I’m a big fan of using LinkedIn for business purposes. For those not familiar with LinkedIn, it is sort of a professional version of Facebook, where you post items related to your career, rather than personal information. It is for networking, plain and simple. Because of this fact, I leave off family photos and the like, concentrating on my CV, updates from my company, and so on. One of the features of LinkedIn is the ability to join different “groups”, based on your profession. Here’s my profile, and feel free to take a look if you are unfamiliar with LinkedIn.
Linked In
I joined several expat groups in LinkedIn related to the Philippines, one of which is a group, Expat Philippines, geared towards working expats living here. As a result of this group, I receive perhaps three to four inquiries per week related to finding a job in the Philippines from Americans or Europeans, and my response is almost always the same (No doubt bursting a few bubbles or receiving a reply that I don’t know what I’m talking about.). Needless to say, most of these inquiries are often unrealistic, at best, and I really hate telling people the truth: Unless you are highly skilled in a profession that is in demand and those skills cannot be locally matched, it is highly unlikely that you will find a position with either a domestic or foreign firm here.
What is in demand in the Philippines?:
- Highly specialized engineering (civil, electrical, computer, mechanical), with many years of experience and educational pedigree.
- Scientific professions, like chemists or petroleum research.
- Maritime, transportation, or aviation related fields with many years of experience.
- Financial managers and accountants with impeccable pedigrees.
- Highly skilled defense contractors with many years of specialized experience unobtainable in the Philippines (radar technicians, security consultants, and so on).
- Native English-speaking teachers at local wages. (200 – 1,000 pesos per day, IF you are good and have the background)
- Some specialized hospitality management (Hotel General Managers, Skilled well-known Chefs, Scuba Instructors)
- Mining experts, Forestry experts, and some Agricultural experts. (And… I mean EXPERT, to even be considered.)
- Experienced, native English-speaking, call center managers. (Wages are typically below US levels, but above Filipino levels).
- Experienced, native English-speaking, BPO managers. (Just being a foreigner will normally NOT land you these positions.)
This list is, by no means, comprehensive, and there are exceptions, but the vast majority of expat jobs that would pay anywhere near Western-level wages are in these fields. You will also require a work permit sand your employer will have to PROVE that there is a shortage of Filipino workers who can successfully fill your position. That is not easy for a company to do, and can get expensive: You had better be amongst the best in your field.
Notice what is missing from the list: Any trades (plumber, mason, electrician, carpenter), any blue collar (factory, foremen, etc.), business management (plenty of office managers here), most service industry (plenty of people here can fill those positions), all middle management, positions with “transferable” skills, any retail management, most sales or marketing (unless, like me, you have specialized, specific, industry knowledge that is in demand), most computer and IT positions (There are thousands of Filipinos with those skills), most health care (Unless extremely specialized), any artistic positions (Journalist, painter, musician, photographer, graphic design, interior design… You can freelance, but you had better be good and know where to sell your work. Most expats doing these things are already well-known in their profession outside of the Philippines).
I am, most likely, in the minority among expats in the Philippines in that I have a regular job for my income. I’m not retired and, despite a few external goings on, I rely on an employer to make money. My skill set is specialized to my industry, and none of my customers are in the Philippines. Foreign companies typically do not source expats locally to fill positions. They typically either transfer people (existing staff) from their home country or advertise the positions in their home country.
Jobs for Expats! Can you find one?
Some people always seem to be looking for the cherry expat packages common even ten or twenty years ago. Those days are nearly over. Why? It is simply more cost effective to hire locally. Those who receive such packages are typically transferred here from other locations or their expertise is in high demand and unavailable in the Philippines: Take a look at the list I made. Each of those positions are highly technical, and require years of education and experience. If you are very, very lucky, a typical expat package consists of: Salary (often with serious tax benefits depending on your country of origin), insurance, educational stipend for your children, paid leave back “home” (flights, time), subsidized rent or a place to live, and some form of transportation stipend in the form of a company car or other arrangement. Pretty sweet, eh? However, these packages are very rare, and were never particularly common in the Philippines, even when the global economy was robust. Traditionally, these types of packages were given to entice skilled professionals to work in dangerous, developing locations where adjustment or assimilation would prove difficult. Or, they were given to VERY senior executives as a “perk” to entice them away from corporate offices (Hence, many expats on packages in Hong Kong, Singapore, etc. Traditionally, the way to the top in most large corporations is NOT through overseas branches… You are compensated well, but accepting such positions is often a “career killer” in really big companies. Out of sight, out of mind at the executive level.) That is why they were once common in the Middle East, China, and Africa. This is no longer the case. Plenty of engineers and OFWs work in those places. Why pay some American 25 times as much when a Filipino engineer would do the same job without the expensive benefits? My package consists of about half of that list, and I’ve been in this business quite some time, with the education.
It all comes down to supply and demand: There are millions of people in the country looking for work and willing to work at a mere fraction of Western wages. Most are degreed (McDonald’s employees nearly all have college degrees, some with advanced degrees. They earn a few hundred pesos per day), and, despite productivity and other concerns, most companies here are extremely reluctant to pay serious premiums for merely expat experience. You had better be able to do something in that is in demand. Remember: over 15 million Filipinos left the country because there was no work here. Why would anyone seriously consider hiring a foreigner unless they had skills that were needed and unobtainable here?
So, what do I tell people who ask?
- I refer them to LiP, and to Dave Starr’s Philfaqs site. Both Bob and Dave have written extensively about employment in the Philippines.
- I ask what they wish to do. They MUST have a goal. General “help me find a job” inquiries are useless.
- I tell them about the “real” job situation in the Philippines. Are they prepared to work for local wages? (MOST are NOT!)
- Unless really specialized, I tell them to consider self-employment or develop an income stream before they leave.
- These jobs are nearly always obtained overseas, through networking. Hence, I really like LinkedIn: If searching for employment, most likely where that job lead will originate.
- I tell them that they had better be able to sell themselves into the position. Someone needs a bona-fide reason to hire you. As a foreigner, you are, by default, far more expensive, so YOU need to prove why they should hire you.
Several people have written me stating that they understand that wages here are lower and would work for those wages, but since the cost of living is lower, then “No Problem”. These are almost always the people who get angry with me or say that I don’t know what I’m talking about. Yes, the cost of living may be lower, but most Westerners would not be willing to live under Filipino standards, making Filipino wages, doing without aircon and creature comforts, all the while working for a tyrannical boss who counts every Peso with no legal protection… Millions of Filipinos do so, and it is possible, but I hardly think that is the cherry expat package that these folks have in mind!
I’m not trying to be mean or intentionally ruin someone’s dream. However, I would not be doing anyone any favors by gilding the lily. I’m telling the truth and the reality.
John Miele is a Citizen of the World, having spent time in many locations around the globe. Currently, he finds himself in Manila, but travels throughout the Philippines. John joined the Live in the Philippines Web Magazine in mid-2008.
Hi, John:
I do believe you are in the minority among expats in the Philippines as you stated, in that you have a regular job that pays you in dollars while also enjoying living in the Philippines. Just curious, what does IMO mean? And what entity enforces it?
