In demand jobs in Singapore

Singapore is a small country with a total land area of 697.1sq km but it opens its doors to the best and brightest talents from all over the world to share ground-breaking ideas and start a new business. It’s now rapidly taking its place among the world’s premier global cities.

On the first-ever study of economies conducted by the Swiss based, International Institute for a Management Development, with a population of under 20 million, Singapore has been in rank one in attracting top-flight global talents.

There are many opportunities being offered by Singapore. Among the new and exciting jobs are Arts and Entertainment, Banking and Finance, Biomedical Science, Chemicals, Communications and Media, Education Services, Engineering and Emerging Technology, Healthcare, Info-Communications Technology, Logistics and Transport, Regional based for multinational corporations (MNCs) and research development.

Arts and EntertainmentSingapore aims to become an international platform for regional art and performance. By forging a new pan-Asian identity, makes Singapore a unique position to spearhead entertainment trends in the region. The world's leading performers and arts companies now regard the city as a must-stop on their Asia-Pacific tours. The city aspires to become one of the top cultural cities in the world.

One of its most expensive investments in Asia is the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil from Quebec staged Alegria here. The successful staging of blockbuster musicals like Miss Saigon, as well as more intimate pieces like Rent and Chicago also highlights the city’s impressive performance infrastructure.As the young middle class begins to spend more on entertainment, the increasing number of interesting night spots shows that Singapore’s nightlife has grown. It makes the country a truly bustling city. Young-at-heart are indulging in pool, wine, and cigars these days at the various groovy hangouts.

Various shows featuring different cultures can be found all over Singapore. In Chinatown, visitors may have the chance to watch Chinese opera. Some hotels also feature dancing and music from all over the region. To find out when and where these shows are held, visitors can check local newspapers, weekly or fortnightly publications for details.

Among the in-demands talents in arts and entertainment in Singapore are: art auctioneer, arts administrator, arts agent, arts critics, arts curators, arts dealers, arts educators, arts manager, arts restorers and conservators, choreographer, dancer, lighting designer, musical instrument repair experts/technicians, performer/musician, playwright, scriptwriters, set designers, stage manger and technical directors.

Banking and FinanceThe increasing financial liberalization helps Singapore become a world-class financial center. A competitive pro-business stance has also sealed the city's reputation as an investment hub. As a matter of fact, Singapore is the leading insurance hub in Asia. The city continues to attract top financial talent from beyond its shores.

As part of the strategy to develop Singapore into a premier financial center, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) offers tax incentives for financial institution looking forward to set up their operation. To open the financial sector to greater competition MAS has taken its steps. First, is the timely introduction of the first phase of the banking liberalization program. Second, the merger of the cash and derivatives exchanges (to form the Singapore Exchange). And last, the liberalization of the insurance industry.

With the presence of the leading institutions, the financial industry of Singapore has galvanized. Banks which have their regional bases in Singapore include Citibank, ABN Amro and Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS). Premier local financial institutions include the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) and the United Overseas Bank (UOB). Currently there are more than 1, 000 local and foreign financial institutions based in Singapore.

A Financial Network for Excellence in Training was set up to promote collaboration in financial sector training. To co-fund programs that enhance the expertise and skills of executives, the Financial Sector Development Fund was also established.

Singapore needs, Private Bankers, Product Specialist, Relationship Managers, Tax Consultants and Trust Planning and Administration Professionals.

Biomedical sciences
Asia is seeing rapid development in biomedical science, with Singapore as the focal point of activities. World-class capabilities are being built in this city-state, across the entire value chain, from basic research, clinical development, product and process development, manufacturing to healthcare services.

Just like how people recognize Singapore in banking in finance, it also becomes the most exciting hubs for Biomedical Sciences in Asia. They developed Biomedical Sciences to achieve the same level of success as the other three pillars of the industry — electronics, chemicals and engineering.

There are three groups for biomedical science which was established to develop the Biomedical Science cluster - comprising pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology and healthcare services - into a key pillar of the Singapore economy. They are EDB's BMS group and Bio*One Capital, as well as A*STAR's BMRC work in close partnership.

Economic Development Board (EDB) is the lead agency that plans and executes strategies to sustain Singapore as a compelling global hub for business and investment. Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR) BMRC is the national body that is responsible for developing the human capital to support, sustain and stimulate public sector biomedical research and development activities in Singapore. Bio*One Capital is a leading, dedicated biomedical sciences investment management company in Asia with a worldwide presence.

They offer manufacturing including Bioprocessing, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Formulation, R&D including Bioinformatics, Biomedical Engineering, Biostatistics, Clinical Research, Computational Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology.
Chemicals

Singapore, as the third largest oil refining center, is looking at building on its traditional strength as a petrochemicals hub. About 14% of the country’s manufacturing output was contributed by the chemical sector.

The centralized location of Jurong Island provides oil producers, petrochemical companies and service providers with sophisticated infrastructure and logistics.

Singapore is looking for Chemical Engineering Technician (General), Chemical Engineering Technician (Petroleum), Chemical Engineering Technician (Petrochemicals), other Chemical Engineering Technician.

Communication and Media
Singapore is not really being left behind, even in communication and media their industry are taking place. Media giants like Disney Singapore, CNBC Asia, MTV Asia, and Cable & Reuters all have regional bases in Singapore. Currently there are 17 satellites broadcasters that link-up from Singapore. Fifteen of these have staff and offices operating in Singapore. To name a few are BBC, CNBC Asia, Discovery Asia, HBO Asia, and Walt Disney Television.

