Singapore Expats

Hi all,

I moved to Singapore on a Dependant's Pass 6 weeks ago from London and have been searching for recruiter/talent positions.

Most of the feedback ive been given so far is that the majority of companies are only considering PR holders or native Singaporean's.

Ordinarily, experienced recruiters in the UK are able to secure roles relatively easily but finding that hasn't been the case so far in Singapore.

Any advice/help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Glenn

Most recruiters here have a bad name. Even those who 'were' from elsewhere quickly fell into the crappy habits of the local recruiters. Good recruiters were are to find and those who were any good don't stay here long as they get short shrift on the commission end of the deal by the greedy local bosses. In fact, recruiters have such a bad name here for their habits, we are loath to recommend any. I won't. That for sure. I know the industry pretty well as I was a headhunter here in the O&G sector for 10 years from around '95~'04. I've been the HR Mgr of a 200 man SME for the past 10 years this will take me into my 2nd retirement.

Since you are on a DP, all you can do is become well versed in the Letter of Consent (LOC) so that you can explain to prospective employers how easy it is to hire you... no fees, no minimum salary, just a piece of paper.

Not exactly, anymore, SE. Salary's will almost have to be commensurate with the lowest level S pass as a minimum if the main EP holder is on a P pass as they are starting to get persnickety about DP holders waltzing in and taking jobs that O levels can do here. We are starting to see the unheard of, LoC applications being rejected for criteria and/or salary. Not often, I grant you, but no longer 'unheard of'. 'twas only a matter of time till the oppies cottoned on to that one.

Thanks both for your input.

I've heard that as well SM, people are having their LOC rejected due to low salaries.

Guess it's just a case of plugging away and being patient. Hopefully being on a DP and not taking up a foreign worker quota is something at least!

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Not exactly, anymore, SE. Salary's will almost have to be commensurate with the lowest level S pass as a minimum if the main EP holder is on a P pass as they are starting to get persnickety about DP holders waltzing in and taking jobs that O levels can do here. We are starting to see the unheard of, LoC applications being rejected for criteria and/or salary. Not often, I grant you, but no longer 'unheard of'. 'twas only a matter of time till the oppies cottoned on to that one.

Hi

I am an HR professional from India on dependent pass. I hear the same from recruiters - organisations prefer citizens & PR.

Any suggested recruiters that I should approach for job search.

Thans

Hi,

Just wondering how your job search has gone? I've just arrived from Australia on a DP & want to start working at some stage. I've got over 15 years of HR/Internal Recruitment experience, however I'm starting to understand it may not be that easy to find work. Any advice would be great! Thanks

Maybe do a BA or an MBA instead?

Strong Eagle wrote:Since you are on a DP, all you can do is become well versed in the Letter of Consent (LOC) so that you can explain to prospective employers how easy it is to hire you... no fees, no minimum salary, just a piece of paper.

I literally just spoke to a recruiter (about the position advertised) and he didn't freak know what a LOC was. Didn't know that I didn't need an EP, didn't know shit.

Yep. That's exactly why we make it a point to educate people here and advise them (if qualified) to learn all they can so it can be explained to the employer. My employer didn't know anything either but I did. I currently have three on LoC's.

Want to make it four?

That would be different. I've been the only ang moh in the company in the past 11 years. The problem is I'm in a field where there is no money, only hot & sweaty work in virtually all weather conditions (some indoor, some outdoor). Mostly wearing a mask etc. I'm in the pest control industry. I don't do any of those things, but my 130 odd staff in the field do and at pretty low wages at that (educational levels are also pretty low).

Hell, the only reason I'm still there is I've retired twice already and now at an age that finding another position here in Singapore would be virtually impossible at 69 years of age!

LOL