I'm a recent PhD graduate, single and 29 years old. I might choose to work at overseas for a couple of years to earn extra cash. So, I'm interested in the gross income that I could earn. For simplicity, I meant which country would give the best deal considering the formula:

Gross Income = Salary - Income Tax - All living expenses

For living expenses, please consider the most decent one: a single room, self-cooked meal, public transportation.

In NZ, I spend around NZ$700 per month for living expenses.

If you have other choice of countries, please recommend. Thanks!

sg = low income tax / cost of living / near hometown[malaysia]

but lifestyle sucks.

EasyLife,

You are ASSUMING that you can get a job. Make sure that you have a few offers first before you think about this.

Dreamer

agree, even if u want and like it, you wont get it. so far the easist is aus n canada.. so far i have been only working in US, $$$ is good but for future family life is bad.

In my opinion, looking for a career in overseas right now is not a good choice. You just wasted your time. Local people will have more advantages compared to expat.

Worse case scenario you might receive the offer but compensation wise probably lower than locals whose on the same job! Don't think you want that either...

A PHD holder with no/less working experience wont buy you a ticket for a fast career track.

Most companies are looking someone with right balance between education and work experience.

why no USA included?
USA is the best after the recession.

EasyLife,

BTW, you used the WRONG terminology. In most cases, you ONLY get paid the local wages. You do not get the Ex-pat package. So, you will not be a ex-pat.

Dreamer

A PhD with no working experience - well, don't expect too much to begin with.

In fact, a PhD could count against you. In the non-academic field, you may be excluded from the job shortlist unless the company is specifically looking for candidates with higher degrees.

Considering where your degree is from, and assuming you qualify to work there, I would get some work experience there first. The money thing comes later.

Not to mention that other countries you are interested in are not necessarily interested in giving you a work permit.

Keeping your expenses to NZ$700 per month is quite an achievement. However, you may think differently when you start working.

The highlighted part in red is VERY TRUE. Your PhD only counts when you're looking for a academic role or research role whether it be in companies (eg: pharmaceutical research) or institutions.

In fact, at the age of 29, most other degree holders will have around 4-7 years exp (those who graduated at age 22-25), which is far more valuable than anything else.

I assume you have no working experience, but if you do, I also assume it is very little as compared to degree holders at your age. Therefore you are not only competing with the locals of the country of which you are already at an disadvantage, you are lacking the necessary experience and hands-on knowledge in whatever industry you desire to be in, excluding research, experimental and academic work or otherwise of course.

Don't forget that work permits for experienced roles/jobs are harder to obtain overseas particularly in the UK unless you're a PR (though u shouldnt have a problem getting work as an academician). In fact, even you're given a permit, it is a time limited one. Since the formation of European Union, residents in the Europe are free to work in any country there without the need of a permit, thus saving companies cost and provides many other inherent benefits.

This post has been edited by yewjhin: Mar 15 2009, 02:07 PM

I intend to be an academic. I agree with you that working experience is important, but I think it is more important to have valuable experience. It is obviously better to be a DESIGN ENGINEER rather than a SALES ENGINEER.

I worked as design engineer in an MNC in Penang for 1 year. I got first class honour degree from a bolehland Uni, a Masters from National Uni of Singapore (gold medalist for being the best graduate), and PhD from Auckland Uni (NZ govt scholar). I think I'm competetive enough to secure most high end jobs.

I think Dubai is a good choice. Earn USD but spend Durham.

FYI, DUR1.00 = RM1.00

why bad?

In terms of education you may look quiet attractive. Let me share with you a classic case. A friend of mine, he's Cambridge Graduate (Degree, Master and Phd in Maths),Chevening scholar and completed all those course when he was 24 years old. Lucky him! However, from what he shared with me he only earns +-MYR10,000 only after 6 years of working experience (4 years in king's college and 2 years local uni).

Personally I encourage you to explore and collect some more experience before start to demand in terms of salary

errr... american kids are screwed up.. most asian kids are screwed up there too... i prefer my family to be instilled with asian values

and the city i work in is 90% whites, i dont really wanna marry a white so my chances is very low, the only place i can find asian girl is at their uni...

also hard to get asian food.

