Expat Student - Expat Job Advice & Expat Work Guide

The happiest time for me is after a website is launched, and there aren’t any software bugs to be found. :D

How do you find working in Singapore?

Before coming to Singapore, I used to work as a tour guide and reporter in Myanmar. I guess how well one adapts to working life in a new country also depends on one’s work experience.

For me, I had no prior IT knowledge before I came to Singapore to study in an IT course. So it was not easy for me to compete with the people who had formal qualifications in IT and were already working in the industry. But I gotta keep on trying and working hard to gain solid work experience.

What differences are there between living in Myanmar and Singapore?

One obvious thing is we have less free time here, and though jobs can be equally hard work in both countries, there is a big difference. Back in Myanmar, my friends and I all speak the same language and we share the same culture. So even if my job is tough, I can spit it out at the tea shop with my friends who will willingly listen to my complaints.

Another major different thing is the tea shop in Singapore, or ‘kopitiam’ as it’s called. In our country, a teashop is mainly for drinks and snacks, not for heavy meals. It isn’t so noisy and they play many kinds of music, so it is enjoyable to have a chit-chat at the tea shop while listening to the music.

Here, the public transportation is awesome. One of the things I love most is the MRT. I want to
bring the MRT to Myanmar. :D Though I do miss taking the trishaw in Myanmar, as you can conveniently hop on a trishaw after shopping, and it’s really cheap too!

We earn higher wages in Singapore, and enjoy a high standard of living with modern conveniences such as mobile phones and high speed Internet access. Back in Myanmar, we make less money but the plus side is that I can stay with my family and not have to pay for house/room rental fees, and can hang out with my friends and converse in our Burmese language.

Do you find it challenging/enjoyable working in a different country?

Yes, it’s sometimes challenging, sometimes enjoyable. The challenging part is not the job but the people that I interact with, being able to successfully adapt to their different working styles and mindsets.

How has working with different cultures changed you?

It has changed me a lot. The first thing is the language. Here people speak English in Singapore style, “Singlish”. So I speak English almost all the time. And there are a lot of Business and IT terms to learn at work, though I’m still not sure whether my English is improving.

What are your dreams for the future?

I want to have a job where I can learn new things to improve my skills and also earn a good income. I’d also like to settle down and have a family in a country where there is no crime and it is safe, and be able to take a tour and see the world at least once a year.