dude,
may be a little late on decision advice, but i'll share a little something...
the 5.5k offer from job1 kinda turns me off, no doubt money is more, but it shows me how much they were trying and being cheap abt it. if i join such companies, i dun think i can expect much from bonus or performance.... no doubt they can try, but 4.8k to 5.5k tells me to be wary of those decision-makers in there.
though most pple pick higher fixed salaries, i've always been one to pick the company that offers me least upfront, but track record shows they pay by merit. if u're a performer, this would be a better criteria than simply higher salaries. of cos if u're only so-so, by all means pick the higher pay.
job2 is better becos it seems more geared on performance, and merit. despite the lower pay, i would put my faith in a company that focuses on these, becos it means the useless weak deadwood employees would not be unduly rewarded simply by hanging around doing their daily function. unfortunately many pple are keen to be in such environments, particularly if they hope to get away with performing a function only, and not exactly excelling in them.
i'm sure u know the kind of deadwood overpaid employees i'm referring to... join them only if u're one of them. else seek for better. what is 1k a mth? it's like 12k, which 3extra mths of bonus would cover. then again job2 might be more generous with increments and bonuses, whilst job1 seems more likely to makan u once u're in, since they tried to makan u before u joined n after u rejected. these type of companies u have to bang table to get a fair reward, and being singporean - u're unlikely to bang table. local pple only good at complaining but not taking action, good at suffering in silence and hoping to get away with higher pay by virtue of coming from a previously higher pay.
if u noticed, not many pple mention much abt Performance... it is one of those forgotten things, it is always assumed that pple are naturally proficient. but honestly, u should know that is not true. so if u're lousy and u know it, just go for job security. if u're good and u know u are, go for one that values performance.
the most shitty feeling when u're a performer, is to see undeserving pple get rewarded for Your hard work and never in danger of losing their job.
oh by the way, there is no harm asking job2 to commit to u an increment n promotion upon proving yourself.... if u think u can do what's needed And More, Beyond Expectations.
the key to seriously making money, instead of simply earning high salaries... is to excel and achieve beyond expectations, and not simply by asking 20% increment each time u switch jobs. sooner or later u will reach a point where u can no longer justify your high salary, and u find yourself worried abt losing your job like many highly-paid 40something have found out.
if u think it's better to have the money in hand first, think again. if u're singaporean, u're likely to find yourself upgrading and spending the money, not saving it as much. look around u, some pple never learn their lessons from those ahead of us.
good luck, there's more to think than just these 2 jobs... u need to know yourself and strategise in life, in order to comeout on top.
ps: at your age, look long term.