SuGar Pinoy

How much do you need to survive in Singapore? A First-timer’s 1-month “super-saver” budget plan

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:09:00 +0000

This is probably the most common question I often hear anytime someone’s planning to come to Singapore to look for a job: How much do I need in order to survive? Well, wonder no more for today I will give you a comprehensive, no-nonsense, “super-tipid” budget plan that can stretch your hard earned money while making sure you won’t live miserably here in Singapore.

First, a disclaimer. This budget plan is purely based on practical experience and costs are true at the time of this writing. It’s 2009. So obviously, if you are reading these 10 years forward, things are much different. Also, the kind of lifestyle you’re living was not factored in this budget plan. If you only eat at fancy restaurants or wear branded clothes, then obviously, this article is worth nothing to you. Anyway, I think you get the drift.

The important items you will spend on as you consider travelling to Singapore are as follows: Airfare, Room, Food, Transportation, Internet and Job related costs. Please take note that all costs are in Singapore Dollars (SGD). 1 SGD = 30 Pesos.

Airfare
High: SGD 1,000+ (2-way ticket)
Low: SGD 300+ (2-way ticket)
How much to budget: SGD 500 (2-way ticket)

Ways to save:
If you can afford it, buy airline ticket way ahead of time. Take advantage of low-fare promos given by many airlines. Consider Cebu Pacific, PAL EconoLight and JetStar when buying a ticket. Also, compare prices when you will buy ticket online or thru a ticketing agent. Sometimes, one is cheaper than the other.

Room
High: SGD 200 a night for standard hotel
Low: SGD 0 if your spouse or parents are living here
Budget: SGD 300 for a month (if you will stay with a friend)

Ways to save:
If you have a friend or relative living in Singapore, ask them if they can accommodate you. But be mindful. Landlords in Singapore are strict when it comes to number of people living in their rented flat (apartment). Normally, tenants must not exceed the approved number; otherwise, they’ll get into trouble. Check if your friend can accommodate you as a visitor and for how long. Also, it’s best to share with the expenses like electricity, water, etc. It’s good if your friend says “no worries” but I suggest you insist on sharing. It’s the fair thing to do.

Additional info: If you don’t have a friend and don’t want to stay in a classy hotel, you can consider backpackers hotel. It will cost you around SGD 30 per night. There are a lot of backpackers hotel here in Singapore, just search for it in Google.

Food
High: SGD 10.00 per meal
Low: SGD 2.50 per meal
Budget: SGD 250 for a month

Ways to save:
Food in Singapore is relatively cheap. Lots of hawker centres (food courts) are available selling different kinds of meals so looking for a cheaper place to eat will not be a problem. A set meal of chicken rice would range from SGD 2.50 – 3.50. Other more costly variety (noodles, laksa, etc.) could fetch to as high as SGD 5.00 – 7.00. They don’t normally serve free water so better buy an iced lemon tea or softdrinks to quench your thirst, which would cost about SGD 1.20 – 2.00. At SGD 8.00 per day for your food expense, you should be able to get by. The trick is not to always eat out. Buy items in the grocery which you can consume for several days (like bread, rice and canned goods). Best if your could bring some canned goods, noodles, etc. from Philippines that you can munch for at least a week or two, so you can save more.

Transportation
High: SGD 50.00 per day (if you will take taxi)
Low: SGD 1.00 per trip (if you will take the bus)
Budget: SGD 75.00 for a month

Ways to save:
Transportation cost will always be dependent on the frequency and distance of your travel. Generally, you want to travel more frequently – that means you’ve got plenty of interview schedules. Allot 15 days in a month where you will go out to attend interviews (think positive, believe you can have that much interviews). Take a bus and/or MRT for your trips. Save time and transpo cost by visiting Streetdirectory.com to plan your itinerary. At SGD 5.00 transpo budget per day times 15 days, that’s only SGD 75.00 for a month.

Internet
High: SGD 3.00 per hour
Low: SGD 1.00 per hour
Budget: $40.00 per month

Ways to save:
You will need to surf the Internet to look for jobs as application in Singapore are mostly done online. Popular sites are Monster.com.sg, Jobstreet.com.sg, Jobsdb.com.sg. Allot at least 1 hour a day to surf jobs and apply online. Many Internet shops offer SGD 1.00 per hour service so look for those. Before coming to Singapore, print as many resumes as possible and photocopy all your credentials. That will save you money. If you have a laptop and the place you’re staying has an Internet connection, then cost for you will be zero.

Job related costs
Budget: SGD 100.00

Ways to save:
When you got a job offer and your work pass has been approved in principle, you will have to undergo medical examination and pay for the work pass. Normally, the company that hired you will pay for this but not all companies do this. To be sure, set aside some money to cover this expense. SGD 100 should be enough.

There you go. An itemized budget plan for a super saver like you. So, excluding airfare, roughly how much do you need in order to survive in Singapore? Let’s break it down again:

Room: SGD 300.00
Food: SGD 250.00
Transportation: SGD 75.00
Internet: $40.00
Job related costs: SGD 100.00

GRAND TOTAL: SGD 765.00

You will need about SGD 800. Again, this is just a guide. Adjust your budget according to your specific needs. Happy job hunting.

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.

Stricter S-Pass system is not the end of the world. Here are some of your alternatives… (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:20:00 +0000

In our previous article, we discussed Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) stricter criteria for S-Pass approval. In this rather difficult environment, one cannot afford to just mope in one corner and wait for manna from heaven to come in the form of an attractive job offer. It’s not gonna happen. Wake up buddy and get moving, it’s not the end of the world. Here are some other alternatives that you can consider:

2. Be bold. Aim for E-Pass. Yes, that’s right. Be bold. Based on reports, the stricter rule is for S-Pass, not for E-Pass. So, to increase your chances, apply for jobs that give at least SGD 2,500 in salary. I’m not saying this is easy but if you are a professional, with a degree, experience and all, the effort that you will put in applying for S-Pass jobs is the same as applying for E-Pass jobs. Might as well aim higher. Don’t be afraid. Believe in yourself.

