry of Manpower for a pass or similar to search for a job in singapore (I can't remember the exact name of the pass). The application was rejected, obviously. It was all just rubbish, and after the interview, they never rang her again. More disappointment.

There is nothing wrong with trying and miracles do happen. If you really wants to come here and work, get on the phone, ring companies, use any contacts you have though the company you work for, etc and once you have that pass in your hand, get on the plane. But not before.

The Singapore gov aren't going to just hand over passes to unqualified LTSV pass holding girlfriends to let them take jobs that Singaporeans can do, so you would have to have some very specific and desirable experience (from the government's perspective) in order to stand a chance.

So I hope you have got over the shock a bit sweetie. I hope things work out.

Good luck.

[Mike_Naylor]

Hi there - i've read through lots of posts on here and tried to do quite a bit of research, but just hope someone can help. My boyfriend is moving to Singapore and I want to come but if I can't work I wont come and I don't know what we'll do.

I am 27 with 6 years financial and accounting experience (I have the UK financial planning certificates CF1, 2, 3 & 4) but I don't have a degree. I have been told that I should be able to get a DP visa, but if this is true after reading the posts it seems unlikely i'd get a job.

I'd be happy to work as a PA to an expat, and accounts/finance assistant/administrator or even try being a recruitment consultant but I need to work fulltime an want to progress my career.

in all honesty is it pretty unlikely i'll get a decent job??

Thanks to anyone that can help!!!

The problem isn't getting a job. I bet you're qualified to do plenty of things out there. Employers would hire you if they could I'm sure.

The problem will be getting a visa to work at all.

Unless you get married before you leave, you won't be eligible for a DP. And it will be very hard to get any sort of work permit, without a degree, even if you get a job offer.

It's actually pretty tricky to get one, with a degree.

Plus, Singapore is a financial capital of the region. Finance is a big thing over there. Lots of locals work in finance.

There are a few niche industries, with work permit loopholes - industries that they are hopeless at, where you'd maybe get a permit and work if you went over. But finance isn't one of them.

The only other option I can think of is going over as an enterprenuer? If you can demonstrate that you have the skills to make money, with a business, they sometimes let you in.

You know, don't you get private accountants, working for small businesses? Although, you may need to be chartered to do this.

If you were chartered, ironically, I doubt you'd have an issue

[Mike_Naylor]

Hi there - i've read through lots of posts on here and tried to do quite a bit of research, but just hope someone can help. My boyfriend is moving to Singapore and I want to come but if I can't work I wont come and I don't know what we'll do.

I am 27 with 6 years financial and accounting experience (I have the UK financial planning certificates CF1, 2, 3 & 4) but I don't have a degree. I have been told that I should be able to get a DP visa, but if this is true after reading the posts it seems unlikely i'd get a job.

I'd be happy to work as a PA to an expat, and accounts/finance assistant/administrator or even try being a recruitment consultant but I need to work fulltime an want to progress my career.

in all honesty is it pretty unlikely i'll get a decent job??

Thanks to anyone that can help!!!

PS.

On a brighter note. I'd really recommened e-mailing companies, and really declaring your interest in working for them.

Try and communicate face to face with them, with e-mail, and really show them how much you want all of this.

I wasn't a cert to get a visa. I'm still not. But I have an offer, and the HR director I've been speaking to is doing everything in his power to help me get it.

It's not so impossible, if you can get a few people on your side, in my opinion.

If you can get people to take an interest in you, and demonstrate to them how much you want it all, you may find the odds reducing.

A lot of my job, was just impressing them in how much I wanted:

A: to settle in Singapore
B: To work for them.

[Strong Eagle]

A lot of my job, was just impressing them in how much I wanted:

A: to settle in Singapore
B: To work for them.

Don't forget:

C: The company is able to convince MOM that they can't find a local to fill the requirements of the job.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Unfortunately, C. is the most important one of all. MOM holds all the cards and looks at 'em before they deal. And the ongoing clamour from locals regarding foreigners stealing jobs from the locals when the locals are qualified but want more money, is causing the government to tighten up the screws. Probably looking at elections soon......

But if you think about it, all governments should and do have a duty to protect their own citizens/PR's first. Before just giving jobs out to foreigners.