Victor Maceda’s Technical Blog

This report also contains comparisons from different countries such as Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, etc.  I’m really quite surprise since it is quite accurate.  You can download the full report below:

http://cid-9f717af2a2401f0f.skydrive.live.com/embedrowdetail.aspx/Public/IT_Salary_Report_TH2007.pdf

To get the report for your country visit: http://www.activetechpros.com/index.htm

On my previous post about the salary survey in Asia now here is a great link that shows the the TOP 50 ranking of cost of living.  Now you know the base line of your salary as an IT Pro or as a Developer in the world market but you must be certain that your savings is always bigger when you transfer to another country to work compared to previous one. One of the factors, that could increase or decrease your savings is the cost of living in a country.  For example in the Philippines you earn around 70K PHP net and you’ve been offered a job in Singapore for 3K SGD net…looks big right? Yes it will always be big in terms of salary but if you deduct the cost of living in the Philippines to your salary in the Philippines vs the deduction of your cost of living in SG to your supposed to be salary in SG it turns out that your savings is bigger in the Philippines.

You can visit it here 

* Note that the Cost of Living Indices contained in our press release and this related article have been prepared specifically for our press release and article. The indices are based on Mercer’s cost of living database and are modified to include housing and to reflect constant weighting and basket items. The results may differ from those calculated for Mercer’s clients who use the results solely for the purpose of expatriate compensation. We do not recommend that expatriates use these figures to compare their own compensation packages.

To avoid making a future misstep, here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind the next time you engage in salary negotiations:

Don’t come unprepared. When a hiring manager asks what your salary range is, have an answer ready. You should come to an employment interview, even the first one, with an idea of what your services are worth. Keep in mind that various factors, such as the demand for your skills, company size and your geographic area can all impact compensation. For instance, according to the Robert Half Technology 2007 Salary Guide, the national range for a Tier 1 help desk professional is $27,500 to $37,000. In San Francisco, however, practitioners can expect to make between $35,750 and $48,100 per year. That’s because, in general, technology salaries in San Francisco are 30 percent higher than the national average. Geographic variance is just one of the reasons to have a range in mind, rather than a specific figure, so you have the flexibility to negotiate if need be.

Do be flexible. It’s possible an employer won’t be able to offer you the compensation you seek. But that doesn’t mean the negotiation is over. Speak to the hiring manager about the possibility of supplementing your pay with equity incentives, additional vacation days or other perks.

Don’t bluff. It might be tempting to tell the hiring manager you have employment offers from other companies to generate a better salary offer. But you run the risk that the hiring manager refuses to go higher and instead gives the job to another candidate.

Do mention another job offer. If you have received another offer, however, consider leveraging it during your negotiations. A second offer can increase your value, and, if the salary the other company mentioned is higher or the benefits are more extensive, you can use those as bargaining chips.

Don’t overshoot. Imagine you are pursuing a Tier 3 help desk position in San Francisco. When the hiring manager asks what your salary range is, you say between $100,000 and $150,000. If you don’t follow that answer with a knowing laugh, you might have some explaining to do. That’s because, according to Robert Half Technology’s 2007 Salary Guide, this position pays between $55,250 and $70,850 a year. So remember to keep your compensation requests reasonable.

You can read the full details here