Cable broadcasting, wireless communications, broadcast communication and programming take greater opportunity. The communications and media industry engages in the development, creation and delivery of content and multimedia services. The services offered include: fixed and mobile line services, satellite up-link and down-link services, data communication, internet services provision, radio and TV broadcasting, national postal systems & couriers.

In demand jobs are 3D-Animators, animation director, character designer, Director, director of photography (DOP) or cinematographer, editor, games designer, producer, production and art director, regional translator and subtitler, script writer, senior games programmer, sound/audio designers/engineers and technical directors.

Education Services
Top universities all over the world already exist in Singapore. This includes Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD, The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, Tecnische Universiteit Eindhoven, Tecnische Universitat Munchen, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Stanford University has a presence in Singapore. And is still supporting support strategic partnerships between local and overseas brand name universities.

In need of childcare teacher, education methods advisor, infant-care teacher, language school teacher, nursery school teacher, other teaching professional, pre-school teacher, Pre-U and secondary school teacher, primary school teacher, school Principle, teachers for International Baccalaureate (IB).

Engineering and Emerging TechnologyAmong the manufacturing industry in Singapore, engineering is one of the most established. Its aim is to promote integrated, multi-disciplinary capabilities and compete in the global marketplace with new applications.

Nanotechnology, micro-electromechanical systems, photonics, and industrial IT includes Singapore expertise in the emerging technology. It makes Singapore leads in technology applications in industries. Currently, Singapore is one of the leading regional hubs for semiconductor production. Soon, Singapore well placed to become the manufacturing hub for emerging technologies in Asia.

Talents in demand in Singapore for engineering are aerospace maintenance engineers, analog/mixed signal, back engineering design/semi custom chip design, microcontroller based SoC design (automotive, industrial and multi-market product), Computer validation engineers, IC design ASIC architect, project managers, R and D engineers, research engineers.

HealthcareRising standards of living, high standards of education, good housing, safe water supply and sanitation, a high level of medical services and the active promotion of preventive medicine, have all helped to significantly boost the health of Singaporeans.

Singapore is rapidly becoming the center of global medical research, education and advanced medical care. That’s why thousands of patients from Asia flock to Singapore for specialized treatment each year. Currently there are total of 28 hospitals and specialty centers in the city and about 80 healthcare companies are based in Singapore. To name some are Glaxo-SmithKline, Siemens Medical and Baxter Healthcare.

With a rapidly aging population, there will be a greater need for home healthcare and nursing services. Singapore continues to welcome large numbers of qualified medical practitioners.
And they will be needing assistant nurse, auditory verbal therapist, clinical coder, clinical laboratory technicians/medical technologist, dieticians, industrial nurse, medical social worker, midwife, nutritionist, occupational therapist, other nurses, pharmacist, physiotherapy, podiatrists, psychologist, radiation therapists, radiographers, registered nurse/enrolled nurses, respiratory therapist, specialized nurse and speech therapist.

Info Communication TechnologySingapore won’t stop to develop the industry; it rides with the global flow in info-communication technology (ICT). In fact it intends to be the global hub in Asia for digital economy.
The pro-information technology environment which was nurtured by the Singapore government in last 15 years, helped prepare the city for the transition to IT products and services. The advances of industry are slated to increase the quality and standard of living in Singapore.

Talent in demand are : application programmer, broadcasting operation technician, computer and information systems manager, computer and related electronic equipment mechanic, computer engineer, computer operations and network manager, computer system operator, computer technician, database administrator, information technology auditor, information technology quality assurance specialist, multimedia artist and animator, multimedia programmer, network and computer systems administrator, network systems and data communication analyst, other information technology manager, other information professional, other telecommunications equipment operators, software engineer, system programmer, system designer and analyst, telecommunications engineers, telecommunications installer and services, telecommunications lineman, telecommunications service supervisor and telecommunications technician.

Logistics and TransportSingapore plans to become a world-class specialist provider in chemical, electronics and other related fields. The industry is expected to provide one-stop integrated solutions for manufacturing and other services due to the increasing outsource of the new economy.
Singapore’s marine and offshore is widely known because of its strengths in offshore exploration and production platforms. Likewise, the sea and air transportation both rated as one of the best in the world.

Currently over 3,000 international and local logistics companies are there in Singapore.Talents in demand: project manager, supply chain solutions, regional logistics manager, associate consultants/project engineers, consultants/project managers, commercial/engineering design, engineers, production engineers, project managers and senior project engineers.

Regional Based for Multinational CorporationsSingapore is becoming the premier location to start up multinational corporations (MNCs) for the regional operation. It ranked as the best business environment in Asia-Pacific by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in 2003, while the BERI report Singapore ranked the second most profitable place in the world for investors.

Establishing of more headquarter operations will attract more companies to offer business services such as legal services, consultancy, market research and public relations.
Research and Development

The continuous success of Singapore is really unstoppable. To strengthen their private and public sector in research and development (R&D) proposals, Singapore aims to capitalized its science and technology(S&T) capabilities.
More collaborative partnerships with world-class research organizations and institutions are expected in the S&T plan in the year 2005. Singapore nurtures a culture of entrepreneurship through an 'Enterprise Ecosystem'.

Talents in demand: research and development professionals in; information technology, biochemical technology agro biology, environmental technology, manufacturing and engineering technologies, electronics and advanced material and biomedical sciences.

This article was first published in www.ofwguide.com on December 10, 2005