See... you've improved

You asked specific questions, provided sufficient details and context to frame those questions and looked for answers that were not easily Googled or derived from common sense. Big4 experience is worth something after all.

Your point being?

If you've only worked 5 months, I'm sure what you've 'learnt' during those 5 months might seem like "lots" to you. In reality... it's not.

Sure, there are high performers and fast trackers in every organisation. But there is a huge difference between a candidate who was promoted within 5 months, and a candidate who has 5 months experience.

True. Many years of experience doesn't automatically mean high quality. But too little experience like 5 months... unless you're exceptional (like you get promoted to senior), you're still working on stuff that even interns can do.

I would amend that sentence to the vast majority learn close to nothing in a year, exceptional people loads in 5 months.

As a hirer, you don't make decisions on 'depends'. You go with the realistic probabilities.

Like I said,... if you've got but little experience, whatever little you learn will feel like a lot.

It's true. Actually 20% duno what plus up to 20% other thingy.

Actually, it depends on the person shortlisting your resume, conducting the interview and making the decision to hire you... or not.

Errr... no. If I'm not mistaken, your view is that somehow hirers will take the time and effort to perceive differences in the 'quality' of 5 months experience from different candidates.

My view is that they will just assume 5 months equals to zero. And in 99.9% of the cases, they'd be making the right assumption (not much margin of error for 'depends', really).

This post has been edited by seantang: Mar 10 2011, 10:48 AM

Yup, no point continuing this if you and I have different understanding of what's being discussed.

Anyone go to IT Show today? I got there at about 3pm and it was already quite crowded. Packed in some places on level 6 where the booths of the shops from Sim Lim and Funan were. Level 4 where the brand owners was less crowded.

I was looking for 32gb micro sdhc cards for my Tab and it was still too expensive... $90 for Class 4... three times the price of 16gb. Most places were selling at list price... nothing special. Only exception was Mega which was selling 40" Samsung full HD LED pure black TVs at $999. Almost went for that one.

None of the new Android tablets to be seen, and no sign of the iPad2. No unveils or first looks at all... way too much accessories.

My only purchase ended up being a ciplak AC charger & sync cable for the tab. Roundly, not much of a show, really.

Depending on which booth, Sandisk class 4 was $100-106. Kingston and Transcend class 4 was $86-95.

Apple had a booth there, I thought they would at least have a display unit.

E-filing is when you submit your tax return online. Your company submits the equivalent to Malaysia's EA form online and everything gets loaded onto your online tax return. If you have no deductions etc, then all you have to do is logon and press "submit". This is for employers who participate in the Auto Inclusion Scheme (AIS).

I did e-filing for the first 2 years and then they sent me a letter that I was now eligible for No-Filing Service. This means that I don't even have to logon if I have no changes to make to the AIS tax return.

After your tax return is filed, it will be assessed by IRAS and then they will send you (mine is sent to my company) a Tax Assessment which details your tax payable for the year. It will give you a deadline to pay your tax payable.

http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page.aspx?id=1448

Since your boss said it's not an issue, then it's okay.

Oh... just remind him to give you a letter of indemnity should the bank take action against you. Since he says it's okay, he shouldn't mind.

"Examples of wrongful claims: Travelling expenses incurred to and from home and office."

If it's business travel, you would have claimed from your company already.

For similar jobs (in terms of scope ie. front or back office, level of responsibility/impact and type of employer ie. bulge bracket/boutique/local/MNC/listed etc) - my general rule of thumb is S$0.8:RM1 to S$1:RM1.

Having said that, if your skill and experience level warrants a RM10K salary in KL, your profile should be in some demand in SG. In that case, you should call up recruiters and enquire about that particular role and SG employer you're interested in. Gauge the salary levels for your set of skills based on the feedback from recruiters and then negotiate.

This post has been edited by seantang: Mar 16 2011, 04:34 PM

Wasn't the CPF ceiling $4500 per month, and from this year $5000 per month?

They have entry level management in Biotech companies?

If you are not allowed to buy HDB, I doubt if you'll be allowed to own it though the back door. HDB will probably refuse to register your share in the joint ownership.

Your aunt can make you the beneificiary in her will to inherit the flat but I think HDB will hold the flat in trust while they give you a period time to sell it to someone who is eligible to own it.

They provide a condo for every employee?

Just curious... with the master's degree, what is it that you can do that a bachelor's degree holder cannot?

In the context of the responsibilities and tasks, that a fresh engineer with no experience, will be allowed to do - what is the appreciable difference?

If I were the hiring manager, I wouldn't pay you more than your peers if you couldn't for eg. actually roll up your sleeves and design a product or manage a project better than them. And without experience and a track record, you can't prove that you can.

When you ask for more pay when all you have is an extra degree and no experience, you are basically asking the employer to pay an upfront premium for potential. They are not paying you just because you have a Master's, but for the potential represented by someone who takes the trouble to get one. However, you are in a field where a Master's is commonplace... and most employer's are not going to see a Master's as proof of your potential. You need to have a stronger selling point if you want more money.

And at $2200, I have to say that the person who offered you that amount doesn't see you as having even the equivalent potential to a bachelor's degree holder, much less a high potential worth paying a premium for. As a comparison, the SG Police Force hires fresh graduates with the minimum starting salary of $2650 for a simple pass bachelor's degree.

http://www.spf.gov.sg/career/so_salary.htm#top