Contact Singapore
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http://www.contactsingapore.sg/
This website has been set up to invite foreigners to come and work in singapore. There's no news whatsoever in our mainstream media. The following are the seminars set up in the various countries to attract FT. Wonder what our local grads feel about this.
Apr 25 Careers@Singapore: Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) at Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh United States Apr 26 Careers@Singapore: Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) at Columbia University New York United States Apr 27 Careers@Singapore: Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) at Princeton University Princeton United States Apr 28 Careers@Singapore: Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) at Harvard University Cambridge United States Apr 29 Careers@Singapore: Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) at MIT Cambridge United States -
Apr 29 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (Australia) (RESCHEDULED TO 5 MAY) Sydney Australia Apr 29 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (India) Chennai India May 05 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (Australia) Sydney Australia May 07 Contact Singapor Welcome Session (US) Los Angeles, California United States May 12 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (India) Mumbai India -
May 14 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (US) California United States May 19 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (UK) London United Kingdom May 20 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (India) Chennai India Jun 02 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (Australia) Melbourne Australia Jun 10 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (Shanghai) Shanghai China -
Jun 10 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (India) Mumbai India Jun 17 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (South Korea) Seoul Korea South Jun 17 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (India) Chennai India Jun 28 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (UK) London United Kingdom Jul 04 - Jul 08 Singapore International Water Week Singapore Singapore -
Jul 18 - Jul 29 NUS Summer Institute Program for Business Management Singapore Singapore Jul 21 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (UK) London United Kingdom Aug 14 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (US) Los Angeles, California United States Aug 19 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (South Korea) Seoul Korea South Oct 21 Contact Singapore Welcome Session (South Korea) Seoul Korea South -
Some success stories:
Fujian, China
Rigger, Lucasfilm Animation Singapore
Been in Singapore since November 2009
Currently an Employment Pass holder
Landing a job with international production company Lucasfilm in Singapore was an opportunity Li Feng just couldn’t pass up. “I have lived in ten cities in China; I moved so many times just following job opportunities,” the 29-year-old looks back. Now employed with one of the best computer graphics companies in the world, Li Feng is thriving on the challenge of working on big-budget television productions. He is a Rigger, which entails making objects and characters move.
Describing himself as an artist, Li Feng is passionate about creating art. “I’m getting paid for doing the things I love to do!” he laughs.
Indeed, his own time is spent as creatively as in his work. He has been around Singapore taking photographs as references for his personal projects - short films and home animation. He hones his artistic ability further at Figure Drawing classes offered by Lucasfilm, something he looks very much forward to every week.
Li Feng is appreciative of the opportunities he’s found here. “I’m learning a lot of new technology tools and processes, and the artists and programmers I work with are amazing problem solvers,” he says. He’s more than competent himself - during one of the regular reviews with their US counterparts, a colleague called one of his rigs “awesome”.
Relaxing at the movies, Li Feng especially enjoys those which ILM Singapore has worked on, and will definitely be watching the credits. He comments, “It’s an amazing experience, seeing your name on the big screen.”
Adjusting to life in Singapore has not been hard, apart from the initial acclimatisation shock (“When I left Beijing it was snowing heavily, and it was so sunny when I arrived in Singapore”). It was even surprisingly easy given that he’s still trying to improve his English language skills. Li Feng puts it down to people here being exceptionally friendly. He is very amused when he recalls how his new Singaporean friends would smoothly insert English and even Malay phrases into their speech, even though they were trying to speak to him in Mandarin; a very typical local habit which still trips him up. In the same manner, his Chinese colloquialisms also often confuse his friends. Still, communication has not hampered his getting along with the 44 different nationalities working in the studio. “It’s a very interesting environment, and you get to see how different cultures work together,” he says.
The bachelor, who is about to get married, lives by himself, a convenient distance from work. Getting to the office means a 15-minute bus ride and a 20-minute walk, which he dismisses as nothing compared to the three-hour commute he used to make in his previous jobs back home.
While he misses his family and fiancée, he’s happy here and keeps in touch via telephone, webcam and email. Otherwise, his projects, and late-night jogs with friends keep him occupied in his new home away from home
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Zhong Qing
Chongqing, China
Teacher, Pei Chun Public School
Been in Singapore since March 2006
Currently a Singapore Permanent Resident
She used to watch Singapore television serials as a teen - now Zhong Qing is living with her family in the garden city she admired.