This is very SERIOUS misconception. A Design Engineer is not necessarily better than a Sales Engineer. In fact, Sales Engineer may be earning less basic salary (not including commission), but can you dispute their ability to achieves sales, bring in customers and communicate with clients as well as translating the clients needs into practical solutions?

You can not compare both jobs and say A is better than B because they are different roles and often lead to very contrasting working environments. Whats important is what you learn out of it.

To an employer, your previous job title doesn't impress as much as your ability to showcase your skills gained, which in turn is gained by years of experience.

FYI: I'm a project engineer myself, doing chemical process design.

This post has been edited by yewjhin: Mar 15 2009, 02:29 PM

You might be right. As I have said, I am interested in academic field, which I feel that the design experience that I earned was more relevant to research. I somehow do not see how sales engineer is going to help with research, you might need to enlighten me

not all American kids are screwed:)
btw have you ever hit on whites? easy to get?

Easylife, I guess you just off the hook!

You shouldn't compare these jobs apple's like. By doing this, makes one look better than another. Both fields are important and do help each other.. without good selling skills, no matter how good your design is... its going no where!

Although I'm not salesman myself, but I do believe before you start selling stuff, salesman do need to know what are they selling

Correct. Sales Engineers are the bridge between the company and the customer. If company produce an average product but runs by a good team of sales personnel, it will still gain market popularity. Its just like advertising.

Well if you read back, u made a statement saying being a Design Engineer is better than Sales Engineer, but didnt mention that the case only applied to you, so I assume you were making a general statement of the public and corrected your misconception.

I do not know what kind of PhD you or which field you are in for that matter, but I assure you even sales experience can help in a PhD thesis that is related, whether it is banking, finance, marketing or business growth strategy etc etc.....

This post has been edited by yewjhin: Mar 15 2009, 03:36 PM

The middle east is the place to be right now.. It is the place with most cash money right now in the whole world!

And people there are more impressed in Academic than experience...I've been there and I know that...

I recommend Qatar, Dubai is good, but the lifestyle and money is much better in Qatar.. in addition, Qatar is one of the few countries who actually showed growth in this economic crisis...

This post has been edited by THE DEEPER: Mar 15 2009, 03:49 PM

I just go through lists of staff in their Uni in Qatar and could not find much Asian/Chinese name. Why? Any idea? Culture shock or what?

Well, I don't know why there are not many academicians from ASIA, but I don't think it is about the culture shock.. Which university have u looked at?

Fizzy, Dubai of course is effected by the crisis, but they are in better shape somehow coz of all cash they got from the souring prices of Oil just before the economic meltdown, so they have the money to keep the current projects, specially in infrastructure, running .

read if u'd like more info:
http://www.ameinfo.com/144748.html
http://www.ameinfo.com/180395.html

yea.. hehhee.. they are very easy... n they shave... but i dont think here is the correct place to discuss that

bs! the contruction works has already stop... a lot of msian interior designers has their projects put on hold and thye recently just applied 1billion loan from the msian gov... oil price drop, no rental in their exagerated buildings, loses in the financial market,... all their dream is gone

they treat asians like shit.. especially brown skin, they are very racist.. i had a malay engineer there earning 5 figures a month... he went shopping and they wont even wanna serve him even he got the $$$ because they think he's a low class phillipino going there as a maid/contruction worker... they only place they serve him is d betting horse ring which he cant go

actually msia is shit... just that so many lies covers up everything... the only good part of msia is we learn our lesson from the 98 crisis... our financial instituition is not hit that badly.. kudos zeti aziz

That's what i heard too. Super racist deep in their bone. They will make you feel like you are the lowest class citizen, and need to be fool around by them. No personal experience, but those from there by out of 10, 9 will say that to me.

This post has been edited by iDk: Mar 16 2009, 03:25 AM

Anyone please tell why you choose NZ as the best place? I'm in NZ and I think their tax rate is high (at least 30% and above) while salary is comparatively low. Thnaks.

if u chinese, go hongkong become academia.
if melay, go indon become acedemia.

