Received Offer-Negotiation Question?

[Marinka]

I got a job offer as Recruitment Consultant. The base salary is 2700 during trial and 2800 after. They also provide monthly commission and two other yearly bonuses (AWS and performance).

I know this is a decent offer, and I'm very happy about it, but there are a few things I am worried about.

After graduation, I have to pay student loans. They have to be paid in US dollars, so I will be paying nearly double in SGD. Also, the company doesn't have dental benefits! Is this common policy or could it just be because the company is fairly small?

Anyway, I want to negotiate for higher salary because of these small (but irritating) drawbacks. Would people give me examples of how you approached your salary negotiations in Singapore? How much higher did you go than the offer? Thanks!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Marinka,

A couple things......

First of all, is the company an International agency (better) or a local agency (bad)?

Is it a recruitment agency (e.g., body shop - bad) or a head-hunting agency (better)?

How many months do they give you initially to meet your target? Are you penalized if you don't meet your target? (with the economy going into a tailspin, positions are going to dry up, especially the high-end financial positions).

How are targets structured? Incremental or fixed rate/percentage?

I don't want you to answer these questions here, they are just something to think about yourself........

$2700/mo sounds okay for a consultant here (assuming this is a headhunting agency). I know, as I was a headhunter here for 14+ years. It's extremely high if the company is a local bodyshop. Usually the draw is smaller and you make up the difference on commission payments. I would think your targets have been set pretty high if they are paying that kind of base.

As far as Dental, unless it's an MNC or a large SME I am not surprised that there are no dental benefits.

Regarding your Student Loans, that, unfortunately is of no concern to them. And it shouldn't be. As far at the exchange rate is concerned that is also of no concern to them. You have to do your homework and factor in the variables as you think they may pan out. If it still looks do-able then go for it.

I will tell you this about the recruitment industry here in Singapore though. Most in the industry, call it a revolving door industry. The vast majority who go into this business here are doing it for one reason only. They can't find a job that they want so are doing it to be employed. As soon as they find something they are gone. The majority stay only a year at most. However, there are those who do hang in there and do make some money but the Industry over here has a really bad name for total lack of professionalism.

In the recruitment industry, there isn't much room for negotiation on the base. You may negotiate for the commission package but the base is usually low anyway as it assumed that you will be making your target. I don't see room there unless you have a good track record in the industry and an existing network that extends over here already.

sms

I got a job offer as Recruitment Consultant. The base salary is 2700 during trial and 2800 after. They also provide monthly commission and two other yearly bonuses (AWS and performance).

I know this is a decent offer, and I'm very happy about it, but there are a few things I am worried about.

After graduation, I have to pay student loans. They have to be paid in US dollars, so I will be paying nearly double in SGD. Also, the company doesn't have dental benefits! Is this common policy or could it just be because the company is fairly small?

Anyway, I want to negotiate for higher salary because of these small (but irritating) drawbacks. Would people give me examples of how you approached your salary negotiations in Singapore? How much higher did you go than the offer? Thanks!