3. Improve your Resume. Pretty generic advice but many of our jobseekers out there neglect this basic and simple fact. Truth is if you keep on doing the same thing over and over again, you cannot expect to achieve different results. So if by sending your CV in its current form, you are not getting any replies. Try “upgrading” it. You can read, “8 Indispensable Tips to Create a Job-magnet Resume” for some idea.

4. Do not job hop yet. This is important. If you have a job now, no matter how you hate your boss, no matter how far it is from where you are living, no matter how you think your job sucks, DO NOT job hop yet unless you have a 100% sure replacement. And getting a job offer is not considered “100% sure” as you still need a work pass approval. In these tough times, you’re lucky enough to have a job to hold on to. Be smart in making your moves.

5. Retreat now. Be back tomorrow. Say your social visit pass already expired and you haven’t landed a job yet, If you’re persistent enough, you can exit Singapore and go back again to continue trying. I heard you need to spend at least 5 days out of Singapore before you can be allowed to come back. So consider that before you make any decision. To consider this option, obviously you have to look at your budget. Do you still have enough money to sustain your stay here? If you do (or if you have a generous, kind-hearted friend), then by all means, persist. One can never go wrong with persistence.

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.

Stricter S-Pass system is not the end of the world. Here are some of your alternatives… (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:55:00 +0000

Lately, there are a lot of real life stories I’ve been hearing about the impact of stricter S-Pass system implemented by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) last 1 June 2009.

S-Pass is for semi-skilled foreigners who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 1,800. (There are different kinds of work passes here in Singapore. If you want to know more about it, you may read our previous article, “Beginner’s Guide on Singapore Work Passes.” For this article, our focus is on S-Pass.) Applicants are assessed based on multiple criteria including salary, educational qualifications, skills, job type and work experience. Anyone can apply for S-Pass however; there is a limit on the proportion of S-Pass holders that firms can employ – it’s only 25% of the company's total work force.

S-Pass applicants of late realize that getting an approval is like winning a lottery – it’s just so darn difficult. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration but still, it’s totally not a walk in the park. It’s already bad that a first time foreign worker gets a job offer only to be rejected once his/her S-pass application is submitted. What’s even more heart-wrenching are those who are currently employed, got a job offer with better salary from another company, resigned from the present one, only for his/her new S-pass application to be rejected. The person ends up losing everything.

So, in these difficult times for foreign workers, is it time to kiss your Singapore dream goodbye, pack your bags and leave? Hardly. This new ruling from MOM is not the end of the world. Surely, our folks from MOM have to balance different interests and decide whatever they think is best under the present circumstances. We can’t question their wisdom on that. What we can do is to accept reality, cope with the situation and respond accordingly.

There are still some alternatives which you can employ. Here are some tips for foreign worker looking for a job in Singapore in light of the new stricter S-Pass system:

1. Apply for EPEC. If you haven’t done so yet, this is the best time to do it. We have extensively written about EPEC on this blog. If you want to know more, you may read: EPEC Demystified: Important Things You Need to Know About EPEC and 6 Smart Ways to Maximize the Value of your EPEC. The reason you want to have EPEC at this time is basically twofold: one is to buy you time to legally stay in Singapore while you still hunt for that elusive job and two, to make you somehow more attractive to Singapore employers, thereby increasing your chances of getting a job (and a work pass approval).

Be sure to visit this site for Part 2 of our article: Stricter S-Pass system is not the end of the world. Here are some of your alternatives…

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.

NEWS: Stricter S-Pass system hits employers, foreign workers

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:04:00 +0000

This is the latest news from AsiaOne by Jamie Ee Wen Wei

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has tightened the criteria for giving out foreign worker S-Passes and the June 1 change has hit hiring in sectors from services to IT and manufacturing.

S-Pass applicants are assessed on a points system based on multiple criteria including salary, education qualifications, skills, job type and work experience.

Although the criteria are unchanged, MOM has recalibrated the points allocated in each criterion to encourage employers to employ better qualified S-Pass holders.

Foreign workers eligible for the S-Pass must be semi-skilled diploma or post-secondary holders earning at least $1,800 a month.

As of December 2008, there were about 74,000 S-Pass holders.

Last week, responding to queries from The Sunday Times, MOM said the recalibration was to encourage employers to employ better qualified S-Pass holders.

An example would be hiring an employee with longer work experience.

The ministry did not disclose what specific points are allocated for each criterion.

MOM said the revision will apply to renewals and to new S-Pass applications.

To help companies manage the transition, MOM said it will consider granting a one-time renewal of up to one year to affected S-Pass holders who may not have acquired enough points.

The ministry said it has briefed employers and industry associations.

It has also created an employment self-assessment tool and an online calculator on its website to help bosses assess if their S-Pass applicants meet the criteria.

Human resource experts and employers The Sunday Times spoke to said companies, especially those in retail, IT and manufacturing, as well as shipyards, are feeling the impact of the stricter rules.

These jobs often require shift work or hard labour, and are often unpopular with Singaporeans.

Department store Metro's human resource and operations director Edward Tan said his company now has to be more selective about the S-Pass workers it hires. They make up about 5 per cent of its workforce.

Over at shoe retailer Charles and Keith, human resource manager Chia Wai Jyy said her company has had difficulty upgrading its workers from work permits to S-Passes.

One case was rejected recently. 'Previously, if the worker satisfies most of the criteria, chances are he or she would get the pass, but now the standards are higher and all criteria are strictly adhered to,' she said.

But taking another perspective, Mr Josh Goh, senior manager of corporate services in The GMP Group, a human resource firm, said companies here should look into revising their job compensation and benefits package, or redesign them.

The aim, he said, is to make them more appealing to Singaporeans or permanent residents, rather than depend on S-Pass holders.

He also advised local job seekers to be less fussy, and to adjust their expectations and explore opportunities in the less popular jobs.

