Here are couple of guidlelines that may help a new migrant or a potential migrant.
Basic Approach
Only apply when you have already received a PR or a VISA to work. As a migrant country, employers in the past have offered positions to overseas candidates that don't turn up for various reasons such as family not ready to move etc. Typically, the 2 most impt criteria when asessing is an applicant are
1) PR and 2) Locally domiciled ie local australian address and available for interview
Employment Channels
1) Employers advertising directly via their own HR. As these known exactly what they want, any request for interviews or chat is to be taken seriously. Singaporeans generally do very well because of their English, the higher standard of education and the reputation built up by past migrants.
2) Employment Agencies - be very careful. There are lot of cowboys out there. Many are only interested in filling up temp positions as they get a cut from the forthnightly wages and its very lucrative. A lot of time is spent in chats and interviews that does not lead to much. As a rule, try and get a temp positions with one agency but pursue permanent positions with another. Put down Temp/Perm in the first instance to get a bite. Temp positions also carry 9% higher wage rate (which is good) due to it transient nature.
3) Specialised HeadHunters
These guys have a habit of dealing with repeat clients and customers. They will place one candidate and 2 years later will place the same chap elsewhere. The best results are when you are already working and they approach you.
4) Seek.Com
Nearly 90% of job vacancies come thru this site. Use it rather than the newspapers. Highly productive.
Interviews/ CV - talk less about Singapore and more about generic things that you have done with past employers. Your CV must be tailor made for each and every employment opportunity. There is no such thingsas CV that catches all. Help your future employer in shorlisting you. Look at the job descriptions required and make the appropriate adjustments such as using the appropriate words and terms without copying it or duplicating it. At the interview, your submitted CV is the main basis, so be well prepared. Also be prepared to answer questions in relation to cultural adaptability at teh workplace.
Don't be greedy - penny wise and pound foolish
Don't worry about minimising taxes, maximising benefits and trying to be too smart. The trick is to put your foot thru the door first, get an "Australian working experience" under your belt. Second, try and get a permanent positions. A permanent positions tell future employers that you have been throughly vetted as to your background and job competency. Temp positions are seldom checked even for the basic background because, the employers can send back a temp staff instantly even after working for that employer for many moons.
I have come across people with post grad qualification and relevant job experience in their home country driving taxis in OZ because they refused to accept permanent positions which they think are below their standards or being underpaid. But driving taxis seems somehow logical.
Don't ever contemplate being a contractor when you have never held a permanent position in OZ with substantial track record and work testimonials from your bosses. No employer will tell you in the face that this is a major drawback. Common sense will tell you that an employer cannot gauage you and place you in a serious position without a track record.
Till today, I have heroes who tell me about lower tax rate for contractors etc.
Be Realistic
Have an anglicised name even if it kills you. By now as a Singaporean, you must have realised that aspiring civil servants with christian names hide and only give Hanyu pinyin names no different to Harry Lee becoming Lee Kuan Yew. When in rome do what the romans do. If your name is Tan Ter Boo, then apply with "Bob" Tan. Put that down in the CV. The real name can be put down when the formalities need to be completed. It means that employer knows you know English and very much westernised as opposed to a PRC chap who they have to struggle with when one deals 20 CVs in a day.
Avoid using the term Consultant as a job description in your CV as nearly everyone from conman to phone operators are now known as consutants. Unless you work for Mckinsey, or the big 4.
Basic Approach
Only apply when you have already received a PR or a VISA to work. As a migrant country, employers in the past have offered positions to overseas candidates that don't turn up for various reasons such as family not ready to move etc. Typically, the 2 most impt criteria when asessing is an applicant are
1) PR and 2) Locally domiciled ie local australian address and available for interview
Employment Channels
1) Employers advertising directly via their own HR. As these known exactly what they want, any request for interviews or chat is to be taken seriously. Singaporeans generally do very well because of their English, the higher standard of education and the reputation built up by past migrants.
2) Employment Agencies - be very careful. There are lot of cowboys out there. Many are only interested in filling up temp positions as they get a cut from the forthnightly wages and its very lucrative. A lot of time is spent in chats and interviews that does not lead to much. As a rule, try and get a temp positions with one agency but pursue permanent positions with another. Put down Temp/Perm in the first instance to get a bite. Temp positions also carry 9% higher wage rate (which is good) due to it transient nature.
3) Specialised HeadHunters
These guys have a habit of dealing with repeat clients and customers. They will place one candidate and 2 years later will place the same chap elsewhere. The best results are when you are already working and they approach you.
4) Seek.Com
Nearly 90% of job vacancies come thru this site. Use it rather than the newspapers. Highly productive.
Interviews/ CV - talk less about Singapore and more about generic things that you have done with past employers. Your CV must be tailor made for each and every employment opportunity. There is no such thingsas CV that catches all. Help your future employer in shorlisting you. Look at the job descriptions required and make the appropriate adjustments such as using the appropriate words and terms without copying it or duplicating it. At the interview, your submitted CV is the main basis, so be well prepared. Also be prepared to answer questions in relation to cultural adaptability at teh workplace.
Don't be greedy - penny wise and pound foolish
Don't worry about minimising taxes, maximising benefits and trying to be too smart. The trick is to put your foot thru the door first, get an "Australian working experience" under your belt. Second, try and get a permanent positions. A permanent positions tell future employers that you have been throughly vetted as to your background and job competency. Temp positions are seldom checked even for the basic background because, the employers can send back a temp staff instantly even after working for that employer for many moons.
I have come across people with post grad qualification and relevant job experience in their home country driving taxis in OZ because they refused to accept permanent positions which they think are below their standards or being underpaid. But driving taxis seems somehow logical.
Don't ever contemplate being a contractor when you have never held a permanent position in OZ with substantial track record and work testimonials from your bosses. No employer will tell you in the face that this is a major drawback. Common sense will tell you that an employer cannot gauage you and place you in a serious position without a track record.
Till today, I have heroes who tell me about lower tax rate for contractors etc.
Be Realistic
Have an anglicised name even if it kills you. By now as a Singaporean, you must have realised that aspiring civil servants with christian names hide and only give Hanyu pinyin names no different to Harry Lee becoming Lee Kuan Yew. When in rome do what the romans do. If your name is Tan Ter Boo, then apply with "Bob" Tan. Put that down in the CV. The real name can be put down when the formalities need to be completed. It means that employer knows you know English and very much westernised as opposed to a PRC chap who they have to struggle with when one deals 20 CVs in a day.
Avoid using the term Consultant as a job description in your CV as nearly everyone from conman to phone operators are now known as consutants. Unless you work for Mckinsey, or the big 4.