EasyLife,

It is a good place to retire to. My brother retire there. He spend 6 months in NZ and 6 months in Malaysia.

My cousin's daughter live in NZ too.

Dreamer

I LOL-ed at that.



Anyway, Easylife is aiming to be an academician. So lets leave out the professional careers like engineers and such and focus on academic route.

In line with your PhD and perhaps your interests, I would suggest a technologically developed or at least "technologically conscious" country like the UK, US, Canada or South Korea (If you can stand up to it). You'll want to receive funding for your research, effective tools to pass on your knowledge whether through teaching or research, conferences, scientific collaborations, whatever method you choose.

Bear in mind that the Middle East is a CONSERVATIVE region. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are less strict, but nevertheless you are subjected to many regional laws of which are included in your job contract.

An example: In spite of recent economic recessions, Canada is still funding millions in Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) technology to restrict their carbon gas emissions and reduce global warming as well as meet global environmental pressures.

This post has been edited by yewjhin: Mar 16 2009, 11:09 AM

lol...you're quite right about the Asian part...if you're single, you can't even enter the malls in Qatar on weekends, unless you go thru' the backdoor! And ppl keep on mistaking you for Filipinos!

Asians are practically treated like slaves in this part of the world.

but best place in middle east has to be dubai, provided your expat package covers the essential, living the high life. Or work in Abu Dhabi, and spend your weekends in Dubai. Although with the recession now, it's not easy to find a job.

With a PhD, the highest paid job used to be quants in the finance sector, but with all this mess now, I have no idea how the job market is.

well, i bet u have not been to western countries often... most country have at least 25% tax if ur income is above 36kusd/year and some goes up to 50%.. in cali i paid 40+% although i can clain abck around 20%+... in aus it is 30%+.. in britain it is d worse i think

the best place to earn $$$$ is alaska... they pay super high and there's no state tax, only federal which is 20+% and you can claim that back

HK? lol.. $$$ is good, but ppl there are rude, u will live in a sardine can, and everything else is exp

indon? lol.. ppl from indon are running here why go there?

The tax is high - top-tier tax rate is 39%, but the salary is not comparatively low, as least not compared to Malaysia. And the 39% only applies to the portion above 60K.

For IT in general, you are still better off even after taxes and expenses. Even more so for the more in-demand areas. Then multiply by 1.9 to get ringgits, if you can save and assuming you intend to move back at some stage.

So compared to Malaysia, it is not low. Not sure how it would apply in your situation though.

Been working in 5 different countries and I agree with people's comment on UAE. Alot of them are racist...and they show it. Especially the locals. But there those who are polite...maybe due to their job.

But if they are your clients...such as company man. They would make your work and life difficult. Alot of them are Egyptians.

Being an expat working out of Malaysia has it's advantages....like we don't have to pay income tax to Malaysia gomen.

Although working in the UAE is nice...they usually give high salary and lodging is provided. But the cost of living is very very high. Unless you are on rotation.

Yupe, i think is about 50% if i not mistaken.

well.. i would say PhD is not just doing research and sleeping in the labs. in fact, PhD students learn a lot of transferable skills. it can be as good as MBA if not better. University is full of politics as well. u need to fight with other lecturers to get the lab space, be good in the inter-personal skills to help progress in your research. furthermore, u get to attend national and international to present your results.., and u are talking to more than 100+ people in the hall. And you build your network from there. that is why employers treat the years spend in PhD studies as working experience as well.

With Phd, you better look for a reserach work in the university. Singapore is a good place to start with as the country is looking for high qualification candidates.

@EasyLife

I try to answer your question with your formula.

For fresh grad engineer in Germany, I take the average and from my experience (not my income).

Salary (Gross)= EUR 3600
Taxes etc = EUR 1600
Expenses = EUR 1200
Gross income (shouldn't you mean nett?)= EUR 800

But with PhD, you command even higher income of course. Depending on industry demand and field of study, I would estimate gross salary of EUR 6000/month at the low end for zero experience.

This post has been edited by kelvinlym: Apr 5 2009, 07:15 AM

From your experience ? You mean you work in Germany before ?

I am currently working in Germany.

But not as expat. Just engineer.