Need advise and help

There are really only two centres of activity in VN and those are Ha oi and Ho Chi Minh City. Both have sizeable Chinese populations as well with both Mandarin and Cantonese being spoken.

Of the two HCMC is most like Singapore, hot or hot and wet but our overseas newspapers and magazines don't have holes in them.

Only a limited number of companies have English working environments although the ability to work in three will b an advantage as business links between China and VN are increasing, particularly in Ha Noi. 

As an ASEAN passport holder you don't need a visa for a two-week visit and Tiger makes it easy to visit. To work here you will need a Work Permit which for you, as a Singaporean, will be easy. You will need a copy of your (clean) police record. Your driving licence should be accepted as a ASEAN licence, all VN licences are becoming ASEAN compatible this year. (You will learn that having a licence here doesn't mean they know how to drive. That is a BIG difference between Singapore and here!

Generic Aid Links

Jobs - Craig's List VietNam < http://vietnam.craigslist.org/jjj/ >

JobSearch VietNam < http://www.jobofmine.com/job/search/country/Vietnam >

Jobs SaiGon < http://www.jobsaigon.com/ >

JobStreet < http://vn.jobstreet.com/ >

Kiemviec.com < http://kiemviec.com/en >

Learn4Good < http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/ >

Monster VietNam < http://www.monster.com.vn/besafe.html >

VietNam Jobs Centre < http://jobs.asiabot.com/vietnam/ >

VietNam Works < http://www.vietnamworks.com/contact_us.php?lang=2 >

Vina HR < http://www.vinahr.com/ >

VIP Search < http://www.vipsearch.com/ >

Aviation Jobsearch < www.aviationjobsearch.com/jobs/vietnam/r/ >

Oil and Gas < www.oilandgasjobsearch.com/jobs/FPSO-jobs >

Engineering < www.expatengineer.net/ >

'Allow Ex-pat < http://www.alloexpat.com/vietnam_expat_forum/ >

[b]ESL/Teaching/Education Links

Ha Noi ESL < http://www.hanoiesl.com/ >

Mekong ESL < http://www.mekongesl.com/ >

SaiGon ESL < http://www.saigonesl.com/ >

SaiGon ESL Exchange < http://saigoneslexchange.com/ >

Dave's ESL Cafe < http://www.eslcafe.com/ >

Transitions Abroad < http://www.transitionsabroad.com/public … tnam.shtml >

Medical Links

Medical < www.careerjet.vn/search/jobs?s=yrs&l...+City&lid=121878 >

Medical Facilities < http://www.allianzworldwidecare.com/hos … &CON=world >

Medical Facilities < www.fvhospital.com/en/admin/12_01.php >

Medical < http://www.vietnamworks.com/jobseekers/ … mustmatch= >

Locate a job first, then apply for a Work Permit.

I have detailed notes on applying for permits, I will dig them out and PM you.

Hi. Thank you very much for your reply. So you suggest that I go down to HCM city itself and apply for a work permit and find job there? I have tried submitting resumes on several websites but yet to get any reply. Could you provide me with any address or where I can go to look for a job if I go to HCM city?as I am unable to speak Vietnamese will it be hard for me to find a job as well?
Thank you.

dathancna wrote:

Hi. Thank you very much for your reply. So you suggest that I go down to HCM city itself and apply for a work permit and find job there? I have tried submitting resumes on several websites but yet to get any reply. Could you provide me with any address or where I can go to look for a job if I go to HCM city?as I am unable to speak Vietnamese will it be hard for me to find a job as well?
Thank you.

Hi there. Please go to vietnamworks.com.You might find companies where you can apply for work.As for the work permit, it will be given to you by the company once you sign the contract and start working with them.Other companies pays for this.Others will ask you to pay by yourself and they will help you with the processing.You need your diploma and other school credential plus No Criminal Record document.You can obtain this from your country.Some of my friends got these from their embassy.Their embassy facilitated everything from their home country.I dont know if its the same with Singaporean. I hope their are Singaporeans on this site who can help you with this or you can get in touch with Singapore Embassy just to make sure.Work permit is very important to all foreigners working in Vietnam.I received a letter from my boss few days ago and said that the Vietnamese authorities will seriously and strictly implement this "No Work Permit No Work" policy beginning this 2012.

Email me if you have another question.

Good luck!

Hello!

Thank you very much for all your replies and advices. Really appreciate it. I have registered with Vietnamworks.com and also submitted my resume online and applied to quite a few jobs but i have yet to get any reply from them. I would like to ask if it is because i am a fresh graduate or is it because i cannot speak vietnamese.But all the jobs that I applied for states that the working language is English and also in the Job Descriptions.

Just would like to check as I want to move to Vietnam by Jan or Feb, that if i am unable to find any jobs online, would it help if i actually went to HCM city to go job hunting instead? but i dont know how i can do it since i cant speak any vietnamese. thank you very much for the help.

It is always advantageous to appear in person as it is much easier to make judgements based on you rather than an e-mail or letter.

Larger outfits, particularly those from the West, use databases to search their files for potential interviews. This means you have to go through your CV and pick out the most important words. You don;t need phrases.

These attributes should be listed under a heading called TAGS at the end of your resume.

Yours might include: Singaporean, single, male, speaks Mandarin - English, reads/writes Mandarin=English, prepared to travel,

etc. They scan your resume in, often in the mail room, and it is transported electronically to wherever.

Use this technique when you post on-line, too, as Mr. Google will index it within hours. Don't forget CraigsList as you can post there and wait for people to search.

If asked for salary expectations suggest that they are best to judge your worth to their organisation up on companies. the first person talking numbers loses the $$ game.

Read up on companies activities, see how your skills might fit in (and talk up what you see. I see you gained the contract for ...)

Be ready for trap questions. Who is the most important person to  our company (customer). Where do you see yourself in 5 years time (technology changes so rapidly it is impossible to say but I intend to continue my education to be ready for anything).

Always look the interviewer in the eye, grip wel when shaking hands, hold your hands together to stop distracting movements; be the last to sit down (wait for them to invite you(.

Dress 'square',I interviewed a HongKong guy once and the fad was to have about a inch gap between the tie know and the shirt (he didn't get the job)

If someone says you lack experience suggest that your enthusiasm will help make up your short comings and he could be your mentor.

Never lead for a job, it;s embarrassing to you both.

Always wait about a week and then write a "Thank you for interviewing me for I know you are busy. Take the opportunity to review your skill set. I always remember the people who say thank you. Always choose late in the time slots so you linger in their minds.

When they offer you a job always request a week or two to complete your obligations, shows responsibility to others.

I have interviewed hundreds of people three of which later became senior people in Nortel.

Use as many of the search engines listed above, head hunters use them all. Don't use a stupid e-mail name, either.

Good luck!

Hi Dathancna,

There are quite a few Singaporean companies with offices and factories here.  You might want to check with them first.  As for coming here for a job hunt...  I don't think it will help much, especially when you don't speak the local language.  Things are pretty spread out over here.

But, I think your not speaking Vietnamese limits your opportunities here. 

Howie

hello everyone!

thank you all for your replies. Right now i am still sending loads of emails and resumes to suitable jobs and just hoping that at least 1 will reply to me. haha.

Well i also tried looking for singapore companies that are based in vietnam but unfortunately i am unable to find much and those that i can find are usually hiring engineers or more of on the management and director levels. not much on the experienced and non-managerial level though. but if i am unable to find a job by mid Jan i think i would try going down to HCM itself and try and see what other ways i can try to look for a job.

Thanks everyone! Cheers!