Getting an IT job in Spore

I have been dreaming of working abroad since long time ago, but did not know how to get one.

My main reason to get a job outside Indonesia is simply because I really want to improve my quality of life which was quite terrible when I was still working in Indonesia.

Just imagine with only about Rp. 8 million (about US$888) per month and we need to cover our whole family needs from housing, meals, insurance, education, etc. This was surely not enough to get a decent life.

Then comes this opportunity to go abroad by using Agency service.
I was using their service because I did not know anything about working abroad and how to apply a job.

In return, I have to pay for $4,500 SGD for their service, which is, to me, is really expensive. They will try their best to get me some interviews, but can't guarantee if I can secure the job or not!

Well.. this is understandable, but with that amount of money, is just too much!
However, I really made up my mind to move on, so I just signed the contract and pay them in advance - which might be considered as risky decision!

They did their job to find me some interviews, but was not that easy get a job. I have to stay in Singapore with my own pocket money while waiting for the interviews.

Anyway, fast forward .. finally I got the Job to work as Contract Team Leader in Prudential Singapore - which was my first job here in Singapore.

To those who wants to get a job in Singapore, you have 2 options, either by:
(1) hire Agency Service and pay a lump sum of money, in advance, or
(2) get the job by yourself

First option surely will require you to prepare lots of money, at least about $5,000 to $6,000 - this is including the agency fees and your cost of living in spore while waiting for the interviews.

Second option does not mandate you to have that much of money, but the uncertainties are higher than going through agency.

Why?

Ok, let's see the facts about Singapore and its culture.

• Singapore holds East culture strongly, whereby people rely on family, relatives or friends opinions on making decisions, including decision to hire someone as Employee!
• Agencies (Agents) usually already made some connections with the Employers, hence they can convince the Client better, then we as foreign, strangers to them can do.
• Even if you say you have 8 years experience in your CV with lots of experience letters from your previous employers in Indonesia.
• Indonesians are well known in Singapore as poor, below standards Human resources. This is sad, but true. Thus, your 8 years (for example) experience in Indonesia is considered nothing to them. If you go through 3rd party, such as Agency, it means they are your representatives to the Client.
• And as Singapore-based companies, these agencies can at least remove the bad images about Indonesian people, since the Clients see the Agency image not us.
• Singaporeans are speaking English very fluently, compared to their foreign peers, well .. except Caucasians, surely they are better. On the other hand, Indonesians are usually not that good on using English - this Blog is an example of it :). Usually, our Resume is written in English but not really convincing, since it might not well understandable by employers in terms of expectations, career objective, etc. Creating a professional resume that can speaks loudly itself is not that easy to do, especially using English. These agencies can help you to achieve that, for sure.
• There are lots of foreign workers from many countries who would love to work in Singapore, even if they have to sell their lands! This creates fierce competition to Indonesians who wants to work in Singapore. They are mostly go through agencies, and ready to lose their money, if worst things happen - such as he/she can't secure any job. These foreign workers, mostly from India and China, are tough hardworking people and have the guts to risk their money. In addition, they are also very good and professional on their works.

If we see from this angle, we as Indonesian people, is not really at the good position, and does not have strong bargaining position to get a job.

But, one thing that I always said to myself is
"believe yourself, and show them what you are made of!"

If you have read the my blog till this point, it means you are really have the strong will to go abroad especially to Singapore.

Well .. then let me share my tips on how to secure a job, especially IT job in Singapore. Assuming you don't wanna go through Relocation agencies like me.

I hope with these Tips and your strong unstoppable efforts, you can get it:

First things first
Go to Singapore, just for sight seeing, 1-2 days. Look around and see if you still wanna work and stay in Singapore for long. Get a flight from Jakarta to Batam, and from Batam gets a Ferry to Singapore. This way will costs you much lesser than getting direct flight from Jakarta to Singapore. If you have friends or relatives working in Singapore, visit them. Ask him/her if you can borrow his Address and mailbox for mailing purpose. And while there, buy a Prepaid Card, such as M1 or Singtel cards. If possible, top it up with some money and bring it back to Indonesia, do not throw it!! Why? I will explain later.