John: IMO is International Maritime Organization… It sets the rules for ships and shipping, since they cross borders. Enforcement is usually from various Coast Guards, but that can vary. In the US, for instance, the EPA can also enforce rules.
Hi John, most possible job would be related to military hardware. If Philippine Armed Forces plan to modernize goes into fruition, can network with the supplier like Boeing, McDonnell-Douglas, Raytheon, if job seeker’s background is on that area (trainer, instructor) etc. Would be working for US company though and not company in the Philippines and would expire as soon as contract is over. Good Day.
Mars
Mars: I have a number of acquaintances here working with the Philippine Navy. They are almost all on contracts here for a specific period of time and were transferred here by their companies. A few managed to become permanent hires here as official liaisons, etc. They all were many years in the military and obtained the jobs Stateside.
Very interesting article John.
In my opinion you are absolutely correct. The day of the expat (from UK, Canada US) commanding big money in Asia is over. I hear from family members that the Expat in Africa is under serious pressure from the Chinese and the writing is on the wall.
You will find many expats working in different regions of the world but the vast majority of these guys are with the respective companies for years (consequently they are trusted) and simply transfer around the globe. I worked with the same construction company for decades and I was moved from location to location. The notion of an expat on the street looking for a package (in the Philippines, or for that matter in most Asian countries or anywhere else) from some outfit is simply ludicrous in 2010. It will not happen.
Having said that, the sky is the limit if you wish to start up something on your own. You do need some creativity, curiosity and a little capital. For anyone interested in art there is an excellent auction going to take place in Manila within the next few weeks. It would be a good place to get the feel for Philippine collectibles. I have no stake in the event and I am not plugging the event. I attended the last one but will not be attending this auction. If anyone is interested I will post the details.
I would advise anyone looking for action in the Philippines or elsewhere to simply go with the flow and do something that you are interested in. There is a wonderful freedom in doing your own thing and not having to answer to some clown. Like many people I spent decades listening to and working with clowns.
Jody
Jody: A friend of mine used to work for Pepsi, setting up new bottling plants in the developing world. (He lived in a modified shipping container for a year when setting up a plant right when Vietnam opened up!). Another friend worked for Bechtel as a very senior engineer. These positions usually transfer you after many years of experience, and both of these guys were highly specialized. Up until about five years ago, you could still find many such contracts in the Middle East (Dubai, Saudi), and I was offered a position in Iraq a couple of years ago ($350 K +… I said “No”), but those are rare right now.
Sweet Bechtel. It sure was good to the Hibernians over the years.. We even have a Hibernian on the board. LOL
In my humble opinion, the engineer working with Bechtel , Structure Tone, Turner ect does not command the same money as the guy who deals with contracts and finance. These guys make serious bucks. Indeed many engineers working for these construction companies morph into ‘finance guys’ over the years and tend to contracts.
I think that ‘trust’ plays a large part in the pay disparity between tech and finance. I remember the day I heard that Nick Leeson in Singapore brought down Barings. No engineer could have done such damage to an institution like Barings.
I do believe the writing is on the wall and one can have better job security working for yourself. I personally regret not going out on my own as a young man and doing what I love to do—that is dealing in rare books, prints and the occasional painting. I have no doubt but that I would have done better financially and I am always aware of the irony. One of my grandsons finished an internship with Bechtel last year in Africa and I have advised him to try and put together a few dollars and go out on his own. Life is very short.
Jody
Or, better yet for your grandson to go into sales at Bechtel, instead of languishing for years as a rank and file engineer, Jody. There’s money to be made out there in sales if one is really good at it, whether at Bechtel, Microsoft, or Northrop Grumman, for example. Modesty aside, my son, a U/MD – College Park grad with a dual engineering degree (Mechanical/Nuclear) and who is currently a VP in Business Development at Northrop Grumman (no, not the group involved in the state of Virginia IT outage) went from Bechtel to Visalign to Microsoft the past 13 years in sales and never regretted it.
John: Being in sales, I can confirm that. For engineering and industrial sales, mid six figure salaries are not uncommon. You need to know your stuff though… In my case, I was sales first, then learned the engineering. The other way around is a more common path, though.
john Reyes. Absolutely.
Better still, if you can sell your own product and make all the decisions.
Mind you I came to this simple truth relatively late in life. It is simply too bad that wisdom comes so late in life.
The young lad (civil engineer) came back from Africa , enthralled by what the dollar can buy in the Third World; that is until he met his Ilocano Grandmother who calmly told him that only a fool would follow in his Grandfather’s path. I was grinning away in the background, but he studiously avoided my gaze, as I in turn studiously avoided the eyes of my angry wife.
I have heard recently that he has applied to several law schools; however my initial advice still holds. Better go out there and do your own thing.
Jody: Engineers still command decent salaries for overseas postings. You are correct that the finance and legal guys make the truly big bucks, though.
I work in Global Mobility (previously Corporate Finance) for a large Korean chaebol working out of our NA HQs. Im American but we have about 270 expats (Americans overseas) and Inpats (typically Koreans in the US). I just read recently that the way to senior level positions nowadays IS to do an overseas assignment. I will need to find the source but 10 years ago about 20-25% of senior level management had done an overseas assignment. Nowadays, that % is up to 75-80% from rapid globalization. We do pay the lucrative packages to these expats (an overseas assignment typically costs the company 2.5 to 3 times the annual salary of the assignee.) However we give allowances (COLA, Auto, Home, etc) but companies also take norms from these expats ( what they would have paid for a home, car, etc etc) in their home country. So the years the assignee is on assignment doesnt cost the company too much more then if they were locally based, however the big costs come from relocating the person and family over there, as well as relocating back. In addition, if the assignee has children school expenses make up a large chunk, but other then that everything else is quite manageable.
Just for reference, I was a Global Mobility seminar this week and the Coca Cola company was one of the presenters. They have about 350 long term and short term expats.
Ryan: Not disputing what you say, but for a company the size of Coca Cola to have only 350 expats, those jobs are, as I say, rare. I’m also guessing that most of those expats did not accept the positions as direct hires, but were transferred overseas internally. I’m also guessing that positions in your firm have many more people applying than positions to fill right? You had better vbe good to get one.
John..sounds like to me a person just best be ready, and have the cash back up or funds to just come to the Philippines and retire and enjoy the life there and for get the need or want a job thing. Enjoyed reading your post here….they are always enjoyable to read.
Dan: That is the best way… It isn’t impossible to find a job here, and in the LinkedIn group, you’ll see a few expats with these packages who are members. They are normally the ones asking questions after being notified of impending transfers here.
Hey John,
Those are the hard facts, to me self employment is the best way to earn money over there. But finding that “niche” or “need” over there to make decent income is the thing to find. There are ways of making money over there for sure. Where I was in Southern Leyte, food seem to be the business to be in.
Thanks John,
Danny
Danny: Self employment is the best way, but you really need to research. There are ways to do it, though. Bob’s book is a good place to start.