This article was first published in The Straits Times

Bite-sized Singapore Insider Tips on Twitter.com/sugarpinoy

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:49:00 +0000

Now more than ever, finding a job in another country is a lot more challenging than it used to be. It will be doubly difficult if you are just charting into the unknown and leaving luck to determine your fate.

SuGar Pinoy site has always been about shedding some light about working, living and succeeding in Singapore. We are happy that through this blog, we are reaching a wide audience that find our articles useful and informative. The author is quite pleased that through the information shared on this blog, some Pinoys are able to get a job and start living the good life here in Singapore. To you guys I say welcome and wish you all the best during your stay here.

There are some readers though who doesn’t have much time to read a full article. To better spread the word and get more bite-sized tips, Sugar Pinoy has joined Twitter.

Twitter is a micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. You can start following SuGar Pinoy updates on twitter.com/sugarpinoy

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information

In getting a Job in Singapore, does your school matter?

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:16:00 +0000

We all know that in today’s Information age, education is the best tool that we can ever have in order to succeed in our chosen career. Here in Singapore, the education system is considered on of the best in the world so a lot of “expat” students go here just for the sole purpose of completing their studies here.

What of foreigners then who did not graduate in Singapore but has a desire to build up a career here and make it big someday? Is work available? If so, does your school matter?

Being an open economy and one that considers foreign workers an integral part of its growth, Singapore welcomes anyone who has the desire to work here and contribute to its growth. Provided, of course, that the skills and necessary requirements are met, there is nothing that stops any foreign worker from building a career and making it big in this country.

For starters though, those that are going to Singapore as a first-time job-seeker, they will find it tough to compete in the job-market where different nationalities and different backgrounds vie for the same spot. Add to that the Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents who might be after the same position. What then?

Aside from experience, another competitive advantage that you can have is the school where you graduated. I mentioned that Singapore’s education system is one of the best in the world. It is because it’s structure is a bit different from say, the Philippines. Here in Singapore, only the best among the bests get into Universities as there are only about 4 universities here – NUS, NTU, SMU and SIM. Others are called Polytechnic.

And this is where the perceived advantage seems to be taking place. An applicant who is a graduate of “University” even if outside Singapore is, from what I heard, perceived to be of good caliber. The top 4 universities in the Philippines enjoy a good reputation here but other universities are doing ok as well.

So, next time you apply for work in Singapore, you might want to try highlighting the school where you graduated. If you have honors and a graduate of a very impressive degree, you might want to put an emphasis on that as well. It might just give you the result that you wanted.

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information

HDB vs Condo: A Guide to get the best yet cheapest place to stay in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:58:00 +0000

One thing you have to be mindful of when you’re in another country is the place to stay. Sure, you have a friend or a relative staying in that country, but do you really want to just “hitch” with them forever? Do THEY want you to “hitch” forever?

In our previous article, Survival Techniques for Tourist Pinoy, we recommended that you stay first with a friend, relative, acquaintance or whoever while you’re still looking for a job. It saves you money plus it helps you deal with the initial bouts of loneliness you will feel being away with your loved ones for a long time. Now that you have a job already, it’s time for you to become independent and start living your life in Singapore. First thing you must do is look for a place where you can permanently stay. Here are your options:

1. Rent the spare room from your friend or relative. First option here is to check if the place you’re currently staying has a spare room which you can rent. This is the best option as you don’t need move your stuff from one place to another. Also, you are already familiar with the surroundings and the people you will be dealing with on a day to day basis. Plus, that place will most likely have TFC (The Filipino Channel) subscription so you can still watch your favorite Kapamilya shows.

2. Rent HDB Room. HDB stands for Housing and Development Board. It is the government agency here in Singapore in-charge of public housing. Most of the flats (apartment) here are built by HDB, hence, they refer to the flat as HDB. Renting an HDB room is a bit cheaper and normally, it already comes with basic room amenities like aircon, bed, closet, etc. Price range is around SGD400 – SGD700 depending on the location and your negotiation with the owner. Contract duration is typically 1 year and they normally require 1 month advance and 1 month deposit plus agent commission which is about ½ month. Overall, you need to shell out about 2 ½ months payment before you can move in. Tips: 1) Avoid agents. They are allowed here in Singapore and there are plenty of them. As much as possible, try to negotiate directly with the owner. That way, you don’t need to pay extra ½ month. 2) Also, try to negotiate that utilities bill be inclusive of the monthly rental fee. 3) Ask if they allow 2 persons in the room. Find a friend and split the rental fee with him/her. You can checkout PinoySG or ST701 for HDB room listings. The Saturday edition of the Straits Times newspaper is also a good source.

3. Rent Condominium Room. The process for renting HDB room is almost similar to renting Condo room. The only difference is rental fee is higher and condominium has better amenities. If the job you got allows you to spend a little bit more on a good room, then I suggest you get a Condo room. Generally, Condominium has amenities like swimming pool, gym, 24-hour security, etc. Price range is around SGD600 – SGD1,200 depending on the location and your negotiation with the owner. Also requires deposit, advance and agent commission. Follow the tips above and you’re good to go. You can checkout PinoySG or ST701 for Condo room listings. The Saturday edition of the Straits Times newspaper is also a good source.

4. Rent whole HDB unit. This is what most Pinoys prefer. The way to do this is to find a 3 or 4 bedroom HDB flat then find 3 or 4 friends to share the unit with. That way, all of you can split everything – from utilities to internet to house maintenance. Plus you can have fun because you will be sharing same interests and you can set your own rules. Good thing about Singapore, almost all HDB units for rent here comes fully furnished. Air-conditioned rooms, TV, washing machine, dining table, bed, etc. basically everything you need. All you have to do is bring your clothes and you’re good to go. Price range for whole unit is around SGD1,300 – SGD2,500 depending on location and number of rooms. Also requires deposit, advance and agent commission. One of the tenants must also be an EP (employment pass) holder or a PR (permanent resident). A friendly caution: Singapore sets maximum number of people to stay in a given HDB unit. They are strict about this so you must negotiate this very clearly with your landlord. If it is a 3-bedroom unit, try to negotiate maximum of 6 persons (2 per room) to stay even if you are just 3 at the moment. At least it gives you some leeway to add more people in the future. But once maximum number is set, make sure you do not go beyond the limit. You do not want to get into trouble because of this. You can checkout PinoySG or ST701 for HDB whole unit listings. The Saturday edition of the Straits Times newspaper is also a good source.

