如何拿到新加坡Offer及英文面試準備1.0｜Landing a Role in Singapore and Interview Prep 1.0

2.6K

自從發佈取得永久居民 (Permanent Resident)的那篇文章之後，陸續收到一些來自各方的詢問，想了解如何來到新加坡工作，並開啟取得PR的第一步。

在這裡，讓我回到2022年，分享我當時面試準備及取得新加坡工作機會的過程。

---

---

2022年拿到新加坡Offer的面試經驗

撰寫履歷

當時在英國Bayes Business School就讀碩士的時候，學校的職涯輔道中心其實提供了很多資源，舉凡如何撰寫履歷＆Cover Letter、如何建造一個專業的LinkedIn頁面、履歷一對一諮詢、模擬面試、如何進行專業的networking等等，真的比起在台灣的專業許多，也大大開了我的眼界，只能說在像這樣國際級競爭的城市，真的就是需要如此就業導向並懂得行銷自己吧！台灣的在學環境，相較之下比較不會教這些東西，也讓我覺得台灣學生在這方面比較吃虧。

我的履歷在當時便與學校的職涯教練不知道更改過多少次，後來透過一些成功在海外取得工作機會的前輩們請益，也都非常大方的提供我修改履歷的建議。而每一次履歷的大改版，都讓我發現原來還有這麼多可以再優化的地方，如何在一頁A4大小的頁面，呈現出整個人生的精華，真的需要相當多的思考與琢磨，絕對不是只是按照事實書寫下來這麼簡單。

新加坡是個競爭相當激烈的地方，HR每天都到來自各國蜂擁而來的履歷。如果沒有處在一個國際化的水平 (最基本的格式、排版及key words的掌握等等)，並讓HR一眼注意到，那很可能就會在第一關被AI無情刷掉，根本不會有進到後續階段的機會。因此，首先確保自己的履歷是符合遊戲標準的 (可以上網搜尋海外各大商學院或MBA的履歷範本)，優秀的經歷才有進一步被看到的可能。

履歷投遞

首先，先來談談我是如何透過自我準備拿到新加坡的offer。

當時投遞履歷採取的是海投策略，由於外國人在沒有身份的情況下要取得工作機會實在太困難了，所以當時是看到稍微符合期待且與我過去經驗大致符合的工作機會就會試試看。

除了LinkedIn外，新加坡主要的求職管道還有以下幾個選擇 (最後一個是比較針對財經領域的工作，我當時的headhunter也是在這裡看到我的履歷進而聯繫我的)：

翻了一下之前的紀錄，在2021到2022年之間我大約申請了135份工作，總共取得3次面試及2次測驗的機會 (一個是要我準備video interview，還有一個是要我做一個提案簡報)，最終就取得了一個offer。

這裡我也整理了一份新加坡獵頭名單的資訊，歡迎點擊下方連結下載：

面試準備

由於覺得英文還不到即興發揮也能表現自如的程度，當時準備的方式是先上網蒐集面試必考的問題，土法煉鋼的把所有問題寫下擬答，再一個一個背起來，背到就算緊張到腦袋一片空白，身體仍然可以直覺運作回答問題的程度。

如果擬答用英文寫不出來，那就先用中文打草稿，有時候英文寫不出來不代表是英文不好，而是可能該問題用中文都不知道該怎麼回答，所以針對這些必考題，一定要事先都思考過，防止突然被問到卻突然卡住的情境。

當時的方法雖然很耗時間，光擬答就不知道重新擬過幾回，再想辦法找人幫忙確認文法（當時還沒有ChatGPT這麼好用的工具），然後有空就是一直重複的朗讀跟背誦。那時幾乎是下班有力氣，或是放假的週末全都在重複做這些事，雖然一開始需要投注的時間和精力相當龐大，但當你越來越了解自己，且經歷過越來越多的面試，你會發現面試時問的問題其實大部分就是那些，準備的流程會越來越快，也會回答得越來越好，在這個過程中慢慢建立起自己的信心。

土法煉鋼的缺點，就是沒有準備過的問題可能就會回答得不夠理想。但當時的我主要還在建立自己database以及把資料強制植入我腦中的階段，所以還沒什麼時間找真人做模擬面試，這是事後的我認為可以加強的部分。

