Architecture jobs

matti33 · Post by **matti33** » Thu, 30 May 2013 9:22 pm

Hi I am not a registered Architect in Singapore but I have 8 years experience in the Caribbean and UK. Are there jobs for Project and design architects there now and what would be a good salary to ask for?What is the average being paid now?
Any feedback would be appreciated.

martincymru · Post by **martincymru** » Sat, 01 Jun 2013 4:46 pm

Good salary is subjective. Market determines.
10k Sing is ok for expat (he.... he.... I'm sure many expats with 3 kids etc will challenge this!)

If you do what a local can do ( or an expat Asian ) then forget Singapore, look elsewhere.

katbh · Post by **katbh** » Sat, 01 Jun 2013 5:38 pm

Are you a design architect? If you are good there are plenty of jobs here for good architects. There are also good jobs for documenting architects but only if you can do a better job than the graduates here. Many firms (especially the well known one) looking for good architects. But problem is EP. Many firms recruit from outside Singapore so that they get good employees, but then they are unable to get the EPs in first place and very difficult to get them renewed. Things are very tight on the EP front here. So yes, there are jobs here, on good pay in comparison to architects in rest of world (note I am comparing architect to architect - not architect to banker!) but getting permission to work is hard. Good luck - PM me if you need more advice. Not comfortable talking in open forum here

matti33 · Post by **matti33** » Sat, 01 Jun 2013 5:42 pm

Thanks for your response. I'm in the process of researching jobs and living costs etc...with the aim of sending out applications. Some of the job advertisements ask for expected salary range and I just wanted a realistic figure to include. From your response I would state a sum of between 7500 and 10k SGD. I don't want to price myself out before I reach an interview. It would be two of us working within the same bracket with two young children. I have been researching everything else and the information provided on this and other forums is very helpful.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sat, 01 Jun 2013 6:09 pm

katbh wrote: - PM me if you need more advice. Not comfortable talking in open forum here

Tic...toc...tic...toc....

moderator

matti33 · Post by **matti33** » Sat, 01 Jun 2013 6:36 pm

How many posts do I have to make before I can PM someone? Thanks

matti33 · Post by **matti33** » Sat, 01 Jun 2013 6:49 pm

Thanks for all your advice so far.

martincymru · Post by **martincymru** » Sun, 02 Jun 2013 8:27 pm

Forgive me OP but it would be useful to state
a. your degree major
b. your post degree qualification and professional status

Mentioning " experience " is so vague I fail to see how anyone on this forum can provide constructive advice.

Also why Singapore.... and what is your timeline ("tic toc" reminds me of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of Moon "Time" "....... is passing me by....")

On a more positive note I am in Construction so if that is your focus I may be able to help.

matti33 · Post by **matti33** » Sun, 02 Jun 2013 8:57 pm

Hi Martincmyru,

We chose Singapore because it has all of the qualities of our country without the violence. It is also one of the only English speaking Asian countries where the architectural growth and direction seems so positive and career development looks quite possible. England is in a rut where it pertains to quality meaningful jobs and we would like to spend the next five years living and working somewhere beautiful, sunny, warm and relatively crime-free. We are looking at hopefully by September or possibly sooner depending on the job application process. Do you have any advice for us regarding architect jobs there and how much they presently pay?

yogaloungeforever · Post by **yogaloungeforever** » Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:43 pm

interestingly some of the more prominent buildings in the world are designed by a brit-based architect. including one in singapore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaha_Hadid

katbh · Post by **katbh** » Mon, 03 Jun 2013 7:46 am

yogaloungeforever wrote:interestingly some of the more prominent buildings in the world are designed by a brit-based architect. including one in singapore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaha_Hadid

No, not interestingly, unfortunately, sadly. Many architects from Europe (not necessarily Zaha) do not understand building in the tropics - or are not interested in tailoring their style/belief/program to accommodate the heat and humidity here. I believe your spouse, being from the Caribbean, may be in demand here.

yogaloungeforever · Post by **yogaloungeforever** » Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:59 am

only meant to highlight an observation so no need for the sarcasm. but yes sadly for peeps like yourself as obviously you can not secure decent paying jobs (or even jobs for that matter) back in your country. hence the need for you to come down to Singapore to steal jobs

katbh wrote:
yogaloungeforever wrote:interestingly some of the more prominent buildings in the world are designed by a brit-based architect. including one in singapore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaha_Hadid
I believe your spouse, being from the Caribbean, may be in demand here.

katbh · Post by **katbh** » Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:03 am

yogaloungeforever wrote:only meant to highlight an observation so no need for the sarcasm. but yes sadly for peeps like yourself as obviously you can not secure decent paying jobs (or even jobs for that matter) back in your country. hence the need for you to come down to Singapore to steal jobs

katbh wrote:
yogaloungeforever wrote:interestingly some of the more prominent buildings in the world are designed by a brit-based architect. including one in singapore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaha_Hadid
I believe your spouse, being from the Caribbean, may be in demand here.

Sorry yogaloungforever, not sure of your point here and not sure it is applicable to either me or the original poster. You seem to have missed the point. But happy as always to hear an opinion on local architecture. At least you have one. So what do you think about WOHA's work?

martincymru · Post by **martincymru** » Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:47 pm

matti33,

Not sure I would describe Singapore as beautiful. It was before they decided to destroy most of the heritage in the 1970's.

Other expats on this Forum here appear to be Architects ~ so they have better idea of salary. Housing is the killer or more pertinently your expectation of. You will pay at least 1/3 of your salary in housing, add in tax and the expat things like alcohol etc and it does get expensive here.

For me being single, 10k Sing month is ok ish.

I am in fact presently unemployed. I work as a Contracts Mgr/Claims Consultant in Construction/Engineering. Qualified QS by profession.
I relate this because even for experienced people like me (10 years in Asia) it's not easy to secure jobs above say 8k Sing month.

One final note, there appears to be a trend to "Singaporean/PR only" which means Employment Pass applicants increasingly finding it more difficult. I think it's fair to say the Govt jobs are a non starter.

Agencies ....... google ..... papers..... etc you need to do your own research..... so good luck

matti33 · Post by **matti33** » Wed, 05 Jun 2013 7:15 am

Thanks for all of your helpful.....and yogaloungelover not so helpful responses. I find it very annoying to be working in a cold country that does not want to recognize my design skills or qualifications acquired in the tropics, so I'd rather work somewhere (if someone will have me) that would appreciate my skills for what I can contribute. Hopefully my job stealing....will be looked on as a minor intrusion to contribute to your wonderful melting pot of culture and exciting array of contemporary tropical architectural landscape.

I would still love to find out the average present salary for a design architect with 10 years of experience, a Masters and a Bachelors degree in architecture. I have been searching high and low and cannot pinpoint an average figure.

SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore