Singapore Salary Structure

[why it's like that]

Hi Guys, im not posting this topic, bcoz im frstated or anything, it's just this salary structure I find in s'pore is very weird, im undergoing few interview now a days n everywhere Im applying, they ask "current salary & expected salary" lets say if i say my current salary is 4.5K, then the max they can offer is 4.7 or 4.8K, but im quite happy with my current employer coz i only work for 8 hrs & weekend no standby/no production support, just to clarify Im into IT Networking & have worked for few few banks like OCBC n citi, luckily with god's grace im not doing support for bank & presently im working for good company which is not into IT. Let me come back to my question, why cant singapore HR improve in terms of offering good salary to rite candidates, they always use your current sal as the baseline,  u ll find many locals r just poly diploma holders, im not sure that the HR in s'pore is well educated in understanding the qualification, if someone is local n have poly diploma+mcse+ccna+2-3 years, they will offer him 4K, if someone is an expat n have a engg degree & have 5-6 yrs exp, they will also offer him 4K, which is not rite, unfortunately today's market is not a employee's market, so it's an advantage for companies to offer only 200 extra, which is just not rite, so i have decided not to take the next job less than 5.5K, i may be foolish, but let me try if this works, coz i dun really have to worry since my present company is really good(much better as compared to banks).

[Troublesome]

I am having difficulty reading your post. Can't you use spaces or similar? Put 'and' instead of 'n', 'right' instead of 'right' and 'salary' instead of salary.

You are not sending an SMS message, are you?

[Troublesome]

It should be 'salary' instead of 'sal'.

The 'u ll' made me think for a while. Does it mean 'you will'?

[T2K]

Because they can.  If you are already working for something less than you think you are worth, then you will likely continue to do so.  Maybe you'll get the 5.5K/mth thought.  Good luck.

[Troublesome]

Hi Guys,

I am not posting this topic because I'm frustrated or anything. It's just this salary structure I find in Singapore. It is very weird.

I'm undergoing a few interviews nowadays and everywhere I apply to, they usually ask for my "current and expected salary".

If I say my current salary is 4.5K, then the maximum they can offer me is 4.7 or 4.8K.

I am quite happy with my current employer because I only work for 8 hrs a day. No weekend work, no standby or production support, which is 24x7.

Just to clarify, I'm into IT Networking and have worked for few banks like OCBC and Citibank. Luckily and with God's grace, I am not doing support work for a bank. Currently, I am working for a good company, which is not into IT.

Let me go back to my question. Why can't HR in Singapore improve in terms of offering good salary to the best candidates? They always use your current salary as a basis for the offered salary.  You will find many locals hold diplomas as opposed to degrees.
I am not sure that HR in Singapore is well informed in understanding qualifications. They will offer 4K to a local staff having a diploma, MCSE and CCNA certification, and 2-3 years experience. They will offer the same salary to a foreign talent having a degree in Engineeing and 5-6 years professional experience. This is absolutely unfair.

Unfortunately, it is the employer's market these days, so it's the advantage of employers to offer only $200 extra, which is not fair.

I have decided not to take a job that will pay me less than 5.5K. It sounds foolish but let me try if this works. I really don't have to worry that much since my present company is better than any bank!

[Troublesome]

They can give you a higher salary if you can prove them that you worth your expected salary. Ask for perks, bonuses (like 5K a year), stock options (if the company is listed), etc.

I usually ask for an annual pay. Give them your  expected basic annual pay. They are trying to assess if they could hire more people based on their budget and the candidate's market value.

We have staff here having the same job description but different salaries. The guy who doesn't work much usually gets a higher pay than the guy who does more.

[so many teachers around]

Pls dont drag from the topic, I think its a good post, which gives some idea about singapore salary structure, only worst thing i find in this forum, is to correct someone's english. Looks like some people have lots and lots of time to just correct other's mistake. Troublesome seems to be big a******, he is only one posting replies, see hoe much time he has got, dear troublesome give some time to ur wife/gf if u have one, if not dun eat our brain by JUST POSTING POSTING & CORRECTING ENGLISH. Give some chance for others to reply, esepecially who have brains which is not used for correcting english.

[Negotiation]

In a negotiation for salary, you should never tell the interviewer what you are currently on.

First, it's irrelevant to how much you should get paid for the job you are interviewing for (which may be very different, require longer hours, be more senior).  Secondly, it puts you at a distinct disadvantage during the pay discussion process.

I know that HR people in Asia tend to follow this process.  Tell us what your salary is currently and what are your expectations.  I generally ignore the "current salary" question and put "market for the position and my qualifications and experience" on the expected salary part.

If they insist on knowing your current salary, you should tell them that it is confidential between yourself and your current employer and ask them to explain why it is relevant to them (beyond being an inappropriate anchor for their determination of what salary to offer you).  You can do it in a positive, non-confrontational way (ie I think any discussions of salary should be centred around the actual role on offer...you are obviously familiar with the role and what the appropriate market range for such a role is...etc).

