Securing a job overseas! This is the thought which I think comes to most of Indian software professional. Any where in world which
they can caliculate that XX/- Rupees = $. Its not wrong to think , try in that way. But this thoughts and trials many time let them
into fall in hands of some so called "Consultants". They lure these gullible candidates of their parents hard earned money and they
are left no where. I have come across many people who has lost their money and time in this process. Just turn around and I am sure
you too will find atleast one. Isnt true?. Well this provoked me why not I share what ever knowledge I have how in general 90% candidates
secure job in Singapore which is like a gateway for your enormous opporunties all over world. Because with a experience of here its
easy to secure a job anywhere, becuase Singaporeans are really hardworking and technically quite advanced.
This might be long but
if you understand, that means you know what to do next.
To start with first, to work in Singapore there are two categories of passes. Work Permit (Unskilled workers) and Employment Pass (
Skilled workers and professionals similar to a H1-B kind of thing you can assume). I'll not talk about work permits. So lets discuss about Employment Pass (Better known as EP).
EP is of two status. Q1 and Q2. Based on your credentials you are issued a EP with Q1 or Q2 status. The only difference between these
is with Q1 status you can get a dependent pass for your wife but with Q2 you cannot (This is the biggest nightmare you can say
for married guys if the get a Q2. Many of guys working are separated from their newly wed wifes because of this ha.a.ha.ha.ha.).
Make it underline that No one can gaurantee a EP, If he does that means he his dubious, becuase except Immigration here none knows about that.
Its assumed that credentials of candidates qualification and experience, Company which applying his EP and the Client which issues supporting letter
plays a important role in getting EP approved.
Any consultants who charge the candidates or make big promises there in india simply get the candidates here on SVP, put them is some
cheap low budget hotels or lodge (mostly in area called Little India), show them the Employent agencies address or Human Resourcing
companies address or introduce to them and rest is he/she has to struggle/follow up those agencies for their jobs. And when Candidates
get their jobs they demand from the agencies too if the candidate has signed any contract with them before coming here.
I am damm sure 90% of these people they do this. So, just Imagine just to bring you here and show you the agencies here they charge you heavy promising
all sort of things for you. Fact will be they will be doing nothing worth mentioning. I think if you have a enough common sense or a friend here
you can be more comfortable probably with much less money that too. Bottom line is if anyone is charging you money
either before or after you secure a job here it means he his doing his business. His profits are important to him not you or your troubles.
Lets go deeper into it. First candidates lands here. His first hurdle, The Immigration Counter. where
he gets a stamping of stay eithe for 14 days or 30 days (some time worse even 7 days). Once you come out and some one receives you. Take you to
his home or a hotel. All big dreams comes into your eyes while you are on your way to hotel or lodge from airport seeing this majestic country so clean and
of high rise buildings. Second day you try to adjust with the environment feel bit homesick and just go around streets near by your stay.
Your friend/some representative of your so called consultant of india takes you first to a place called Anson Road then shows you a building International Plaza,
where most of the Singapore consultants have their offices. from their about a km walk though Cecil street ,Robinson Road you finally
end up at Raffels Place. Between these 4 roads you have maximum of your consultants. Now I tell you clearly the FACT, make up your mind clealy becuase
next 14 or 30 days or say till you EP is filled you have to roam in this 4 roads (which of strech abt 2 kms) like a stray dog from
one consultant to other. Giving away softcopies of your resume and backinp up them daily. And wait for some consultant to contact you for
inteview at his clients place. Dont worry you are not only the One there will many like you some probably few days more experienced than you.
Other than those you can also find some candidates who are on "Bench (I dont have to describe i think)". So this will be your routine for few
days every morning coming to this place moving around going to "Lau pa sat" at lunch time have a dosa or idly (many dont to save money)
and again start hunting post lunch. In mean time rush to that place when you overhear someone saying.. "hey there is a opening there".
Saturdays evenings you go to "Perumal Temple" in Little india you'll find many software professionals there. May be some of your old friends too.
and their only one talk will be between most of them. What is the market, Where are new openings, Who has come on bench, how many SVP
candidates came this week , which consultant
is doing what etc.. nothing more than that. You can say that temple on Saturdays evenings is a hub for many of andhraites.
First Few days pass by like this. In mean time you become well aware what to do. What "Promises" have been fulfilled by your indian
consultant. Then comes your tension half of your days passed hunting jobs. No result. Your Visa stay is expiring. Tension of Extension of Visa.
