Disclaimer: I am not an auditor.

Heard from my audit friends that big4/large audit firms don't attach much weight to work experience in small firms. So if you do decide to get your foot in the door this way, the road to jump ship to a bigger firm in the future might be difficult as well.

During the good days, the IB will pluck out the top local grads before they graduate to fill the role. Those pluck out are given more opportunity to excel, labeled as "scholars". But if don't perform, they also will be kicked out.

For you guys coming over either as fresh grads or lao jiao, you will lose out to the fame of the local university, local exposure and network aka connections. Build up the connections in school or working during the time in Malaysia. You know IB has no life in the early 5-10 years right?

This is so true. Eg., one may have senior experience in handling IT equipments but may not get similar position in IT audit

changing job not easy nowadays. wanna change job after working at same company for 9 years. send out resume no reply. work permit really susah. everyone want pr/local haha.

I feel you bruh, been through the same during my first SG job hunt.

That's what I heard as well. Networking and connections play a much larger role in hiring here in Asia compared to other parts of the world. I am of course aware of the rigor of IB, but I think the learning opportunities are unparalleled and the skills are easily transferable when leaving the industry. I think the pros outweigh the cons, at least for me.

Hi all,

Is it really so hard to look for an accounting job in SG these days? I've been on a job hunt for more than 2 months already, sent out more than a hundred applications and the replies I got are barely less than 5.

Holy sh*tsnack!

It took me long enough to realize you guys are talking about investment banking. I was too shy to ask and I thought you guys are talking about internet banking all along!

Quick question, did anyone here convert to PR and successfully convinced the boss to pay full-employer rate CPF on the first year?

This post has been edited by Steven7: May 8 2017, 09:57 PM

I'm still checking with the Finance dept but they haven't get back to me since last week

I just work for 1 month (in Oct 2016), apply with Citibank. Immediately approve. But since I was too new, the credit limit is less than my 1 month salary...

Wah sien, I'll try with my blue IC. If still reject,

Good luck bro! You just gave yourself extra 17% salary huh, you have a good boss I don't even know how should I bring this up

Nah, don't think they will continue to give me that extra 17%. More likely deduction liao

I've been applying for jobs in SG for the past one week. Applied 18 on Jobstreet, 12 were rejected so far. Applied & the next day got rejected as "not suitable" though I am qualified for the position. Those employers didn't even view my resume. I suspect they are hiring only Singaporeans or PRs.

FYI, my Jobstreet resume is impressive. I've been headhunted 10 times in Malaysia (since 2016 to date) coz local employers saw my Jobstreet & LinkedIn profiles and they contacted me to offer me different positions. Yet, those applications for SG jobs are unsuccessful. According to my recruiter friend, SG companies have tightened their hiring policies & unemployment rates among their locals are high now.

Anyway, I was just trying coz my bf is a PR there; I just wanna be with him & develop an international career. I have an outstanding career here in M'sia & would like to progress even further. Anyway, it's time to try a different strategy to job hunt.

Headhunted 10 times? At final stage of interview with salary offered already?

This post has been edited by HenDa: May 8 2017, 11:06 PM

My friend tried to apply in one of the telco, got referred by the VP and got hired

Wow, mind asking what job u working currently, and wat job u looking in Singapore?

The hiring company didn't want to hire or bcuz of the mom regulation ?

Personally, I am not an expert in the Front Office environment and I can see some has offered good feedback to u. In term of nationality, there is not much barrier in SG compared to other countries, however it also created a very competitive landscape where u are competing with grads from all countries from world's top uni. I think funding tuition fee is not a question if u can afford to complete it. Based on IB total comp I think u can easily cover it within 1-2 years if u are high achiever. Remuneration wise, IB in Malaysia is definitely lagging behind compared to SG. I do agree with iceypain on sort of "reset" part as it is viewed as lesser value compared to a competitive environment. U can still achieve better total comp even with reset from MY to SG.


My personal view on the differences are mainly platform, sustainability and complexity. If u compare IB in SG and MY on these 3 elements, I believe there are huge gap which time spent in MY IB is not much valued in SG. The platform to run deals are so different between IB in MY compared to Swiss pure play. Products complexity is another level. 10M USD deals means differently on both sides.
Nevertheless, if u manage to start in SG definitely better than MY (The breakthrough part is true, ivy leagues are flooded in IB world). I understand there is leveling in IB based on experience/deals as well. Top uni is at least an entry ticket but portfolio and deals come after that.


Regarding to IB job market right now (My personal view) - I think it is not that good. Looking at high-level financial sheets from BB and Swiss pure play, those with high PTI had already done their major revamp on IB structure. They are left with core and quite "skinny" combining/hybrid of parts of IB, HF, GM, CM, FID etc. Some are still bleeding due to slow in exiting some parts of their "fats".
Recruiting definitely slower to none right now and I think people are just waiting market to picking up and hopefully soon.


Yes, connection and network are equally important especially in Asia.

The company that I was working for previously automatically puts its perms on graduated employee, full employer CPF scheme from the day you get your PR. So no convincing needed.

Then again the company encashes an employer CPF equivalent amount to payroll for non-PRs/SCs anyway, so it's not like they lose out.