Shortly after leaving The Philippines, in 1993, I went into training, then worked for the Canadian Coast Guard, as a marine traffic regulator(Vessel Traffic Services). This would be similar to air traffic control, for commercial marine vessels. At the time of my course at the CCGCollege, they held a VTS symposium. Several countries, including The RP, were requesting the services of VTS to set up similar programs in their own country. Can you imagine the logistical nightmare of setting up radar sites to monitor Philippine waters? Over 7,000 islands? However, I became disenchanted with working for my government & never learned the outcome of such a project. Too bad, I would have been earning an excellent salary+benefits from my own government, while enjoying life in The RP, much like the foreign service officers at my embassy, whom I so envy.
Whenever I am asked about working in Asia, I always suggest that the person teach ESL in Taiwan & vacation elsewhere. It was pretty good money when I did it, though I was also involved in management(foreign director) & ownership(partnership) when I was there & worked 58 to 64 hours/week, for the bulk of my time.
On the other hand, a family friend – born of Filipino parents – I grew up around in Canada, Patrick Guzman, became quite a star for a short time, despite not speaking much Tagalog before he arrived. There is the odd opportunity to work as an extra in movies filmed in Asia, but it’s sporadic & unreliable work.
Mike: VTS is integrated now, I believe, but since that time, AIS has really made inroads. Vessel security is still a big issue: At SMM last week, several of the electronics manufacturers have new systems out on the market. The main issue with the Philippine government is one of money: Security systems are expensive. The US kicks in a bit, but, last I heard (I’m not really doing much military biz now), those funds were seriously reduced.
My cousin in Japan made serious money in the 1970′s and 1980′s teaching English: Same as you in that he started his own school and taught executives. Still money to be made in Asia doing that, but on your own, rather than working for someone else.
John ,I think I will just stay here and raise some baboys for now ..Phil
Phil: Nothing wrong with that!
Very good article John
I have many friends that want to live in the RP but do not understand that it is much easier to establish residual income in the states before you move to the RP than to try to survive in the RP Filipino style. And of course the filipina do not understand why anyone would leave the states were you can easily find a good job and go to the RP were good paying jobs are almost nonexistent. If I can give any advice I would say work 2 jobs in the states saving as much as you can before moving to the RP. And remember every dollar you spend in the states will by more than twice as much in the RP. Also buy a Dave Ramsey book to learn how cash is king since loans are very expensive in the RP.
Larry: Good advice and spot on… Those considering moving really need to spend some time here and understand what the country is really like. I try to be honest, as do the other writers, but there is no substitute for first hand experience.
Hi John,
my name is Nana. I am 28 yrs old and I currently live in London.
My fiance is from Manila but he works in Bahrain at the moment.
We are planning to get married, we are already getting together all the documents we need and our plan is to live in the Philippines.
I went there and i am full aware of the differences but i love him very much and I know that it would be harder for him to find a job in england , especially now.
He is a designer. And I am an PA/ Accountant/
I work as Office Manager for an accountancy practice and i am qualified and I am currently studying to get a certificate in Business writing and budget.
The reason why we are not married yet is, his annulment which would be done by Octotber |November this year.
But we really miss each other and I am seriously getting sick without him ( I am not joking). I lost about 15 kg, I can’t sleep or eat.
I really cannot go on like this and I want to do anything I can to be with him.
Can you tell me how is it for you to live there? And what can I do to get there asap?
Thanks a lot for your help,
Nana
Nana:
Well, you’ve taken the first step, which is to get his annulment finished… Things like that take time here, and there really is no way to rush it. (I am assuming that you are British and he is Filipino)
Look at it this way: Many OFWs are away from their families for years at a time… If your relationship is strong, you will weather this period apart.
As to work, a work permit is relatively straightforward if you are here on a 13a or 13g visa. However, do not expect anywhere near British wages here, and accountancy is restricted as a profession to Filipinos. I highly doubt that you will be happy with the wages that a PA earns here (Think 10,000 – 15,000 pesos / month range). Best bet would be to look in the call center or BPO line here, but honestly, your most realistic way to earn a living is to start your own…
I strongly recommend that you buy Bob’s “49 ways” book….
Good luck!
Hi John,
You just reminded me about my linkedin profile. You’re spot on.
Alex
Alex: Thank you… Update away!
Hi john,
a decade ago, a military hospital here in my location was run by the british and americans, from EMT personnel to top managerial position, there were all replaced by filipinos and indians, why with the sudden change? a western EMT personnel is paid about 18k rials basic pay a month plus benefits, and all other perks similar to what you have mentioned, the government here spend at least 30k rials a month for a single EMT personnel while the same amount can hire 8 EMT personnel from the philippines or india, there’s no difference with the quality of work either as the training for the EMT is done locally. i.e. americans and british will be trained here the same way for the filipinos and indians too, another factor is, western people tend not to learn the local language and expect their patients to speak english for them, while people from the philippines and india can speak fluently or a passable arabic to communicate with their patients.
the notion of “I am from the west and I am greater than you” is coming to an end – it is a sad truth.
Dans:
That’s the trend… In engineering, China and India graduate thousands more engineers than the West… All willing to work for much less.
There are differences in productivity and quality of background (education), but well-funded training programs really minimize the problem, as you’ve experienced.
John your comments i agree are 100% accurate and you have all the local experience to back up your observations. But some people my friend want to live in a dream world and can get really perturbed as they try to ignore the realities of life for that means the end of the dream.
Frank: The truth is often tough to hear, particularly if you spent your life making a career.
I think common sense would indicate that with the thousands of Philippine OFW’s all over the globe if there is not enough employment for the people that live there, most likely there is little for anyone else. My research into Educational facilities in The Philippines indicates that there are many well educated and talented Filipinos graduating from some very excellent colleges and universities.
Another item not mentioned here that would especially apply to someone going to The Philippines to retire and maybe look for some kind of job, if you are over 30 years of age it deminishes a lot of chances of finding anything regardless of the pay, in any kind of hospitality job such as retail, food, hotel etc. Discrimination laws such as we have here in the USA in regards to employment in Philippines, just do not exist there.
I have read some of the help wanted adds that state:
Must be Female
Must be between age of 20 and 25
Must be ” attractive ” in appearance
Must have College degree
Yes, those are just some of the requirements to work the front line service at a fast food franchise ! Gives the clientel something to look at while waiting for their burgers and fries !
If you look at some of the job posting on University Websites that will give you even a better idea !
Many Filipino OFW’s work in other countries some of them for many years, save as much money as they can, and then go back home to The Philippines to retire on their retirement savings and investment.
It still baffles me how people in The Philippines can live on what the jobs pay there. I just couldn’t do that myself.
Ya..that something……need to have a College degree to bag hamburgers and fries…..only in the Philipines…I would think that those that are in the dream that they can come to the Philipines and find a job and be happy with it and make a decent wage are in some kind of dream that sure would pop fast as soon as they landed there and started looking for that dream job.
