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

I think Master degree is kinda irrelevant for a project engineer position. Just so you know, Assistant Project Engineer for my company reserved for undergraduate from Philippine, Myanmar, China and etc.

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Added on March 22, 2011, 7:16 pm
For a project engineer position, only project management skill is useful la, the rest can delegates to other people. Besides that, project management skill cannot learn from university de, but through experience.

Police jobs are open to Singaporeans and PRs. Other non-sensitive govt depts will employ foreigners. So, no... it is fair to compare as civil servant starting salaries are a good indication of the median in the market.
If you agree to be employed by a Chinaman company, you really shouldn't complain about low salaries, not caring about your degree(s) or working long hours. You should already know that it's a given.

If you agree to be employed by a Chinaman company, you really shouldn't complain about low salaries, not caring about your degree(s) or working long hours. You should already know that it's a given.

Good attitude. From the little that you've written here, you actually write and express yourself quite well. Why are you not applying to all the many, many MNCs, blue chip SGX listed companies in Singapore rather than some unknown Chinaman company?

that is why in university there is final year project (fyp), individual & group assignments. can't agree one just generalized project management is not learned in uni. there is also a subject operations management. basic management. a hiring manager will ask about the fresh grad candidate on this fyp to gauge him/her in one of the hiring criteria. confidence of speaking, extra-curricular taking in uni, etc... does not limit to china, myanmar, etc...

depends on company business nature & project nature. a project engineer may involve from preliminary design stage to completion stage, handover.
input design ideas and coordinate with other disciplines, produce design drawings (CAD! one may have drafter to assist), prepare BQ (may refer historical project reference, ask from vendors, contractors, etc), tender documents, interview bidders, attend progress meeting, site-coordination, gantt chart, site preparation, risk assessment, method statements, liasing with authorities, manage sub-con, daily/weekly/monthly report, any tasks assigned by project manager/superior, go hardware shop buy with cash, stock-take, manage feedback and maintain good relationship with clients, manage labours, on-site trouble-shoot, (factory acceptance test) FAT, SAT (site acceptance test), etc...

some may also need to understand the operation process for a plant/factory or from oil & gas exploration to production stages, upstream to downstream and vice versa, all depends on the type of project.  without understanding of the operation process one may not have available resources to manage a project well and upkeep within cost budget. for this type of project, the engineersss need to start to discuss with the client/owner/developer's requirements the operation process to design...

there are many things to learn and one's willingness to learn on-job and read.

I think this is not a good offer, try to apply more companies, big , medium, small company, apply as more as u can and go for interview. Compare all the offers and choose the best suit u. My starting paid is $2500 with only a bachelor degree. The "Assistant" also not for a degree holder, it is for diploma level.

hi guys , is 2500SGD salary enough to survive in singapore , i heard the rental in sg is very expensive , is 2500SGD consider normal/high or low?to  survive in sg
tq

don't forget to factor in your opportunity cost. remember in KL you get to stay with family and friends. so for me, it is always better to work in your own country (thats your home!) rather than working other country as foreign worker. but its another story if you are an expat.

Add another 250 to upgrade it with proper shelter and 2-3 meal a day...
P/s: transport not included, just walk to office lo...

I tried that before for few months...save bout 80% of my salary...after a while, I tend to live more comfy and luxury

Every morning bread with peanut butter...make sure is smooth typenot chunky so u can spread a super thin layer on da bread...
Bread buy big size can last u for 3 - 4 days
Lunch go cafeteria...Bodek those Malay girl a bit they give u extra big packet for same price(Malay rice full of lemak give u extra energy)
Dinner eat 2 dollar chicken rice...I think u can still find chicken rice this price at most place...not to forget the free msg cabbage soup...
And for ur room...try sharing with lots of ppl...the more u share the lower the rental
After 3 years here...I still find it amazing how I can survive last time...
Additional tip for fast food lover
Just buy 3 double cheeseburger or mcchicken...Each at 2 dollar
More filling then going for mcvalue