Just like anything in this world, nothing comes easy. But if you are guided with the right info, some things become a little less hard. For you who are looking at Singapore as a place to build a career, help your family and eventually grow rich, here are the 7 essential tips to remember:

1. Create a very impressive resume. It all starts with a very good resume. Because Singapore is a magnet of talented professionals from all over the world, a lousy resume can mean the end of your career even before it began. Invest time and conscious effort to create a very impressive resume. Here are some quick tips:

• Make it clean and limit to 2-3 pages long only
• If you are a university graduate, put it in the first part of your resume. University grads count here a lot
• Neatly summarize your job experiences detailing company, the position you held, inclusive dates of employment and tasks & accomplishments
• Unless you have a professional looking photo, better NOT to put it.
• Make your resume headhunter-friendly by putting in a career summary section containing: Total Experience, Current Employer, Previous Employers, Designation, Education, Nationality, Expected Salary (optional) and Notice Period

2. Apply online before going to Singapore. There is no walk-in application here in Singapore. Almost all companies here hire thru job portals and headhunters. The most popular job portals are Monster.com.sg and Jobsdb.com.sg If you don’t have an account yet in those portals, create one now. Your Jobsdb.com.ph account is not visible to Singapore employers, same thing with Monster. Upload your impressive resume to these 2 job portals and check for job postings everyday. Apply to as many companies as possible. Your objective is to get an interview so you should not be too choosy yet at this stage.

3. Apply for EPEC. EPEC stands for Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate. Having an EPEC makes you more attractive to Singapore employers because it says “Hire this person because it’s almost a guarantee that he/she will be approved for Employment Pass / Work Permit”. Moreover, having an EPEC allows you to legally stay in Singapore for 1 year while looking for a job. Regular tourist visa only allows 1 month stay. Not all applicants get an approval for EPEC, it depends on your qualifications. Doesn’t hurt to try though. You may apply here.

4. As much as possible, schedule your flight once you have a confirmed interview. One piece of advice, do not go here then start applying. It is a waste of time and money plus it doesn’t give you any significant benefit anyway because applying can be done online. If you can help it, try to schedule your flight once you get a confirmed face-to-face interview. This is the reason why: When you come here, you will most likely be under tourist visa, which means you are only allowed to stay legally up to 30 days. You may request for an extension of another 30 days (subject for approval), but after that, there’s no more extension. From job interview to job offer, it will normally take you 2-3 weeks. That’s assuming you ace the interview and will be getting a job offer. If you’re not so lucky, you will have to apply again and attend job interviews. This can take time. Upon job offer, you will be submitting necessary documents and your employer will apply for your Employment Pass (working visa). Processing will take another 2 weeks, during which, you have to be in Singapore to undergo medical exams. Collection of EP Card will take you another 1-2 days, only after that can you start working.

However, if luck has not been on your side and there’s no confirmed job interview yet, pack up your bag and come here to increase your chance. Make sure you have the following original documents:

• College Diploma
• Transcript of Records
• Employment Certificate/s
• Other relevant documents

5. During the interview, give more emphasis on your credentials and less on grammar. We Filipinos are sucker for good grammar, to the point that it paralyzes us from conveying what we really want to say. Good thing in Singapore, they are not as strict. During interviews, make it a point that you highlight your skills and experiences even though your subject and verb don’t agree. Of course it helps to have perfectly fluent English, I’m not saying forget grammar at all. I’m only saying, if you need to prioritize, side more on the content rather than the form. Correct or not?

6. To increase your chance, reduce your asking salary. Yes, Singapore can make you rich but let’s be realistic. You cannot have 1 year experience, doing clerical work then ask for S$5,000 monthly salary. It’s not gonna happen. If you are just starting here, your main priority should be to find work first. This is important so you can cover daily expenses, monthly room rental and some remittance money to your family in the Philippines. More importantly, you need to find work first so you can have a legal right to stay in Singapore. Good thing getting a working visa here is not that difficult so take advantage of that. To increase your chance of getting that job, try to reduce your asking salary first. If based on your research, the job you’re applying should pay S$5,000, ask for S$4,500 – S$4,700. If you can help it, try to let them give you an offer they think is commensurate with your skills without necessarily revealing how much you really want to get. Upon getting a job, work your way up by moving to another company with better pay or negotiating your pay with your current employer.

7. Don’t wait for them to call you. Call them. If walk-in is not encouraged in Singapore, call-in is a different matter. Singapore is essentially an aggressive country when it comes to business. They don’t wait for things to happen, they make it happen. Adapt the same attitude. If you have been interviewed and you feel you did well, call your prospective employer and follow-up. It also helps if the company you are following up is a headhunter because, chances are, they also have other positions suitable for you if you are not so lucky with the first position you applied. Following up also shows you’re really interested with the job. This will be brownie points for you.

There you go. The 7 Essential Tips to Get a Job in Singapore. Let me know your thoughts. Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information