Yes- it is true that there are a lot of people in the Philippines with university degrees- but in my opinion those degrees – in many many instances are almost worthless! First off you have to realize that in the Phil you graduate high school after grade 10 ! So you can imagine first of all how poorly educated the high school students are here because you know how much students back home learn in grades 11 and 12. So off they go at age 16 to what is called a university here – for 4 years. But unlike my kids who do 4-5 hours of homework a night while in university- here homework -at least to the university studends i have talked to- is almost none existent. The end result is a person with a degree in HRM Hotel Restaurant Management from the University of Mindanau whose has virtually no usable skills, virtually no knowledge of world affairs, and very little desire to continue their education by themselves.
And to me work at Jollibee is about the only job I would hire them for. I am not being nasty or negative here- just realistic.
My remarks do NOT apply to certain private schools such as Ateneo where the standard is very good.
I base my remarks and observations on my own experiences in teachin in North America – in public school, in colleges, and at the university level . As well as on the 21 years I spent as a student.
Ian: They nevertheless completed a program, and with the supply of labor here, you had better be far more productive and generate far more revenue than a local employee.
John M – I agree with you 100% !! I would rather hire someone who has shown that they have to complete a program than someone who hasnt. My comment is just that they level of education here is NOT what it appears to be- to those who feel that having a degree means you are educated.
hi ian,
“in many many instances are almost worthless!”
– I don’t think so. – look at the number of professional OFW’s (11 millions and still counting) – probably, a Filipino who graduated from a public university is now practicing his/her profession somewhere near you, isn’t it logical to think that one of the reason a foreigner cannot find a job in the Philippines is because a local who probably came from a public university can do the same job a “foreigner” could do? , and I will bet my every penny that they are not a product of “private schools” either
to say and generalize that people in the Philippines with a university degree is worthless, to me is some kind of ignorance and belittling my country and countrymen, sure there are many problems with the Philippine education system, but that doesn’t mean there’s a complete failure in our education system.
If our education is so bad then why there are many foreign countries continuously hire Filipinos in all kinds of profession? why there’s a lot of US/UK companies operate their business in the Philippines if our education is so bad as how you demonstrated it?
Dans- the reason that a foreigner cant find a job in the Phil is definitely not because of the fierce competition from educated filipinos- its because its illegal for most of them to work, and because most foreigners will not work for $5 a day !!
You call my remarks ” some kind of ignorance” . But you are the one who has translated ” in many many instances are almost worthless” to mean ” that people in the Philippines with a university degree is worthless ” I most definitely did NOT say that and I find your personal attack offensive !!
You ask if ” our education is so bad then why are many foreign countries continuously hire Filipinos? ” thats easy- because other countries need cheap labour to clean their toilets and clean their houses and work in fast food chains and look after their children. How does a filipino doctor get a job working in a foreign country? easy- he works as a nurse !!
ig·no·rance noun \ˈig-n(ə-)rən(t)s\
Definition of IGNORANCE
: the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness . I suggest you know the meaning of words before you use them to accuse people of those things.
Dans- I think it is very commendable of you to defend your country. however at the same time you have to be honest about things.
I certainly do not thikg that there has been a complete failure in your education system- but there certainly has been a huge deficiency.
I would refer you to :
http://www.fnf.org.ph/liberalopinion/crisis-public-education-philippines.htm
I will quote you just one sentence from that report:
Describing the quality of Philippine school education today, the senior DepEd official stated the following: “Our schools are failing to teach the competence the average citizen needs to become responsible, productive and self-fulfilling. We are graduating people who are learning less and less.”
I believe Dans that the Philippine Department of Education knows what it is talking about ! The longer you deny the truth the longer you allow the problem to exist.
ian, I am not denying the failure of our education system, but to looked down on us IS SIMPLY wrong! you don’t need to refer me to any sites just to justify your arguments.
plain and simple, you belittle my people and my country. and I FIND it very insulting, you could have expressed yourself in a nicer way – but you didn’t – i guess your education is much greater than mine, and i guess those big companies who operate their business in the Philippines and hire local people are dumber to hire Filipinos to run their multi-million dollar business.
- you are definitely an ignorant, many Filipinos work hard as a toilet cleaners, housemaids or even wash someone’s ass – that is all true. but that is what you only wanted to see, you are blind not seeing many Filipinos working on a top managerial position or even on a highly technical field and they worked for prestigious company both in the Philippines and abroad. for me, not seeing the “facts” or your “lack of knowledge” of the capability of many Filipinos is simply an *ignorance*
5$ a day? for the same work a foreigner can do?? who do you think will win to get the job? let me see, a guy from the west will clean a toilet for 5 dollars an hour compared to a filipino who can do the same job for less and still able to save money? who do you think can survive.
you find my post offensive WHILE you offended not only many Filipinos, at worst you even mentioned a specific university and offend its graduates.
simply put, we may work with a menial jobs while having a degree, that to me is much better than an over-rated, overpaid foreigner for nothing.
are you on drugs?
Dans- thank you for making my point for me !!!! lol
ian – I guess you need to re-read john’s article.. as to why a foreigner can’t find jobs in the philippines, aside from the cost of hiring one.. focus more on…
“Unless you are highly skilled in a profession that is in demand and those skills cannot be locally matched, it is highly unlikely that you will find a position with either a domestic or foreign firm here.”
ian – while there are some pinoy doctors in our hospitals that work as nurses, most
of them do it because they can’t afford to go though residency again in the states and
that they need to make a living right away. My observation is that most Phil. MDs
that are grads of UP, UST and a few other Manila and Cebu med schools can easily
pass the multi-step exam given to foreign grads to be able to apply for residency,
others that are from lesser known schools have a hard time passing the multi-step
exam. While it is true that some schools are just diploma mills, the current licensing
and accreditation process here in the US can easily weed out unqualified MDs or
other allied health professionals.
I work in a 500-bed size hospital in the greater Los Angeles area and in our staff of
250-plus physicians, 23 are Filipinos who got their training in the Philippines…
all of them are required to get their residency stateside before they get board
certified (10 of them are surgeons). We also have a staff of around 600 plus nurses,
I know of 5 RNs who were MDs in the Philippines.
I myself got my MD from UP-PGH, a public university in Manila. I went through
pathology residency at UCLA-Harbor and I am currently the Chief Pathologist in our
hospital.
-Dr. G
Dr G- my point exactly ! While there most definitely are some great universities in the Philippines many do not offer what I consider to be a high enough level of education.They are, as you say ” just diploma mills” And what I was trying to say was that to say that there are a huge number of filipinos with university degrees gives a false impression- especially to those of us who come from places where having a degree means more. Of course I also think that after just 10 years of schooling students are ill prepared for university .
Am I right in assuming that the schools that you name as giving superior educations are either private- or else too expensive-for the average filipino to attend? That is my impression but I would certainly like to have a more informed opinion on the matter .
And my hat is off to all pinoys who have successfully been able to pursue successful professional careers- either here or abroad. I believe that many of them overcame odds that would daunt kids in first world countries.
