S$3200 offer without accommodation !! Advice please !!

venkatinsap · Post by **venkatinsap** » Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:24 pm

Hi , this is venkat from brunei working as a web developer , i have 4 years experience in Web Application development,presently i am getting $1800 + accommodation and then here there is no tax ...(here i can save S$1600 pm)

Currently , one singapore employer offer me as a S$3200 for the contract period of 1 year only...(without accommodation)

1. Is it a good offer?
2. Is it possible get another good job within the period of 1 year?
3. Is the Singapore life good at the moment?
4. What is the actual salary for web developer in Singapore?
5. What is the current situation for PHP developer in Singapore?

Whether i have to accept this offer or not ?
or wait for some other good opportunities?

Pl kindly advice me ....
Your valuable comments greatly appreciated....
Thanks in advance !!!

Bafana · Post by **Bafana** » Thu, 09 Oct 2008 8:51 am

You will find it very hard to save the same amount of money due to rent and the cost of living.

venkatinsap · Post by **venkatinsap** » Thu, 09 Oct 2008 9:09 am

So you mean it's not a fair offer.....right

I have some more question ::
let say, if i join for this offer , is it possible to obtain new job with good offer(above S$4000)? please mind i am PHP WEB developer(expert)

I am very much thankful if any one have a good suggestion...

Your views and comments greatly appreciated !!!

Thanks in advance .....

Hithnar · Post by **Hithnar** » Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:27 pm

I disagree with Bafana. Here expats live a really high standard, living in a condo, spending on luxurious things. If your needs are not high, and you do not need alcohol or tobacco, don't need a whole flat for yourself and can do well with just renting a room, can cut on telephone bills, use public transport and eat local food, that you can cut your monthly spendings to 1500-1700 a month. The question is, would you want to live such a humble life.

I am no sure if it would be easy for you to find an offer with a better salary. There are a lot of IT specialists and experts here on the marker, and companies use that to save on their salaries. My husband is an IT expert himself, and some companies were very pushy about hiring him for just 3000 sgd monthly. I guess it was pure luck, that one company agreed to pay him a more decent salary.

blue_thunder · Post by **blue_thunder** » Thu, 09 Oct 2008 3:15 pm

Well I agree with Hithner...
It all depends on your lifestyle...
in singapore.. you better bargain before joining cos the hikes/increments are very less and even if you shift jobs you wont be able to get more than 20 % hike...when you are coming for the first time better bargain and get a better pay....

or if you are okay with this pay and live as Hithner pointed out..then you wont be spending more than 1000-1500 per month...

Cheers..

venkatinsap · Post by **venkatinsap** » Thu, 09 Oct 2008 6:10 pm

Well!! as all of your reply clear one thing that depends upon life style.

For me very simple and economical person so i believe i can save upto $1800 pm in Singapore.

I have some more query !! please advice me !!
Currently i am working in brunei(near to singapore) as a web developer and every month i can save S$1600 pm.
Advantages here :: 1. Casual work hours 2. No pressure 3. Very quiet and pollution free country 4. here i can easily own a car
Disadvantage : 1. Never can get above S$1800 pm

but some one say , in Singapore my future should be bright ....

So please tell me....
What should be the intelligent decision?... whether hold my current job or confidence to join for this offer with new challenge ...

noel43 · Post by **noel43** » Fri, 10 Oct 2008 1:16 pm

venkatinsap wrote:Well!! as all of your reply clear one thing that depends upon life style.

For me very simple and economical person so i believe i can save upto $1800 pm in Singapore.

I have some more query !! please advice me !!
Currently i am working in brunei(near to singapore) as a web developer and every month i can save S$1600 pm.
Advantages here :: 1. Casual work hours 2. No pressure 3. Very quiet and pollution free country 4. here i can easily own a car
Disadvantage : 1. Never can get above S$1800 pm

but some one say , in Singapore my future should be bright ....

So please tell me....
What should be the intelligent decision?... whether hold my current job or confidence to join for this offer with new challenge ...

