A European founder once shared an interesting story during a business networking event in Singapore. His company had already secured clients across Southeast Asia. Revenue was growing, customer feedback was positive, and the leadership team felt confident about expanding into the region. On paper, everything seemed to be moving in the right direction. Then came the decision to hire their first employee in Singapore. "We thought it would take three weeks," he laughed. Three mo

It is a question that comes up surprisingly often among expats in Singapore. You move here for a full-time role, settle into a routine, and after a while, another opportunity appears. Maybe it is a freelance project from a former client. Maybe a friend wants help with their startup. Perhaps you run a small online business back home and want to continue managing it while living in Singapore. On the surface, it seems like a reasonable idea. After all, if the work happens after

Every time I meet a new business owner in Singapore, the conversation eventually circles back to hiring. Someone will say, half joking and half serious, that recruiting here is “a whole strategy by itself”. And honestly, they’re not wrong. The question of whether to bring in locals or foreigners isn’t just about filling a vacancy. It brushes up against government rules, company culture, future planning and sometimes even personal philosophy. Most employers I’ve spoken to don’