Tag Archives: Work

Relationship

Job Searching in SG Part 9: Negotiation

My week was all about negotiation of salary, annual leave days amd notice period.

This step should be after interview and receiving offer before discussion on the start date.

Initially I was told it will be about a 30 percent increase, then there was internal push back.

Yup, my current salary is low so 20 percent increase should not be the benchmark. There should be industry, role, company and team average.

I asked for more annual leave days and got four more days after giving a a few hundred dollars off off my asking.

I am ready to leave and it is still more than 20 percent so I am fine.

For my current role, I made the mistake of not asking about certain terms on my contract because I was afraid.

Is this the best offer?

What about taking into consideration my previous roles and experiences?

Why is the a cap of $1000 discretionary bonus on my contract? I did not ask and it turned out I am the only one with this clause on my contract.

I thought it is fine since I can learn a lot from the hiring manager which is my direct manager but I had 0 one to one meetings, 0 development conversations because she was making way for team structure change.

When I submit my resignation, I told my line manager I would like to leave earlier. I know my notice period is two months but I would like to leave after a month. I am ready to buy myself out.

After rounds of to and fro with office and HR and approval from directors, I got what I asked for. One month notice that is.

It is holiday season and activities will be down. Plus, they will be busy with acquisition and more headcount joining so I am effectively just a number.

Ask, negotiate, and you shall get.

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Relationship

The Last D&D

“Cheers. Maybe this is the last time we come out and have fun like this as a department,” said my colleague while clinking on my wine glass.

“This is definitely the last time because I am handling my resignation next week once I receive my offer letter,” I replied.

Turns out she has an interview next week and I wished her all the best. I’ve known she is going to be placed on Performance Improvement Plan for a while and she is just buying time.

For me, I’ve been trying to get a new job since March last year and this job came as a referral from my classmate to take over his role while he transit into another one. I was offered the role on the spot.

Days before this, I went for another interview referred from an ex colleague. That was my ideal role and industry but I am not sure how long it will take.

Either way, I need to serve two months notice so the sooner I hand in my resignation, the better it is.

The irony is I can teach people how to write CVs and prepare for interviews but I don’t actually get call backs. Both job interviews I attended were not even advertised in the market yet.

This proves no matter how many applications sent, ultimately relying on network is very important.

I enjoyed the year end dinner and dance party very much and I will be sad to leave the nice people I work and get along with, but they don’t pay the bills.

Cheers to a good end of the work year and better job next year. 🥂

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