for your information

I am posting this due to public demand... I hope this helps

I have a lot of friends, colleagues, online buddies, trainees and relatives asking me if they have opportunity here in Singapore... I am gladly to say that there is a lot of opportunities here in SG, Filipino talents are much needed in this country. But the downside of it... as of the moment it's recession... SG is more on banks, investments, insurance and IT business. They look for college graduates with two to more years of experience in skills that you specialized in. IT skills are very much needed in this country, not just ordinary technical support, we are talking about hardcore IT infrastructure support, mainly system analyst, programmers, SAP peeps are the few others.

You may hear from the others come and be a tourist in SG then look for a job. Yes, you can do this. A lot of people had done it and some people left SG and just went back. You may hear good stories... there are but you haven't heard anything bad, right? Example na lang si Flor Contemplation? I know she DH (which is totally different from you) but don't you remember her story? She's OFW, still.

It's a big risk in coming here. I've met a lot of my own kind (Filipinos) crying in MRT or bus stops. And if you ask, why this people crying... her social visit pass is about to expire and she haven't gotten a job at all. Her friends told her that its easy to get a job in SG, but in reality... its not the case. She exited Malaysia twice and her life savings is gone... Or they were decieved by locals...Or layed off...

If your background is customer service in a call center setting alone, I'll discourage you for now to come here. It's not that I am selfish stubborn bitch mainly because they feel intimidated with American Accent. They have what they call Singlish and Chinese language... Singlish is similar to English but in a different tune... When the say "Go Back?" that means going home... labo no? But there are a lot of this funny Singlish thingy. I know in this country they really need good customer service (see this survey) however they don't pick Foreign Workers to do that. Companies woudn't pay $1800 for customer service noneunless the company is MNC, which are S Pass Holders, they can hire their locals and pay them for $600-$800. As of now that there are alot of Filipinos flocking Singapore and looking for admin jobs and customer service jobs... it would be tough for you... believe me. But if you have other specialization, and have atleast 3 years experience then there is probability to get a job in SG, but not that fast. In here job applications are done online which you can do in PH... It would take approximately 1 month before your resume be noticed by some company. Because in a company, for every 4 locals (Singaporean)/ Permamnent resident thats the only time they can hire 1 foreign worker like Filipino. But we are not the only foreigner applying. There are Indians, Chinese, Indonesians, Malaysians, etc.

You can also apply for EPEC. This would let you stay in SG for 1 year even you don't have any work... this is can let you stay in SG without exiting neighboring countries. But this doesn't give you guarantee job, because my housemate who's EPEC holder is staying here for 9 months now and still havn't get a job...

For more of employment pass --- click here

Job search starts in the Philippines. If you are eager to come in SG, you must create a catchy CV, pointing your specialization and achievements. If you have relatives in SG, then you can use their address in SG because most of employers wouldn't really entertain PH address... write on your cover letter when can you possibly come in SG for interview.Or sign up for Free SG numbers or have a friend bring you SIM card from Singapore. Then apply thru SG job bank websites like Jobstreet or Monster

Place to stay in SG is quite expensive. A room would cost $500 and above... If you'll be sharing a bedspace is from $250-above. If your renting an HDB flat then that will cost $1600-above (2 bedroom flat) or $1900-above for (3-4 bedroom flat) and for those who would like to have a pool, gym facilities, etc condo cost around $3000 and above. Utilities (PUB)not yet included -- internet (broadband), electricity, water and gas which is approximately around $200- above.

Hawker area is usual in SG. Its like carienderia in Philippines, but cleaner and approved by the government health inspector. You can get the most famous chicken rice for only $2.50. Mc Dee, Burger King, Carls Jr, KFC are few fast foods in SG and they are expensive for a burger or chicken... minimum $6.00 for a meal, because everything in SG is imported. They dont have farm lands like in the Philippines. They import all their goods... from dairy to meat products... from soaps to shampoo and all.

Transportation in SG is mainly bus and trains and if you have extra money there is cab... see my post regarding SG tranportation. Cab accept Visa, MasterCard or Nets.

It's still for you to decide. Because if you really want to go out of the country and explore SG then its really you who'll buy the ticket, right? :-)

Be emotionally and financially ready. And a lot of prayers and prayers.... and more prayers

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