Once you have made up your mind, nothing can stop you to work in Singapore, then you can proceed to the next tips, otherwise no need to continue on reading this.

1. Practice your English and advance it to the next level without any hesitate. Skill on communication using English is your first image and gives the most impact on finding the job. Without it, your IT skills are nothing. Please note, soft skills such as Communication skill is really important in Singapore. Employers much more prefer people who has right attitude than IT experts with harsh words!
   


2. Get a Skill certificate. For God's sake, this is really a very powerful key to mesmerize the Employers. Even if you have to burn some of your money to attend a class for Certificate preparation, just go for it! But be very selective on the Certificates you want to acquire. Go for Vendor-related certs, such as those from Sun, IBM, CISCO, etc. However, Project Management certs will surely bites more than technical ones, like PMP (Project Management Professional) from PMI.


3. Practice yourself to have these 2 principles "No Pain No Gain" and "There is always a way". This works for me, and I am sure they can work for anyone as well!


4. Creates your Professional Resume. Sell yourself like an Artistic, Unique masterpiece. Because you are! Do not just use plain boring English, pour your strong will and determination inside the resume so that they can feel you are really interested to get a job. Your resume must have these 3 points, and you must emphasize them properly. They are Availability Date, Current SalaryExpected Salary. For those who are first time applying a job in Singapore, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT put the amount of Expected Salary there. Use more diplomatic approach such as "Expected Salary: Negotiable". This way, employers will have more questions to ask to you later (at Interview). If you do put the amount, then the chance to secure a job will be smaller.


5. Since you have visited Singapore, already written down your friends Address in Singapore and already have Singapore's mobile number at hand. Use these information (Singapore Address and Mobile Number) as your contact point on the Resume. Please never, ever, ever put local Indonesia address and your local Indonesia mobile number on the resume, I can guarantee you, they will never contact you!!


6. Search for a Job that really matches your Resume on the websites, such as Jobstreet.com and Monster.com.sg. Also go for Jobs on the company website directly. Do not apply for a job that doesn't match your criteria, in terms of skills and experience. If you have long experience, look for similar requirements. If you are a seasoned developer, do not apply for a Java Programmer with 1-2 yrs experience. You are gonna kill yourself there! Also, the other way around, do not apply if your experience does not meet the requirements, they might blacklist you. Apply as many as you can, but DO NOT send your resume to the same company more than once, that is if you want to keep your Good image. If you do that, you will just degrade your bargaining position.


7. Once you have tired of applying jobs, activate your Singapore cellphones. And wait for the calls. Also check your email more frequently. You can also make some arrangements with your friend there if he/she is willing to be the contact point between you and the companies. That means, he/she is the one who is gonna receive their calls and let you know that you have an interview.


8. Pack the interview schedules as much as you can. Which means, arrange them as close as possible. So that you can go to Spore, attend the interviews and fully completes them in just few days. Please note that Singapore is a very efficient country, usually Contract positions will just require 2-3 days from interview date to the outcome. If no news after 2-3 days, then you can go back to Indonesia, otherwise stay.


9. Try to get jobs with Contract positions first, afaik, this is the fastest way to get a job in Singapore. Permanent position is usually for Singaporeans or Singapore PR.


10. Last but not least, do pray to God. In my experience on applying for the jobs, I was always only believe myself without considering God. That was why almost all of my applications were rejected, until the very last moment, I give everything to God and ready to accept for the worst scenario to happen - then suddenly I got the Job from the best employers that had interviewed me so far that time. So, please do pray to God, otherwise all of these tips will not work.

Pheww.. I guess that's all I know. I am open for discussion on this. On my next post, I will elaborate benefits of working in Singapore.