Americans obtaining technical jobs in Singapore?

[13cyberphoenix]

Hi, I am an Asian American currently living in America but I want to move out for personal reasons. I would like to move to Japan or China, but I have just started studying both languages so I'd probably have to spend 2 years in a language intensive program before I become fluent in either of them. I want to find a job in a technical field, such as IT or materials engineering (my degree is in Physics). Since I don't know any other foreign languages, I've been thinking about trying to find a job in Singapore first (I'm also considering Malaysia).

Anyone know how tough it is for Americans to find technical jobs in Singapore? Is it any easier in Malaysia? Are the locals there heavily preferred over Americans so that Americans can only get hired if they have a rare skill that the locals don't have?

[sundaymorningstaple]

If you have a technical degree or 10 years experience of niche experience you might be able to get in, but not if it's a common degree.

It also depends on which ethnicity your Asian extraction is as well. If you are an ABC you would have better chances for sure, but the inability to speak Mandarin might be a hindrance (if you are an ABC).

Give it a try, but don't quit your day job just yet.

[13cyberphoenix]

well I'm a Korean American, not ABC. I'm also currently a grad student in Physics and have another year to go to complete my MS degree. But if I could get a job in Singapore quickly, I would gladly drop out of the program since I want to leave the US due to personal reasons

[Darthcoder]

well I'm a Korean American, not ABC. I'm also currently a grad student in Physics and have another year to go to complete my MS degree. But if I could get a job in Singapore quickly, I would gladly drop out of the program since I want to leave the US due to personal reasons

Wouldnt it make sense for you to wait for 1 year and complete your masters instead of dropping out now and be left with a bachelors degree instead of a masters? Meanwhile you could use this 1 year to learn some mandarin if you can.

[13cyberphoenix]

well I'm a Korean American, not ABC. I'm also currently a grad student in Physics and have another year to go to complete my MS degree. But if I could get a job in Singapore quickly, I would gladly drop out of the program since I want to leave the US due to personal reasons

Wouldnt it make sense for you to wait for 1 year and complete your masters instead of dropping out now and be left with a bachelors degree instead of a masters? Meanwhile you could use this 1 year to learn some mandarin if you can.

well if I work as a programmer, would my employer really care that I have an MS in Physics instead of Computer Science? Also, if I drop out, I can spend that year in a language intensive program, such as Mandarin or Japanese

Also, does anyone know difficult it is for Americans to obtain entry level jobs in Hong Kong?

I also forgot to mention that I my undergrad and grad schools are considered almost the same prestige-wise by US standards. However, by East Asian standards, my undergrad school is considered much more prestigious than my grad school

[zzm9980]

You will have a rough time getting an entry level job in Hong Kong unless you somehow have HKSAR Right of Abode. If you don't know what that is, and/or don't have ancestral ties to HK or the UK, don't even bother to Google it.

HK Entry level salaries for what you're looking at would be about the same as Starbucks in the US. Plenty of fresh grads from mainland who take those spots, or the HK companies just locate the positions in mainland.

For Singapore, you'll be competing with Indians on those same terms. Shit starting salary. Your only advantage here is you'll have an easier time getting a work permit.