Would Like Input on Job Offer, please

[beansy]

Hello! I have been offered a position in Singapore and am still negotiating. As it stands now, the offer is $80,700 per year with $1500 monthly housing allowance. The employer will be paying for rental agents and all up front expenses associated with condo rental, including deposits, etc. The condo will be rented in my employer's name; the housing allowance will be paid directly to the landlord and the rest of the rent will be taken from my paycheque. Relocation costs from and to Canada will be provided, as well as 25 days paid holiday and paid cell phone. All associated visa costs will also be provided.

It's been agreed that the search for accommodations will start at $3000 per month.

Is this realistic? Could I live comfortably on this? I will be moving with two large dogs and a cat, also.

Is there anything else I should bring up? How realistic would it be to ask for a trip out there before accepting? For those of you who have moved to Singapore from other places, how do you like it? What Else should I be taking into consideration. PLEASE HELP

Thanks in advance.

[beppi]

It all sounds realistic except the annual leave (which is very generous by Singaporean standards) and your plan to bring pets (which are not allowed in many apartments and will thus restrict your search, apart from the cost and difficulty of importing them).
Good luck!

[Nath21]

Annual leave is typical for English company but unusual on a salary in that range and not the normal in singapore. Be careful you may not get to use if your employer is dodgy. If it is an english company you usually cant carry forward unused leave. On large dogs no chance. Firstly you might want to check the breeds are allowed, locals are in general scared of dogs and large dogs will scare the hell out of them, there are limited off leash areas and as the previous poster said usually not allowed in apartments. I saw first hand this morning the aftermath of a dog squeezing through a fifth floor balcony space and plunge to a horrible death here at my condo. So if they do allow a dog you might want to check safety.

Also quarantine can be tough on a dog i didnt want to put mine through the experience and then i checked and he was banned anyway (he was a staffy we bought him because they are no1 with kids but banned by Singapore because from the bull terrier family). Paid cell phone is good as calls here are quite expensive ive noticed. Salary is only comparable to what you were on previously and what lifestyle you are used to.

[JayCee]

Annual leave is typical for English company but unusual on a salary in that range and not the normal in singapore. Be careful you may not get to use if your employer is dodgy. If it is an english company you usually cant carry forward unused leave.

I don't agree with this. I work for a British multinational and carry forward 5 days each year, I've also worked for other British multinationals in London and the same applied. They try to make you take all the leave but it never quite works out that way when they're asking you to work all the time so they have to compromise.

Regarding the salary, 80K a year plus another 1500 a month for rental works out at 98000 which could be a salary for an AVP type position, a bit on the low side but I know of people at my place who were on under 100K at that grade. At AVP you'd get roughly 23-25 days holiday in a British multinational

[beansy]

Thanks fore you responses. I'm sorry, what is an AVP position? I have no idea what that means.

I'm still working on this. As much as I'd love to take this offer, I can't help but to think that I might not be able to live comfortably on this salary, or the way I live here in Canada. I don't expect the same niceties I have here, but I want to be able to save some money and enjoy myself. I'm not sure the relocation expenses (5000Singapore) is enough. It's tough to make this kind of decision never having visited Singapore.

For the person who sent me a message, I don't have enough posts to reply, but I'm in health care.

Does anybody have any advice or can think of anything I might have forgotten? Is it reasonable to want to visit first at the company's expense?

[beppi]

Yes, you should visit Singapore before making a final decision. Of course it would be nice if the company pays for this, but even if not you won't regret that investment later!

As far as living costs are concerned, this is one of the most often asked questions on this forum, but there is no easy answer.
There are certain things you might miss here that no money can buy, like long walks in the forest, wide open spaces, seasons. Other things are very expensive here, like big living spaces, cars, alcohol, which you might or might not easily forego. Most everything else costs same or less than in North America, and labour much less (full time helpers do not break the bank here!). Some exciting things even come completely free, like exposure to exotic cultures and customs right in your neighbourhood.
But comfort begins in your mind, not wallet. How you react to the inevitable changes, take the challenges and adapt to a vastly different environment and mindset will determine your longterm happiness more than anything else.
Of course it is easier to worry and negotiate about money ...

[Nath21]

Annual leave is typical for English company but unusual on a salary in that range and not the normal in singapore. Be careful you may not get to use if your employer is dodgy. If it is an english company you usually cant carry forward unused leave.

I don't agree with this. I work for a British multinational and carry forward 5 days each year, I've also worked for other British multinationals in London and the same applied. They try to make you take all the leave but it never quite works out that way when they're asking you to work all the time so they have to compromise.

In the UK you must generally take leave during the year and there is no law requiring them to carry forward where as in Australia there is a legal requirement as you have earned the holidays and can carry forward until ceasment of employment or the company is liquidated. The difference of 5 days allowed to be carry forward represents someone usually on 25 days leave compared to the more normal 20 days, thus the company allows you to "bank" those extra 5 days. This is up to the company though and some firms dont allow this as its considered an extra entitlement. Even in a english MNC they will "usually" have leave staggered on salary ranges in Singapore to more closely reflect local entity comparable entitlements. Therefore staff in singapore at my firm get anywhere between 17-25 days off annual leave with 6 days carry forward for staff on 20-25 day entitlements.

[JayCee]

Annual leave is typical for English company but unusual on a salary in that range and not the normal in singapore. Be careful you may not get to use if your employer is dodgy. If it is an english company you usually cant carry forward unused leave.

I don't agree with this. I work for a British multinational and carry forward 5 days each year, I've also worked for other British multinationals in London and the same applied. They try to make you take all the leave but it never quite works out that way when they're asking you to work all the time so they have to compromise.

In the UK you must generally take leave during the year and there is no law requiring them to carry forward where as in Australia there is a legal requirement as you have earned the holidays and can carry forward until ceasment of employment or the company is liquidated. The difference of 5 days allowed to be carry forward represents someone usually on 25 days leave compared to the more normal 20 days, thus the company allows you to "bank" those extra 5 days. This is up to the company though and some firms dont allow this as its considered an extra entitlement. Even in a english MNC they will "usually" have leave staggered on salary ranges in Singapore to more closely reflect local entity comparable entitlements. Therefore staff in singapore at my firm get anywhere between 17-25 days off annual leave with 6 days carry forward for staff on 20-25 day entitlements.

I am aware that there is no law for them to carry forward leave, I never said that in my reply. However, I disagree with your statement that 'usually' they won't carry it forward as in my experience this has not been the case nor has it been the case for friends in the UK or those working for UK companies abroad.

[Nath21]

[quote/]I am aware that there is no law for them to carry forward leave, I never said that in my reply. However, I disagree with your statement that 'usually' they won't carry it forward as in my experience this has not been the case nor has it been the case for friends in the UK or those working for UK companies abroad.[/quote]

Your right I should be more clear you cant carry forward your unused leave except for 5 days usually. Is that better. You still lose the rest of your unused leave which is what I was pertaining. I also worked in the UK and not everyone is on 25 days leave.

[sundaymorningstaple]

And therein lies the problem with the written word. Especially if one doesn't proofread what they write. I do that all the time!