5. Rent whole Condominium unit. This is great if you have the money to pay for it and your family is already here. This is not an advisable option if you will be staying with friends as you will be tied up with at least 1 year contract. Who knows if before the contract expires, your friend decided to go back to Philippines or move to another company very far away from your place, etc. You do not want to be saddled with a responsibility to cover his share for the rent. That’s a very expensive proposition. If, however, you are stable and your family is here, condo is great. You have all the amenities provided above and you get to enjoy a certain prestige that comes with living in a condo. Price range for whole condo unit is around SGD3,000 – SGD8,000 depending on location and number of rooms. This is fully furnished and comes with basic condominium amenities mentioned above. Also requires deposit, advance and agent commission. One of the tenants must also be an EP (employment pass) holder or a PR (permanent resident). A friendly caution: Singapore sets maximum number of people to stay in a given Condo unit. They are strict about this so you must negotiate this very clearly with your landlord. If it is a 3-bedroom unit, try to negotiate maximum of 6 persons (2 per room) to stay even if you are just 3 at the moment. At least it gives you some leeway to add more people in the future. But once maximum number is set, make sure you do not go beyond the limit. You do not want to get into trouble because of this. You can checkout PinoySG or ST701 for Condominium unit listings. The Saturday edition of the Straits Times newspaper is also a good source.

Deciding on where to stay depends on several factors. Be guided with the right information and be smart with your decisions.

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.

8 Indispensable Tips to Create a Job-magnet Resume

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:59:00 +0000

image credit

Have you uttered these words before? “I know I am smarter than him, I have more years of experience and I certainly know how to do the job even if I’m half-awake. How come he gets the job while I get the snob?”

There are 2 possible answers to this question. One is: “Because he is the boss’ son”; and the other is: “Because your resume does not represent you in a very positive light.” We cannot do anything about the former so we’ll just focus on the latter. In this article, you will learn resume writing tips specifically aimed at getting a job in Singapore. It’s actually not that difficult and if you follow the tips outlined below, your dream job will come to you like a magnet. Here it goes:

1. Your resume should have the following sections:

Heading
Introduction
Career Summary
Professional Experience
Education
Personal particulars

2. Put important details in the heading. Don’t put picture. In the heading, make sure you use a big font to write down your name. It immediately attracts attention and increases the chance of the hiring manager remembering you. As much as possible, put a Singapore address, contact number and a professional sounding email address. If you’re still using cutie_me143@yahoo.com, it’s time to give this a break and opt for a more professional one like juana.delacruz@yahoo.com, believe me it will do you good. Also, it is not advisable to put your photo especially if it’s the first time you are submitting your resume to a prospective employer. Not putting a photo means your qualifications get better attention.

3. Grab attention with your powerful introduction. Page 1 of your resume is the most valuable page; make sure you have a powerful introduction that immediately captures your best asset in one sentence. Example: Charismatic leader known for ability to energize a team and produce impressive results. You can be creative in your intro. You can quote a famous individual, write your guiding principle or simply just describe yourself. Remember, your objective is to grab attention.

4. Offer a career summary that highlights your relevant experiences. In no particular order, write down in bullet points all relevant experiences you’ve had in your career. If you are just starting in your career, you may want to list down school experiences that tested your key qualities like leadership, creativity, resourcefulness, etc.

5. The form is as important as the substance. The substance is what you say, the form is how you say it. You may have excellent credentials complete with MBA or Ph.D under your belt but if in writing your resume, you use fonts like “Comic Sans” or your spacing and margin is in disarray, chances are, the hiring manager won’t even take 2 seconds reading your resume. Use professional looking fonts, observe proper spacing and indention, highlight relevant words or phrases, use bullets in enumerating your skills and major achievements. Bottom-line, keep it neat.

6. Your resume should just be 2-4 pages long. Unless you have been working for more than 20 years already, it is best to keep your resume between 2-4 pages long only. Remember, less is more. The less (but relevant) words you put in your resume, the more chance that the hiring manager will remember those words, and therefore remember you.

7. Learn the power of keyword search. Keyword search is the process wherein employers login to major job sites like Monster.com.sg and Jobsdb.com.sg and search for a resume relevant to what they are looking for. To do this, they will type words like “Sales Manager”, “IT Support Engineer”, “Call Center Specialist”, “10 years experience”, etc., then hit “Search” button. The system will then display all resume that contains these words and does a ranking based on relevance, usually based on the number of times that a particular keyword appeared on a given resume. If resume A has the word “Sales Manager” 10 times in it, while resume B has the same word 3 times in it only, resume A will be displayed first then B second. Of course, the resume that gets to be displayed first has the most chance of being viewed by the hiring manager and therefore get a chance to be interviewed. Learn the power of keyword search and modify your resume accordingly.

8. Remember: Less is more. That’s exactly it. Less is more. Need I say more?

The tips stated above are some proven ways to create an impressive resume. Of course, there is no single format or set of rules that dominate when it comes to resume writing. However, if after sending your resume to hundreds of companies you’re still not getting any requests for interview, the tips above might help you.

Happy job hunting!

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Getting Around in Singapore: Quick User's Guide to Streetdirectory.com

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Many first time Pinoys and even the seasoned ones in Singapore are familiar with Streetdirectory.com. It is actually an easy to use website for people not familiar with the different places in Singapore. The website is so helpful and information is well organized that any first time Pinoys will not have a hard time going from one place to another. This tool is especially useful for first timers who need to attend several interviews but do not have enough budget to take a cab every time. Read on and learn how you can use this to your benefit.

