SALARY SURVEY 2013 - Robert Walters Singapore

SHANGHAISHANGHAISALES&MARKETINGSHANGHAISALES&MARKETINGSALES&MARKETINGRobertWaltersGlobalSalarySurvey2013 254IndustrialWesawaslowdownintheindustrialsalessectorin2012duetoafallindomesticexportsandreducedproductionneeds.Asaresult,hiringactivitydecreasedwithinthemechanicalandelectronicsindustries.However,wewitnessedconsistentdemandthroughouttheyearforseniorlevelrolessuchassalesdirectorsandmarketingdirectorsasorganisationssoughttostrengthentheircommercialandaftermarketbusinessstrategies.Organisationstypicallysoughtexperiencedcandidateswithbusinessacumen,astronglocalnetworkandexcellentcommunicationskillstofillthesepositions.Ascompaniescontinuedtolocalisetheirresources,theyincreasinglypreferredtorecruitlocalprofessionals,makingitmoredifficultforoverseascandidatestosecurepositions.Withtheeconomicuncertainty,professionalsgenerallyremainedcautiousaboutmovingjobsandtypicallywaitedtobeheadhuntedbeforeconsideringamove.Candidateswhodidmovejobsduring2012typicallyreceivedsalaryincrementsof20-30%whendoingso.Outlookfor2013WeanticipatethatcompanieswithintheFMCGandcosmeticssectorsarelikelytocontinuehiring,duetoanincreaseindomesticconsumerspending.Asaresult,thereisexpectedtobeanincreaseindemandforjunior,middleandseniorlevelproductmarketingrolesandsalestrainingroles.Inparticular,thewineandspiritsindustryislikelytorecruitactivelyforrolesinsales,channelmarketingandbrandmarketing.Thefoodandbeveragesindustryisalsoexpectedtothrive,leadingtodemandforjuniorandmiddlelevelbrandmarketingroles.ThesetrendsareexpectedastheseindustriesaredevelopingapathwayinChinaandthereisstillspaceforthemtogrow.Hiringlevelswithinthepharmaceuticalsectorarelikelytoremainconsistentasresearchanddevelopmentfunctionscontinuetogrowsteadily.AsorganisationscontinuetoexpandintoTier3andTier4cities,therewillbeincreaseddemandforsalesrepresentatives.CandidateswithanMBAdegree,productanalysisandcross-culturalcommunicationskillswillbeparticularlysought-afterfortheserolesthroughouttheyear.Costandstrategywillremainthebiggestchallengesforpharmaceuticalorganisations,particularlyintheR&Dsectorwheretherewillbeanotabledemandforseniorlevelprofessionalswithbusinessacumen.Salaryincrementswillremainonaparwith2012,withcandidatesreceivingincreasesof20-30%whenchangingjobs.Withinprofessionalservicesweexpecthiringlevelstobeslightlystaticduringthefirsthalfof2013asforeigncompanieshalttheirexpansionplansandforeigninvestorsbecomemorecautiousabouttheeconomy.However,weforeseethatrecruitmentlevelswillimproveinthesecondhalfoftheyearasorganisationscreatenewopportunities.Inparticular,newrolesarelikelyintheconsumerservicessectorastheChineseeconomyfocusesmoreondomesticconsumptionthanitsexportindustry.Experiencedcandidateswithmarketinsightsandbusinessacumenwillbeparticularlysought-afterthroughouttheyearand,duetodemandinthisarea,arelikelytoreceivesalaryincrementsintheregionof10-30%whenmovingjobs.Weforeseethattheretailandluxurysectorswillcontinuetogrowandstabilisenextyear.Storemanagement,salesoperations,retailanalysisandstrategylevelimprovementprofessionalswillbeinespeciallyhighdemand.Salaryincreasesforjobmoversinthisspacearelikelytoremainconsistent,meaningprofessionalswhochangerolesshouldreceiveincreasesintheregionof15-20%.Afterjoblevelsinindustrialsalesfellin2012,weexpecttheautomotiveandchemicalindustriestostabilisein2013.Juniormanagement,directorlevelandchanneldistributionprofessionalsareexpectedtobeindemandduetothegrowthwitnessedintheseindustries.OrganisationswillcontinuetoseekcandidateswithpreviousindustryexperienceandexcellentEnglishcommunicationskills.Aftermarketsalesdirectors,segmentmanagersandsalesmanagerswithexperienceinthetelecommunicationsandautomotiveindustriesarealsolikelytobehighlysought-afterastheseindustriesthriveintheChinesemarket.Weexpectthatcandidateswhoarelookingtoswitchjobswillreceiveincrementsof25-30%whendoingso.