Planning to Work in Singapore

[aneth]

Hello everyone!

I'm planning to work in Singapore. (Lucky me if I could make it at the end of the year or maybe first quarter next year...)

I'm a licensed architect here in the Philippines with more than 2yrs experience...

I'd like to know what's the best job that I could land there if ever I'd make it? Should I rely with agencies here in the Philippines? Do I need to have an agency that will process my documents?

Please do enlighten me about the ins & outs about working in Singapore.

Thank you very much! Godbless!

[sundaymorningstaple]

If you adept with the computer, you might get a job as a draughtsman, but don't hold your breath as NAFA churns good designers locally now.

[aneth]

I'm actually an AutoCAD operator here in the Philippines...

Dyou think there's a place for me in Singapore?

What about discrimination there? I happened to be a female architect.

If you adept with the computer, you might get a job as a draughtsman, but don't hold your breath as NAFA churns good designers locally now.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Several years ago it was really easy to get jobs here if you were from the 'peens and had good drafting experience. However, at the moment, I'm afraid that there might be an excess of qualified personnel around as the two IR's have finished, the circle line is finished, and all of the design/drafting personnel would already be firmly placed in the new "downtown" line. I'm not two sure if there are any more big projects on the near horizon. But at the moment, the construction industry is in a slowdown mode and has been since the IR's finished.

Gender bias, nah, not a problem.

I believe you do have to go through the POEA (I think that's the 'peens acronym for the Philippines government agency that issues the exit permits (at a fee of course) And, yeah, you may well end up having to use a local recruitment agency although it's not necessary. Use Jobstreet, JobsDB, Monster.com and some of the other boards.

Additionally, once you have five posts, PM Nakatago, one of our mods, as he is a Pinoy as well and has a pretty dab hand with a pen or brush as well as being a computer geek. Check out his site in his signature.

sms

[aneth]

Thanks for your help SMS! Have a blessed sunday!

Several years ago it was really easy to get jobs here if you were from the 'peens and had good drafting experience. However, at the moment, I'm afraid that there might be an excess of qualified personnel around as the two IR's have finished, the circle line is finished, and all of the design/drafting personnel would already be firmly placed in the new "downtown" line. I'm not two sure if there are any more big projects on the near horizon. But at the moment, the construction industry is in a slowdown mode and has been since the IR's finished.

Gender bias, nah, not a problem.

I believe you do have to go through the POEA (I think that's the 'peens acronym for the Philippines government agency that issues the exit permits (at a fee of course) And, yeah, you may well end up having to use a local recruitment agency although it's not necessary. Use Jobstreet, JobsDB, Monster.com and some of the other boards.

Additionally, once you have five posts, PM Nakatago, one of our mods, as he is a Pinoy as well and has a pretty dab hand with a pen or brush as well as being a computer geek. Check out his site in his signature.

sms

[revhappy]

And its not "work at Singapore", its "work in Singapore". Rest of your english is good though

[nakatago]

I guess it's high time I chime in.

What do you want to know?

As of now, if you can get hired directly by a Singapore firm, you don't really need to go though POEA. However, you will need OWWA membership because you can't get an OEC from the Philippine embassy. The OEC is a payable (five bucks) slip of paper that tells Philippine immigration in Philippine airports to let us out of the country. Alternatively you can get the OEC in the Philippines from POEA if you feel like wasting 70 years queuing or from one of the NAIA terminals, right away if you're lucky (nb: I haven't used any of the NAIA international terminals since 2008. DMIA is much more laid back and airport officials are friendlier).

I don't recommend relying on agencies because you're educated enough to find the jobs but if you feel like paying someone to find you jobs (which is not guaranteed anyway), you're free to do so. About job hunting, make sure you're not in desperation mode because you'll end up taking the first job that comes along and you'll probably curse the high heavens about your lot--a lot of Filipinos do.

About your specific line, I'm not really familiar because I'm a code monkey. However, from what I know, a lot of "architecture firms" back home still rely on tech pens and rulers (I have a friend...) while Singapore, being a first world country (yeah, I know, this is subject to debate), is going high tech. I'm not sure if your AutoCAD operation experience is sufficient (I have my doubts, though), but job postings in the usual sites should have their qualifications listed. I guess now would be a good time to learn about global industry standard software. Look for architecture/design schools here in Singapore online. Look for the courses they offer. Look for what the students learn. Look for those students' portfolios. That's what you're going up against. That said, there are successful Filipino architects here.

Research. Do lots of it. Learn how to use search engines.

EDIT: changed thread title because of revhappy.

[aneth]

thanks!

And its not "work at Singapore", its "work in Singapore". Rest of your english is good though

[aneth]

hello nakatago. thank you so much for your help...

i'll try to sort things out and follow your advise...

and thank you also for your advice about revhappy's comment... i hope i made him happy... peace mr. revhappy.

Godbless!

I guess it's high time I chime in.

What do you want to know?

As of now, if you can get hired directly by a Singapore firm, you don't really need to go though POEA. However, you will need OWWA membership because you can't get an OEC from the Philippine embassy. The OEC is a payable (five bucks) slip of paper that tells Philippine immigration in Philippine airports to let us out of the country. Alternatively you can get the OEC in the Philippines from POEA if you feel like wasting 70 years queuing or from one of the NAIA terminals, right away if you're lucky (nb: I haven't used any of the NAIA international terminals since 2008. DMIA is much more laid back and airport officials are friendlier).

I don't recommend relying on agencies because you're educated enough to find the jobs but if you feel like paying someone to find you jobs (which is not guaranteed anyway), you're free to do so. About job hunting, make sure you're not in desperation mode because you'll end up taking the first job that comes along and you'll probably curse the high heavens about your lot--a lot of Filipinos do.

About your specific line, I'm not really familiar because I'm a code monkey. However, from what I know, a lot of "architecture firms" back home still rely on tech pens and rulers (I have a friend...) while Singapore, being a first world country (yeah, I know, this is subject to debate), is going high tech. I'm not sure if your AutoCAD operation experience is sufficient (I have my doubts, though), but job postings in the usual sites should have their qualifications listed. I guess now would be a good time to learn about global industry standard software. Look for architecture/design schools here in Singapore online. Look for the courses they offer. Look for what the students learn. Look for those students' portfolios. That's what you're going up against. That said, there are successful Filipino architects here.

Research. Do lots of it. Learn how to use search engines.

EDIT: changed thread title because of revhappy.

[ecureilx]

hello nakatago. thank you so much for your help...

Nakatago has summed up everything and more .. if you are still in Philippines, PM me, I can put you in touch with a friend, who is an architect, who can advice on the market as of now ..

Cheers