Having taught in China for eleven years, Zhong Qing arrived in 2006 through a collaboration between Singapore’s Ministry of Education and China’s Hanban or the Office of Chinese Language Council International (国家汉办). Recommended by the Chinese district education department, she had applied for the posting on her own initiative.
As a teacher, Zhong Qing had her first opportunity to visit her family back in China after a few months of teaching during the local school vacation period. When she received her Permanent Residency in 2007, her husband and 11-year-old daughter joined her here. They too have become Permanent Residents and reside in a cosy apartment in Toa Payoh, which is a five-minute walk away from the school where she teaches.
A typical day
She likes Pei Chun Public School, where she teaches Primary 3 and 6.
Work starts at 7 a.m. at the school, and Zhong Qing usually stays till about 4p.m. to teach the Higher Chinese class or to mark assignment. She is also the teacher-in-charge of the Chinese Dance co-curricular activity. Zhong Qing’s daughter, who studies in the same school, waits in the library for her before they go home together. Her husband, who also works at Pei Chun – he plans and organizes Chinese cultural activities – is there from 7.30 to 4.30 p.m.
Zhong Qing spends the rest of the day supervising her daughter’s homework, taking care of household chores, or researching on the internet. The family often jogs together at the nearby MacRitchie Reservoir, or swims at the public swimming complex. “Here in Singapore, we have time to relax together as a family. Public facilities are also accessible and well-designed,” Zhong Qing comments. She appreciates the school system which allows her daughter to develop in other areas apart from focusing on homework. Whilst she is often busy, her husband and daughter have managed to explore “the whole island” and its attractions. Other diversions comprise the occasional karaoke sessions, and attending Chinese Orchestral concerts at the Esplanade.
Her favourite Singapore dish interestingly is porridge - “I really like the pork porridge, and fish porridge, too!” Zhong Qing enthuses, “Also satay, and the famous chicken rice, of course.” She has also picked up a taste for Malay and Indian food. There is no need to miss food from home as Singapore has several restaurants serving the “Chongqing hotpot” that her home town is famous for. At home, her husband does most of the cooking “since he claims to be the better cook”, she laughs.
Three years on, Zhong Qing still has a high regard for Singapore’s governance, cleanliness, and efficiency. She also loves the weather here. “The best thing about Singapore is how warm and friendly the people are,” Zhong Qing says. She recalls how when she first came, she would get lost, and locals would not only give directions but also accompany her to her destination.
Of dreams & aspirations
Career-wise, Zhong Qing finds the local system very fair, with ample opportunities for teachers to up-skill.
Among her hopes are to contribute more to the learning of Chinese in Singapore, both as a teacher and as a mentor to the local beginning teachers. She believes she has much to share with her abilities and experience with the Chinese language.
So far her only challenge here has been with language, but she tries to pick up English phrases whenever she can. It helps that she works in a predominantly Chinese-speaking environment and her Singaporean colleagues have actively introduced her to many local terms apart from English ones.
While her parents are unfortunately unable to visit due to poor health, they are happy that she has settled in Singapore, and keep in touch over the telephone and internet. Zhong Qing would like to become a citizen one day, and sees her family integrating well in Singapore. “I hope my daughter will gain admission to a local university, and continue working and living in Singapore,” she says with a smile.
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Nagaraj Prasadh
Chennai, India
Director HR – APAC, Polaris Software Lab
Been in Singapore since January 2008
Currently a Singapore Permanent Resident
It took Nagaraj hardly a moment to say ‘yes’ to Singapore and barely two weeks to move here from Chennai, India.
“It was a dream come true when my Global Head of HR gave me this role,” he recounted. “I just grabbed it.”
He first visited Singapore at the age of ten and the diversity of cultures and vibrancy of the city has resonated with him ever since. The more he discovered about Singapore on his business trips over the years, the more he fell in love with the city. “This city has a lot to offer, not just shopping,“ he said, alluding to Singapore’s reputation as a shopper’s paradise. “Career wise, this is a place that motivates talent.”
The greatest assurance that he had made the right choice came when his application for a dependent’s pass for his 81-year-old mother to live in Singapore was approved without a hassle.
“It says a lot about the forward thinking mindset at the Ministry of Manpower,” he said. “It would have been too complicated a process anywhere else in the world.”
The talent-friendly immigration policy has been advantageous for Nagaraj at work too. He heads the human resource operations in the Asia Pacific headquarters of Polaris Software Lab, a leading financial technology solutions provider for many of the top global banks and insurance companies. He has been able to hire internationally and more than fifty percent of the 350-strong team that is based in Singapore is expatriate. He also fully appreciates the experience of working in such a uniquely multinational and multicultural environment.