All addresses in Singapore have a zip code / postal code. This 6-digit number is all you need and getting around will just be a cinch.

1. Go to http://www.streetdirectory.com/ and click on “Select More Services”

2. Select Bus/MRT Guide

3. Type the postal code of where you will be coming from and where you want to go. (Note: You can also select and MRT station as starting point and postal code as destination point and vise versa)

4. Click on "Bus & MRT"

5. Click “Enter”

6. That's it! Complete instruction on how to go to your destination is given.

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.

Getting Around in Singapore: A First-timer's Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:13:00 +0000

If you’re a tourist in one particular country, the tough challenge is always how to get around. If you’re not familiar with the place, you might end up wasting precious time and money without necessarily getting to the place you want to go to, or worse, need to go to. Singapore is a different story, getting around is very easy and a lot more convenient than say, travelling from Cubao to Quiapo.

Let me say at the onset, Singapore is a very small country. Its total land area is just about 680 sq. km. – that is just the size of Metro Manila (636 sq. km)! You can even travel the whole country by just taking a cab. However, for most people here, the main mode of transport is Bus and MRT. If you are a Singapore first-timer, do yourself a favor and read on.

First thing you need to do is buy an EZ-link card, it is a contactless stored-value card for use on MRT and buses. You can buy it at MRT stations and it costs S$15 (cost of card and initial S$7 stored value). Upon consuming the stored value, you don’t need to buy a new card, just top up the card with any amount that you want (minimum is S$10) and you’re good to go. EZ-link card provides maximum convenience for commuters as you can use it for both bus AND MRT. Transportation cost range from S$0.50 to S$2.00 depending on the distance of your travel.

image of EZ-link card

Faster way of getting around Singapore is thru MRT. There are three (3) main lines: Green Line, Red Line and Purple Line, each are connected thru Interchange stations, which is no more than just a few meters apart.

image of an MRT train in Singapore

MRT interchange at City Hall Station. Green Line on the left, Red Line on the right

If you want to see the Singapore MRT System Map containing all stations and interchange stations of each Line, click here.

If your destination is not exactly right next to an MRT station, you can also opt to take the bus. Buses in Singapore only allow loading and unloading of passengers at designated bus stops. These bus stops are strategically located and whichever part of Singapore you are, chances are there’s a bus top near you. You will also not get lost because each bus stop contains a signage of different bus services available and the different stops that particular bus will make.

image credit

Always bear in mind that in Singapore, it’s difficult to get lost. The Bus and MRT sector is dominated by only two (2) main players: SMRT and SBS. If you want to know more, their website provides useful information. You might want to check it out.

There you go. A first-timers guide to getting around 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

How to Extend your Social Visit Pass

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:06:00 +0000

Going to Singapore is easy. All you need is some pocket money and some sheer gut. That’s it. Nothing more. That is why many Pinoys who want take a shot at a better life decide to go to Singapore and start a living here. Salary is one thing. The safety and security that the country provides is also another thing why most Pinoys wanted to live here. We have discussed extensively in previous articles how living in Singapore makes you less worried about your "physical well-being" (you will not get mugged, kidnapped or physically hurt whatsoever) and more on how to make your lives and that of your loved ones better.

If you don’t have a relative who is a Permanent Resident in Singapore, or if you don’t have a job yet, where a Singapore company will sponsor your long term stay here, chances are, you will be entering the country under a Social Visit Pass or “tourist visa”. Normally, upon your first entry to this country, they will give a you a maximum of 30 days of legal stay. Some get less than that but most of the people I know get 30 days. If your goal is to stay here longer, you have to make sure that within 30 days, you will find a job that will allow you to stay longer. Otherwise, goodbye buddy, see you next time.

Good news. There is an alternative: Extend your Social Visit Pass (SVP) for another 30 days. It’s allowed here and it’s easy. Contrary to popular notion that you need to go to the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) office and justify to them why you want to extend, thereby forcing you to come up with the most inventive excuse you can think of (in short: lie), it’s NOT true. No need to go to ICA office and no need to justify. You just go to their website and request to extend. Then pay up. That’s it.

You must meet the following conditions though:

1. You have not previously obtained an extension of stay on this trip
2. Your visit pass currently has a remaining validity of not less than 2 days, excluding Sunday and public holiday

If you meet the above conditions and you are ready to extend your SVP, you can click here to apply.

Please note that ICA also allow 90 days extension provided you meet the following criteria:

(i) You are a foreigner with family ties where your immediate family members are Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident and you are able to furnish original supporting documentary evidence to establish relationship; or

(ii) You are a foreigner who is seeking medical treatment in Singapore and are able to furnish an original letter from a Singapore registered doctor to support your extension of stay.

If you are not a terrorist or an alien from another planet of some sort, chances are, you will be approved for extension. Only then will you make a payment. Payment is also done in the website. They only accept Mastercard/Visa/Visa Electron. It’s ok if you don’t have your own credit card, you can use your friend’s, mother’s or whoever’s credit card (provided they allow you to use it).

That’s it. You now have another 30 days. Use your time wisely and you’re on your way to success here in Singapore.

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.

Purpose Driven Pinoy

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 08:58:00 +0000

It was a few years back when I heard about this speech made by a little known student named Patricia Evangelista. The 19-year old sophomore from University of the Philippines at that time, has grown more popular these days, what with some hosting gigs and regular column for a major broadsheet in the Philippines, she has made a name for herself in the field of journalism and might I say, literature as well. However, the speech that was instrumental to her success now has gone to relative obscurity. The speech that has won her the International Public Speaking competition in 2004 besting 58 other student contestants from 37 English speaking countries, including US, UK and Australia, has been sidelined by forgetful Pinoy. The speech that jolted me the first time I read it (back in 2004) because of its form and elates me now that I am an OFW because of its substance, is slowly losing its luster.

It’s sad. Maybe it’s time all of us Pinoys working in Singapore and other parts of the world get a wind of the message being imparted by this inspiring speech. We are living in a borderless world; however, it does not preclude the idea of a home, the idea that wherever we are, whatever we do, we are driven by a purpose. A purpose to “give back to the country that shaped” us, a purpose to serve, albeit remotely. Now, it is our turn to shape the world, we will start by being inspired.