現在有了ChatGPT之後，其實準備的過程會快很多。把寫好的擬答丟到ChatGPT請它幫我確認文法及優化回答，這部分相較以前節省了很多自己摸索的過程，真的要好好利用ChatGPT這個強大的工具。

當時的我雖然還是常常自我懷疑，但是有練到一個面試時看起來可以很有自信的程度，甚至連後來入職時當時面試我的line manager還說過：「怎麼感覺妳面試時候的英文比現在流利」。熟能生巧，弄假直到成真（Fake it till you make it）。有時候其實我們是有實力的，只是就差了那麼點自信，在這樣的情況下，想像自己已經是一個英文流利的跨國界專業人士，或許能讓自己更有勇氣也說不定。每天練習成為更好版本的自己，在長期的淺移默化下，相信真的能夠漸漸成為更好版本的自己，畢竟沒有人一開始就是專家或精通所有事物。

面試過程

一開始是先接到headhunter的WhatsApp訊息，詢問我是否對這份工作有興趣。表達有意願之後，接下來就是初步的phone screening，確定我有符合雇主期待的條件。

通過headhunter初步的資格篩選後，正式的面試分為三個階段，分別是當時的line manager、投資長 (CIO)，以及最後的Group CEO。由於我當時人尚在台灣，所以一切都是遠距進行。在確定要進入到正式的面試環節時，headhunter也會和我進行模擬面試，給我一些小小的提點及改進的建議。

第一階段和當時的line manager面試，主要是針對一些過去經驗的簡單了解，結束後還有給我一個financial modelling建模的測試，要我當天完成後寄回去給他。第二階段是和投資長面試，這部分是最為有挑戰的部分，問了最多我過去工作的經驗，以及許多投資的假設性問題 (我們投資長的風格是會一直挑戰你、刺激你進行更深度的思考，同時測試你在過程中的臨場反應及思考邏輯)。通過之後就到了最後與Group CEO的面試，當時最後一關headhunter說就是有點像走流程，主要是讓未來的大老闆見見你，因為用人主管已經做出聘用決定了，基本上Group CEO都是尊重用人單位的決定，果然最後一關面試進行的最快也最為輕鬆。

給也想到海外工作的你的建議

1. 準備履歷：首先，履歷是最基礎的第一步，請先準備好一個符合基本遊戲規則的履歷，才有機會觸發後面的一連串流程。如果不知道怎麼開始，也歡迎找我聊聊 (當初準備過程中也受到許多前輩善意的幫助，在這邊也希望可以提供一些善意的循環)。
   
   
2. 建立專業的LinkedIn Page：聽過幾個認為台灣人很優秀而想要來台灣徵才的公司說過，台灣的104對這些海外的用人單位根本是超級不便民！大部分還沒有英文版本，想要找台灣人根本不知道怎麼找，有在使用LinkedIn的台灣求職者似乎僅佔少數。因此，LinkedIn也是海外求職的基本必備，請先好好花時間建立自己的專頁，才有在國際上進一步曝光的機會。
   
   
3. 準備面試：準備面試是條漫長且辛苦的過程，但是也沒有什麼一步登天的訣竅，所有的一切都是透過和自己經年累月的對話，在一天天更了解自己以後，才能準備出最適合自己的完美答案。只是在準備的過程中，建議也可以多和業界的人聊聊 (可以上LinkedIn找人出來聊天)，也才能確定自己沒有蒙著頭準備自己認為理想，其實卻不符合未來東家期待的答案。透過和業界人士聊天，有時候也可以挖出很多不為人知的有用資訊。

接下來我也會再分享新加坡求職2.0的文章，分享近期的求職經驗。
有興趣的朋友歡迎在下方點擊訂閱，就可以收到文章更新的通知囉！

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let’s stay updated!

Leave this field empty if you’re human:

---

After sharing my post about obtaining Singapore Permanent Residency, I received numerous questions about how to start working in Singapore and take the first step towards PR.

So, let me take you back to 2022 and share how I prepared for interviews and secured a job offer in Singapore.

How I Landed a Job Offer in Singapore in 2022

Crafting My CV

While pursuing my master’s degree at Bayes Business School in the UK, the career service provided an array of invaluable resources—CV and cover letter workshops, one-on-one consultations, mock interviews, LinkedIn coaching, and professional networking guidance. Compared to Taiwan, the support was far more advanced and eye-opening. In a globally competitive job market, these job-readiness skills and the ability to market oneself are crucial—something not widely taught back home.

