Powergrid engineer!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Since they are under Temasek maybe is the N, E & M grading system... Each letter has a number after it that shows your rank. Last time I was E4 in PSA then jump to ST Marine become E5, think they all use the same grading system.

hi can anyone elaborate on the N, E & grading system? I presume its for govt linked corporation?

got an interview with SP finance dept. anyone know anything abt it? good or bad? appreciate all advice.

Hello all,

i juz went for SP interview.

They said $500 is more than enough for the car allowance.

Do u think it is enough?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hello all,

i juz went for SP interview.

They said $500 is more than enough for the car allowance.

Do u think it is enough?

Yes it is. Better than nothing.

I know some MNC gives $2k to "consultant" level employees.

Wow 2k..

but the permit of ownership is so expensive..$500 really enough?

Haiz...engineer pay so low...

dunno anywhere else i can go

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Wow 2k..

but the permit of ownership is so expensive..$500 really enough?

Haiz...engineer pay so low...

dunno anywhere else i can go

The car is yours and has some value (ie you own it and can sell it). The 500 is probably to cover your fuel expenses and some maintenance only. Alternatively, you can use the 500 for taking taxis (or even the MRT if you feel like it).

Same argument goes for housing allowance. You can rent a room or you can buy a big house, but the allowance won't help you much in the latter case.

But Singapore Power requires me must drive a car. In tat case, i need to buy one.

Thinking to buy a second hand but dunno enough anot.

Is the second hand car bought includes the permit d? or i need to apply the permit separately..

Originally Posted by Unregistered

But Singapore Power requires me must drive a car. In tat case, i need to buy one.

Thinking to buy a second hand but dunno enough anot.

Is the second hand car bought includes the permit d? or i need to apply the permit separately..

500 confirm not enough, DO NOT fall into their trap....

If you buy a new car now just for this job, please go bang wall...
Second hand cars are priced up as effect from the price of new cars, a lot of EEEdiots think car allowance is a good deal until they kenna all those small repair bills and parking crap.

If you want a car, join a civil engineering coy as project engineer, they give you a car or 800 car allowance(minimum) they cover part of your car repair work bills too.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hello all,

i juz went for SP interview.

They said $500 is more than enough for the car allowance.

Do u think it is enough?

No way. Btw $500 is known as transport allowance, not car allowance. Market practice is that only amounts that cover full cost of car ownership is called car allowance, small amounts that only cover operating exp fuel, carp park & erp is known as transport allowance.

If you already have a car, $500 is slightly short to cover cost of maintainance such as fuel is ~$350, ERP ~$100, Carpark ~$100. I'm estimating base on fact you need to do site visits, move around for normal ops work, to & fro from home to office. If it's sales the amounts will be much higer since you need to travel frequently.

If you do not have a car, you are totally screwed. The loan servicing alone will arleady cost at least $800 if you are buying a 5+ years cheap Japan sedan car. Leasing a car even worse, about 1k+.

In summary, unless SP give you the choice of moving around in public transport, the $500 is paltry, be prepared for big pay cut if you need to buy a car.

BTW what is ur job grade? $500 seems really low unless you are very junior.

With the likelihood for COE to hit 100k soon at the aret it is rising...
SP is really clever to shift the responsibilities and headaches of car ownership to the employee... ( Monthly repayment of car loan installment, car maintenance, parking, accident compensation and repair and parking fines )
Imagine committing to a 10-year debt to buy a liability(car) to serve the company...
Every month the fixed cost is erroding your income/savings by the thousands.... Doesn't sound like a very good deal to me...
For those who'r smarter.. they'll probably recognise this as a handcuff scheme to lock you down with the company, becos when an individual is under debt... he is more likely to stay put where he is.... to job switch and take a pay cut is too much a risk... This is called debt slavery..
Though SP have revised its starting salary to attract more fresh graduates... The initial "sweets" they give to you at the start will likely be clawed back from you by the miserable annual increments, long working hours, overnight work and stagnant prospects...
Most people joins the company to work a few years just to gain enough experience to qualify for the Professional Engineer exam.. Once they clear the requirements.. Most of them can't wait to tender their resignation.... Just a word of caution to those who are fresh graduates.... don't become fresh meat to be slaughtered...

Trust me.. I was an ex-engineer there.. Have moved on to a better industry.. Saw too many post-accident pictures of switchgear flashover/ transformer explosion... Have actually seen engineers who sustained permanent scarring and disfigurations after flashover accidents ... not so handsome anymore.. Quite scary, You don't want to have it happen to you..
If all that doesn't deter you... and the $500 still sounds incredible to you... and you believe the industry can offer you amazing prospects and a happy future for you and your family... than please go ahead... I wish you luck... you'll be needing it...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hello all,

i juz went for SP interview.

They said $500 is more than enough for the car allowance.

Do u think it is enough?

Yaya everyone, what u all said is very very true....thanks so much 4 the advice.


i really ponder why SP cant juz have their own company car since they want all their engineers to work around.

u r true..they give a very nice starting pay to attract me...and the car allowance is for beginning 4 years..first two years $500 then 3rd and 4th year $400 only. after that i am alone on my debt. I ask them how ? they said the fifth year my salary sure hit $4k above, more than enough d, they said.

i really wonder what car allowance is that? since the amount so small. Though they said we can do mileage claim if we go to site. But i now really wonder where should i go if not going to SP. FRUST!!!!!!!!!!!

All my frens r heading Jurong and Keppel for BIG bonus. but i think my condition (i have gastric and cant be too stress physically) not allow me go there!

****.. i have fabulous result in school and i really dun wan end up in a shark company!!

Pls help me.....Any company recommend to work for? Oh ya.. btw, SP did not do power generation business, so i think what we can learn is limited.

one thing forgot to mention, during last interview, i intend to reject SP but they offer me a scholarship to buy me bec the time i spent in uni. though the criteria is to get bond to SP....
i really think they very smart...



All sifu pls share some opinions for guidance