Practical Advice for Heading Towards Singapore

[Progressive]

Hello all,

I have spent quite a bit of time on general expat and employment forums but often find advice from like-minded people more useful.

I work in the natural resources sector (mainly oil and gas) in a professional role and have spent the last three years in Australia, after moving from UK in 2012. It's been great. Me and my other half are now looking for a new challenge and one of the locations we are very interested in is Singapore.

I have applied for a few suitable roles on JobStreet and have been in touch with a couple of recruiters also. Has anyone got any experience or advice about how difficult it is to secure a job from overseas? Any tips or hints with expediting my job hunt? My experience is pretty good and I have the right qualifications so I am hopeful that something will come up in the coming weeks. I know its such a broad question but how much is enough for a couple with no kids, relatively modest lifestyle? I was thinking 10,000SGD per month but could be wildly out!

Thanks a lot, and maybe before long I can join you Singapore-based PH-ers for a beer!


Cheers,

P.

PS. If anyone is looking to employ a Quantity Surveyor / Contracts bod with some good O&G experience... *thumbs up*

[Progressive]

DNC said:

Regarding what’s an acceptable salary I am roughly 60k SGD annual total. With a girlfriend who earns similarly and no dependants.

This is of particular interest. Did you travel out together or did you meet in Singapore? We are an unmarried couple so as I understand it I would receive an Employment Pass through my employer and she would either 'be added to my visa' if possible or follow on a long term social visa (or words to that effect).

The intention is definitely for her to work too if possible. She works in marketing with the appropriate qualifications and experience. Tough to say whether see would be able to land something from a distance.


Thanks.

[Progressive]

Thanks for the information so far all. I find it interesting that the salary expectations are so varied. I certainly wouldn't like to take a pay cut but at the same time don't expect 200k GBP per year. We live a relatively modest lifestyle so would hope we continue to do so. Appreciate the reality (as stated) could be very different!

I have my eye on a few things so I will report back, hopefully with some good news at some point!

Thanks again.


DNC - PM sent, thank you!

[Progressive]

Wise words there, thanks. Whilst I didn't get 'stung' on my first overseas assignment, I got pretty much the local average no-frills package. That said, I wouldn't change what I have done and the opportunity to break out of UK at a relatively young age with a decent job to go to was a privilege in my situation.

Missus works in marketing and has alot of drive to continue doing so. As when we came here, all sums were done without her working. She landed a job two weeks after arrival and has been there since. I must admit, not sure how long she could cope without a daily routine of getting out to work. That would be difficult. I support the idea of her finding her own work and therefore EP/visa, but the chance of both landing something within a similar timeframe will be tough. Her picking up the job hunt upon arrival would be more realistic.

So I have a few irons in the fire anyway. Found the 'compare other applicants' feature of jobsteet interesting. 9/10 applicants have considerably low salary expectations than me. I wasn't too surprised at that.

The golden ticket is 'being asked to move' with an already well paying company I guess. Some of the people I work with who were asked to move got considerably better packages, understandably.

[Progressive]

IanOE said:

From my experience moving to Singapore a year ago the rules have changed so it is no longer possible to get a Dependents Pass if you're not married and you're British. (It's pretty boring stuff, but the Ministry of Manpower require an affidavit from the British High Commission saying that you're a common law couple, but as the UK doesn't legally recognise common law marriage it isn't possible for the High Commission to supply such a document.)

if your other half is a UK passport holder they would be entitled to a three month tourist visa per visit entering Singapore.

Many thanks for this information Ian. In summary then, it looks like she would have to find her own way to a 'non-tourist visa' by way of finding employment. We will do some research and see if she gets much response. That said, a three month tourist visa wouldn't be so bad as at least she would be there to attend interviews and the like.

Thanks again all.