Below is the full text of the speech entitled, Blonde and Blue Eyes

Blonde and Blue Eyes
By Patricia Evangelista

When I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all over the country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed, and white. I thought if I just wished hard enough and was good enough, I'd wake up on Christmas morning with snow outside my window and freckles across my nose! More than four centuries under western domination does that to you. I have sixteen cousins. In a couple of years, there will just be five of us left in the Philippines, the rest will have gone abroad in search of "greener pastures." It's not just an anomaly; it's a trend; the Filipino diaspora.

Today, about eight million Filipinos are scattered around the world. There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to leave. I used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who was left behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with each succeeding year.

Desertion, I called it. My country is a land that has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our heroes offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish, the Japanese, the Americans. To pack up and deny that identity is tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so, not anymore. True, there is no denying this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once the other side of the world is now a twelve-hour plane ride away. But this is a borderless world where no individual can claim to be purely from where he is now. My mother is of Chinese descent, my father is a quarter Spanish, and I call myself a pure Filipino -- a hybrid of sorts resulting from a combination of cultures.

Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of people of different ethnicities, with national identities and individual personalities. Because of this, each square mile is already a microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot that is England is the world, so is my neighborhood back home.

Seen this way, the Filipino diaspora, or any sort of dispersal of populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must be understood. I come from a Third World country, one that is still trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years of dictatorship. But we shall make it, given more time. Especially now, when we have thousands of eager young minds who graduate from college every year. They have skills. They need jobs. We cannot absorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one that is not so much abandonment but an extension of identity. Even as we take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses who support the UK's National Health Service. We are the quarter-of-a-million seafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships. We are your software engineers in Ireland, your construction workers in the Middle East, your doctors and caregivers in North America, and your musical artists in London's West End.

Nationalism isn't bound by time or place. People from other nations migrate to create new nations, yet still remain essentially who they are. British society is itself an example of a multi-cultural nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and cultures. We are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming back that is. The Hobbits of the shire traveled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word. We call people like these balikbayans or the 'returnees' -- those who followed their dream, yet choose to return and share their mature talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever opportunities come my way. But I will come home. A borderless world doesn't preclude the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always be one. It isn't about just geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's about giving back to the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more important to me than seeing snow outside my windows on a bright Christmas morning.

Mabuhay and thank you.

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 (Note: This article is a repost. It first appeared on this site last May 2008)

NEWS: Singapore visitors down 15.2% in Feb '09

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:21:00 +0000

This is the latest news from Channel News Asia.

(March 26, 2009) SINGAPORE: Singapore has seen its worst monthly drop in tourist arrival numbers in six years. 689,000 tourists visited Singapore last month, a 15.2 per cent fall year-on-year.

The largest decline in the country's visitor arrivals was in July 2003, when it registered a 20.4 per cent fall.

Analysts said they expect the situation to remain bad for at least six months as the US economy has not stabilised.

Those in the business also said tourists usually visit a few countries in the region, not just Singapore. So when tourist numbers drop in the region, it affects Singapore as well.

Unfortunately for the city state, while bigger Asian countries like China and India can fall back on domestic tourism, Singapore is too small to do so.

The latest figures from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also showed that hotels' room revenue plunged 28.7 per cent to S$123 million in February, compared to the same month in 2008.

The average room rate for February also fell 20.6 per cent on-year to about S$205.

Average occupancy rates reached 76 per cent last month, down nearly 3.3 percentage points from last year.

- CNA/yb/so

Singapore Salary Guide Revealed! Updated and More Extensive

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:13:00 +0000

Since our last article on Singapore Salary Guide came out, it shoots up and remained as the most popular article in this website. Apparently, people are really concerned about the topic of money, especially how it relates to their chosen career. Since that article came out, some things have changed. The biggest and most noticeable of which is that little thing we call “economic crisis.”

We did a little research to get an updated and more extensive salary guide to include almost all possible professional jobs available in Singapore. On this quest, we succeeded. And as a bonus, not only will we reveal to you the salaries per industry in Singapore; we will also let you take a peek at the respective salaries in the neighboring countries namely Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan.

There are quite a number of manpower consulting companies here in Singapore. Basically, they provide staffing solutions, outsourcing and permanent placement for large multinational companies and SME’s alike. It is a big industry here in Singapore that companies engaged in these kinds of services now run in the hundreds. There are only a few however, that are really big and well respected in the industry. One of them is Hudson.

Hudson is a leading provider of permanent recruitment, contract professionals and talent management solutions worldwide. From single placements to total outsourced solutions, Hudson helps clients achieve greater organizational performance by assessing, recruiting, developing and engaging the best and brightest people for their businesses. The company employs more than 3,300 professionals serving clients and candidates in more than 20 countries.

Presenting the Singapore Salary Guide on a per industry basis. Click on the link relevant to your field.

Ø Accounting & Finance
Ø Advertising & Communications
Ø Banking & Financial Services
Ø Healthcare & Life Sciences
Ø Human Resources
Ø Investment Banking IT Salary Benchmark
Ø IT & Telecommunications
Ø Legal
Ø Manufacturing & Industrial
Ø Sales & Marketing

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.

How to Embellish your Resume Without Lying

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Lying on a resume is one of the worst things that a person can do for their careers. Many resumes are fact-checked before an employee is hired; keeping the ones who lie away from the jobs they seek. Even after a person has been hired, finding a lie on a resume is often grounds for dismissal. So, what to do when your resume is lacking and you don't want to lie? Embellishment is an art form that can bridge the gap between a lack of experience and the job you want.

Since you won't be inventing any experience that you really don't have, you have to play up the experience you do have. Sometimes ordinary tasks are really much more than they sound like in conversation. Even low-level employees are given tasks that are based on trust and responsibility, ands those can be played up without ever being untruthful.