EP filing mounts. Every person who has a EP here will tell you his own version. Do this, Do that, He is good, He is bad etc. They'll feel
they are the only persons who knows everything (fact will be they will be also might been gone through all this). You have no choice but
to nod your head for every thing, becuase you are a SVP candidate. In mean time you find some dubios guys who promise you job and EP etc
if you are ready to shell out something. Sheer blunder none can do that. If fate is good, some consultants will arrange interviews to you
but before that you'll be demanded to hand over your passport or certificates to them for their security. so that you cannot go away
to others. Once your are through you are said to fill the EP form and rest is taken care by that consultant. your hunt is finished
here. Now you can relax a bit and pray god for its approval which takes some 10-15 days time for processing. In mean time if your visa
is expiring your new consultant here who applied your EP will go for an extension of it. Its more of his headache then.
Now say if you dont find a company here , your visa is expiring things go wrong for you. You have to look out for a local sponsor (citizen or a PR) who
can go for your extension. Some friend, some friend's friend, some good hearted or ( to be frank sometimes someone who'll charge
some 100 S$ for that). you next extension you get can be for 14 days more or 30 days or sometimes even 7 days.
Many times it can be NFE (No Further Extension) commonly known as Final. Cannot say. Its your luck. If you get extension
that means you get some more grace period to try your luck. and its final you have no choice but to leave the country under
any circumstances. Thats why many candidates they get a Double entry visa to Singapore and a Single entry visa of malaysia.
This is Only becuase if they get final extension for visa they can leave to malaysia which is just 2 hours (border state called Johor Bharu [JB]) from here stay for a day or two
and come back to singapore. As it will be a new entry to country again its like the day one process for you.
So this is the Process which almost every candidate does to secure a job. Some try hard, use all sort of means etc. Some has to leave
empty handed. Now you just analyze how much a person who promised a job in india has done for you. All he did is landed you here,
put you in a lodge and showed you some address. It was all your own effort which gives result. If you get a visa and come here.
Ask the cabman (taxi) to take you to some budget hotel in Little india. You your self without anyone help can find your way. Once
here you can ask any software professional he'll tell you the same process above and you can hunt your own. Why need to pay those huge
cash to those bloody looters who make money for doing nothing.
Now let me tell you few things very important.
according to law a person voilates law if he indulges in any sort of business/employment
when he is on SVP on holiday.
Only after obtaining a valid EP from immigration then he can take up job. EP's are not tranferable, I mean
If you get EP from one company you have to work under that company only you cannot change it. If you wish to first you have to cancel the
EP and then reapply for a new EP from that company. Many consultants here take this a advantage and exploit you a lot.
You cannot cancel your EP on your own you need your consultants letter to do so.
If you are happy with your consultant or not , you have no choice but to slog there thats it.
(This is a strange law I feel as you have to either work there or go back to india. Its like a bonded labour kind of thing, if
in singapore you HAVE to work under the company who hold your EP) Only becuase of this many of Software professionals are exploited by
consultants
According to law, there is nothing called BENCH here. Infact authorities dont even understand what a Bench means here.
I mean to say once a company hires you they has to pay you whether you
are placed or not. But not many are aware of it. They keep quite becuase consultant threat them with EP cancellation.
but fact is that if you approach any lawyer or consel and issue a legal notice to your employer for your bench salary, belive me your employer will come running to you
for "settlement" after he receives your legal notice.
Singapore is known for its strict laws. Here every one is equal and they have their rights. Even you are a expat you have
full support if you are correct. All you need is to be brave and apporach authorities if you are exploited.
Almost daily I see candidates who are on
bench from past 3-4 months , sitting idle and none are dared for this. except one or two cases. Just becuase they'll loose their EP's
they dont want to take risk. WHY?. Instead of sitting idle and when you know market is really bad and no hopes for next 2-3 months what
is the use in wasting your time and money her if you dont get proper help from your consultant or employer.
If on bench for more than a month that means either you are not fit or your consultant/company is not capable of providing you a
job. Either way you are the loser. So be wise, take good decision instead of wasting time and money here, rather go back,
be with your family, brush yourself with new tools and comeback more confidently.
Please Note :
The content in the above is only to make you aware that what exactly happens. Neither I do claim nor take any responsibility
nor I have any sort of interest nor I am suggesting you to follow this. This is just for a general awareness ONLY.
