100 best-paying jobs in Singapore

1. Specialised surgeon – $30,755
2. Managing director – $24,472
3. General surgeon – $17,872
4. Commodities futures broker – $17,464
5. General manager – $16,667
6. Company director – $15,513
7. Creative director (Advertising) – $13,000
8. Legal service manager – $12,318
9. Foreign exchange dealer and broker – $11,095
10. Operations manager (Finance) – $9,808

11. Legal officer – $9,790

12. Risk management manager – $9,600
13. Research and development manager – $9,385
14. Computer operations and network manager – $9,300
15. Training manager – $9,000
16. Computer and information systems manager – $8,930
17. Ship-master – $8,671
18. Technical manager – $8,595
19. Financial futures dealer and broker – $8,447
20. Personnel / Human resource manager – $8,420

21. Business development manager – $8,290
22. Corporate planning manager – $8,290
23. Fund manager – $8,125
24. Treasury manager – $8,079
25. Budgeting and financial accounting manager – $8,000
26. Marketing manager – $8,000
27. Power generation and distribution engineer – $7,848
28. Engineering manager – $7,819
29. Chemical engineer (Petroleum) – $7,678
30. Manufacturing plant and production manager – $7,645

31. Chemical engineer (Petrochemicals) – $7,547
32. Advertising and public relations manager – $7,533
33. Advocate and solicitor – $7,500
34. Operations research analyst – $7,500
35. Business management consultant – $7,437
36. Procurement manager – $7,416
37. Lawyer (except advocate and solicitor) – $7,400
38. Quality assurance manager – $7,263
39. Customer service manager – $7,142
40. Sales manager – $7,100

41. Logistics manager – $7,050
42. Operations manager (Commerce) – $6,862
43. Chemical engineering technician (Petroleum) – $6,696
44. Automation engineer – $6,680
45. Instrumentation engineer – $6,616
46. Book editor – $6,538
47. Surveyor – $6,523
48. Industrial health, safety and environment engineer – $6,503
49. Building architect – $6,500
50. Transport operations manager – $6,400

51. Editor (Newspapers and periodicals) – $6,369
52. Marine superintendent engineer – $6,340
53. Audio and video equipment engineer – $6,307
54. Premises maintenance manager – $6,304
55. Personal banker – $6,250
56. Chemist – $6,241
57. Electrical engineering technician (High voltage) – $6,225
58. Business analyst – $6,205
59. General physician – $6,173
60. Administration manager – $6,150

61. Financial analyst – $6,000
62. Securities dealer and broker – $5,750
63. Shipping manager – $5,721
64. Building and construction project manager – $5,720
65. Property / Estate manager – $5,715
66. Physicist – $5,700
67. Editor (Radio, television and video) – $5,658
68. Information technology security specialist – $5,646
69. Advertising copywriter – $5,600
70. Director (Stage, film, television and radio) – $5,512

71. Automotive engineer – $5,500
72. Naval architect – $5,480
73. Chemical engineering technician (Petrochemicals) – $5,424
74. Chinese physician – $5,316
75. Financial planner – $5,283
76. Aeronautical engineer – $5,242
77. Chemical engineer (General) – $5,187
78. Broadcasting operations technician – $5,178
79. Market research analyst – $5,174
80. Producer / Director of commercials – $5,150


81. Manufacturing engineer – $5,137
82. Systems programmer – $5,111
83. Actuary – $5,100
84. Production engineer – $5,091
85. Sales representative (Technicial) – $5,089
86. Database administrator – $5,080
87. Semi-conductor engineer – $5,035
88. Mechanical engineer – $5,000
89. Ship rigger – $4,933
90. Systems designer and analyst – $4,914

91. Network systems and data communication analyst – $4,894
92. Sales representative (Medical and pharmaceutical products) – $4,857
93. Flight operations officer – $4,801
94. Civil engineer – $4,746
95. Script writer – $4,740
96. Warehousing manager – $4,706
97. Materials engineer – $4,689
98. Electrical engineer – $4,665
99. Credit analyst – $4,631
100. Electronics engineer – $4,615
MOM Release Date: 30 Jun 2008

“Analyzing what you haven't got as well as what you have is a necessary ingredient of a career.” Orison Swett Marden

陈潇的剩余人生店

She sells her 'life' on the Net By LIEW HANQING
MEET the woman who's selling "the rest of her life"on the Internet. Miss Chen Xiao, a 25-year-old Beijing native, started her unusual online business last month on auction website Taobao.com.

Her online shop is aptly named "Chen Xiao's remaining life shop". (Chen Xiao của cửa hàng còn lại cuộc sống)

Miss Chen wrote in her online mission statement: "People can sell their personal time. Planning my time is your right. Completing your tasks is my mission."

On the site, she sells time slots - ranging from eight-minute to one-day slots - where she offers to perform any service, except "sex, porn, violence and anything illegal".

