Tips for getting your first job in Singapore

Hi,

What are your tips and advice for getting a first job in Singapore?

What are the job hunting steps to follow? Where to look for offers: newspapers, Internet, recruitment agencies, word-of-mouth?

What are the top hiring sectors?

What would you recommend to young professionals wishing to start their career in Singapore?

Thank you in advance for your participation!

There is no one size fits all here. Let's face it, the majority of expatriate workers in Singapore have secured a role before arriving into Singapore. You would have to be a brave individual to turn up unannounced and expect to land a role. Well, everything takes time in Singapore, so don't despair. If you are a trailing spouse and on a Dependants Pass (DP) you may be fortunate to secure a role with one of the more expatriate focused business entity's located in Singapore. Check out AustCham, the Australian Chamber of Commerce website, who often offer job postings, then there is a reliable site supported by The American Association of Singapore (AAS) aasingapore.com/about-crce/ I have found CRCE to be a great source and have recommended this link to many expatriate friends and colleagues over the years. The  Career Resource Center for Expats is updated regularly.

If you are working for a company that has offices in Singapore, asking for an overseas transfer is probably one of the best and easiest ways to set foot in the job market here. Once here, you can either try to network by attending industry events or get to know headhunters to help you switch jobs.