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Working in Singapore V18, All About Living in The Little Red Dot
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Dilemmaz
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 May 6 2016, 11:33 AM
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Getting Started
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Hi guys,
This is my story so far. For the purpose of keeping my confidentiality, I created an account to voice out and seek for advise and opinions on what should I do.
I am 27 years old this year. I have a bachelors degree in accounting and finance from an australian university.
I have roughly 4 years of working experience. About 1 year in Malaysia and 3 years in Singapore (currently).
I am holding an employment pass and I am looking to apply for PR for the 2nd time.
I worked in a small audit firm in Malaysia for about 1 year and now currently working in an audit firm which has about 40 staffs for 3 years as of today. It is my first job in Singapore.
Now the issue is applying for a PR in Singapore under my current company. My boss put a clause in my contract stating that if I apply PR under this company, upon approval, I would have to serve the company for 3 years. I am in a rush to apply PR because I want to start a family with my wife to be and quickly buy a HDB to settle down. The new PRs are said to need to wait for 3 years before buying a HDB.
Problem is I think I am not too happy working under my boss which I think is very calculative and kiamsiap(stingy).
I am earning 2.7k per month now. I am 27 years old. The yearly increment is only 100 dollars. Normal bonus one month only. I feel like I am going nowhere with this.
Furthermore, my company has no benefits at all. I only have 10 days of annual leave per year.
Work is very stressful. Boss doesnt appreciates even old staffs. Colleagues are nice and friendly?
I tried applying jobs from jobstreet for the past 6 months. I sent so many out until jobstreet gave me a warning. There are no replies from any of them. I start to wonder if its because I am not a PR? or something wrong with my resume.
I want to know if I am underpaid for my field. I feel very low compared to my other friends as they got promoted in their jobs, get big fat bonuses, so many annual leaves.
Should I apply PR in this company and serve the 3 years? or should I postpone my plans and find another job and apply in other company? I am already 27 and I feel like I am going nowhere. No house, low pay, and etc.
What should i do?
This post has been edited by Dilemmaz: May 6 2016, 11:41 AM
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 01:07 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(crazy25kid @ May 6 2016, 12:04 PM) personally, i think you are underpaid. what is the "penalty" if u gotten PR and left? getting stuck there for another 3 years will give you more stress. ideally, i think u should find a new job...but job market isn't that promising How much should I be getting? I see those jobstreet ads for accounts executive only about 2.2k to 2.8k and on top of that, i didnt get any replies LOL. The penalty is 3 months pay if i leave early. I actually made an appointment in August 2016. I was actually hoping I could find another job and land the PR both when the time comes but....it seems GG.... haihz... is it possible to postpone my PR application when I made the appointment alrteady? |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 01:08 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(kyone @ May 6 2016, 12:28 PM) Not sure if you're underpaid or not, but you sure if you get PR through this company you can afford HDB installment by that time? Can support your family and work with the bad boss without feeling miserable? Or try to settle down in jb while you work in sg as prop price is much lower? I will try to make ends meet by that time. I think living in JB while working in SG is not a viable option for me. Its too hectic. |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 01:23 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(KilJim @ May 6 2016, 01:20 PM) It really doesn't matter how much you "should" be getting, no one can tell you that Just go out and ask for the pay you want, if you cannot secure the offer at that level then the reality is employers dont think you're worth that much But regarding your PR scenario, I suggest you check with MOM if it is even legal for your company to create such a contact to bind you if you get PR (the PR is not issued by your company, so why are they allowed to bind you?) Also, what is the penalty in the contract if you need to break it? I will check with MOM regarding that matter. Penalty to break contract is compensate my 3 months pay. that is about 8.1k SGD ..... work 3 months for free. |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 02:09 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(KilJim @ May 6 2016, 01:26 PM) 8.1k huh, well worse case if the contract is legit, you can just take it first and break later Assuming you get a job that pays $500 more you will make it back easily, plus the housing + CPF benefits of being a PR should make it worth it anyway Just called up MOM. The employment act remains silent regarding my situation. So the legal side should kick in....so if its in my employment letter....its legit... but 8.1k is hellalot haihz |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 02:10 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(XiuKeong @ May 6 2016, 01:47 PM) Why not try apply to Big 4 or mid-tier firm? 27 is still young though. Didnt like the big 4... its good for the resume but I doubt I can take it.... I am going commercial for my next job... dont really like audit... high risks... high stress....long hours... |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 02:13 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(kevin613 @ May 6 2016, 01:58 PM) which contract did you boss made you sign that says you must work with him for 3 years after getting PR, and have you signed it already? Employment letter. Haihz damnit man... lets say I go with the application this year... lets say by next year June 2017 I get approved.... then wait for 3 years before I can leave without breaking contact... I am already 31 yrs old already... dont know if other companies still want me to start doing accounts since I got zero experience in accounts.... since I do audit & tax only... |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 02:45 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(morgana_jara @ May 6 2016, 02:16 PM) Apply for your PR. At the moment based on what I heard, it takes more than 6 months to approve. While waiting for the status, find yourself a new job. Then notify them on the change in