Day Rate - Subject to Geographic Location When Changing Job?
Day Rate - Subject to Geographic Location When Changing Job?
(OP)
For the past 8 years I have been working in various process engineering roles - Technical service, Process design, Operations support, and now Commissioning & Startup. The positions were based in Europe, Middle East, and West Africa. Companies: both Operators and Engineering (Consultancy or EPC) companies.
Recently I got an interesting offer to join one of the top-class engineering companies in South-East Asia, but their offer was about 60% of what I am earning in the moment. The explanation is: the cost of living in Asia is much lower than the cost of living in the place where I am based now.
When changing jobs in the past, not a single employer has ever mentioned this particular issue as a reason to cut on salary/day rate. Somehow I believe that everyone needs to offer you a bit more (or just a bit less) than what you are earning at the moment, so that there is an incentive for you to move further. But I feel stuck with this explanation and very reluctant to jump off a beautiful horse and start riding a donkey. The new job does sound much more interesting, though.
Can you share your experience and views?
Recently I got an interesting offer to join one of the top-class engineering companies in South-East Asia, but their offer was about 60% of what I am earning in the moment. The explanation is: the cost of living in Asia is much lower than the cost of living in the place where I am based now.
When changing jobs in the past, not a single employer has ever mentioned this particular issue as a reason to cut on salary/day rate. Somehow I believe that everyone needs to offer you a bit more (or just a bit less) than what you are earning at the moment, so that there is an incentive for you to move further. But I feel stuck with this explanation and very reluctant to jump off a beautiful horse and start riding a donkey. The new job does sound much more interesting, though.
Can you share your experience and views?





RE: Day Rate - Subject to Geographic Location When Changing Job?
On the other hand, pay rate can become a way of keeping score. If you can accomplish your financial goals with a 40% pay cut, and the work and/or location seems to be an improvement, then go for it. Keep in mind that if you work for 60% in Asia (which I've found to be at least as expensive as NA or Europe), it might be hard to justify your full rate if you return to the Old World.
David
RE: Day Rate - Subject to Geographic Location When Changing Job?
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Day Rate - Subject to Geographic Location When Changing Job?
For sure you can live pretty cheaply in SE Asia...lots of people who live there don't have much choice, but I'm not sure if you would actually enjoy that standard of living.
Wouldn't take a lot of effort to scan the internet to check basics like rent for the type of accomodation that you would expect.
RE: Day Rate - Subject to Geographic Location When Changing Job?
RE: Day Rate - Subject to Geographic Location When Changing Job?
Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services
www.infotechpr.net
RE: Day Rate - Subject to Geographic Location When Changing Job?
Even in Spain - relatively high up the daisy chain in terms of the world at large, if I were living on the "economy" rather than on a per diem and in a hotel while working the jobsite, I find the day-to-expenses actually higher, and the tools, common items at the hardware stores, common clothes at the clothes stores, eyeglasses, etc all more expensive and with lower levels of choices than at home.
Food? Sure. A little bit less. But then I'd have to be prepping, cleaning, and cooking and cleaning up 2-4 hours a night too.