[Daniel82]

Looking for any insight or advice regarding negotiating salaries, moving costs, housing/rent, COLA etc. with prospective employers.

Looking to relocate to HK in late summer. Currently making 50k USD in my insurance brokerage position in Chicago. I am applying to companies in the insurance/banking/finance field and need some freindly advice on what can be leveraged or is the standard from the HK branches of US or UK domiciled companies. What should I ask for???

Thank you!

[PDLM]

Thre is a huge range - some people come for nothing much extra just for the experience. Some get US$15K per month housing allowances, school fees, business class trips home, 30% COLA, moving bonuses, relocation expenses, etc. etc.

And all shades in between.

[Sleuth]

Trips home, insurance that doesn't require large payments up front, housing allowance, COLA, tax filing help, local legal contacts, storage for US goods, langauge classes, money for kids education, tax equalization. Nail down who pays the housing deposits. Those are all big necessities in my mind.
I know expats with car allowances or local travel money, relocation service help with the move, cell phones for spouses.
That's it off the top of my head.
We are headed over in the late summer or early fall, see you there!

[nation]

Originally Posted by Daniel82

Looking for any insight or advice regarding negotiating salaries, moving costs, housing/rent, COLA etc. with prospective employers.

Looking to relocate to HK in late summer. Currently making 50k USD in my insurance brokerage position in Chicago. I am applying to companies in the insurance/banking/finance field and need some freindly advice on what can be leveraged or is the standard from the HK branches of US or UK domiciled companies. What should I ask for???

Thank you!

If you're applying to companies, unless you are highly specialised and in a high demand area or at a very senior level, you can forget the moving costs, housing/rent, COLA etc. Expect to be applying for roles on local terms which will mean a salary significantly lower salaries than what you are getting in the States. If you are being transferred by your company or have been head hunted then that's a different story but don't expect juicy additional incentives. You should also expect to be on the ground in HK to aid the success of your job search.

[HKFella]

Originally Posted by Sleuth

Trips home, insurance that doesn't require large payments up front, housing allowance, COLA, tax filing help, local legal contacts, storage for US goods, langauge classes, money for kids education, tax equalization. Nail down who pays the housing deposits. Those are all big necessities in my mind.
I know expats with car allowances or local travel money, relocation service help with the move, cell phones for spouses.
That's it off the top of my head.
We are headed over in the late summer or early fall, see you there!

The guy's just 23, and not getting relocated by own company but looking for a new job in HK. Still, you never know - the qualifiers in nation's post apply.

[Sleuth]

Originally Posted by HKFella

The guy's just 23, and not getting relocated by own company but looking for a new job in HK. Still, you never know - the qualifiers in nation's post apply.

Well, right. But I guess I thought he wanted to know what people can get so he can either ask for the same or horse-trade it for something else. "I am not asking for a housing allowance and housing is really expensive, so if I can have $XXXX more".

[Daniel82]

thank you for all the advice, it will help a great deal as I head into the job search