Singapore Expats

If you have worked or working, please feel free to share your experience finding your first job in Singapore. I had very bad experience and lots of discrimination while finding a job. Did you go through same process?

I have been to Singapore so many time but found Singaporean (consists of Chinese and Indian) having third world mentality. No doubt Singapore has buildings, roads and trains but still third world mentality. They behave very well as long as you are tourist and spending money. But when it comes about job it is terribly hard and discriminating. If not then why "Singapore PR/Citizen only", “Chinese Speaker only" so many conditions….. But in all hotels, bus, trains, restaurant almost everywhere people speak English when they need your money.

askmeagain wrote: If not then why "Singapore PR/Citizen only", “Chinese Speaker only" so many conditions….. But in all hotels, bus, trains, restaurant almost everywhere people speak English when they need your money.

Oh do grow up. "Singapore PR/Citizen only" is because priority must go to it's own citizens firstly and rightly. I am not surprised they ask for a Chinese speaker since 77% of the population is Chinese! They speak in English? In the hotels yes but that is not representative of the whole country, they speak English in nearly all good hotels in any country. Any country in truth does not want immigrants unless they provide a either a skill that country is short of or it lacks sufficient numbers seriously enough to fill the available vacancies.

I doubt if you encountered discrimination, from your post which lacks information in regard to this I would say it is more a case of sour grapes.

Try starting here;

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ftopic39062.html

Hi Plavt thanks for your reply.... but I am asking this question to foreigners. Area you one of ??? then share your experience......

askmeagain wrote:Hi Plavt thanks for your reply.... but I am asking this question to foreigners. Area you one of ??? then share your experience......

I am a foreigner and one reason I never look for work in Singapore is simply I do not have a degree or any relevant work experience or qualifications to meet any of the criteria of any of the available vacancies.
Even if I did and there was an abundant supply of Singaporeans to do that same job then no point even thinking about applying. Life's often tough as many of us simply cannot have what we want all the time.

askmeagain,

I am a foreigner and have been here for 25 years. I happen to agree with Plavt 100%. You don't have a clue!

Grow up and quite blaming other for your own inadequacies. This is a country with only 500 sq km in area. It has 3.5 million of it's citizens to worry about. It has to compete with other countries at the same time. Why do you say Chinese & Indian? Indians are the smallest percentage of the 3 major races here. You sound like a case of sour grapes. Maybe it's just your attitude and/or qualifications that are lacking. If you go around with a chip on your shoulder, it's very easy to see. Who would want to hire someone who shows signs of being a racist very openly.

Well said sundaymorningstaple. Just wait and see Singapore is already on decline, not like before, most of the companies are shifting to India. Indians are getting better option back home and no more Singapore their favorite list. If Singapore has smartest people why companies are running away? If Singapore doesn’t need foreigners why it is increasing S-visa and introducing EPEC and PEP?

But let me remind you that in global village people have lots of option. If Singapore discriminate talent, people will find other place.

Nobody said Singapore doesn't need foreigners. Singapore needs 'Talented' foreigners and not underqualified whiners. Of course they will turn them away. As far as you stating "most" companies. I think that is a bit a a stretch don't you? How many 20? 40? 100? Do you have any idea how many MNC's are in Singapore? I though not.

Even the Outsourcing trends is showing signs of reversing. The the Banks are bringing back their outsourced IT, HR, Payroll and other function back into the banks. The global village, as you so quaintly put it, is not really interested it those mediocre talents that you seem to exhibit so well. All countries tend to only import the best talent to fulfill a specific arena that they may lack in the short term. Once they have taught their own citizens, the out go the foreigners. Singapore is somewhat special in as much as they only have talent but not other resources. So if you want to come here then you REALLY need talent and not just the ability of complain about perceived slights.

yeah this is another foreigner who thinks that, in the nicest possible way, you are totally whacked.

what country are you from? wherever it is, i guarantee it is a helluva lot harder for a non-citizen of your country to get a job & move to your country than it is for you to move to & get a job in singapore. other than maybe hong kong, i honestly can't think of any other country that's as easy for a non-citizen to move to.

and my god, are you really complaining about people speaking any other language here than english? lol -- you have got to be kidding. so if you're ethnic chinese & your family has been in singapore for 4 generations, it's somehow bad they want to speak their native tognue every now and again?

you honestly need to get a clue. i hope you're not from the US, because if you are, you are reflecting poorly on my native country.

and by the way, what exactly is a "3rd world mentality"? name another country that has improved as quickly as singapore in world history. there aren't many. whether it's education, health, lifespan, income, infrastructure, etc., the singapore miracle is impressive. i feel lucky and privileged to be here and be part of the awesome stuff that's going on in asia today. maybe you should consider what you're owed in life and what you are lucky to have.

My first job in SG did get outsourced to KL and India, right before my eyes.

No whining required. I went on and found a better job.

riversandlakes wrote:My first job in SG did get outsourced to KL and India, right before my eyes.

No whining required. I went on and found a better job.

Yeah but the shine wore off that one pretty quickly too didn't it?!

Don't worry R&L just havin' a poke in fun!

askmeagain wrote:If you have worked or working, please feel free to share your experience finding your first job in Singapore. I had very bad experience and lots of discrimination while finding a job. Did you go through same process?

I have been to Singapore so many time but found Singaporean (consists of Chinese and Indian) having third world mentality. No doubt Singapore has buildings, roads and trains but still third world mentality. They behave very well as long as you are tourist and spending money. But when it comes about job it is terribly hard and discriminating. If not then why "Singapore PR/Citizen only", “Chinese Speaker only" so many conditions….. But in all hotels, bus, trains, restaurant almost everywhere people speak English when they need your money.

"Singapore PR/Citizen" quite common, but "Chinese Speaker only"? so far I never saw it.

I saw people who are different race working together. It looks everyone has opportunity. Maybe I dont know Singapore well because I am only be here for few months.

Who? Me? Worry?

sundaymorningstaple wrote:

riversandlakes wrote:My first job in SG did get outsourced to KL and India, right before my eyes.

No whining required. I went on and found a better job.

Yeah but the shine wore off that one pretty quickly too didn't it?!

Don't worry R&L just havin' a poke in fun!