i’m just another foreigner struggling to find a job in Singapore
So I recently graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a diploma in Media & Communication and I’m a Burmese national.
When I was on Student Pass, I worked a few jobs with ease, part-time then full-time until the expiration of my pass. Now I have applied to more jobs and went to interviews that went really well until I see the interviewer’s face drop when I told them I need a Work Pass. Instant no.
The obstacle is…well, very inescapable and I’m constantly disappointed at the fact I may have gotten a job if it wasn’t for my foreigner status. Not gonna cry about it, obviously, there will be a local preference and I don’t do anything that’s high in demand. And often the companies I apply to have no foreigner quota.
I come here to ask for advice. What do I do? I cannot go home to Myanmar. I don’t have the option. There is no possible way to advance a career there at the current state, let alone find a job.
I had the option of going to university in the UK until I decided over 20,000 pounds a year was way too much for a path I wasn’t even terribly excited about. My goal is to literally just support myself in Singapore, to pay for rent, food, survive, yanno?
Is there anyone on the same boat? Would appreciate any advice. I keep on applying to jobs, aiming for bigger companies but there isn’t a lot I qualify for although I think I have a decent portfolio and amount of experience. Thanks everyone.
EDIT: Most of you guys were very helpful but there are one or two people who are…pissed? Claiming that I took advantage of Singapore. I don’t know if their fierce “love” for their country is a common thing but geez, calm down.
I truly valued my time here and worked really hard in my course. If you’re just hopping on to say “boo hoo, it’s your fault”, move on. I am not asking for sympathy. I literally asked for advice, and received it, thankfully. I already explained myself in the comments below. ‘