One thing you might need to consider is life here in Singapore might be more stressful than Brunei. If your new company is a local, not MNC, sometimes the employer might love to FULLY utilise their employee, ie. work overloaded. I happen to see some of my IT collegaues, need to standby 24hrs if case there's emergency need. Some originally as a SAP consultant, but eventually need to assist on hardware maintenance as well.

taxico · Post by **taxico** » Fri, 10 Oct 2008 2:36 pm

venkatinsap wrote:Currently i am working in brunei(near to singapore) as a web developer and every month i can save S$1600 pm.
Advantages here :: 1. Casual work hours 2. No pressure 3. Very quiet and pollution free country 4. here i can easily own a car
Disadvantage : 1. Never can get above S$1800 pm

So please tell me....
What should be the intelligent decision?... whether hold my current job or confidence to join for this offer with new challenge ...

my opinion is if you can get a job in singapore that improves your skillset, i think you should do it. you may not save as much, but it's not always about the money...

it's unlikely you'd (want to) own a car in singapore. it's likely you won't get casual hours unless you're lucky. singapore isn't always pollution free or quiet (not that it's extremely or always dirty and noisy).

you sound young, and come across as having no responsibilities like a family to feed....

so why not! i don't know what your qualifications are, but heck. you only live once. i say go get a job in singapore if you've learned all you can learn in your current job, and no other vacancies are available to further yourself in brunei!

venkatinsap · Post by **venkatinsap** » Fri, 10 Oct 2008 6:00 pm

I accept mr. taxico points ... if i join for this offer , sure i can able to multiply my skills ... but, Is any guarantee of my job in singapore after one year(bz my contract is just one year only) ?
Well ,its surprising and got lot of useful info from your guys....
Now, i come closely to explain my situation ::
1. Position Offered : Sr Software Developer :: Salary :: $3200 :: No extra benefits and mainly 1 year contract only
2. Work commencement date : 6-Nov-2008
3. I have recruited under XXXConsultant and work for his Client (MNC )
---------
How i was, get through............
1. Via XXX Consultant , i got opportunity to get interviewed by his client YYY MNC company ,Singapore after interview they have asked me to do some initial interface for them project.

2. i did this interface using Ajax/Mootools javascript framework + PHP Technology . They liked and appreciate very much for my work.. then only approved offer of employment and extend to 1 year contract under XXX Consultant.

3. Since my interview for this posting which is opened for three month contract only,due to my demands they increased to 1 year..but the salary is same (S$3200).

Now my worry is , is it able get another job within the current contract period of one year?(pl mind my current offer for 1 year only)

I am a Diploma holder In Computer Technology (Valivalam Desikar Polytechnic ) . Currently pursuing my Degree in Computer Science from Institutional Engineering ,kolkatta via distance Educcation.

i have four (4+) years experience in software industry including architectural analysis ,design,development and integration of Multi-tier architecture using LAMP / .NET Technology.

Please kindly advice me ....

How possibility to get new job within one year from the commencement of current offer?

Is my qualification and experience well enough to competeate in singapore IT market ?

Hope , i can get good solution from ur guys....
Thanks in advance...

[/u]

taxico · Post by **taxico** » Sat, 11 Oct 2008 7:08 am

i think if you have a company interested in hiring you, and the pay sounds decent (based on how much you spend:save), why not take it?

12 months isn't too long a contract to fulfill, and i'm confident you can find another job before your current contract expires.

it's always easier to find a job once you've settled in another country and have the relevant visas.

(but i can't guarantee if the pay on that next job will meet your expectation)

i'd recommend you start plowing through the archives here to see if the cost of living, lifestyle and culture meets your expectation and savings target.

also see what sort of visa your employer's getting for you (and poke around here to see its restrictions are) and make sure your distance-education can be continued without issues in singapore.

Bafana · Post by **Bafana** » Sat, 11 Oct 2008 7:24 am

Hear what everyone is saying on the lifestyle issue.

As an expat I don't live like a king (and many don't unless their in the financial market or transfer with big companies). Rent alone even in an area like Geylang can be very high.

