Singaporeans do not hold ACCA in as high regard as many Malaysians mistakenly do.

And what is this statement supposed to point out?

Unless you have skills or experience in an industry that is uncommon to / short on locals - you have to expect that employers will give a foreigner's application last priority if they have locals applying for the same position. They don't have to spend the effort and money to get work permits, pay additional fees or deposits and they don't have to sponsor you (and thereby risk bearing some responsibility for your actions in Singapore).

You stand a better chance applying for jobs & companies that routinely recruit Malaysians rather than try your luck applying blindly from Sg classified ads. You can also try placing your resume with specialist cross-causeway recruiters, because companies that want to recruit foreigners typically outsource the recruitment process to external firms.

This post has been edited by seantang: May 5 2009, 09:47 PM

You mean 12K a month, right? Not 120K.

I think S$1.5M (120K x 13 months) would be highly, highly unlikely in the Sg context.

1. According to this article in Asiaone: CFOs gone too soon, large cap(ital) companies pay their CFOs roughly S$300K per year. Smaller companies pay around 1/2 that amount.

In my experience, I've never known a CTO or CIO to be paid more than the CFO (unless he also holds several other portfolios like HR, Shared Services, Supply Chain etc). Typically the CFO's pay is second only to the CEO in most companies (and perhaps also to the GMs of the major biz units).

2. Going up to the very pinnacle of the Singapore context, Singtel paid its CFO (Chua Sock Koong) S$1.67M in YE2007/3. It's CEO (Lee Hsien Yang) was paid S$2.15M during that period. And I think Ms Chua is paid a lot more than other CFOs in listed SGX blue chips because she then went on to become CEO of Singtel that same year.



So, I reckon it's highly unlikely that S$1.5M would be the average IT salary for the top IS/IT person in any Singaporean company.

This post has been edited by seantang: May 6 2009, 01:31 PM

It's lunch time... and I see a claim that IT guys get 120K a month...

I have to find some way to entertain myself, right?

This post has been edited by seantang: May 6 2009, 01:34 PM

For professional or graduate positions, there's no 'common' allowances. Some companies give it (but you should expect your basic to be less) and some don't (you'd then expect your basic to be more). Some jobs like sales or customer service will typically have mobile phone provided or the expenses reimbursed. Should look at pay from a total package or take-home perspective.

Not sure if I quite understand.

From company's point of view, they don't care what you use your salary for (pay rent & etc or whatever) or whether you have a lot of commitments. That is your business/problem. All they will consider is the job scope in question and your qualifications/experience. That will determine what pay scale you'll get. End of story.

At the end of the day, you just need to find out from your Sg peers in the industry what the pay range is for someone with your background going into the job you're targeting - and set your asking salary accordingly. Whether you can survive with the salary offered, that's your problem.

This post has been edited by seantang: May 8 2009, 11:54 AM

I think it's standard practice, right?... to +1 day to annual leave or give the next following workday off if a gazetted public holiday falls on a rest day?

Mine's +1 day to annual leave.

Google... Google. Why don't people Google anymore?

Oh come on. How lazy can you get?

I just typed "Singapore Marriage" into Google and this was one of the top results:

http://app.rom.gov.sg/internet/reg_info/rom_preparation.asp

It's quite natural, isn't it? Malaysians (guys and girls) come here typically penniless looking for work and good income. Singaporean guys are the ones with daddy's car, automatic HDB grant and backyard advantage. How can the penniless Malaysian chaps compete?

You still pay tax if you're not PR leh.

If you were a girl, which would you choose? Nerd driving a nice car or macho dude driving the back seat of a SBStransit bus?

Weather's too hot... even at night.

Ask your friends if their company is still hiring. It's always funny how your friends' companies always pay more but never have any vacancies when you ask.

Anyway, no harm taking the 2.7K offer, come to Sg, get your PR, and then if you find out you're really underpaid... go get yourself another job here. Just make sure you don't sign a bond or something.

Btw, the OT package sounds quite ok what.

Assuming you work all the 30hrs, your extra pay will be $1200. That's 45% or almost half your basic.

And if you add it all up, your overall pay per month is $3900. That's more than your Sg friends already.

You are actually renewing your Re-Entry Permit (REP), not your PR. The REP allows you to REMAIN a PR overseas while it is valid. If you do not leave Singapore, your Permanent Residence is well... permanent. The REP expires to prevent people from remaining PRs when they leave Singapore... ie. hold the PR in reserve or in case.


As explained above, it's the REP. And technically... yes you can. You can renew the REP online, print it out and carry the printout with your passport.

The actual conditions for renewal however... I'm not sure if working/residing outside Singapore is something the online application will ask you to declare etc., nor whether a positive declaration will jeopardise the renewal. I suggest you call ICAA to confirm.

Is there a special procedure to renew 10 years?

Note 2 in the REP renewal form (ie. Form 6) states that "2. All REPs are issued up to a maximum of 5 years. The fee for a 5-year REP is $50/-".

http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=152&secid=150

HDB flats to Singaporeans are what double storey terrace in KL/PJ are to Malaysians (in terms of affordability & supply). If you look at it that way, the rental is about the same.


If he received an offer before he graduated, he should be quite terror lah. You do your thing, he do his lor. Why compare? As I said, get here first, get your PR and then you are free to change employers and pick & choose your job.

Here's a brainstormer of an idea... How about staying in... wait for it... Jurong East???

Loads of flats around the MRT station, if I'm not mistaken. There's a nearby shopping center too.