I revised my CV countless times with help from career coaches and generous advice from alumni who had secured jobs overseas. I came to realise that creating a compelling one-page CV takes far more than simply listing facts—it’s about distilling the essence of your experience in a clear, impactful way.

Singapore is a highly competitive market. Recruiters receive CVs from all over the world every day. If your application doesn’t meet international standards—proper formatting, structure, and keywords—it may not even pass the AI screening stage. Start by ensuring your CV aligns with global expectations (many business schools and MBA programmes offer great templates online), or your accomplishments might never get noticed.

Submitting Applications

Securing a job as a foreigner without a valid work visa can be challenging, so I adopted a broad-based strategy—applying for any role that loosely matched my background and expectations.

In addition to LinkedIn, I used several major Singapore job platforms. eFinancialCareers is especially useful for finance roles; the headhunters reached out to me via this platform for my current job.

Between 2021 and 2022, I submitted around 135 applications, resulting in three interviews and two assessments (a video interview and a presentation task). In the end, I received one offer.

I’ve also compiled a list of headhunters in Singapore—feel free to download it via the link below:

Interview Preparation

At the time, I didn’t feel confident responding spontaneously in English, so I prepared extensively. I gathered common interview questions online, drafted my answers, and memorised them—so well that even under pressure, I could respond instinctively.

When I struggled to write answers in English, I first drafted them in Mandarin. Often, the difficulty wasn’t language but clarity of thought. Thinking through your answers—regardless of language—is key.

This process was time-consuming. I rewrote my answers multiple times, asked others to check my grammar (this was before ChatGPT!), and repeatedly rehearsed my responses. I spent most evenings and weekends preparing. But over time, I became more familiar with the typical questions and gained confidence with each round of practice.

The downside of rote memorisation is that unexpected questions may throw you off. I didn’t do many mock interviews with real people, which is something I’d recommend for anyone going through this now.

Today, tools like ChatGPT can dramatically streamline your preparation. You can draft your answers and ask for grammar checks or improvements—saving time and effort.

Even though I often doubted myself, I managed to appear confident in interviews. My line manager later joked, “Your English during the interview seemed even more fluent than now!” Practice really does make perfect. Sometimes, we have the skills—we just lack the confidence. So, imagine yourself as the capable, cross-border professional you aim to be. With consistent practice, you’ll grow into that version of yourself.

Interview Process

It began with a WhatsApp message from a headhunter, asking if I was interested in the role. After I confirmed, we had a preliminary phone screening to check that my background aligned with the employer’s expectations.

Following that, the official interview process had three stages:

1. Line Manager Interview – A general discussion about my experience, followed by a financial modelling test I had to complete on the same day.
2. CIO Interview – This was the most challenging round. I was asked in-depth questions about my previous work and hypothetical investment scenarios. The CIO’s style was to challenge and push for deeper thinking, testing both my logic and composure.
3. Group CEO Interview – Largely a formality, the final round was brief and casual, intended more for the CEO to meet me, as the hiring decision had already been made.

The entire process was conducted remotely, as I was still in Taiwan. The headhunter also helped with mock interviews and gave useful feedback along the way.

Advice for Aspiring Overseas Job Seekers

1. Prepare a proper CV: This is your gateway. If you don’t know where to begin, feel free to reach out. I was fortunate to receive advice from mentors along the way, and I hope to pay it forward.
   
   
2. Build a professional LinkedIn profile: Several international firms have expressed interest in hiring Taiwanese talent, but platforms like 104 are not user-friendly for overseas employers—most don’t even offer an English version. A solid LinkedIn profile is essential for global visibility. Take time to build your presence online.
   
   
3. Preparing for Interviews: Interview preparation is a long and often demanding journey. There are no shortcuts — only years of honest conversations with oneself that gradually lead to answers truly aligned with who you are.Along the way, it’s helpful to speak with people in the industry — reach out via LinkedIn for a chat. These conversations can help you avoid preparing answers that may feel ideal to you, but miss the mark for your potential employer. You might also uncover valuable, lesser-known insights.

I’ll be sharing more soon in my upcoming piece on Job Hunting 2.0 in Singapore, reflecting on my recent experiences.
If you’re interested, feel free to subscribe below to stay updated!

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let’s stay updated!

Leave this field empty if you’re human: