Hi - advise and guidance needed.

Primrose Hill · Post by **Primrose Hill** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 5:39 pm

This maybe a long winded post, so, please bear with me. I am a Msian by birth and nationality, though have resided in UK for the past 20years or so. Have an indefinite leave to remain. Have never converted to become a UK citizen.

Anyhow, maybe offered a job offer out in Singapore as I am keen to relocate back to the Far East permanently. Spore is the preferred location given the promixity to Msia.

I have 10years worth of work experience in the financial services regulation, so, what's the average salary for someone like me. Some headhunters said SGD150-200k and some said SGD90-120k.

Initial offer has been tabled at SGD80k, is that too low? Also, how negiotable salary packages are in Spore? I have a daugher age 9 who will have to go to a British Int'l school, so a cost of living indication for 2008 given the rising food prices, credit crunch etc would be extremely helpful.

Saint · Post by **Saint** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 5:50 pm

Headhunters will always over value you just to get you interested. I would personally say the $90k-$120k is nearer the mark.

There is some room for negotiation but you're going to be totally reliant on your headhunter negotiating on your behalf.

Good luck!

Primrose Hill · Post by **Primrose Hill** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 6:32 pm

Hi, Saint, thank you for your quick response. This initial offer of SGD80k didn't come via a headhunter, this is a direct offer.

So, room for negotiation? What can be thrown at the pot? Relocation fees? Housing allowance for 3/6months? Salary to SGD100?

Saint · Post by **Saint** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 6:48 pm

Being a direct offer you've probably got a better chance to up the salary. It all depends on whether you've got some skills/experence which the company are after which is difficult to find in Singapore.

The old expat relocation packages are very rare these days unless your company is relocating you to Singapore. Most Singapore companies, even the MNCs, are employing expats on local packages.

There's no harm in trying but don't try and price yourself out of the job

Primrose Hill · Post by **Primrose Hill** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 7:12 pm

Saint, how much should I up the offer from SGD80k? The company is a boutique corporate finance company.

And what's this 14+2? Does that mean that its a fixed bonus? Is there anymore discretionary bonus based upon my performance and the company's?

Saint · Post by **Saint** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 7:38 pm

Primrose Hill wrote:Saint, how much should I up the offer from SGD80k? The company is a boutique corporate finance company.

And what's this 14+2? Does that mean that its a fixed bonus? Is there anymore discretionary bonus based upon my performance and the company's?

Never heard of 14+2

Sure it doesn't say 12+2 which could mean $80k plus 2 months bonus.

As for any other bonuses that's up to each company's individual policy.

I'll leave it up to you to decide what to ask for

Primrose Hill · Post by **Primrose Hill** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 7:41 pm

Sorry, I mean 12+2. 2months bonus, yes, is that a fixed bonus? Someone told me that's a fixed bonus no matter what happen and then there's a discretionary bonus. Is that true?

You think from 80 asking to be rounded up to 100 is too much to ask for?

Saint · Post by **Saint** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 7:55 pm

Primrose Hill wrote:Sorry, I mean 12+2. 2months bonus, yes, is that a fixed bonus? Someone told me that's a fixed bonus no matter what happen and then there's a discretionary bonus. Is that true?

It can happen but quite often only the +2

Saint · Post by **Saint** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 7:56 pm

Primrose Hill wrote:
You think from 80 asking to be rounded up to 100 is too much to ask for?

I think you need to decide how much you want this job and how far you are prepared to push the company

Primrose Hill · Post by **Primrose Hill** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 8:01 pm

I do want the job just not sure how much to push

Zeenit · Post by **Zeenit** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 8:38 pm

[quote="Primrose Hill"]This maybe a long winded post, so, please bear with me. I am a Msian by birth and nationality, though have resided in UK for the past 20years or so. Have an indefinite leave to remain. Have never converted to become a UK citizen.

This is what UK Imm says:
You should note that to keep your permanent residence you should not spend longer than two years outside the UK. You should maintain ties to the UK and should consider the UK as your home. If you continue to only spend short periods of time in the UK over many years it is likely that there will come a time when you will lose your indefinite leave to remain in the UK. It is therefore beneficial in most cases to apply for UK citizenship. You can normally apply for naturalisation as an UK citizen one year after being granted indefinite leave to remain and as long as you meet the residence requirements

Primrose Hill · Post by **Primrose Hill** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 8:43 pm

Zeenit, thank you for that prompt. Yes, I am aware of that, we hope to retain a smaller property in London, but overall, I hope to apply for my UK passport soon.

So, is anyone think that 20k is too much to push for?

Saint · Post by **Saint** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 9:15 pm

No harm in trying for 20k, at least you'll find out just how much they want you!

Primrose Hill · Post by **Primrose Hill** » Tue, 05 Aug 2008 9:19 pm

We they have asked me to provide 2 referees and some of my previous work and I have done so.

So, I shall await their decision and then ask for another 20k

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