The global mix adds buzz to the city’s after hours scene. Nagaraj has been to the Singapore Grand Prix, the Universal Studios theme park, and attended two National Day Parades, which he described as ‘electrifying experiences’. He also loves exploring the local night markets, called pasar malams, and the no-frills neighbourhood malls in the public housing estates where the majority of the population lives. And, being avid readers, Singapore’s National Library has become a favourite spot for Nagaraj and his family. He likes that Singapore has retained its Asian identity and down-to-earth practicality.
“Singapore offers the comforts of the west and the security of the east,” he noted. “It has the public infrastructure that takes care of the smaller details of life.”
He remembers with admiration the smooth transition that his wife and mother made to living in Singapore–they arrived on the morning flight and was cooking lunch in their apartment by noon. And before Nagaraj could decide on getting a car for their convenience, he realised that they were already exploring their new city via public transport with no help from him. Back in Chennai, it was unthinkable to let his elderly mother go out on her own using public transport.
Another ‘unthinkable’ personal change for Nagaraj is the active lifestyle he now leads. In the past, his wife used to tease that his only exercise was to ‘walk to the car’. These days, after a full day at work and some dinner at home, Nagaraj heads out for a late night run that sometimes finishes around midnight.
“I have never had the chance to do this anywhere else that I have lived,” he explained. “Now I live just five minutes walk from a public park connector that is well-lit, well-used and feels very safe at night.”
That brings him to the work life balance he has found in Singapore. “It is a fast-paced and very competitive environment but I have found myself to be more productive here,” he said.
When asked what particular convenience of life he appreciates the most, he jokes that it is being able to drink water straight from the tap.
“That says it all about the convenience of living in Singapore,” he chuckled.
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Shanghai, China
Channel Sales Manager, Resorts World Sentosa
Been in Singapore for 11 years
Currently a Singapore Permanent Resident
Li Yi arrived on a scholarship from Singapore’s Ministry of Education, 11 years ago. Now the 29-year-old PR has embarked on fresh adventures, working at the new Integrated Resort on Sentosa island, and getting married to his high-school sweetheart recently.
Li Yi’s attraction to Singapore began with its reputation as a Garden City and one of Asia’s “Four Small Dragons”. Up to now, his enthusiasm for a life in Singapore hasn’t waned.
“I feel great about how my career is going. It’s exciting to be part of something so new and big in Singapore,” he says. With the resort opening in just a few months, Li Yi’s pre-opening team is working extra hard, but he relishes the challenges ahead. “Just imagine,” he laughs, “I’ve worked with the Scorpion King and Marilyn Monroe, and travelled with Shrek and Princess Fiona. But my favourite aspect of this job is that the work itself is ever-changing; it trains me to think and act fast and efficiently.”
He recalls arriving in Singapore for the first time, in 30-degree heat, coming from Beijing where it was -30 deg C. “There was some problem adjusting to the always-hot weather,” he admits, “along with some language difficulties.” In multi-cultural Singapore, it was a challenge to understand the slang and many different dialects spoken. He shares a tip - “Mrbrown.com (a satirical site on current affairs) is a good webcast from which to learn Hokkien!”
Despite this, Li Yi says there was no real issue communicating in Singapore, and that it was fun interacting with Singaporeans. He still considers the people here the best part of his stay. “This is a very diverse society,” he says. “I get the chance to meet people from all walks of life, and to work with some of the most talented and experienced people in the industry. They come from all over – the US, Australia, China, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, you name it... yes! Even Bulgaria.”
Some highlights of his time spent here were when he organised a few cultural and sports events for Chinese students at the National University of Singapore. “I also got to see Jackie Chan here, twice!” Li Yi finds time to indulge his passion for sports. Besides a daily jog along Sentosa’s scenic coast every evening, he also teaches body combat and kickboxing at the California Fitness gym at Raffles Place. Singapore has afforded him the opportunity to try a lot of sports, and he’s all set to go flowboarding at Sentosa’s new Wave House soon. The keen singer is also a regular at various karaoke hubs around the island.
Li Yi and his wife, who is also working here, have just bought an apartment. “Singapore feels ‘homey’ and safe,” he says. “Singapore is definitely part of our long-term plans.”
