Part 2: Getting to SG

This is the second part of my ‘uber-simplified’ steps on how to work in SG. The steps in this post would lead up to you getting at Singapore Airport and what to do there. Check my next posts for later steps.
Part 1 : How to work in SG
1. Get to SG.
Okay, you already have your passport, your money, tickets and everything you would need to survive for at least a month. Now, just bid your friends/family goodbye for a while and board that plane.
<i’ll have a separate post on how to deal with Airport people>
2. Have your passport stamped with visit pass.
If you followed the previous tips, you should have landed safely on Singapore shores, right in front of Singapore Immigration. But to remind you (one more time), you need at least the following:

1. a roundtrip ticket itinerary
   
2. a known address where to stay
   
3. pocket money, an ATM or credit card
   
4. your disembarkation card
   
5. a confident smile and look on your face

If you have those, you're practically safe. There are cases where the immigration officer might seem apprehensive of you. Here are some of them:

• you look too young (to travel on your own)
  maybe you're too short or too baby faced
  
• you look like your going for an interview
  if your following these posts, remember we are going for the tourist look. read my other posts regarding this.
  
• you look like you can't survive
  in tagalog: mukha kang walang pera!
  as tourists, you should at least look like you can afford accommodation, your own food, etc.

Your best weapon against this would be your confidence! Try not to look like a culprit. You have the items a,b,c to prove that you indeed can stay in Singapore AS a tourist and is 'planning' go back home soon.
Once you got that cleared, the immigration officer would stamp your passport with 30 days of social visit pass (tourist visit).
CHECK THE DATE AND REMEMBER IT.
Start counting for 30 days from the date stamped on your passport. To be safe, mark your calender 3-4 days before the 30th day. This would be your FIRST DEADLINE.
4. Have your money changed to SGD.
This is Singapore after all, so go have your Peso or US Dollars changed to Singapore Dollars (SGD). However, you shouldn’t change all your money, do keep some amount in PHP/USD. Particularly the Peso as it would be handy when you go back home.
If you have an international ATM card, which i highly recommend, you can withdraw some money. Just consider the bank charge.
You’d have to change your money while you’re at the airport. At least, get some pocket SGD with you. You would need this to buy a train ticket/pass, pay for a taxi, your first coffee at Singapore, and for the next important step:
3. Get a Singapore SIM card.
Luckily, Money-Changers at the airport also sells SIM card. Get a Singtel one. Don’t mind if it is prepaid, you’ll deal with that later in your life in SG. The teller would ask for your passport for registration and then she’ll give your shiny (or red) new SIM card.
This is important as it would provide you with a contact number that you can use to call for job interviews.
The very first chance you get, update all your resumes: the one you uploaded to jobsdb, etc; those that you forwarded to your friends; and your print outs.
Also, ensure that you have your address updated to Singapore location before re-forwarding/re-printing your resume.
Having a Singapore address and a Singapore mobile number actually makes a LOT of difference to your chance of getting a job. I can’t stress this enough. You’ll see, once you post that update on your resume you will start receiving calls or e-mails- well, compared to having a Philippine address & phone number.
Always have your phone (with your new number) with you and ready. If you need to, use a secondary phone for your Philippine SIM card.
Next posts would be about what to do after you get out of SG Airport and onto the rest of your adventure.
Good luck!