Singapore Expats

Ok.... my life plan, which I just figured out, involves moving to Singapore. I have a funny feeling this site may help me out as a similiar site helped me jump country to country before.
I'm about 30 minutes into my search on how to move to Singapore, so this is a start. I've read a few posts on this board and checked a few job postings. Other than that I have been collecting contacts to call later that live in Singapore.
My short and sweet story and then the questions. If you could lend a hand or help I thank you in advance.
I am a USA citizen, I live in Tokyo and have for 4 years. I'm mid thirties. I am a computer systems admin and have been in the field for about 10 years. I'm good with Windows and email systems and other microsoft products and in general can support Windows.
I'm looking to move to Singapore, I need to see more trees. My initial plan is to job search here in Tokyo a few months, talk with people, than if that is fruitless I may just move to Singapore and hopefully figure things out.
Sounds like a great idea huh? Input please.

So, why does your life plan suddenly involve moving to Singapore?
What do you think you are looking for?

If you really want to come here, selling your soul might work.
However, until you find a willing buyer, try researching companies that might be hiring.

This means understanding what they specifically do, what their competitive advantage is (or should be) and whether there is some way that you can help them. Having knowledge and experience is meaningless unless you know what to with the knowledge and experience.

Then, put together a resume (CV) and interview plan that will convince potential employers of how you can help them succeed in their business.

While it may be possible to get a job after arriving it is not a "great idea" as your negotiating position will be stronger if hired from abroad.

Most lucrative might be with an MNC trying to embed someone here.
Look through trade publications for companies with presence in SG.

In general, the best way to find a position is via a network.
If you don't have a good network, start working on it for the following job.
Good luck.

Good question maneo.
I've reached the top of the job ladder here at my company in Tokyo, time to find something new, a new challenge, a new job. I've been in Tokyo 4 years, I'm an outdoor person and miss seeing forests, it costs about $200 to get out of Tokyo for the weekend, Singapore is more oudoorsy. I want a change from the Japanese culture, fun for a while, but 4 years is enough. I'm ready for a change, but not ready to go back to the USA, I'd also like to take advantage of Singapores cheap flights and do some more travelling.

Yes, I will start searching for companies that are looking for I.T. support people. I've just started this search, so I'm putting feelers out there, I guess you have helped by not saying "It's impossible for you to do this because of XXXX".
Maneo, do you know of any large or small companies that hire many foreign I.T. people. Are there certain companies I should look at, is the troubled banking sector the ones I should focus on?
Also, what is your favorite local food in Singapore? I LOVE TO EAT!

I think moving to Singapore would be cool... there is not a lot of "outdoors" around here but plenty of places to get away. Maybe EADG could comment.

However, I would not be in a big rush to quit your current job just yet. With the credit crisis and now the failure of the US Congress to pass the debt buyout bill, the majors have really pulled in their horns... and I don't see much in the way of hiring for the next little while.

Yea, I hear you about not giving up my present job. This recent financial situation is worrysome. It's bad for many people, and very bad for me as it could possibly put my idea on hold for quite some time. Too bad too, as in my mind I'm READY to move to something new, and that makes it that much harder to be happy where I am.

I hear Malaysia is a hop skip and a jump to get away on the weekends. Where are the expats favorite places to get away to? I also just got my basic scuba diving cert, I hope to do ALOT more scuba diving.

Tonight I hope to hit the job search/research thing hard on the internet.

You should try Australia instead, a lot of place for you to dive and surf. If you get use to Japan, you may not get use to Singapore, in term of technology and culture..

apservice wrote:You should try Australia instead, a lot of place for you to dive and surf. If you get use to Japan, you may not get use to Singapore, in term of technology and culture..

That's rather odd that you think I should try Oz instead. Beleive me, I have thought this out and Singapore is where I want to be.
I never got use to the Japanese culture, never will. It was fun to be around, and I'm looking for something else now.

how about getting a Windows support job in Singapore?

sundaymorningstaple wrote:MattV,

It's not odd that the above poster thinks you should go to Oz. Just look at his business. He's trying to hijack the thread as he is hustling for business. And as he is, he's verging on deletion as the thread topic is about coming to Singapore so his tangent could be viewed directly as solicitation....... tic.....toc......tic.......toc.......tic......

The next thing he'll be trying to tell us is that Oz is on the cutting edge of technology as well as having good surfing & diving. Australian Culture? What? He's gonna live with the Aborigines?
moderator

ahahah, I saw that before I replied to him, just wanted to take the indirect route and let you moderators nab the suspect.

Matt,

just do like Mr. P, durain, and a bunch of the other's do. When you spot one of 'em, just sent me or plavt a sms and wham! We try to keep these forums clean but occasionally some slip by as all of us work full time jobs as well.

Hopefully, the dude will have gotten the message as I've outright deleted a couple of his other posts the openly "invite" reader to PM him in direct violation of policy (tic.....toc..... gettin' closer).

Hi Matt,
I moved to Singapore without a job or employment pass, it took me 4 months but now i have both. It's tougher to find jobs without work pass but you probably can apply for the Personalised employment pass, through Singapore Ministry of Manpower. That's what i got without an employer. Check into that website, you'll find good info there.

Cheers SMS

Gang, as you'll find here more often than not, there are many of us that try to contribute in the right way, so just be a little careful!!!

Do your research (the search function here is pretty cool), and post back when you need specific intelligence (not that I nor Ms. C can offer too much of that!!!!)

Cheers, Mr. P

Thanks Sue and Ms P,

As you all probably know, it is very hard to job search when you already have a busy job.

I have looked around this board for answers, but yet to really dig deep. I have called a couple of recruiting offices, and am also getting contact after contact from people who live here in Tokyo. Seems that everyone knows someone in Singapore.

Sue, what type of job did you get?

Matt

MattV, as Strong Eagle has said a few times in answering similar questions, it does seem that "word of mouth", and directly contacting companies seems to be the way to go. From people I know in the IT field (having run a consultancy back in Oz before we moved here), they confirm that in some cases it's about who you know.

One option to broaden that network for you could be the local PMI chapter here in SIN. Maybe some of the business associations too?

HTH, Mr P

Hi Matt,
Though I m nt an expert on de job market, I ve been following the open positions recently as I shifted to a new company 3 months ago..
Well the job scene is not that good as it was in 2007.
Companies have open positions , and they do get ur resume, but they would take their sweet time in responding .
Few of my frens got offers 2-3 months after the interview.
This all w.r.t to IT Field.
All de best for yur hunt..


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