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Ming
Guangdong, China
Business Development Manager, SGP International
Management Academy
Been in Singapore for three years
Currently on an employment passSince arriving in 2006 to do his Masters degree, 24-year-old Qiang Ming has found plenty of reasons to stay on after graduating. He enjoys his friends, his sports, and his work, which includes convincing students in China that coming to Singapore is the right move for them.
QM himself needed little persuasion after his father, a hospital head, returned with good reviews following a work-related visit here. Three years on, QM is still glad he came. “I like the clean and green environment, and the people are so friendly,” he says. Indeed, Nick treasures the friends he has made over the years, especially through his sports activities.
The fervent footballer plays a few times a week. “My soccer mates are Singaporean, Cambodian, Indian, Malaysian, Thai... some of us are working and some are students, but we’re all passionate about football and we play great as a team. There’s nothing like sport to bring people together.” QM also jogs, swims, and plays basketball, sometimes with the students he meets through work. He’s especially appreciative of the range and convenience of sports facilities around him. “The public gyms in Singapore are so cheap!” he exclaims.
All that exercise means QM needs to refuel often, not that he wants another reason for eating - the variety of foods here are exciting enough. “Bak kut teh, curry, seafood...” QM counts off his favourites. “Vietnamese food, hotpots... I’m somewhat of an anomaly for a Southern Chinese - I love spicy food! That makes being in Singapore a plus.”
QM is equally enthusiastic about his work. As a business development manager he needs to travel regionally and around the island to meet clients. “I like being able to meet and interact with different people,” he says. Good governance is not only a big help - “Doing business is simple in Singapore, there is very little red tape involved” - but is also a selling point he uses when telling potential students and clients about the benefits of coming to Singapore.
He also doubles as an assistant teacher twice a week, helping new students pick up the basics of the English language. He comments, “Their skills may be a bit shaky now, but Singapore is a very forgiving place for learning the language - they know they can still get by in this multi-cultural society.”
As for keeping in touch with his family, QM takes advantage of affordable telecommunications here and has made calling home daily a tradition. “Sometimes I call while my mother is cooking and she’ll be frustrated, but I know she’s always pleased to hear from me!” he says with a laugh.
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Ravindranathan
Kerala, India
Sr. Staff IC Design Engineer, Broadcom
Been in Singapore since October 2007
Currently a Singapore Permanent Resident
As head of a young family, a good work–life balance is of top priority to Avinash. The 34–year–old design engineer emphasises this when talking about his work in Digital Video Technology for Broadcom, a leading communication chip designer headquartered in California.
“I’m very happy to work here,” Avinash states. “There may not be a big design industry in Singapore, but my job offers a good deal of flexibility in the working hours, as long as I deliver.”
The doting father of a two–year–old boy relishes his position, which allows him to work from home often. “Most weeks I don’t even spend five days in the office,” he says. Part of this is due to the need to teleconference with other parts of the world at odd hours, as the company has offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. There are also tight timelines where the work has to be done as soon as any input is received, whatever the time of day or night. Some days involve difficult hours, but the flexibility also means Avinash can find time for his family and himself.
“I spend most of my free time with my son,” he shares. “I also read when I can, and play tennis twice a week with my uncle and two friends at the condominium’s facility.”
The family enjoys a busy social life. They meet their friends regularly at one another’s homes; large gatherings are organised every few months. It was one of these friends, an ex–colleague, who enticed him to make the move to Singapore three years ago.
“It is easy to live here,” Avinash admits. He left his home in Kerala on the south–western Indian coast for work in Indianapolis in the U.S. years ago, spent 2.5 years working in Penang from 2002, and 3 years in Bangalore in 2007. “I’m comfortable working anywhere, with different people, in different cultures. Still, it’s good to be in Asia.”
In his current Physical Design department , Avinash works alongside three Malaysians, a Burmese, a Chinese, and a Singaporean. We meet on a regular basis and have meals together everyday. Only some folks utilise the flexibility. Most of the team is in the office on a daily basis.
Before moving here, the young professional had visited Singapore several times to see his friends and relatives. Then a swinging bachelor, Avinash initially found Singapore “too ordered”. Now, however, he has an appreciation for how “things fall into place – processes are simple, infrastructure is reliable”.
Avinash relates how his wife, who is in the finance sector, found it a breeze coming to work in Singapore. “The immigration process in Singapore is a piece of cake!” Avinash considers it a big plus. “I took two weeks for Singapore, and could get it done online.”