Mars Z.- some of us just take longer to learn things !! lol I am not an American but we do hear rumour/jokes? s about some southern schools that are in the same position as some filipino universities [ in the way that I mentioned], but being a coward I didnt want to mention it ! lol
Dr G- I would like to clarify one thing. When I mentioned how hard it is for pinoy doctors to get jobs as OFWs, and that they many times had to work as nurses, I did not mean to say that that was because of their lack of education, and I do readily admit that licensing problems is the reason . Dans got me so wound up I started to run things together ! lol I have met many highly skilled professionals in Davao – in the medical and legal professions.
All I really wanted to say was that the high percentage of degrees in the Philippines does not indicate what it would in some other countries.
Ian: I disagree… The wages are that low because there are plenty of people to work in them. Back to my list above. – For those very few jobs, the salaries are at western levels. The positions are in demand everywhere: not just in the Philippines. In order to attract candidates, companies must pay Western wages. Likewise, McDonalds can largely afford to pick and choose, taking those with a degree (regardless of quality) because their positions are in demand.
hi john,
the law of supply and demand.
high supply of manpower and low demand of manpower = cheap labor cost
low supply of highly skilled worker and a high demand for it = high labor cost.
I would take a Filipino over a westerner to work for me everytime……..they expect to work 60 plus hours per week and they do it with a smile , whilst taking home less than it costs to run a push bike. To make serious money here you really need to be holding serious money.
Kris: Or do something on your own.
Wow! 21 years as a student. Extra 5 years after regular four year college? You should have encourage some of those High school graduates from the US South to have extra years because when I was a school chief of a military service school in California, we have to have a basic math tutoring on the first week of basic “A” school for these high school graduates.
Mars
Mars: For a Masters degree, you are looking at 18 years. 21 years for a PhD is the norm.
Mars- or 17 years MBA, 3 years law school, one year as articling student .
Not that a lot of education necessarily makes you smarter! Or more able to become a success ! Some of the most successful people that I know only have high school education- but they all have lots of street smarts, and grabbed opportunities when they came up. And they all are super motivated- the kind who dont know the meaning of ” I cant do that”
Unfortunately the day of the self made man is getting more and more remote and education has become much more the necessary tool.
When I was assisting a Student from Mindanao with the possibility of obtaining their masters degree here in the USA, one requirement is that their college experience in Philippines and grades etc. must be converted to USA Standards. I handled the paperwork in this particular case myself so I know first hand that the Degree this student earned in Philippines was equal to the same Degree as if it had been earned in the USA. Not all Philippine Degrees are worthless in the USA.
Bob New York- couldnt agree with you more ! Not all degrees are worthless- in fact i dont think any are worthless – which is why i said “almost worthless”
But which school it is- and which subject it is- i believe makes a huge difference.
I notice you didnt give the name of the school whose paperwork you were dealing with. And which school was he applying for a Masters program in? I would really be interested in knowing those things please.
Ian: There are many degree mills here, granted, but the “name” schools all have programs that pass muster. In field like nursing, OFWs still have to be licensed in most countries, which means obtaining a bona-fide degree.
The student was a graduate of MSU-IIT with a Bachelors degree in Teaching and also a licensed teacher in The Philippines. This individuals credentials and educational background was sent to me, reviewed and then forwarded to ” World Educational Services ” in New York City for review, analysis and conversion to USA standards.
This was a requirement for this student to apply for a Masters Degree course at a well known and respected State University in the Northeast part of the USA.
The individuals Bachelor Degree earned in The Philippines was evaluated to be equal to the same or equivalent Bachelors Degree here in the USA.
It would appear from the following release that MSU-IIT is one of the schools that offers a superior education- and thus equivalent to a US degree. . I would expect the same result from the schools that John named earlier. I stand by my statement that there are many schools in the Philippines that are not of the same standard.
The MSU- IIT College of Education (CED) is overwhelmed after being awarded Center of Excellence (COE) for Teacher Education by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
The MSU-IIT CED is the only COE recipient in Region X and one of only twelve institutions in the Philippines during the July 16, 2010 awarding ceremonies.
DepEd bans weekend homework in public elementary schools
GMANews.TV – Saturday, September 18
umm- as i was saying lol
Sure, why not? Public elementary school kids in the cities need weekend offs to refine their social skills by interacting with fellow mall rats (texting, keeping up with the latest trends and fashion, to see and be seen with who, what, and it), while those in the provinces, more time to hang out at the market place to flirt…
My kids go to school in Vancouver- which has a large Chinese population- from mainland China, from Hong Kong, and from Taiwan. The one thing that i noticed at their high school graduations, and whenever I went into the school library- was the very disproportionate numbers of Chinese students represented. The Chinese parents took a much more active role in enforcing their kids study habits, and had very high expectations from their children
I cant help but think that those study habits stay with them for the rest of their lives when doing other things
I should clarify that last post- at the high school graduations the disportionate numbers of Chinese students was at the Awards ceremonies- getting awards !!
Don’t forget the Indians, East, that is…
It has not been my experience that the parents of Indo-Canadian kids in general encourage rigid study habits nor have high academic expectations of their children- but I am willing to be convinced otherwise.
In my kids school Indo-Canadian students were not present in an large numbers when awards were given out- but perhaps you are talking about schools in other parts of the province ?
I am speaking in general terms about the achievements of children of Indian descent in the U.S. , not necessarily speaking of the parents’ direct involvement with their children’s academic excellence. But I am sure the parents’ have a lot to do with their children’s successes, which are a reflection of the discipline they carried with them across the seas. Children of Indian descent, along with the Chinese, seem to be well represented in many academic contests, such as those sponsored by Westinghouse, in which they win top prizes. Incidentally, while visiting my son at his former employer at Bechtel several years ago, I happened to leaf through the staff roster in his department. A majority of the names were Indians and Chinese.
Ian: You may not be an IGNORANT person BUT i can say that you are ALMOST a WORTHLESS individual!!!! Worthless in the sense that you don’t have proper manners. you’ve studied for 21 yrs and you should have known the meaning of decorum by now… just good manners dude…
Bob: Common sense is not so common. In a way, in the West, though job descriptions are not allowed to say the specifics, you are usually judged by the same criteria, even if they don’t say so. In a way, the other way keeps you from wasting your time.
bob,
as you pointed out – there’s a little job available in the Philippines to go around, the reason many companies in the Philippine require a college graduate just to flip burger is simply to make the selection process a lot harder. as you may know, there are many college graduates in the Philippines who are jobless. only if there’s a hundred thousand of McDonald outlets in the Philippines, I don’t think they will be needing a college graduate to flip burgers.
Dans: You are 100% correct.
Oh man! I knew I should have done something else than a random liberal arts degree! Ah, had I known. But in all seriousness, one of the hardest adjustments I had to make when moving here was not working–not for the financial gain, but just because I enjoyed working and liked the company I worked at before moving here.
We already has finances planned here and abroad before moving but it still did not prepare me for how I would miss the day to day of working. (It is also worth noting that I am just past 30. I know most people on this site are retirees or close to it so it is quite a different story).