Another trick is to try to avoid talking salary at all until they have decided that they want you.  Then you are in a better position to bargain.

One thing I do object to is when you go for your first interview in Asia (regardless of how senior the role), the HR junior (or secretary) gives you the standard form to fill out, which requires you to list your past positions and the salaries you received.  This is highly confidential information and is not relevant at all to the interviewer.  There is no way that they should be entitled to have this information, particularly before you have even spoken to anyone about the job.  What if you don't like the sound of it, and withdraw your application (people tend to forget that interviews are two-way streets) - then you have given highly personal information about yourself for no reason whatsoever.  I would suggest that people should simply leave such questions blank and if pushed, explain that you feel it is far too premature in the process to be releasing such personal information.  Later on, you can press for why they need that information at all and resist again.

More people should do this and then Asian HR officers would soon learn that they have to think about what roles are really worth and how much they want the candidate, rather than just adding 5-10% onto whatever they are earning at present.

Having come from HK, where people in my profession earn double what they earn in Singapore, the HR people I dealt with here were more than happy to confirm that what I was previously on had no relevance to the job they were offering (and they did this very quickly after they  were told what I was on in HK...something I did just to see their reaction,  knowing it just simply was not market in Singapore and therefore was not appropriate).

[where is the problem]

now your salary is not you educational qualifaction or work expereience. they are not to be looked by anybody even if you are selected. so whatever salary you want. your salary is 100/200/300/400/500 less than that. to simple. has anybody been asked his salary receipt upon selection. no it is only education/ work certificates are checked, unless you are having a bad day. if people on the other side are like this alll we have to be like that. tit for tat.

[Honesty]

Problem has a problem.

You must never lie in  job interview.
Never ever....in your whole life.

Else you will never be comfortable in your job and you will live with being a liar for the rest of your life.

However - you can be creative!

You can quote monthly or annual salary - whichever looks more in your favour.
Some employers pay 15 months, others  13 a year. Others 20 months a year.

Again the focus should be on the fact that you want to work for the employer - for the expereince, team knowlede, to better yourself.  Salary is irrelevant... so you should say...

Except you believe in fair pay for a fair job done.

There is nothing wrong with sticking with the original job!!
Good luck!

[hmmm]

not sure about this not shoiwng salary slip part. i know a couple of ppl who were requried to produce it as part of HR procedures.

as a result, most fo them believe that their salary could have been another 20% higher but wasn't

[where is the problem]

OK I AGREE THAT HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

Problem has a problem.

OK

You must never lie in job interview.
Never ever....in your whole life.

OK

Else you will never be comfortable in your job and you will live with being a liar for the rest of your life.

OOPS OVER THE HEAD. JUST MANAGED TO CATCH. GOOD PHILOSOPHY.

However - you can be creative!

I AGREE '

You can quote monthly or annual salary - whichever looks more in your favour.
Some employers pay 15 months, others 13 a year. Others 20 months a year.

GOOD IDEA.

Again the focus should be on the fact that you want to work for the employer - for the expereince, team knowlede, to better yourself. Salary is irrelevant... so you should say...
Except you believe in fair pay for a fair job done.
There is nothing wrong with sticking with the original job!!
Good luck!

THIS PART IS THE MAIN PROBLEN OF THE ORIGINAL POSTER. I AGREE THAT PROPLEM IS A PROBLEM BUT EACH PROBLEM HAS A SOLUTION WHICH THE OP WANTS TO KNOW.
I AGREE THAT MY IDEA IS A LITTLE BIT
..I WOULD SAY A BIT SQUEAKY...AND I WROTE
..MAYBE I SHOULD SAY FUN. BUT I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOUR SUGGESTION. IF YOU LEAVE EVERYTHING TO GOD, WHAT IS HAPPENING YOU ALREADY SAW IT WITH OP.
YOUR IDEA IS A PRETTY STATIC ONE. OP EXPECTS SOME NICE SUGGESTION WHICH WOULD GIVE HIM HIS DUE SALARY.

[UK Chap]

Guys, this is not just an asian thing.  Same questions are asked in UK too (and I guess most places around the world).  As someone who recruits, I like to know the candidates current salary as this gives me an indication of how much their current employer values them.

So, the salary info plus the claimed experience on the CV would tell me quite a bit of info.  For example, if someone claims to run multi-million pound (sorry sing dollar) projects but only gets paid a tupence (small amount) then I know something doesn't add up.

It does also form an anchor point should an offer be made.

[I would contest]

that it is the wrong anchor point.  The job in question is what matters.  What if they are undervalued by their current employer and that is why they want to leave?

[marriedguy]

>>>> Negotiation..........Excellent post.