While I do not necessarily support the concept of foreign talent when local talent can be utilized, i sometimes can understand the reason why companies choose to hire foreigners.
I have a friend who is in the IT sector, whom once told me that when he put up a job advertisement, he sometimes get fresh NUS and NTU graduates applying for the job with little or no experience, expecting $2.5k and above.
I mean, can you believe that ?!? Furthermore, according to my friend, they are more demanding of the jobs and complain about things like office location, benefit entitlements, etc. When they join the company, the first thing on their mind is not about how much they can learn or contribute to the company, but about the next job and when they should make the jump.
Due to this very reason, most of them are looking for branded companies as it looks better on their resumes. Those with one or two years of experience (not fantastic, just basic level of experience) are expecting $3.5k and above.
Now you would have thought that it would have been justifiable, to say the least, if their work attitude is OK. Unfortunately, my friend said that their work attitude is rather bad as well. Most of them spend their days malingering, and when the deadline draws near, complain about having to work overtime.
There were Singaporeans that my friend’s company hired that basically stayed back in the office almost every day of the week until after 8 just so as to claim on the benefits, such as transport claim, meal claim and others. It was rather obvious (and rather stupid on their part) as most of the cab receipts indicated the trip started at 8.05 or 8.10. Furthermore, if they have an appointment with friends or their partners, they leave on the dot regardless of whether there is work to be done or if a deadline is drawing near.
Sheesh, talk about work commitments.
I am not saying these problems do not exist with hiring foreigners. However, they are here for one very simple reason. To make money. And they work their butts off to achieve that goal. Sometimes I wonder if we Singaporeans brought it upon ourselves due to our attitudes.
Now, the question is, would you rather hire someone that is not keen on working or someone that is keen on working ?
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well…you have to understand why singaporeans ask for more money on their resume. the only reason foreigners ask for lil $$$ here because when they return to their homeland…they can buy a plot of land over there! And those orang puteh get much much higher…those expats. I’m sure these so-called foreign talents are those from countries like China, Philippines, India…see any similarity????
a friend who’s a managing director in an IT company in UK…said that his branch office in the Philippines is only paid $200-300 over there…yes, that’s in SGD!
They rent the cheapest available flat they can in singapore recommended by their community over here. so they can ask for 1.5k-2k to work here and still survive. And mind you, these people have several years of experience in their line. Of course, putting in the shoes of employers, I would employ these people lah..cheap and good.
when you have a family…you’d understand why singaporeans ask for a higher pay in their resume. the cost of living is so blardy high here. and not to mention, if you or your partner kena retrenched…then that’s going to be hard on the family. and that’s why more singaporeans are joining teaching/nursing…because it’s a more stable line unless you refuse to follow your skool’s rules or you killed someone with an injection(haha), of course lah kena terminated
and i think those who stayed back and trying to make some $$$ of cabfares are single people and who definitely have no life. haha.
But seriously speaking, if i were to be an employer, I would rather employ my own local people. why? because I have worked with these so-called foreign talents…and their talents are nothing to shout about. Even if the locals put very low salary on their resume, employers would not want them. because the employers would ask…why put so low? must be something wrong with this guy. haha. and i’m not gonna dwell into the race part.
Put yourself in an employer’s shoe. Would you pay 2.5k for someone with no experience, no knowledge, and just a piece of paper ?
If your argument is true that 2.5k is needed for someone to survive, how come diploma holders are willing to ask for 1.5 to 1.8k ? They must live in an alternate universe where prices are lower compared to a NUS/NTU graduate based on your argument.
Having said that, FT is not a panacea. Most FT’s are rather lousy as well. But they work hard and that counts for something. And if you look at Indians (no, I am not trying to be racist. But they seem to be the ones that cause most of the problems), they basically talk more than they do. They can weave wonderful stories and try to talk their way out of any problems.
for 2.5k with no experience with just pass grades…then that guy must be kidding lah….BUT he can ask for that…if he has gotten good grades..i dun see why not. why else would scholars get good salary?
after all the points, that person should research what the market value is…and see what company he’s going into. there are some companies who are willing to pay 2.5k for a fresh degree holder. there are some diploma holders who earns slightly below 2k. and there are some after years of experience still at 1.5k level like me..haha.
haha…indians? the ones i met were hardworking….sure..ive even met those who BS…but it’s also the same with other races. some can come at 8.30am…but go for breakfast until 9.00am….lunch for 1.5hrs….leave on the dot.
oops..i better continue my work. my break’s over. hehehehe.
It’s no laughing matter dude.
Yang carik pasal bukan keluarga aku. Orang bodoh tu yang hantar surat layang. Oh, and after my dad made a police report, the officer informed him that ours wasn’t the first letter.
Apparently, other residents in my block have also received the same letter. And I forgot to rectify something; the contents of the letter read something like this: WARNING BLAH BLAH BLAH OWE MONEY CALL AH SOON HP NO: (some number I’ve forgotten) #04-374. IF HE NO PAY WE LOCK YOUR HOUSE.
I mean, what’s up with that? Orang tu yang hutang duit, orang lain punya rumah yang kena mangga? Apa, konon nak gertak kita jadi pressure kat orang tu suruh bayar? Dia ingat kalau orang takut, orang bayar? Podah! Orang lari, lagi ada.