Kikas: Interesting… I would say that you are somewhat unique. I remember being injured on the job about 25 years ago… off six weeks. I was going stir crazy for something to do!
Kikas, this is one of the biggest reasons I am busy every day with a number of online ventures, and our off-line farming and other enterprizes. I am fully retired by age and annuity, but I can’t stand golf and I drink very little, so I have nothing else to keep me occupied.
Get yourself busy and you’ll like living here a whole lot better.
And while I will not argue that the right degree can help you get ahead … the idea that a man is his 30′s is limited by the degree he took when he was 20 is a bogus idea. You need no license, degree or anyone’s permission to study what interests you now and succeed at it … with or without a university degree. … or so Dave opines.
Dave, you are 100% correct!! Honestly, I know very few people in the US that ended up in a field directly related to their major, myself included.
BTW, I am female.
Kikas: That is why I’ve always been a proponent of the Jesuit philosophy of a well-rounded education.
Dave: In my experience, discounting maturity, background, etc., the primary purpose of a degree when job hunting is to sort the candidates (as an eliminator). That being said, completing a degree also shows the character that you finish something once started… more from a personal growth perspective, though.
John,
I thought for sure I was going to be able to find a job in the Philippines and live the good life. Guess this just goes to show me the same thing people have been telling me about my singing career. I better keep my day job! One day I guess it will all be possible!
Steve: I thought you were working in defense? That is one area in demand. If I’m wrong, please forgive.
Hi John – Finally, an “expert” on LinkedIn! Perhaps you can jot me a few lines “off-line” regarding a few pros/cons with the social medium. I’m building up my “book of business” in my “US tax, expat-style” company and have been wondering how or if LinkedIn would be a good fit.
I do have a couple of potential clients in Manila who have LinkedIn pages – I’ve wondered for some time whether having a solid page myself would turn the “potential” to “kinetic”?!!
Paul: I’m no expert, but I can help you get set up. Send me a note to jmiele3@yahoo.com with a good time to call and your number and I’ll ring you and walk you through it.
Hi John,
Excellent article. I hope that many young men/women in the western world would be able to read your article. Many take the leap and reside in the Philippines without the knowledge that you have given.
Roselyn: Thank you… Unfortunately, in my opinion, I am speaking the truth (or, I try to anyway). They need to be realistic in expectations.
“All I really wanted to say was that the high percentage of degrees in the Philippines does not indicate what it would in some other countries.” – Ian
I know exactly where you’re coming from, and I understand everythng you’re saying. You are not belittling Filipinos. You are merely stating facts based on your personal observation. Most importantly, observations of people on the know whose business is to study educational trends in the Philippines and their proportional effects on the country’s economy.
It’s just so easy to obtain a degree in the Philippines, especially from lesser schools, that’s why so many Filipinos have college degrees. All you had to do was pay tuition and attend classes everyday. Learning is based on rote in many of these “diploma mills”. If you can memorize pages and pages of textbooks, you pass the exams even if you don’t understand what you’ve memorized. Note that I am not talking here about Ateneo, De La Salle, UP, UST, Letran and similar private colleges.
I am not saying that all Filipinos are in the same category, but I do know some Filipinos who have Masters and PhDs from some provincial universities, but whose intellectual capacity and reasoning level do not even come close to that of a ninth grader attending a sci/tech high school in the States.
I have two high school diplomas – one from San Sebastian in Manila, another one from Monterey High in California. Why? When I tried to register at the Monterey Peninsula College at 15 years of age upon arrival in the States with 10 years of education behind me, I was basically told, “get lost kid…” If I never left the Philippines when I did, chances are, I, too, would have had a medical degree under my belt. But probably working as a janitor somewhere in Northern Virginia. LOL
John: Point taken… However, the better known schools here are normally accredited in the US (or recognized as such).
John- where were you yesterday when I was taking all the heat ?? hahaha
Even in Canada my kids when in high school spent months pouring over different universities curriculums and reviews and talking to alumni before making a decision as to which schools to apply to. And believe me when I say that in Canada there are no inferior universities- but they still wanted to find the best . The job market is getting so competitive that the fact that you have a degree is just taken for granted – its WHERE you got the degree that counts !
Its interesting that you mention “reasoning level” as a factor because that is something that I find lacking very much here- and I dont understand why it is like that ?
Let’s blame it on the Spanish, Ian! LOL
Ian: What I’ve found is that the value of a private or ranked University degree is more in the networking opportunities than anything else. In Canada, all accredited universities should issue a bona-fide degree, varying little in actual substance. That being said, there is a big difference between a degree from McGill and one from the University of SW Saskatchewan. That difference is your network.
JohnM- absolutely correct ! But dont write Saskatchewan off too easily- its boom time in Saskatchewan these days. Potash and new methods of extacting oil the reason. [ there may be more]
Ian: Strongly agree with John M. Sometimes it’s not what degree you have, it’s what you do with it. I know a lot of people here in the states that willfully file unemployment because they prospective job did not really suit them or just plain lazy—so are you better than somebody who work for a living even though receiving low wages but proud of it? It reminded me of an old Filipino farms workers saying in California in the ’40-’50s why they keep working in the farms- cause they would rather be seen in the line going to the house of ill repute than be seen in the soup kitchen line.
Degrees awarded to grads of Philippines colleges from provinces outside of Metro Manila usually and provinces, takes licensing or board exam to be certified. I know a lot of nurses from colleges other than metro Manila currently working in Canada–hate to scare you, Ian.
Of course, US has also its share of illiterate graduates and bad colleges as I said in earlier post about giving basic math tutoring for “A” and “C” to high school grads. Some for profit colleges are just for the money, recruiting and helping students get government financial aid, promising good jobs, and encouraging non-repayment of financial aid. See and read links:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/04/AR2010080403816_2.html
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/college-inc/2010/08/gao_report_how_damaging_to_for.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/03/AR2010080303846.html
By the way Ian, Canada’s unemployment rose to 8.1%, and the country’s unemployment funds is running out. Saskats’ unemployment is over 4%, slightly lower than other provinces.
Mars
Mars- you will get no disagreement from me on your comments ! lol
I am very much into education, especially as a possible means for people to escape from poverty. And i say possible because yes- its what you do with it. Many people graduating from universities these days in first world countries have a sense of entitlement because they have always had things given to them instead of having to work hard for them . [ i dont mean their degrees] . But even in Canada having a degree from a prestigious university is no guarantee of finding a job. Especially if that degree is in art history, or english literature, or political science etc etc In fact in Vancouver getting a law degree is no guarantee of finding a job!
