Singapore has been a popular hot pick by expats when it comes to building a successful career. It’s no surprise then that Singapore holds the top ranking for being the least corrupt country. The Lion City is also one the world’s easiest places to do business.
How to Grow a Career in Singapore as a Foreign Talent
Due to the competitive job market, it is not easy to secure a job here unless you’re a highly-skilled foreign talent. In addition, Singapore has tightened hiring guidelines for foreign employees as part of efforts to ensure fair employment opportunities Singaporeans. Interested in leveling up here? Here’s a guide on how to find a job in the Lion City.
Search online
You can start by searching for jobs online, applying to as many openings as possible, and attending interviews. Remember to set up alerts for the roles you are interested in. Here are some websites where you can start your job hunt:
- Indeed
- JobsDB
- JobStreet
- Glassdoor
- JobsCentral
Attend network events
Networking is another way to get a job. It’s always ideal to get referrals and have direct contact with people who are working at firms you have shortlisted. Attend networking and professional events advertised on websites such as Eventbrite.
You can also consider joining expat communities such as these:
- American Association of Singapore (AAS)
- British Association (BA)
- Australian and New Zealand Association (ANZA)
- American Women’s Association (AWA)
- Scandinavian Women’s Association
- Italian Women’s Group
- Indian Women’s Association
- Spanish Speaking Women’s Association
Make a good first impression
This starts with your resume, in other words, CV, and cover letter. Both shouldn’t be more than two pages each; this means CV is one page and cover letter is kept to one page as well.
Information to include in your resume/CV:
- Your personal information – Your name, date of birth, gender, nationality, email address, contact number, residential address, language skills, links to your LinkedIn profile and portfolio
- Your job experiences, with the most recent one at the top
- Your education background, also with the highest level of education at the top
- Your skills, hobbies, and interests, best to include only those which are relevant to the job
- Two to three references
How to write a cover letter?
Your cover letter should be tailored to the job you have applied for; your skills and experience should match the requirements needed to do the job. Write about why you are applying for the role and how you can be an asset to the company. There are many tips for this online. Be sure to proofread your letter multiple times, there shouldn’t be mistakes and typos.
Interview tips:
- Research the company and the role you are applying for.
- Be prepared for common interview questions i.e. what are your strengths and weaknesses. Also, remember to have a few questions for the interviewer.
- Arrive promptly with an up-to-date copy of your resume/CV, cover letter and possibly a notebook and pen.
- Body language is important. You ought to display enthusiasm and positivity throughout the whole interview. ‚ÄØ Smile and maintain eye contact.
- ‚ÄØChoose your outfit carefully, you should look smart and professional.
- When exchanging name cards, be sure to receive it with both hands, read the card for a few seconds before keeping it aside.
The process of getting a job here is similar to any other country, albeit with a few interview etiquette practices to observe to avoid coming across as a rude candidate. It would help a lot if you stand out with unique skill sets. There have been reports on schemes to hire talents overseas for sectors such as digital, medical technology (medtech) and financial technology (fintech). If you happen to be experienced in one of those, then chances of you landing a job here are high.
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