Discuss about getting a well paid job or career advancement. Ask about salaries, expat packages, CPF & taxes for expatriate.
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hayleyjade
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by hayleyjade » Mon, 27 Aug 2012 8:31 pm
Hi me and my boyfriend (from uk) are planning to move to singapore after we graduate and we arent sure how to go about getting jobs etc. so i have few questions for you guys.
should we get a job before going? i have heard its alot harder out there? if so where should we look im a photographer and my boyfriend is doing a TEFAL alongside his degree so he is able to teach english (we both have degrees)
wheres the best place for expats to live? which are cheap and cheerful
visas - apparently if we get a job we will be most likely entitled to an Spass visa, whats the best way to go about this as this means we need a job before applying for a visa? or a WHV?? to help us get there and find a job or get an internship?
thats all the questions for now.
thanks

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Mi Amigo
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by Mi Amigo » Mon, 27 Aug 2012 9:29 pm
hayleyjade,
All the questions in your post have been answered on the forum a number of times, so your best bet is to use the search function (above and to the right, under the 'Profile' button) and have a read up of the exisiting information. Then if you have any specififc questions that are still unanswered please post them here and we'll do our best to help.
Good luck.
Be careful what you wish for
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beppi
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by beppi » Mon, 27 Aug 2012 9:48 pm
hayleyjade wrote:should we get a job before going?
Yes, you should get a job and work in it for at least three years before coming to Singapore, otherwise you'll have no chance to get a visa.
Sorry for bursting your bubble, but it's not going to happen as you imagine right now. Do some research and try to be less naive.
P.S.: There are no "cheap and cheerful" places in Singapore, only cheerful.
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the lynx
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by the lynx » Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:06 pm
hayleyjade wrote:Hi me and my boyfriend (from uk) are planning to move to singapore after we graduate and we arent sure how to go about getting jobs etc. so i have few questions for you guys.
should we get a job before going?
Yes. At least it gives you a firm footing before you uproot quarter across the globe.
i have heard its alot harder out there? if so where should we look im a photographer and my boyfriend is doing a TEFAL alongside his degree so he is able to teach english (we both have degrees).
Your boyfriend may have his chance if he tries to apply for International Schools or under Ministry of Education (MOE) to teach in local schools. As for you the photographer, I'm afraid there is nothing concrete for you, unless you have a very powerful portfolio. What degree do you have by the way? Maybe other vocation?
wheres the best place for expats to live? which are cheap and cheerful
Places where expats live are expensive and cheerful (Raffles, Orchard, Bukit Timah, Holland, East Coast, Thomson). Places where locals or transient workers live are cheap (in comparison to the above, but still expensive) but not cheerful.
visas - apparently if we get a job we will be most likely entitled to an Spass visa, whats the best way to go about this as this means we need a job before applying for a visa? or a WHV?? to help us get there and find a job or get an internship?
To get work pass (work permit, S Pass or EP), you need to be sponsored by an employer. So look for employer first, have them to apply for you etc.
thats all the questions for now.
thanks

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JoeyJoJo
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by JoeyJoJo » Tue, 28 Aug 2012 9:22 pm
Brits get a 1 year working holiday visa. I'm pretty sure that nulls the visa problem immediately.
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sundaymorningstaple
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by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:22 pm
JoeyJoJo wrote:Brits get a 1 year working holiday visa. I'm pretty sure that nulls the visa problem immediately.
I don't want to disagree with you, but can you please tell me exactly where you got your information?
Please see the following directly from MOM's site regarding said Visa.
Work Holiday Pass - Before you apply
Eligibility
University undergraduates and graduates aged between 17 and 30 years old may apply for the Work Holiday Pass to work in Singapore
for up to six months. Applicants must be resident and full-time students of the university.
The Work Holiday Programme is applicable to students from these countries/territories:
Australia
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Japan
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx
It would see that MOM disagrees with you. Additionally, you would have to be a full time student in an approved institution (see link)
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
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hayleyjade
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by hayleyjade » Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:16 pm
thanks people for replying im getting alot of mixed messages all over the net...but i think the only thing i can do is try... and i never know. im only 21 after all and have time to explore.
for the photography side of things i would happily take another job or change my career. and keep photography as a hobby. I have 1 years work experience in a photography studio to and 4 years in a photography franchise where i was first trained. my degree is BA (hons) commercial photography on the track to a first.
after i graduate we are staying in the uk for around 7month to save more etc. does anyone have any recommendations to any work experience i should do in any field? and what about internship designed for graduates?
thanks again
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nakatago
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by nakatago » Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:41 am
You can't get a visa here without a job. Your first hurdle is getting a Singapore-based company to hire you.
The next hurdle is THAT company to convince the Ministry of Manpower to grant you visas.
Statistically, fresh graduates have negligible chances. You can try as much I can be a millionaire playing the lottery.
You need to do more research.
Come back to ask your questions if you can convince the regulars that you've done your homework.
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."
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JoeyJoJo
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by JoeyJoJo » Fri, 31 Aug 2012 4:00 pm
You can enter within 1 year of study completion. How do I know this? Because I've done it along with many other people. Although it doesn't give you the right to stay like other passes, The chances of securing a further visa are obviously much easier.
The MOM page is a little vague but basically the visa is designed for grads to complete some grad work in Singapore. They even give you a list of companies they want you to apply for.
Cheers
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JoeyJoJo
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by JoeyJoJo » Fri, 31 Aug 2012 4:02 pm
Singapore is pretty easy to get visas for. The arrogance of Europeans (mainly) about working here is just plain comical.
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sundaymorningstaple
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by sundaymorningstaple » Fri, 31 Aug 2012 4:24 pm
Not nearly as comical as you are. You should be ashamed of yourself setting them up this way for a fall. It's not cheap to come over here and spend month after month trying to find a position. This especially so in the past 15 months or so. The arrogance of a single person who has gotten a visa and then thinks it's easy for everybody.......

SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
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JoeyJoJo
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by JoeyJoJo » Fri, 31 Aug 2012 5:10 pm
Just because you come from a dirt cheap country like the UK or US doesn't mean Singapore is expensive.
You shouldn't be discouraging people just because you "think" Singapore is expensive. Getting a Work Pass compared to the the US or UK is childs play in Singapore.
I live in Singapore because It's much more affordable than where I'm from. I'm able to save a lot of money here.
This couple may not get an stay here, but they can come on a WHV no problems.
This whole motion that only the best make it to Singapore is a load of crap.
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sundaymorningstaple
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by sundaymorningstaple » Fri, 31 Aug 2012 5:44 pm
And as I pointed out to you earlier, it's only for 6 months. You sure blow a lot of smoke.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
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nutnut
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by nutnut » Fri, 31 Aug 2012 6:38 pm
JoeyJoJo wrote:Just because you come from a dirt cheap country like the UK or US doesn't mean Singapore is expensive.
This is irrelevant to the OP, they are from UK, do you know if they will find it expensive? I find it so in comparison to the UK and I imagine the OP will too. So I don't see your point?
So, where are you from?
nutnut
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x9200
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by x9200 » Fri, 31 Aug 2012 8:19 pm
None of his posts so far were sent from Singapore.
I will be geting $300S from the Australian government per week with austudy. My main costs will be rent, food, internet and booze. I know Singapore is expensive but I'm from Perth and I find it much cheaper than Australia. Ideally I would like to be earning minimum 400-500S per week. with my 300 I think I can live on that.
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