The couple have just bought an HDB condominium in Admiralty, just 2km down the road from Avinash’s office. HDB, or Housing and Development Board, is the government agency in charge of public housing. Avinash’s wife does most of the cooking at home. Avinash comments, “It’s easy to come by Indian food in Singapore. There is also a large variety of restaurants here, ranging from high-end restaurants to casual eateries. And I love going out with my Chinese and Malay friends to try different foods!”
Avinash drives a Nissan, even though he feels it’s not very necessary in Singapore, as public transport is convenient. “Considering how close to work I live, plus I drive away from the city, I’m the last person to complain about traffic here!” he laughs. His wife takes a company bus to her workplace.
A family friend from Kerala takes care of their son while the couple are at work, though Avinash notes he has the option of using childcare centres, which he feels belongs to a system that is “more organised” than in many other countries.
When it comes to his son’s future education, the young father likes having a choice of paths: between one of the many International schools that Singapore hosts (including the Global Indian International School, which has three campuses in Singapore) or local schools.
“I like that we’re living in a First World city, close to home. We’ve been away from our parents too long,” says Avinash. The Ravindranathans return to India once or twice a year, and their parents in turn visit them in Singapore. The island’s status as a travel hub means they get many visitors, like old school mates, who often drop by on transit during their journeys. Indeed, the region beckons, and they have been to Bali, Phuket, Malaysia. Avinash declares, “Lots of opportunity to travel!”
On weekends, the family enjoys visiting the many parks around Singapore. Avinash reels off a list of favourites: Lower Seletar Reservoir, Upper Pierce Reservoir, Hort Park, the Tree-top Walk... “Parks are always nice, accessible, and have lots of space for my son to run around in,” he smiles. They also visit cultural and tourist sites.
“In Singapore there are many opportunities to get acquainted with different art forms. We like Chinese puppet shows, for example, and my wife and I used to attend these and other cultural performances often, until our son came along,” he muses.
He is closely involved in the Mudra Cultural Society, which showcases traditional Indian art forms. Kathakali, a dance-drama based on Indian mythology, was introduced to Singapore with a show in July and Avinash was in charge of the event’s magazine. 10 performers were brought in from premier institutes in India, drawing about 800 spectators in all.
Avinash believes more diversity can only improve the country. He says, “In Singapore, any activities you want to do, you can do.”
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How many of these jobs can be done by our jobless PMETs and fresh grads? We have to ask ourselves that.
The PAP is spending our taxpayers' money to recruit foreigners to replace us. How ironical. The GDP is pushed very high as a result of the huge influx of foreigners coming to our shores, riding on the ripples of their spending on good and services.
And they peg their bonuses to the GDP, paying themselves monetary incentives while bringing foreigners to replace us.
Vote wisely, vote the PAP out.
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i think they mean. contract singapore.
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shit for singaporeans, money and praise for foreigners.
low pay for singaporeans, highest pay in the world for PAP.
What do you want in a govt, Singaporeans? If PAP not fulfilling their responsibilities to take good care of us, this election show them they should be out of job as politicians in this island.
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Originally posted by shanfan:
shit for singaporeans, money and praise for foreigners.
low pay for singaporeans, highest pay in the world for PAP.
What do you want in a govt, Singaporeans? If PAP not fulfilling their responsibilities to take good care of us, this election show them they should be out of job as politicians in this island.
"take good care of us.." meaning easy job, good pay, fantastic benefits for Singaporeans?
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Originally posted by mancha:
"take good care of us.." meaning easy job, good pay, fantastic benefits for Singaporeans?
oh yes, if that is your definition of it. if you like it, then be it. haaaaaa -
i really admire rock star, so powerful... for him i vote for opposition, lol.
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Just met a filipino HR executive the other day. Singapore PR for the past 4 years. Her husband also filipino but Sg PR for the past 10 years. I truly hesitated on speaking further to her despite her being a nice person. The sense of animosity thinking of how this job could have been done by a singaporean had overtaken my inkling to be friendly.
These so called FTs are watching this elections closely. They know that local sgporeans dislike them and honestly, I hope opposition takes power and revoke the PR status of those whose jobs can be filled by singaporeans.
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I have this to say to those who are still finding difficulty looking for jobs in Singapore who have in mind to vote for PAP. If you go on to vote PAP you are digging your own grave.
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Had a friend who voted for PAP because he was afraid his application for HDB BTO wouldn't go through. What?!?!?! lol
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Sorry to say this friend of yours is too controlled by his irrational thought.
This election the people of Singapore have the upper hand. PAP is under our mercy.
