I'm the one who posted earlier regarding switch from mx11 to sb at ard mx12. From my experience, it's hard to get 10-20% increment by joining sb. It'll be same pay or at most 1 increment, ie abt 200 increase. As for getting a AD position, it depends on whether u r already AD (mx11) or if the SB is from the firefly families (edb etc) then AD is equivalent to senior exec in other ministries. Overall, I would say if u r switching cause u think u can contribute at higher level n perform better in the SB, u may have more opportunities to be noticed if the sb u switched to is a smaller one like mine. I was in the ministry's mx hipo scheme previously but as the ministry is huge and mx scheme is not its only scheme, so progression was slightly slower n less devt opportunity. Whereas in the SB, cause it's small, n all on same scheme, had more opportunities for devt, staff overseas trip w bosses, do high profile projects, regular face time with ceo, interact with many psls. But I must say more opportunities also means more stress, n more pple will know real substance. In my SB, there are many without honours who r in hipo scheme, similarly we had some overseas scholars who joined us and profiled themselves but end up din show their worth n not only not selected for hipo scheme but even not offered confirmation... before 1 yr contract is up, officer quickly find another agency n left.