About my being scared about being taken care of in Canada by a nurse from the Philippines provinces – I have no fear in that regard ! lol Or being treated by a doctor from the provinces. That is because I trust in the Canadian licensing process. In fact I would rather be treated by a good doctor trained in the Philippines than by a bad doctor trained in Canada. Merely being trained to be a doctor in Canada to me does not necessarily mean that you will get a conscientious, dedicated, doctor who will take the time to give you the best possible treatment. Some of them seem to be more interested in running people through like cattle- ie 8 patients an hour-
Btw Mars I moved to Davao City 2 years ago and have a SRRV – as well as a business here in Davao- so I will be getting all my future medical treatment right here in Davao !! lol But I do look to see where they went to school- and trust my own instincts about what they suggest . Even in Canada I never accepted my doctors diagnosis without first doing my own due diligence ! haha
Hi Ian: I kinda figure you in the Phils. Just letting you know that even in first world countries, schools are enriching themselves at the expense of the taxpayers and the students, but I agree with you on most points. Have a good day, Ian.
Mars
Ian, I believe you could parlay a degree in Art History into a very rewarding career that would pay dividends in all spheres (financial, intellectual, spiritual ect).
The degree does not make the man. I know people who work in restaurants and others who work in prestigious auction houses and others who have gone out on their own in the art world and all of them equipped with the proverbial degree in Art History. LOL Many of these people attended the finest educational establishments in Europe and America.
At the end of the day it is really an inside job ( by that, I mean stone cold confidence in your own abilities). I find it interesting and instructive that no one mentioned a critical ingredient in education—a student must have a deep rooted hunger and desire for knowledge in order to,—— lol —–[well if you like, in order to become educated].
Jody
Jody- I agree with you totally ! And I appologize if I offended any Art History majors, but I do stand by my using it as an example of a degree which generally is not very high in demand . But of course there are exceptions in every field.] And as I also said- in Vancouver even getting a degree in law is no guarantee of becoming successful [ or even getting a job!]
Again- I am very much into education, and for me one of the biggest reasons for getting a degree is that it teaches you how to educate yourself.
I dont know if you read my earlier post which I think shows my attitude in this matter, but i will post it here again:
Not that a lot of education necessarily makes you smarter! Or more able to become a success ! Some of the most successful people that I know only have high school education- but they all have lots of street smarts, and grabbed opportunities when they came up. And they all are super motivated- the kind who dont know the meaning of ” I cant do that”
Unfortunately the day of the self made man is getting more and more remote and education has become much more the necessary tool.
For me Jody the super-motivated people with lots of street smarts in fact demonstrated in their own way a “deep rooted hunger and desire for knowledge”. As I know you will agree not all education comes out of books ! lol
Ian, it is said that Aristotle once said that” all men try to learn and discover the nature of things”. I would modify this statement by adding that,” all men need to eat”. LOL
John- works for me !! lol
[ insert appology to all Spaniards in the audience }
John, you are absolutely right (something I never hear from my asawa.) ! Your statement ” but most Westerners would not be willing to live under Filipino standards, making Filipino wages, doing without aircon and creature comforts” is spot on! Brother, when you arrive in the Philippines you’re not in Kansas anymore. Your article is an accurate portrayal of the job situation here. Excellent article!
Dave: Thanks!
Very true Dvae DeWall, I have heard and read many times that if you want to live to USA standards in The Philippines it may even cost you more ! I do not consider that I live extravagantly here in the USA by any means but I would certainly miss my hot and cold drinkable water at 30 to 50 PSI whenever I want it by turning on the faucet, My Air Con in the SUmmer and 70 Deg heat in the winter ( although I wouldn’t need that in Philippines LOL ) , My reliable broadband cable internet, and outright ownership of everything I have and all paid for. Things like this are what I worked hard all of my life for and I would not easily give them up. I immensly enjoy, treasure and look forward to my visits in The Philippines but for me I can not see it being any less costly to live there in the same ” Basic ” ( by USA Standards ) way that I enjoy here. I also like being employed and having a pay check comming in every week. I was self employed for a few years when I was much younger , too many headaches for me LOL .
Now, if I won ” Big ” in the Lottery or otherwise came into a lot of money, then maybe I would see about having a place in The Philippines for part time use and enjoyment. I so much enjoy it when I am there.
Bob: The big savings in cost of living is mostly rent and insurance. Food is also quite a bit cheaper, but we mostly shop at palengkes for about 80% of our food. Everything else is as expensive or more expensive than in the States. Aside from that, rent would get pretty expensive if you earn local wage rates.
hi Dave DeWall
no mate us Westerners would not be willing to live under Filipino standards and live on just $3 aday that is slave laber mate no matter how u look at it mate my wife who works in manila is get in just that andi hate it long hours and very little to show for it………………….. peter martin tasssie
Peterjoy: It is a “can you vs. would you” question. Anyone can… Most Westerners would not.
John;
So many westerners are so drunk on the illusion of living in the Philippines that they
don’t see the writing on the wall. They don’t stop and figure out a simple equation, when
more Filipinos are leaving their country to find work than are staying home means one thing.
Their are no jobs. So for these people are going to take their family from the comforts of their western homes and jobs. On the idea that they will get a job that pays good western wages so they can live the life is foolish.
Living in the Philippines is for retirees who have a steady flow of income from pensions and alike. (There are some exceptions to this like You and Bob but not many)But even a retirees income has to be enough to handle the fluctuation of the economy.
Most retirees have small businesses in the Philippines just to have something to do and don’t rely on them as their main source of income. There more like hobbies than jobs I do believe.
Just recently I meet a fellow Kano guy at a Filipino Party. We got to talking about living in the Philippines. His plan was to take his family over there and get a truck driving job, while they try to build a small resort. I explained to him that he might want to rethink his plans. Basically telling him what you say in your article. At that point all lanes of communications where closed. He still believes he can do it so I just wish him the best of luck. Feel for his babies they will suffer the most.
Bruce: you are absolutely correct: He will have a rude awakening, and an expensive one, at that. Truck driving: Unless you own the firm, forget it. You did right by saving your breath.
This report is exactly right, I cannot fault it.
As the author has said even the most lowly paid workers in the Philippines have degree’s…..the UK’s education of their masses is decades behind the Philippines.
There are workers here with degree’s who will work for barely more than their food money.
To live here i’d suggest you will need an income of around 200,000 peso per month approx 3,000 pounds stirling per month and to earn that sort of income here you will need to be at the very top of your game, whatever game that may be and you will need a miricle to secure such a post as an independent job hunter. To live to the standards most westerners would expect is very expensive.
Kris: We do fine on about 1,000 Sterling per month, but we live fairly modestly. However, most westerners that are used to the types of packages frequently obtained in places like Singapore or Dubai are in for a shock.
Hi John, a good read and exactly what a lot of people need to read i imagine.
I am in a special situation, my wife might be moving out with her company on one of those nice packages you mention.
I am self employed and run some web sites which I will continue, but it would be nice to retain some IT consulting income like I have in the UK.
I am IT Director level with 10 years experience and really am as good as it gets when it comes to IT infrastructure, support management, development and project management.
My initial search has found nothing, but i imagine thats cause as you say most looking for what i can offer would look in their own organisation or in their own country. Is there any platform for local expat consulting work for companies setting up or developing locally?
Thanks
Jon
Jon: Unusual to say the least… Your best bet for IT is regionally. I would start with Linked In, searching Singapore and Kuala Lumpur… Those are the IT centers for SE Asia. Also, consider applying to a company like Accenture, which has locations all over SE Asia. Those postings are heavy with consulting positions.
