UK Graduate opportunities in Singapore?

[HonestIago]

Hi folks,

Basically I visited a friend in Singapore for 2 weeks in August/September and absolutely loved the place and could happily see myself living/working there in the future for at least a few years.

My question to you Singapore PHers is do you think there are much in the way of graduate opportunities in Singapore/SE Asia for the likes of myself (I'm a 20yo Economics undergrad at a "good" UK university") given the current climate?

I'm in the process of applying for internships with banks in Singapore but given the level of competition I don't hold out a huge amount of hope. Realistically do you think I'd have a better chance of getting employed in the UK, getting a few years experience and then trying to get work in Sing? Or do I simply keep applying abroad once I leave university in the hope someone takes me on?

Also, do you enjoy the lifestyle enough to consider settling permanently in Asia or would you aim to return to the UK eventually? (assuming you are expat and not local)

Any thoughts hugely appreciated, cheers!

[Bing o]

HonestIago said:

Hi folks,

Basically I visited a friend in Singapore for 2 weeks in August/September and absolutely loved the place and could happily see myself living/working there in the future for at least a few years.

My question to you Singapore PHers is do you think there are much in the way of graduate opportunities in Singapore/SE Asia for the likes of myself (I'm a 20yo Economics undergrad at a "good" UK university") given the current climate?

I'm in the process of applying for internships with banks in Singapore but given the level of competition I don't hold out a huge amount of hope. Realistically do you think I'd have a better chance of getting employed in the UK, getting a few years experience and then trying to get work in Sing? Or do I simply keep applying abroad once I leave university in the hope someone takes me on?

Also, do you enjoy the lifestyle enough to consider settling permanently in Asia or would you aim to return to the UK eventually? (assuming you are expat and not local)

Any thoughts hugely appreciated, cheers!

It will be easier to transfer with some work experience in my opinion, however, my bank does have both graduate and management development programs that allow candidates to travel across the world. I know when I was doing my application that my company had to prove that no-one local could do my job (I'm a project manager).

My advice is to apply for internships and graduate placements anywhere and everywhere - you're young enough to be globally mobile so I wouldn't fixate on Singapore quite yet. Whilst Asia is the place to be at the moment, experience gained in NY or London would be very useful too.

My advice (and no doubt XJSJohn will be along soon) is that Singapore is the place you want to be in your 30s when you have settled down a bit - NY, Tokyo and HK would get my vote for someone in their 20s.

I've been here for 6 months now, and love it - it has it's faults, but at the end of the day, I pass less income tax than you are in VAT Not sure if I'll ever go back to be honest - maybe one day, but my view of the UK is increasingly gloomy, and I hate cold weather.

Best of luck with your endeavours - just remember that it's a big world out there, try and see as much of it as possible, and give back when you can.

Merry Christmas!

[XJSJohn]

what Bing o says is good advise, its a big world out there!

However i do know that Standard Chartered does big graduate programs in Singapore.

[HonestIago]

Cheers for the replies! I think I came across wrong, I'm not fixated on Singapore as such, I also visited KL and enjoyed it too. I just want to be somewhere other than Britain for a change of scene and potentially better standard of living/weather and Asia fits the bill. Must now get back to my applications...

Merry Christmas when it comes!