Expat Living City Guide – June 2018

LOOKING FOR WORK

What do our contributors wish they’d known about the process

of job-hunting when they first arrived? Find out below.

Looking for a job as a new expat is tough, as
employment passes are becoming harder to get.
I would try getting in touch with employment
agencies and recruiters who can help you find the
right job, and guide you through the process of
getting a work permit. – Ankita

I moved here with a job in 2008, and now run my
own ethical kids wear label. If you’re thinking of
setting up a business, Singapore is a great place to
do just that. The process is fairly straightforward if
you fulfil the criteria, and using an agency makes it
even more so. If you work from home, make sure
to register your business as a Home Business with
the Urban Redevelopment Agency (URA).^ – Beth

Companies have specific requirements as to how
many locals they can hire versus expats. It can be
a confidence bummer when you get rejected and
don’t get answers as to why, but just know it’s often
not you but your pass!^ – Alexandra

The job search here can be much more difficult
than you think it’ll be. While it can be exhausting
and deflating, keep plugging away and keep
an open mind when it comes to positions or
opportunities that fall outside your specific field
or comfort zone. – Dana

Go out and make meaningful connections

and use your networks to create

opportunities for yourself.^ – Lisa

Singapore is definitely a place where you

can reinvent yourself, however the rules of

opening a business and running a business

always seem to change, so you really do

need to keep on top of it. It’s good to join a

business network like the Business Women

Network that can always advise you and

assist you with any business matters.^ –

Linda

I’m currently working and have been

working since we moved to Singapore. I

think the key thing to the job process here

is networking and contacting people that

are in your field or the field that you’re

interested in working in.^ – Mel

I have found the process difficult purely

because my background is fashion and it’s

not a flourishing industry here. I’ve had to

be slightly more creative in my thinking, so

setting up my consultancy and knowing

the ins and outs of how it works has taken

time.^ – Sophie

SINGAPORE HACKS

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