You can get hired as a FO on expat terms and then get upgraded and go to local terms.

Local terms means no housing allowance, no education allowance, but you do get CPF.

There is some a way someone with prior experience can join as a FO and do 500 sectors and get selected for command. However, it's up to the CAAS. If you have lots of rseat time in 737/320/757/747 you should have no problem.