People who wish to book Miss Chen for an assignment need only to log on to her auction site, send her a description of the intended task and the estimated time the task will take, and,upon her approval, send her payment.

Business has been brisk - in just a month, she has sold more than 80 time slots, and made as much as 2,000 yuan ($436) in a single day. Her auctions have attracted more than 9,000 views each.

In a write-up on her site, Miss Chen explained her rationale for setting up her unusual business: "Life has no meaning... I want to change my lifestyle - so I'll let you plan the rest of my life."

To prove her sincerity, Miss Chen posted her personal information, including her online messenger ID, e-mail address and phone number on the website, along with a recently-taken passport photograph.

The response to her online auctions was almost immediate.

Her first assignment, which came just a few days after her online store was set up, was to "pose triumphantly" for a photograph and post it online.

Then came several other assignments: To photograph a flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square, to get herself photographed at the entrances of Beijing University and Tsinghua University, and to have a bowl of noodles at a well-known food outlet.

It seems Miss Chen has taken all her assignments seriously, diligently completing each task as instructed.

This shows in the feedback her "clients" have left on her profile on the auction site.

One netizen, who booked Miss Chen for eight minutes, wrote: "An intelligent, beautiful woman, deserving of praise. I hope you find meaning and purpose in life."

Varied & Interesting
Another commented: "Thank you for finishing my assignment. Take care of your health, and I hope you will keep doing this for a long time."

Miss Chen's assignments have been interesting and varied.

She has been tasked with picking up people from various locations, delivering coffee, buying train tickets, delivering meals for beggars and sampling food on behalf of netizens.

Miss Chen told technology website tech163.com that even though she has received some harassing e-mails ever since she set up her website, most of the people who contact her are "friendly and sincere".

Her most lucrative assignment was a 2,000-yuan assignment, where she was asked to collect pictures of smiling people for a charity event.

Some maybe skeptical about the longevity of her business, but she has become a mini-celebrity in cyberspace in just over a month.

In a forum post on a popular Chinese website, one netizen wrote: "As long as it's nothing illegal, this is a really creative form of business.

"She'll get to experience different things, and every day is new and unexpected."

Added another netizen: "Even if this just a gimmick, it's a heartwarming, fun one. She's made cyberspace a little more personal and warm with her small business."

- TNP


"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." Lewis L. Dunnington

Best ways to make extra money

Question: I'm a college student, and I've been reading your articles online. I receive a weekly allowance from my parents, and with the tough times these days, sometimes it's not enough. And in a few weeks, tuition for the second semester will be due and I wish I could help with that. What can a student like me do? Jong C.

Answer: In the US, it's not unusual for children to earn some extra money. Some young children sell lemonade, while the older ones offer services like babysitting, dog walking, lawn mowing, and newspaper delivery.

Here in the Philippines, most students focus on their studies. However, opportunities also abound for the student to find some extra money, and some college students, have in fact taken advantage of them.

There are many ways you can do to make some extra money. The best thing to do is to start first by assessing your talents and gifts. What are you good at? Below are some ideas:

1. Emceeing: If you have the gift of gab, you may emcee at events (even wedding programs) for a fee.
2. Singing/Dancing: If you sing/dance well, you can gather a group of friends and sing/dance at parties, again for a fee.
3. Cooking: Are you good in cooking? Then whip up some food specialty, package it well, and sell it as a gift item...
4. Trading: Buy stuff you like from wholesale suppliers (examples: clothes, accessories, etc.) and sell these in bazaars or even through websites. Many enterprising students do business online through sites like Multiply, and they do well.
5. Coaching: If you excel in one sport, you might be interested in coaching sports teams for grade school kids. Sports programs that need coaches include soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
6. Writing: Think you have a knack for words? Consider contributing to the youth section of your favorite newspaper, where you will get paid for every article that gets published.
7. Scrapbooking: Some people want to have scrapbooks but do not have time to make them. Network with scrapbooking clubs as they offer this service to interested people.
8. Editing: Edit other students' papers for a fee, but don't make the mistake of doing the writing for them.
9. Dog breeding: If you like pets, consider breeding dogs with the help of your family.
10. Modeling. People with the look, flair and style can earn much by modeling for print and TV ads. Check out legitimate modeling agencies for more info.

These are just some of the things a college student may do. The possibilities are endless; just look at what you have. It's important to bank on your talents and gifts so working will not be a chore. It will instead be something you enjoy and look forward to doing outside class hours. But be sure your work will not affect your studies.

So you're earning; now what?
Let's say you have zeroed in on a way to earn more income. There are some things you should keep in mind if you want your earnings to be maximized.

1. Save. Because times are hard, and because you want to be financially secure someday, make it a habit to save at least 10 percent of your extra income. If you can commit to save more, so much the better. Deposit this in a savings account under your name, and don't touch it as much as possible.