If you have experience working with the public, this gives you a wealth of material to embellish. Working with the public requires a number of interpersonal and communications skills that are important to any business. Instead of "worked at the counter" or "rang up sales," play up the skills it took to do what you did. You communicated with the public, you solved customer problems, you made sales, you upsold products by communicating to the customer the various options available to them, etc. These are all skills that are useful in many different fields.

If your educations credentials leave a little to be desired, you can play up what you actually studied instead of how many years you studied. If you didn't quite graduate from college, go into detail about the subjects you studied that could be helpful in the job you're seeking. If you have a degree in a field that isn't applicable, play up the classes that were. For instance, a person seeking a sales job won't be helped much by their botany degree, but they may be helped by mentioning that they studied psychology and sociology, both subjects that can help in relating to customers. Find something, somewhere that you studied that might be useful to a prospective employer. By playing up that instead of the degree field, you can make your educational credentials sound perfect without ever lying.

Think about the many skills you've picked up away from the job. You probably have a number of talents and credentials that aren't related to former jobs but that can help to build your resume. If you've ever served on a local committee, that's an organizational credential that you can use to your advantage. Any volunteer work in your past can show your initiative as well as special skills. If you've ever served as an officer of a sorority or fraternity, helped to organize a charity drive or helped arrange a large meeting, you have skills that should be played up on your resume. Use action words and details to make these skills sound relevant and you may just impress an employer.

About the Author: Jason Kay recommends you read resume writing service reviews before choosing a resume writing service.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/how-to-embellish-your-resume-without-lying-819341.html

Negotiation for Pay: Effective Ways to Negotiate your Salary

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Note: This is a guest post from Bob Stanley, a career services specialist.

Almost half of the jobseekers and employees are embarrassed to be the first to raise the pay issue even though in reality they are unhappy with the salary they are offered or salary they are currently receiving. But, negotiating your salary is not that difficult as long as you tackle it professionally. Nowadays, salary negotiation is generally discussed during job interviews.

Ideally, the first person to raise this sensitive issue is the employer (interviewer). Before laying your cards on the table of what you are willing to accept, ask the employer how much he/she is willing to offer. But, if that is not the case, do your homework. Ask around for the salary range of employees with the same position and industry you are applying to. You should be familiar with how much employees carrying out similar roles and responsibilities are being paid. The culture and attitude of different employers vary, but at least you have an idea of the prevailing market rates so in the end you will never feel like you are the injured party.

It is also essential to find out as much information as you can about the company's financial situation and capabilities. Of course, if you are applying in major companies, you can demand or ask for a higher salary. But, if you are thinking of applying to positions in charitable institutions or small and medium enterprises, then your chances of getting a higher compensation is not that great.

If asked about how much you are currently earning, politely avoid answering the question. I always believed I was paid fairly and I was happy with my compensation, but at this point in my career I'm looking for new challenges. It is a good idea to be honest, but no need to limit yourself by telling the interviewee your existing one.

In many cases, if you will be asked what sort of salary you are looking for, you could tell your prospective employer that you need more detail of the role you are going to engage in the company. If pressed with time, it is fine to tell the interviewer that you need time to think about the ideal salary range, and then move the conversation along.
Most importantly, when you negotiate about the pay, negotiate for a win-win situation with your employer. A good negotiation is a discussion in which both parties understand and respect each other's position and responsibilities. It ends when all parties feel that their concerns are heard and their needs have been addressed well.

About the Guest Author: Bob Stanley is career services specialist at Best Price Resume, an online resume writing service in Tampa, FL. The company offers high-quality resumes as well as other career assistance to help clients get a job. Visit their site for more details at http://www.bestpriceresume.com/.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/career-management-articles/negotiation-for-pay-effective-ways-to-negotiate-your-salary-801007.html

NEWS: Marina Bay Sands to hire 4,500 people

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:18:00 +0000

This is the latest news from Channel News Asia.

SINGAPORE: The Marina Bay Sands integrated resort in Singapore is now recruiting for its casino operations. In this second phase of recruitment, it is looking to hire about 4,500 people, to be dealers, pit supervisors, gaming table technicians and surveillance personnel.

As construction of the Marina Bay Sands gets underway, the company behind the US$5.4 billion integrated resort is also stepping up its hiring before its opening at the end of the year. It has just completed a recruitment drive for hospitality staff.

As the gaming industry is still very new to Singapore, in-house training will be provided. Part-time positions will also be offered. Applicants need not have experience, but they need to possess the right attitude.

Nigel Roberts, president, Marina Bay Sands, said: "We want individuals who have a suitable approach to how they deal with people, customers.

"We're going to be creating a simulated casino and we shall be giving about 11 to 13 weeks of training to people who are interested in being part of that division."

Marina Bay Sands said the objective is to hire as many Singaporeans as possible. That is what the labour movement, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and the government's Workforce Development Agency are focusing on.

NTUC is helping the company screen and train interested jobseekers. The training programmes come under the national skills programme, SPUR.

Mr Roberts said: "I think it helps us all. It makes everything smoother, more efficient and as I said, at the end of the day, the objective is to hire Singaporeans - Singapore jobs for Singaporeans. And I think we all clearly have that ambition in mind."

Ong Ye Kung, assistant secretary-general, NTUC, said: "Our job bank now has 17,200 jobs. We have about 7,000 to 8,000 people in our database seeking jobs.

"Sometimes when there is a skills mismatch or expectations mismatch, that's where we intervene. We try to train and counsel, so they can be matched to the job openings."

In the earlier recruitment exercise, over 1,800 applicants were referred to Marina Bay Sands for interview after going through NTUC.

Of this, 1,300 were shortlisted, while 1,000 will be receiving Letters of Intent soon informing them that they are being considered for jobs at Marina Bay Sands.

The company is aiming to hire about 10,000 workers. - CNA/vm

NEWS: Singapore tagged as the most innovative nation - study

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:50:00 +0000

This is the latest news from The Economic Times

(March 9, 2009) WASHINGTON: Singapore is the most innovative nation in the world, while South Korea placed first among 20 large countries, according to a study released on Monday by a manufacturing group.

