British family looking to move to singapore

[keboryan]

Hi,
We are a British family looking to relocate to singapore after falling in love with the city when we visited recently.
I am a fully qualified chef and have 12yrs exp working in the industry,including stints working at the BBC televisin centre and on the west coast of greece,My Fiancee is a Logistics Co-ordinator/administartor with around 12 exp and a good knowledge of working programmes.
We also have small daughter who is 20 months old and are looking to offer her a better life.
I am finding it hard to find work in singapore from the uk, and I am hoping that someone can give me any pointers as to finding work(ie.any chefs or logistic workers)or just any infomation may be of help for us,
 Kind Regards.

[Finky]

If you're a top quality chef with experience of running a restaurant in a 5 Star hotel, say, then there are plenty of opportunities here.

However, it sounds like you're not that sort of chef, which will make it very, very hard to find work here. There are plenty of perfectly competent mass market chefs here or in niegboring countries who are much easier to recruit, and will expect a much lower salary.

[re-invent yourself]

You can be anything you want here.  Top quality chef?  Tell people that's what you are and the expat market will believe you - possible the locals too.

I know people that have completely reinvented themselves here (with no qualifications)- interior designers, childcare experts, tennis coaches.  You name it, they're all out there.

Maybe if your wife could get the job that brings you here, you could then set about reinventing yourself.

This sounds tongue in cheek, but really it's not. 

[BoardAdmin4]

Both OP,

why not 'Top quality chef' ? do you know him ?

Give him some possibilty to come out before sentence him; we are here to help, giving information but not to bring them down for a very easy question. Little bit patience please

Thank you all

[Hawker Man]

There have been a few who have come over and started a hawker stall in a hawker centre and/or food court selling French cuisine (for example) to the masses, some have been successful, some haven't.  Be aware that visiting and actually living here are two very different things so do not judge the place on that visit alone.

There are several large hotels and restaurants here but with visitor numbers down around 10% the F&B sector will be contracting.

Whichever approach you decide on just make sure the spelling and grammar aren't as poor as your original post. 

Another point to be aware of is that unless you are married, then if one of you gets an EP the partner will only get an LTSVP at best, or worse, an SVP.  That also causes issues. 

[Come on....]

BdAdmin...

If the highlight of his career is a few stints at BBC Television Centre, then I don't think we're talking about Gordon Ramsay or anything close to Ramsay.

[keboryan666]

 Cheers, never intended to reinvent myself as gordon ramsey just some advice on getting work over there....must be some disgruntled mediocre chefs doing the 6 day week and pissed off, worried that I may come over and actualley piss a service and have passion in what I do!!!!!!!.
 But thanks for the advice anyway guys?

[Chin up]

To OP: Chin up and march! Just keep trying, if you can dream it, you can do it! Good luck!

[Realistic one]

It's all very well saying "live the dream" but if they come here and can't get work or hate the place it'll rapidly become a nightmare.

OP: Some of the previous posters phrased their posts somewhat harshly but they contained lots of valid points. F+B is generally badly paid with long hours, and it's a very different proposition living here to holidaying here.

I wish you luck, but don't rush into it.

[Chin up]

I am sure OP will not just sell off everything and move without a job etc to Singapore. So it may take time, but I still say; If you can dream it, you can do it!

[Your Clever Mate]

No particular advice for the OP except that it's possible with the right connections and a little luck.  People with less qualifications have found legal employment here, people with more have failed to do so.

I would like to correct one mistake above though - if you or your wife gets an EP here, the other will then be able to get a Dependant's Pass (DP).  DP holders can then work with the consent of the Singapore Ministry of Manpower.

[re-invent is rite!]

seriously, why be just a normal chef?

claim that you served under Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, and was sous chef at River Cafe etc....

your wife can try to be a shipping director.... why be an administrator for?

Singapore is brilliant for re-inventors..... I am currently a communications director. Just before I came, I was a call-centre operator in Abbey Wood London   

[NICEKEVIN]

Could you tell why you believe it's amazing to live in Sg'pore
The feeling between travel and living will be of great difference.
My suggestion is Make a serious consideration to quit your current job.
Though a qualified chef, you may not get the expected salary. Ur financee may be easier to find a job. The lving cost here is high, and the benifit is different between foreigner and citizen.
You will pay much in buying a house and cars.

Hi,
We are a British family looking to relocate to singapore after falling in love with the city when we visited recently.
I am a fully qualified chef and have 12yrs exp working in the industry,including stints working at the BBC televisin centre and on the west coast of greece,My Fiancee is a Logistics Co-ordinator/administartor with around 12 exp and a good knowledge of working programmes.
We also have small daughter who is 20 months old and are looking to offer her a better life.
I am finding it hard to find work in singapore from the uk, and I am hoping that someone can give me any pointers as to finding work(ie.any chefs or logistic workers)or just any infomation may be of help for us,
 Kind Regards.

[not so clever mate]

No particular advice for the OP except that it's possible with the right connections and a little luck.  People with less qualifications have found legal employment here, people with more have failed to do so.

I would like to correct one mistake above though - if you or your wife gets an EP here, the other will then be able to get a Dependant's Pass (DP).  DP holders can then work with the consent of the Singapore Ministry of Manpower.

Actually, I think the PP was correct - the OP mentioned fiancee i.e. unmarried partner.  It's not so easy to get DP for him/her as has been mentioned in many other threads.

[newlocal]

No particular advice for the OP except that it's possible with the right connections and a little luck.  People with less qualifications have found legal employment here, people with more have failed to do so.

I would like to correct one mistake above though - if you or your wife gets an EP here, the other will then be able to get a Dependant's Pass (DP).  DP holders can then work with the consent of the Singapore Ministry of Manpower.

Actually, I think the PP was correct - the OP mentioned fiancee i.e. unmarried partner.  It's not so easy to get DP for him/her as has been mentioned in many other threads.

Not sure if you've read the thread where I was active, but IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET DEPENDENT PASS EVEN WHEN UNMARRIED. 

Many people will tell you it's difficult/impossible.  For us it was a breeze, but only after I insisted on applying for it with the following support:

We proved that we were defacto by writing our own statutory declaration and having it stamped/witnessed by our Embassy.  That was submitted to my company and they sponsored the application for my EP (employment pass) and my partner's DP (dependent's pass) to the MOM.  So long as defacto relationship is recognized by your nationality/government, Singapore government will also respect it.

Regarding working in Singapore as a chef...  Had a friend who worked in high end restaurants in Australia incl. Bennelong Point/Opera House area.  They scored a job at 6 star hotel here.  He hated it.  Chefs aren't treated with the same respect and the hygiene standards he witnessed even in top top top hotels here made him grossed out.  e.g. mop that was used for the floor got used for the chopping/bench area.