Job Offer

[ralf.m]

Hi. Can anyone advise me on the components of the expat package here?

I have received an offer from a MNC chemical industry here in Singapore. I am offered the position of head in one of their business unit, and will be responsible for the market for the products in Asia, overseeing everything all the way from sales to strategy.

The offer is
200 000SGD p.a
6000 SGD monthly housing allowance
a car
compensation social insurance
1 home flight a year
and subsidy for my children's education

I am married with 2 kids and my family will be travelling here with me. I have prior 14 year experience in similar positions in management and marketing at MNCs back home. How reasonable are the terms? Is there anything I am missing out here?

[obiwan]

sounds like a pretty good package.

its definitely better than mine

but i guess you have a better experience than i am

[jpatokal]

Sounds like a pretty good deal. How does it compare to your current salary?

[sundaymorningstaple]

The package as it stands look reasonably good but I see one glaring omission.

If you are the head of a business unit then you should be on an on-target bonus system with incremental steps if targets are exceeded by certain amounts. Course, not sure how you were set up at home but it is something to think about.

sms

[ralf.m]

Sounds like a pretty good deal. How does it compare to your current salary?

It is about a 35% increment from my current.

For a comparable position, what constitutes an average deal?

[ralf.m]

The package as it stands look reasonably good but I see one glaring omission.

If you are the head of a business unit then you should be on an on-target bonus system with incremental steps if targets are exceeded by certain amounts. Course, not sure how you were set up at home but it is something to think about.

sms

Yeah. I did ask them about it. The company has yet to implement on target bonus and it is still in the works.

What other kinds of allowances am I missing out here? Country club benefits? Social security/pension at home? How common are these?

[jpatokal]

What other kinds of allowances am I missing out here? Country club benefits? Social security/pension at home? How common are these?

You've got all the basics already and then some. Not too many companies pay for clubs, unless you can convince them that you need it for schmoozing customers and partners. You're on your own for social security as well, but it pretty much balances out as you're not paying for it either (unless you become a permanent resident).

[ralf.m]

What other kinds of allowances am I missing out here? Country club benefits? Social security/pension at home? How common are these?

You've got all the basics already and then some. Not too many companies pay for clubs, unless you can convince them that you need it for schmoozing customers and partners. You're on your own for social security as well, but it pretty much balances out as you're not paying for it either (unless you become a permanent resident).

What is the rental rate in Singapore? Is 6000SGD the normal allowance given for you guys?

Are you guys given a car or transport allowance? Which one is more worthwhile?

[jpatokal]

What is the rental rate in Singapore? Is 6000SGD the normal allowance given for you guys?

You're taking a job here and you haven't research this at all?! Hint: singaporeexpats.com is a real estate agency, and there's a treasure trove of info on these pages. But to give you some basic idea, your housing allowance is about twice the average Singaporean salary.

Are you guys given a car or transport allowance? Which one is more worthwhile?

That depends on what kind of car they're giving you and how much the allowance is, now doesn't it

[Makan24-7]

Ralf

[Makan24-7]

Ralf

[Makan24-7]

Gosh, I'm sorry my post turned out like that. My message was completely missing and worse, it posted twice!

Anyway, what I wanted to say was that the offer is decent if you're coming in at a director level position at an MNC outside of finance and consulting. The housing allowance of $6k is the average for that level although given the overheated property market in Singapore today, that 6k might not go far depending on your frame of reference and expectations.

If you are employed at a VP or senior VP level, then the offer is on the low end although I do know a number of VPs with MNCs who have packages smaller than yours.