Salary Negotiation

Originally Posted by Unregistered

In this world, people make money by exploiting other people's time, talents and needs...
Just like to draw reference to the latest scandal of a 16 year old girl being exploited by a pimp to become a underage prostitute to meet the sexual needs of the rich and elite paying "customers".. who were also exploited by the pimp of their cold hard cash.....

The real winner is the pimp who gets a cut of the happy transaction at both ends..

Frankly in todays's working world, the scenario is very much the same..
A buyer(the Employer) willing to pay you(the Employee) an X amount of money for your time and talent every month...
As an employer, you'll definitely wish to pay as little as possible to hire people with the best talent and with the most time to offer to you... If the FTs are willing to settle for less than a local S'porean graduate.. then it's just tough luck for the local grad... At the end of the day, it's about a happy transaction between a willing buyer and a willing seller... Just make sure you are not the one being exploited.. If not.. be the one to be "less" exploited...

That's the simplistic view of the paper economist.

Things aren't so straightforward if you put politics into the picture: that the government has a responsibility to take care of the citizens; and that foreign workers can retire comfortably back to their home countries.

The main problems:
(1) government takes good care of big businesses and foreigners, more than citizens.
(2) foreigners are willing to work for less because they can save up and be rich when they return home.
(3) at the other end of the spectrum, the rich foreigners push up prices of houses and cars and services.
(4) though some foreigners pay tax, most of them don't need to serve NS and they have no emotional ties with this country - they can always leave and they always have a backup abode that will welcome them any day, while citizens here have no place else to escape to.

I was offered just 10 per cent more than a fresh diploma grad pay (engineering role) in this particular company. Even so, its almost a 20% cut to my current salary.

Im willing to take the cut up to 10%.

I have 3 years experience in the pharma industry. I really like to get myself the job and i asked if there is room for nego but the hiring manager (from HR) said no immediately on the phone.

So no chance of counter offer even if i reject?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I was offered just 10 per cent more than a fresh diploma grad pay (engineering role) in this particular company. Even so, its almost a 20% cut to my current salary.

Im willing to take the cut up to 10%.

I have 3 years experience in the pharma industry. I really like to get myself the job and i asked if there is room for nego but the hiring manager (from HR) said no immediately on the phone.

So no chance of counter offer even if i reject?

Its a oil industry fyi.

[bladez87]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Very true, I kana this before when in my first job.

Company told me they going to offer me perm position as a BD executive, but claim GM on leave & not around to sign off contract. The hirer than tell me to join them on weekly contract basis until he is back to sign off.

I notice that there was another 2 new BD hires same time as me. 2 weeks later, they claim got restructuring and company not doing well, so reduce headcount to 2 BD and one of the guys told to leave. Till this day I think they never intend to hire all 3 of us, just wanted to test and retain the ones they like.

but if you decide not to join as temp for them to assess, then you immediately out of the selection, would it not be worse?

Originally Posted by okcan8808

This is very true. My advice to TS at the end of the day, you must see your opportunity cost. If you think within the 2 weeks you can find better job, or got other offers, then maybe taking up the "temp contract" will not be a good idea.

But if you got nothing to do at home, then might as well go work a bit, gain experience and earn just a bit of money (better than nothing). Just don't let them exploit you during that time.

The best strategy I have discovered so far is, look for companies that do not know the market, and mark up your current/previous salary by whatever you want your new salary to be, then tell them that's your current salary.

What kind of companies do not know the market?

1) Basically, it's a MNC that's hiring its first employees in the region.
2) Companies that want to expand its base in China, and are looking for bilingual people. In this case, one is actually the bridge between non-Chinese and Chinese, since one can speak both English and Mandarin fluently.

Based on my previous experiences, this worked.

On my first try, I got 54% increment. Few years later, I left.
On my second try, I got 57% increment. I'm now waiting to start the new job.

Originally Posted by girlgirl88

Hi all, I'm new here... my first post..

I recently receive a call from the manager that I am shortlisted for the position after going through 2 rounds of interview.

He was saying that he wants me to join in earlier on part time basis as the contract will take 2 weeks to be finalised.

May I ask how do I negotiate the salary? I realised that my expected salary is low after consulting some of my friends in this similar field...

I am a diploma grad and have more than 3 years of experience in the same field...

Should I call him now or wait till the contract is finalised? Will it be too late?

Are you in a hurry to change jobs?
If not, my advice would be to look/wait for another job.

And when asked about your current salary, state your desired new salary instead, but claim that it is your current salary.

There are almost no companies which will offer their jobs based on what it is worth. Instead, companies will choose to pay the minimum they can get away with.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

The best strategy I have discovered so far is, look for companies that do not know the market, and mark up your current/previous salary by whatever you want your new salary to be, then tell them that's your current salary.

What kind of companies do not know the market?

1) Basically, it's a MNC that's hiring its first employees in the region.
2) Companies that want to expand its base in China, and are looking for bilingual people. In this case, one is actually the bridge between non-Chinese and Chinese, since one can speak both English and Mandarin fluently.

Based on my previous experiences, this worked.

On my first try, I got 54% increment. Few years later, I left.
On my second try, I got 57% increment. I'm now waiting to start the new job.

but when you apply for job, the company will request for a hard copy or soft copy of the latest payslip?!?! if in this case, how to bluff the company and jack up the pay?!?!?

[Watson]

Most companies ask for your payslips, but you can nego saying you have allowances, and performance bonus, etc, or state you are due for promotion soon.

In my last job, I was due for promotion, so I insisted with my interviewer to pay me XX % on top of my promoted salary..
In the end, they did not ask for proof of my promotion, although i did indeed get it.
so I up 45% from last drawn salary.

[Watson]

to add, you should nego with your hiring manager or interviewer, most HR in a company are mostly administrative, they get the budget to hire from the directors, or hiring managers.

SO its up to the hiring manager to up 1k or 2k or XXX to your salary, the hiring manager will just tell HR to process and get the guy in. No questions ask. HR not very powerful to block you going in.

In any company, for a grade there is a salary ceiling, if the boss/hiring mgr is not too niao, he will likely grant your wish. Unless you are asking for the sky, then you may be rejected.
esle, hiring mgr will be able to get through to HR to pay what you ask for

Originally Posted by Unregistered

but when you apply for job, the company will request for a hard copy or soft copy of the latest payslip?!?! if in this case, how to bluff the company and jack up the pay?!?!?

I strongly advise against outrightly lying like that.

It's ok to BS a bit about your job scope, leadership skills, appraisal, size of project etc, but to directly lie about actual verifiable numbers is taking a big risk.

Like you correctly point out HR will ask for your payslip and bonus letters, you will then be forced into a corner and either have to admit you were BS-ing earlier or cover the first lie with a 2nd bigger lie.

Coming out with a tall tale like you were actually paid allowances, bonuses or some dubious cash items "off the record" or some huge promotion is coming "soon" is a big red flag for any seasoned hirers. You won't be the first one that try this stunt and unlikely you will find someone dumb enough to believe that.

Most big MNCs have to submit their offers to C&B dept for approval and quoting off the market wages & bonuses will sometimes trigger internal audit.