The United States was eighth in the overall list of 110 countries and second in the subset of large nations, said the report, produced by the Washington-based National Association of Manufacturers and the Boston Consulting Group.

NAM hopes to use the report to put pressure on the new administration and congressional leaders to help American manufacturing, which is reeling from job losses as the US economy is gripped by the worst recession in close to three decades.

"Government can help move America up the innovation index by enacting more competitive tax, trade and workforce policies that enable U.S. manufacturers to innovate and succeed globally," said John Engler, NAM's president and chief executive and a former governor of Michigan.

Senior officials in the Obama administration are scheduled to travel to Michigan this week to meet with senior executives and labor leaders from the U.S. auto industry to discuss "fundamental restructuring" aimed at "long-term viability" for the sector, according to a senior administration official.

NAM said the study comprised a survey of more than 1,000 senior executives from its members asking them about "innovation friendliness." In the overall ranking, South Korea was second, followed by Switzerland, Iceland and Ireland.

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.

Jobs Credit Scheme is Singapore's weapon to combat unemployment

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Simply put, the Jobs Credit Scheme is a program put forth by the Singapore government to combat unemployment. The logic is simple. In order to keep the economy moving, people must keep their jobs, otherwise, spending will slow and in turn, economy will worsen. To do this, Singapore implemented the Jobs Credit Scheme which is one of the hallmarks of this year’s budget. The scheme partially subsidizes employee salary so business owners can continue keeping them especially in these times of recession.

The scheme was lauded by many economists within and outside Singapore because it sort of “kills 3 birds in 1 stone.” To wit:

First, The Jobs Credit, amounting to a 12 per cent subsidy on the first $2,500 of an employee's wage, delivers cash into the hands of companies.

Second, on top of saving jobs, the scheme also puts pressure on employers to save jobs specifically for locals. The issue of foreign talent and workers in Singapore's midst has been a touchy subject with some Singaporeans wanting the Government to do more to provide jobs for Singaporeans.

Third, the scheme avoids cutting employers' Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rate, which some companies had been calling for.

This brilliant move by the Singapore government only shows proper attention is being given to make sure the impact of the present crisis is at least mitigated. If they get successful on this, then other countries might follow suit and we can get out of this recession sooner rather than later.

For more information about Jobs Credit Scheme, you can visit this site.

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.

Singapore, the Cleanest City in the World? You bet! (video)

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Click "Read more on this article..." to watch the 3-minute video report by CBN.

NEWS: Expect more contract-based IT jobs in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:02:00 +0000

This is the latest news from ZDNet Asia.

(Feb. 25, 2009) A significantly higher number of jobs in the country will be offered on a contract basis this year, as organizations look for flexible employment terms to circumvent headcount restrictions, a human resource survey revealed.

According to the Robert Walters Singapore Salary Survey 2009 released Wednesday, many roles that were traditionally offered as permanent jobs will be converted into contract positions.

"With organizations looking to justify each and every permanent headcount, we would expect the majority of requirements for project initiatives to be offered as contract opportunities," the survey noted.

The human resource agency, which offers recruitment services for mid- to senior-level IT positions, anticipates that candidates applying for these jobs will warm up to contract roles as the perceived job security that permanent positions offers, lessens during the recession.

On whether this employment practice will continue after the recession, Adam Bowden, manager of the recruiter's IT commerce division, noted that it is too soon to determine either way.

According to the Robert Walters report, demand for candidates with experience in project management, service delivery, business analysis, network implementation and infrastructure consolidation, will be particularly strong throughout 2009.

Bowden said projects resulting from the S$1.14 billion (US$749 million) worth of infocomm tenders that the Singapore government announced last year, will also boost the popularity of contract jobs in the island-state.

"Also, when the Youth Olympic Games comes to Singapore in 2010, contract-based tech skills will be required for that as well," Bowden said.

Slower hiring rate
Not surprisingly, Robert Walters expects slower recruitment this year in Singapore's financial services sector, where salaries are likely to be static or to rise only moderately.
Despite the decline, the recruitment firm anticipates continued demand by the sector for candidates with experience in service delivery, project management, risk and regulatory applications, systems architecture, application support and infrastructure operations.

As organizations in the manufacturing, logistics, pharmaceuticals and petrochemical sectors move toward outsourcing non-core IT functions, Robert Walters expects to see headcount reductions in this area, particularly at the junior to mid-level.

For job candidates, the silver lining is that as outsourcing becomes more prevalent, user organizations will look for candidates with experience in vendor, contract and relationship management, when recruiting mid- to senior-level IT professionals in 2009.

According to the survey, there will be high demand for experienced SAP consultants, service delivery managers and quality assurance professionals.

Source: ZDNet Asia

Stricter S-Pass criteria to be implemented soon

noreply@blogger.com (Darwin) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:39:00 +0000

(Feb 23, 2009) Not so good news for Pinoys who are coming to Singapore to look for a job. The Singapore Government recently announced that it will tighten the criteria for semi-skilled foreign workers (S-Pass).

S-Pass, which was introduced in 2004, is an employment pass for semi-skilled workers with diploma level or post-secondary level education and who earn at least $1,800 a month. (For more information about Singapore work passes, click here.)

The details and actual date of implementation has not been revealed yet but local media here in Singapore are running stories on how these foreign workers are directly competing with Singaporeans who face retrenchments or are looking for a job.

This reaction from Singapore Government is totally not surprising given that it is receiving a lot of pressure from its citizens to lend them a helping hand in times of crisis. While Singapore still recognizes the value of foreign workers / professionals, it also tries to strike a balance to help its citizens as well.

As of December 2007, there were 757,000 non-residents on work permits, 143,000 on employment or S passes and 85,000 on student passes.

Source: The Straits Times

Send in your comments or suggested topics at sugarpinoy@gmail.com. Click on the links below for other useful Singapore and Pinoy information.