Is it worth to fly to SG for an interview???

[lite]

Hi All,

I'm seeking some advice for my career situation. I would greatly appreciate if you could share your thoughts.

I'm a 29 year-old Thai. I have a bachelor's degree (honors) in accounting from a university in Thailand and a MBA finance (dean's list) from University of Oregon (graduated in June '09). I have 5-year experience working as an accounting manager for a manufacturing company in Thailand and 3-month training as an audit trainee at KPMG (Thailand).

I have been trying to get a job in SG and sending out my resume to several recruiters and direct employers. Recently, I received an email from a recruiter inviting me to attend a first round walk-in interview for an accountant position. Salary is S$3,500 - S$4,300 depending on experience and qualification.

In the email, they mentioned "if you are not currently in SG, we will not be able to take your application further. As this is an ongoing recruitment exercise, you may still attend the interview once you arrived SG." I am also required to pay a refundable processing fee of 20SGD prior to interview.

I'm wondering if they are looking to fill this position right now or they are just collecting resumes and prospect applicants. I have no experience with recruiters and so I need your advice if it is worth to fly to SG for this interview. Not being a PR or holding any kind of work permits, I believe my chance of getting an accounting job which could be filled by locals is minimal especially during this economic climate. However, I do not want to regret later that there is something I can do to make it happen but I refuse to do it..

What do you think?

Thank you in advance for your input

[sundaymorningstaple]

As you are only in Thailand, and the Administrative fee (which is all that the agency can charge you) is only $20 SGD (about normal - for those who bother to charge it - sounds like a small company to me), how much would it cost to take a budget airline flight down here r/t? How much are you willing to invest in your future in Asia? We cannot quantify that for you. Only you know your pain threshold.

However, it doesn't sound like a real good idea if the agency won't fly for the expense of bringing you down for the interview. It sounds like they do not have an exclusive so are hoping that they can present you on the fly in the hopes of snagging one without any cost to them. It rare that any company get an exclusive with a client so it's usually first past the post with a CV. Quite often several agencies submit the same CV's so it speed that is of the essence. You might have a good CV but they don't believe in you strongly enough to back it up with their money that you can win the position.

If you want to gamble, I would talk to the recruiter and strike a deal whereas if they can arrange a first round interview via teleconference, if you are successfully shortlisted from there, then you could see your way clear to pay your way to attend the 2nd interview with the codicil that if you successfully secure the position, they should reimburse you your costs of attending the interview (airfare/transport/lodging) as they will be making a tidy recruitment commission from your hire.

Otherwise, I'd definitely give it 2nd thoughts as it sound like they are just fishing for an employer who may or may not have plans to hire now or may be planning for sometime in the future and are looking out for suitable candidates from several agencies. Have they given you any sort of anticipated commencement date for this position? Or is it just a open standing position that companies often leave with agencies in case a suitable candidate shows up?

sms

[lite]

sms, thanks so much for your input!!!

If you want to gamble, I would talk to the recruiter and strike a deal whereas if they can arrange a first round interview via teleconference, if you are successfully shortlisted from there, then you could see your way clear to pay your way to attend the 2nd interview with the codicil that if you successfully secure the position, they should reimburse you your costs of attending the interview (airfare/transport/lodging) as they will be making a tidy recruitment commission from your hire.

I like the idea of an interview via teleconference.. I'll probably discuss that with them..

Have they given you any sort of anticipated commencement date for this position? Or is it just a open standing position that companies often leave with agencies in case a suitable candidate shows up?

sms

No there is no commencement date for the position. I guess it is just an open standing position like you said

Thanks again for your help

[SmartDude]

i would say NO for this, as i posted previous in this forum. These kind of recruiters play with your feelings/finance. I have already spent like $400 paying these kind of cheating recruiters... Legitimate and trusthworthy recruiters would use video conference interview..

[madura]

I am also required to pay a refundable processing fee of 20SGD prior to interview.

which crap recruiter is that?
professional recruiters would not ask to pay a processing fee of 20SGD.

[lite]

SmartDude, thanks for sharing!! I decided not to fly there since it doesn't sound like a good idea as SMS mentioned earlier..

These kind of recruiters play with your feelings/finance.

I totally agree with you.. I have to admit that I wanted so badly just to have a chance for an interview.
I have been sending out my resume to recruiters and employers everyday for a month now and I don't seem to get a lot of response.
Just a phone call from any of them asking for an interview would make my day
Thanks again for your reply and I wish you a very good luck in your job search (if you haven't already got one)

lite

[lite]

I am also required to pay a refundable processing fee of 20SGD prior to interview.

which crap recruiter is that?
professional recruiters would not ask to pay a processing fee of 20SGD.

Thanks for your reply Madura. It's good to know that I should not be asked to pay for a processing fee.
I have no experience with recruiters before and have no idea how things should be done.

Anyway, I just got off the phone with another recruiter this morning and would like to share it here...
..with a hope that it could be useful to anyone in my situation and maybe to get more response

The recruiter I talked to this morning is looking to fill an accounting executive position.
One of the employer's requirements that makes me a strong candidate is that a candidate must be able to speak/write both English and Thai fluently.
However, the maximum salary they said they could offer is only S$2,800 with one-time relocation allowance and I have to sign a 2-year contract.
I believe I can manage to survive with S$2,800 each month but signing a 2-yr contract is not very tempting to me.
I have no problem signing a long-term contract if the job provides a good career path.
Even though they said I could be promoted to management level within 3 years, I'm still not convinced that this is a good career move for me.
I was an accounting manager before and it would be a step down to me if I take this job.
Based on their job descriptions, I believe I am overqualified for the position and I don't think they need a master's degree holder to do the job and so..
I think it would be difficult to negotiate for a higher salary and a shorter term contract.
The latter would also send out a message to them that I don't want to work for them for that long.


So.. here is what I want to hear your thoughts !!
Do you think I'm too picky for thinking about turning down a S$2,800 salary job?
I am actually looking for at least S$3,500 per month with a good career path to be willing to relocate and sign a 2-yr contract.
Is this too much to ask for?


Thanks!!!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Frankly, I don't think you should take it. You'll just do a runner anyway. The employer deserves better.

I'd turn it down and stay in Thailand.

[ceej1979]

I had a similar thing when I was applying.

I interviewed in my home country, but they went on to make a lot of rather odd demands.

Such as flying out to Singapore to meet the company president before they could authorize the job offer they said I already had.

They then wanted me to fly over to meet the Singapore Government's education minister Ng Eng, on the basis that the whole was about promoting Singaporean Science.

Anyway, I flat out refused both, even though they said the job offer was basically dependent on it.

Within about 2 days of refusing, they sent me the offer, and said they had changed their mind.

You know. How you play it depends on a lot of things.

How much you think they want you to work there. How you value your skills. How big a risk taker you generally are.

If you want the job, and aren't prepared to risk them walking away, then I'd do everything in your power to keep them happy.

You know, flying from Thailand to Singapore for an interview, is hardly"unreasonable" in my opinion. Even if you have to pay yourself.
If you say you won't, they may well just think that you aren't very commited to the company or role.

You know, if there are 20 top candidates for a job, they aren't going to waste time playing games with the guy who doesn't want to fly over.

If your feeling brave, and like a risk, then tell them that it's not possible, and negociate something else.

I went from being asked to fly over to interview in Singapore in November 2008, to them flying over someone to interview me in London in January 2009, all through sheer gall, and negociation.

As I said, depends on how far you think you can push it.