job. Being on low pay with a small company is not going to help your application. If not wrong, the size of your firm and your salary are one of the factors that can affect whether your pr is approved. Is your fiancee a pr already? If you're planning to apply first (instead of applying together) then get her a spouse pr, it may take a few years more as I heard ICA may reject applications from newly married spouse. I thought of it also... but can you actually change job in the midst of waiting for approval? This is because there is one page of the PR application form that requires the company to disclose some sensitive information / financial information. So you sure can change job while waiting for approval? My fiancee is working in Singapore under S pass. We plan to apply together this year. |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 02:48 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(KilJim @ May 6 2016, 02:20 PM) No good news  But like I said above ler, you can still consider getting your PR and paying the penalty anyway Worth it in my opinion Think of how much CPF you lose every month you get your PR later, and also the happiness in getting your HDB earlier  But your bigger problem is prob that you cant seem to get a better job out there yes.... I dont know why... I wonder if its because I use the wrong platform or what... I use jobstreet.... plus I am applying for accounts position when I only have audit & tax experience only... I feel very down as I feel my pay is very low.... I dont know what is the average pay for my field... I feel the increment is very slow... is 100 per year normal? This post has been edited by Dilemmaz: May 6 2016, 02:48 PM |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 03:19 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(deadravel @ May 6 2016, 03:08 PM) im not sure about other industries, but mine, IT/sw engineer. the increment is like 3% average. I heard from some senior of same industry that increment is very low in sg, only jumpship can get higher  mine is about 3% Lol 100 bucks like that work 20 years also barely 5k LOL |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 03:20 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(morgana_jara @ May 6 2016, 02:57 PM) www.ifaq.gov.sg/ICA/mobile/index.aspx#Detaildoc/30337 lifesaver! thanks! It should buy me some more time... hopefully able to find another one.... but not sure if it will be able to escape using that method or not... since my boss is of that TYPE of person.... as I did apply PR under the company name at FIRST. This post has been edited by Dilemmaz: May 6 2016, 03:22 PM |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 04:11 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(puppyee @ May 6 2016, 03:31 PM) Perhaps you might want to consider updating your linkedin as well. A lot of employers/headhunters lurk there. Did already. |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 04:12 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(knwong @ May 6 2016, 03:49 PM) How many jobs did you applied actually? Never know JobStreet cap a limit to someone's application  i think cannot be more than 150 per month |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 04:31 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(KilJim @ May 6 2016, 04:19 PM) Did you try applying to your direct competitors? Other small audit firms That should be the easiest I tried applying other companies but no replies. Didnt want to go into audit firms anymore. Want to do accounts instead. |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 04:32 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(knwong @ May 6 2016, 04:17 PM)  You must be one desperate person then. There people who are jobless now, and you are more proactive than them yes I am desperate. as I am applying PR soon but I dont want to stay in my current company for another 3 years. I dont think I can take it anymore. |
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Dilemmaz
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May 6 2016, 05:14 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(madmoz @ May 6 2016, 04:34 PM) Beggars can't be choosers, as the saying goes. Are you a qualified accountant ie SG CA? If so, you probably have a better chance of securing a job. No I am still taking my ACCA papers. My stingy boss dont even give exam or study leave. LOL audit firm pulak. |
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Dilemmaz
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May 7 2016, 02:40 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(crazy25kid @ May 6 2016, 06:43 PM) or do it the other way round...fiancee apply and he become the spouse in 1 single application like my case. the company back then was 1 year bond after PR approval and employer cpf comes from me also. I think its the same? since I will be a PR while working in my current company.... so I think they can still bind me? |
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Dilemmaz
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May 7 2016, 02:41 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(fcuk90 @ May 6 2016, 09:48 PM) try midtier firm /big-4 , and then apply pr from there. I wished I went to big 4 when I was still a fresh grad... but I think now I dont feel like doing audit anymore.. very tiring... |
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Dilemmaz
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May 7 2016, 02:42 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(z21j @ May 6 2016, 10:37 PM) Work in Singapore (but don't buy HDB) and settle down in Australia. Qn: If you leave within 3 years then what happen? They cant tie you down what. How to work in sg but settle down in Australia? Its so hard to get a working permit to even remain and stay in Aussie... Leave within 3 years, compensate 3 months pay. |
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Dilemmaz
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May 7 2016, 02:47 PM
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Getting Started
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QUOTE(knwong @ May 7 2016, 12:28 AM) Brand name does help. Why? Cos to enter such esteemed company like Facebook, McKinsey, Temasek, Exxon Mobil, etc normally in their respective industry these companies would have recruited the best and well groomed candidates. However pay wise would probably just on par in the market If you claimed you have 3 years experience from these companies, Versus another candidate from a cinapek company, the cinapek one would need more years of experience to up his hiring chances I think this is what I am facing now. Big mistake to join small firms |
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