Yes, you can probably save money but the hidden costs of Singapore will get to you. Every time you go out your front door and even when your sitting at home it costs you money.

Share a HDB Flat with others, eat at the coffee shop and take buses/MRT everywhere is my suggestion but don't expect to save vast amounts of money here on your salary range since as a foreigner all your health care, etc is self paid (unless you company chips in).

Lets be far people and at least prepare him. The cost of lving here over the last few months is going through the roof. Have reduced our weekend grocery shop by 1/3 and still paying the same at the cashier and the rent has gone up 10%.

Hopefully the bubble has burst on all the Real Estate speculators in Singapore with the global rationalisation (not melt down as even with my limited knowledge of the market saw this was coming and only wishful thinking made people believe it was'nt). The trouble is will they still want to engage you in this climate - Have you asked them lately?

gif · Post by **gif** » Sat, 11 Oct 2008 9:07 am

From what I can understand from your posts, you are more likely thinking on how to give you a chance, as you were saying that where you are you can never get above a certain roof. In other words, you are trying to understand if, by accepting the Singapore proposal, you are making an investment on your future, rather than thinking directly to the money you can get at present (though of course this matters).

Well, I think that your lifestyle might be a bit lower standard than that you are haveing in Brunei, as really the cost of living here is high and growing; but I'm sure that 1 year sacrifice is nothing compared to the possibility of getting a better position in 1-2 years time. Maybe when your 1-year term contract expirs, you might consider moving to another country where you can get higher salary or higher position (at least in perspective), or higher standard of living.

So I would accept the proposal, preparing myself to some sacrifice (i.e. sharing a flat), then I will start to look around in neighbouring countries also, where the market could be less saturated in IT positions, for a high ranking position.

Good luck

k1w1 · Post by **k1w1** » Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:50 am

I would have agreed with the posts on living humbly two years ago. However, I really think taking an offer like this, as a foreigner, and having no additional benefits is completely insane.

You need to consider health care, which is astronomical. You can go to a local doctor for about $12 for a consultation, but if you get really sick or need a hospital, you are really in trouble.

Housing is ridiculous. Rooms in HDB's can be as high as $800 a month, and many won't allow their boarders to cook. This means you'll have to eat out all the time.

With all due respect, you aren't Singaporean. You will not have the same avenues open to you to keep your costs low, as Singaporeans have. You will not have the same basic benefits as a Singaporean - you will have no money put into a CPF account, you cannot use government health care clinics or hospitals (well, you can but it's the same price as a private hospital for you), banks won't lend to you without a salary of over $60k a year (locals only need $30k) so you are forever renting private property. Honestly, it just isn't worth it. Despite what people here are saying, Singapore is not a Valhalla of opportunities.

Entertainment here is very expensive. Public transport, while cheap and excellent, is not flawless of course and taking a taxi even once a week on a budget like yours is going to send your budget over.

My advice? In this climate, if you are in stable employment and are able to live semi-well and save money, stay where you are.

gif · Post by **gif** » Sat, 11 Oct 2008 1:58 pm

with due respect k1w1, I think you are neglecting one important side of the story: I think he's looking for a higher ranking in the future, and from my scarce so far knowledge of east asia, Singapore is considered a sort of "higher qualification landmark" (otherwise why would many coreans, or philipinos take their family here to get their children educated here?).
And for a brighter future a sacrifice is well worth.

But sure I agree with you (thus supporting my previous post) that he should make sure that with this employment he gets an EP and medical assistance. This would for sure make life much easier.

Definitely you've been staying here longer time and so be more aware and your words are a treasure to all newbies, but he must be very young, so just why not? One year is not that long after all..

PS you are the english teacher, I'm ashamed of my bad english

gif · Post by **gif** » Sat, 11 Oct 2008 2:01 pm

ops, the thing of the medical insurance I posted in another topic...sorry

SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore

S$3200 offer without accommodation !! Advice please !!

S$3200 offer without accommodation !! Advice please !!

Who is online