2. Invest. Savings accounts give only a small amount of interest as compared to other forms of investment. When you have enough in your savings account to make the minimum investment required, move some of your money to a time deposit which will give you a higher rate of interest in return for you keeping your money in the bank for an agreed term (30 days, 90 days, 1 year, 5 years - it's up to you).

There's also another way to let this money earn more: by investing in pooled funds like a mutual fund or a unit investment trust fund. There's some risk involved as market values of investments go down, but with it comes the possibility of earning more. Study this option and talk to a bank officer, financial adviser, and your parents about it.

3. Limit your spending. It's nice to spend what one has earned, but if you spend for unnecessary stuff, you may end up with hardly nothing at all. Use your money wisely by prioritizing your needs. Steer clear of buying branded goods and expensive gadgets. If you can live with simpler stuff, do so. Your friends love you for who you are, not for what you own.

INQUIRER.net and Citibank invite readers to ask questions regarding financial matters. Send your questions to personal_finance@inquirer.net or comment through our personal finance blog called MoneySmarts: The Value of $8.00)

*Disclaimer: Readers are solely responsible for their own investment decisions and should thus conduct their own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice. INQUIRER.net will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a reader's reliance on information obtained from our web site. INQUIRER.net receives no compensation of any kind from companies or industries or funds that are mentioned here.

(This is part of Take Charge of Your Money, a partnership between INQUIRER.net and Citibank to help readers handle their personal finances well.)

"Nothing endures but personal qualities." Walt Whitman

Money for Nothing

One day an employee sends a letter to his boss asking for an increase in his salary.

Dear Bo$$

In thi$ life, we all need $ome thing mo$t de$perately. I think you $hould be under$tanding of the need$ of u$ worker$ who have given $o much $upport including $weat and $ervice to your company.

I am $ure you will be able to gue$$ what I mean and re$pond $oon.

Your$ $incerely,
Norman


The next day, the employee received this letter of reply:

Dear NOrman,

I kNOw you have been working NOt very hard. NOwadays, NOthing much has changed. You must have NOticed that our company is NOt doing NOticeably well as yet.

NOw the newspapers are saying the world`s leading ecoNOmists are sure that the world is getting into aNOther recession. Even after the NOvember presidential elections things do NOt look good.

I have NOthing more to add NOw. You kNOw what I mean.

Yours truly,
Manager

Source: Internet
The Art of Saying “No”

"No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous." Henry Brooks Adams

To be a Big Fish

Source: Sunday Times


"Be the change you wish to see in the world" Mahatma Gandhi

Get familiar with financial terms

I HAVE been amused by comments on forums about investors asking the Government for help with their failed investments.

Although information is easily accessible, many of us ignore obvious facts and instead choose to make our decisions based on sales pitches.

Therefore, it is important to have a basic understanding of financial terms, so that we would know what constitutes misselling:

Low- or no-risk savings
The only low- or no-risk savings instrument is a pure savings or fixed-deposit account without an insurance element.

As long as an insurance element is included, it is a form of investment.

By default, it involves the participating or life fund of an insurance company, which consists of equities and fixed-income instruments.

Life-fund growth projections have been cut aggressively over the last ten years to 3 to 4 per cent now, after distribution charges are accounted for.

Equities generally appreciate in normal times, while fixed-income instruments do not.

As life funds contain a large proportion of fixed-income instruments, it is not difficult to understand why the returns from life and endowment policies are not impressive.

If the growth rate falls below the inflation rate of 5 to 6 per cent, the risk would be the erosion of my savings by inflation.

Therefore, if I had chosen an investment-linked product, which is perceived as being higher- risk, and chosen to have my investment fully allocated to fixed-income instruments, would that make my investment safer, as the salesperson would have me believe?

The so-called 'savings' are also cancelled out by the commission and insurance charges.

How can such an investment fairly be called 'low-risk'?

Long-term savings
Life-insurance and endowment plans of 25 to 30 years take on average 20 years to 'break even'. As a savings plan, it is ineffective.

Guaranteed payout by end of term
The 'guaranteed' payout at the end of a policy term is actually the sum assured of an insurance policy.

While most think the bonuses as guaranteed, they are actually almost entirely non-guaranteed, and dependent upon the performance of the life fund.

Product or fund of the month
There is always a rush for certain funds if they are seen as being the best investments at the time.

While their launch might coincide with their peak, things could go down from there.

Low-risk or guaranteed funds
These are commonly sold whenever markets take a downturn.

Guaranteed products were aggressively promoted in 2002 to 2003, and structured products from 2005 up to the present.

If not for the financial crisis, structured products would still be sold as 'safe' products.

Incentives and gifts
More complex and sophisticated products usually come with gifts or incentives, as they are harder to sell.

Complex financial terms
Terms like 'leveraged' and 'enhanced' sound good but do not reveal anything about a product.

When it comes to investing, act prudently and understand what you are getting yourself into, and learn to accept and embrace the outcome.

Mr Teo Eng Kiat, My paper.