Fortunately, IT, particularly if you are degreed, is often able to be negotiated as a telecommuting position. I strongly suggest that you search in industries where you have documentable projects completed.
Finally, being familiar with IT, I also strongly suggest you develop and maintain a strong web presence. Contact your existing network and see if they have either existing Asian operations or are expanding here.
Hope this was helpful.
Also, do not forget your work permit for projects that you may take on in the Philippines… it is separate from your visa.
When I came to the US, the first thing I did was to have my credentials evaluated to see if my education was comparable in the US so that I can take my state board for Architecture. They approved me right away so I guess that shows, no matter how old we graduate doesn’t matter. It’s what you’ve learned all those years of being in very good schools and the kind of student you are that actually makes a difference. My husband is a teacher here and he is getting frustrated at how little kids here in the US are motivated. He’s trying to apply at International Schools in Manila and is even having a hard time because there are a lot of qualified people in the Philippines and around the globe. So, thinking that education in the Philippines is not comparable is just not true just because we graduate at a young age. Doesn’t mean that you know more because you graduate older. That’s only probably true not being mature on an emotional level but when it comes to knowledge, we are advanced in the Philippines. And I am saying this with the years I have been here. My son goes to school here and he is so advanced and his grade level can’t even catch up with him. His teachers think he is such a genius but when I am comparing what he knows to kids his age in the Philippines, he is doing great but not that advanced. I guess that tells me the kind of education he is getting here is not that great. I guess more research should be done prior to judgement. My in-laws used to think that the Philippines is a third world country. Through the years after meeting my family and being with me, they realized that’s not true because my family has money in the Philippines and are educated. And the only reason that I am here is because my husband is here. If he ever gets a chance to get hired in the Philippines, we’ll move back right away and enjoy life there and definitely sending my child to the schools there and get better a education.
Elaine:
You are correct: Many of the schools here are fully accredited and your degree is perfectly valid.
For teaching, the main issue is that teachers here, even at prestigious schools, are not paid very much (Think on the order of P20,000 per month for an Associate Professor gig). Pretty tough to make aliving on that.
Perhaps your husband could look at starting his own school?
I am an IT graduate but I am working as a SEO freelancer. I am planning to change my career like working in abroad. but one of my problem is if the job suit me, because I don’t have experienced working as an IT.
I am planning on living in the Philippines for personal legal reasons I need to take care of. I am also intrigued into getting some education out there since school there is really inexpensive.
My background is Pharmaceutical Data Entry with Worldwide Regulatory. Is there a chance they could use someone with experience in that field?
I would also like to mention that I am a dual US/Philippines citizen as well. Will this also help me in my search?
Wil:
Well, if you are a Philippine Citizen, you can work without any problem (No visas, permits… Though you do need to register with SSS). Pharmaceuticals is outside of my industry / knowledge, so I cannot answer your question. The little I do know is that I see several pharmaceutical manufacturing plants right by the MRT in Makati (Abbot and a couple of others)… Whether they are hiring or what wages they pay, I have no idea. I don’t know how the industry is doing here.
If you are used to US wages and they are offering local, prepare to be disappointed. If you are hoping to work there as an expat, my best suggestion is to network within your industry for those positions and sell yourself. I will say that most jobs on expat packages are obtained abroad… not here.
Hi,
My husband will be retiring from the Navy (his a Nuke in a Submarine) 6 years from now. I’m a Filipina and we would love to retire in the Philippines. What do you think a job that he land in the Philippines. You mention that you work in a Maritine industry.
Regards,
Donabel
Donabel: Virtually every major shipping line in Asia has crewing agencies in the Philippines, but they typically hire only Filipinos as crew. He should search for a job in the USA or in Singapore with the shipping lines, if possible. There are also a number of companies that deal in maritime security that are normally looking for retired Navy. A friend of mine here runs the blog, Marine Cafe… have him take a look on there, as well. I would also advise that he start a Linked In profile and search on there. Maritime is a still robust industry, but the best paying jobs are usually obtained outside of the Philippines (Though he may still live here… My sea captain neighbour works for a Dutch company, but lives here… Contract by contract)
It is true that landing jobs for expats here can be difficult. The pay is just way below the Western minimum wage. You really have to be THAT good to land a good job.
for those of you who are academics the opportunities here are great and well paid.. with a doctorate or even masters you can get professorships with salaries ranging from 60 000 – 120 000 per month. I work as a Dean for a university in pampanga its fantastic… i also teach english 10 hours a week. so i take home around 2000 uk pounds per month…. easily enough.
Hi John,
Really enjoyed reading thru this. I spent the last ten years in Hong Kong, now living in Singapore. I have a small house in Las Pinas Manila with my fiance. (Have been going to the Philippines for ten years now.) I would live there in a second. The progress in Manila is impressive over the last ten years. I feel safer walking down the street in Manila than in the states.
Thanks for the info.
Tom
Hi! Great post! Please allow me to post a related ad. I’ve been looking for an English native speaker on LinkedIn for a month now.
To expats looking for a job:
The company I’m working with (ITSC: International Testing and Services Center) is looking for a Language Consultant.
The Consultant will provide expert advice on English grammar, writing style, vocabulary, syntax, and test-related matters.
We’re open to hire on either a full time or part time basis.
Please let me know if you are interested or know someone who might be interested in the opportunity.
Thank you.
Louise Cabali
Hi John, I’m appreciating everything you say, and have read the article and comments several times, and not doubting or disparaging what you say, but hope springs eternal (even when daily dashed) from a guy who came here for love and thinks God may just smile. Yeah, I know, but I’m not the most naive of my Mother’s children and survived to this age, though maybe seen as ‘too old’ to hire’ and too young to retire.
I am an original musician who can’t get seen in America, or here, though I could a folk rocking PSY with the right push, and have a day career repairing fine watches. I came here with a “career” in sales and writing for a magazine, but it’s commission and taking its sweet time making any money. I don’t have the resources to start a business.
It has been rough! I think the worse part is trying to make my way through Manila traffic full of brand new high end cars (people aren’t buying those on 20k pesos a month) to then be blocked by reams of redundant employees whose only job, it would seem, is to block me from meeting the people I need to meet. They all say “he will call” me when he is in, but he is never in, often times even for appointments. Feeling kind of foolish at this time and doing what I can to fix it. Anyways, thanks for your, and your commentor’s, helpful advice. One thing that keeps me going here is it’s getting far worse fast back home. I think the world is in for a world of pain, but I’m getting there first, ha.
I think some of this information is off a bit or needs to be updated. I’ve had a hard time finding work in America for years. Once I got to the Philippines, there were ENDLESS jobs! I’ve never been out of work in the past 6 years. We also have way more benefits here. I have SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, HMO, bank loans, personal loans, transportation and lunch allowance, 13th, 14th, and 15th month salaries, etc.
Saying there are no jobs here is just a cop out. There’s a reason the unemployment rate is lower in the Philippines than most developed nations.