Singapore is a small city-state with a population of around 5.7 million people, which lies in the southern tip of Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Known for its high standard of living, largely English-speaking work environment, being safe, clean and with a well-established social infrastructure, Singapore is a magnet for expats. So, if you like hot and humid weather and want to develop your career in a globalized environment, continue reading these 3 tips that can help you find a job in Singapore.
- No worries about the language, but fluency in a 2nd language is always a plus!
English, Chinese (Mandarin), Malay and Tamil are the official languages of Singapore and English is widely spoken in official business settings. Therefore, it is not required to speak Mandarin or Malay to land a job in Singaporean companies. However, fluency in Mandarin is much appreciated since Mandarin is also widely spoken in Singapore and it will open many doors for job-seeker.
- Understand the market trends in the Singaporean Employment Practices
Compared to 10 years ago, getting sponsored by companies for an Employment Pass (work permit for professionals) has gotten more challenging. This is due to the new regulation from the Singaporean government. The best way to get into the market is to request a transfer with your current company – should they have an office here.
If that is not possible, then you need to know your strength and what you can offer to companies here. Singapore has always been known for being the Financial hub of Southeast Asia and now it has become the Digital hub as well. Skills in start-ups, technical engineering, app development and whatnot are highly sought after!
- Network and being presence
Just like anywhere else in the world, having a good network always helps in finding a job abroad. This can be through your personal contacts or by building a network through professional recruiters. Face to face meeting is always more appreciated, so start by planning a trip here, and make sure you have scheduled meetings with your contacts and recruiters before you arrive.
Selene, legal recruiter at Taylor Root Singapore & Nannette Ripmeester from the Careerprofessor.works team
