One of the most frequent e-mails I get from people is one that asks me how they can get a job in the Philippines. People want to move here, but they don’t have any money, and they write to me and ask me how hard it would be to find a job here in the Philippines.
Have these people not been to the Philippines before? I mean, it would not take long of seeing beggars in the street to realize that there are not many jobs available. It would not take long of vacationing here to realize that if you do find a job, it won’t pay very much. I mean, I have even gotten e-mails from people who are plumbers in the States and are planning to make a living in the Philippines fixing people’s toilets. Hello? There are already plumbers here, and they don’t make $25 per hour like the plumbers back in the States do. In fact, they don’t make $25 in an entire day. They are doing good and are lucky if they make $5 per day.
Over the weekend, a fellow by the name of Peter Nerwinski (I don’t make it a practice to publish people’s names, but this fellow already published his own name on one of my other sites, Mindanao Magazine, in his comment) left a comment on my Mindanao Magazine website. Here is the comment that he left:
hi Bob, like your site, I would like to relocate to Davao City, I love the people & the lifestyle. Problem is I will have little or no money to start with, no pension, i am 53, tired of my old life, i wonder what are my chances of finding a job anywhere over there? I would like to work in your biz & help with your goals, or someone like you, I can manage a business or caretaker, willing to try anything to live in Davao. I am very energetic, versatile, helpful & trustworthy. If I stay here it will be a struggle, so i would rather struggle in Davao where i feel good just to be alive, what do you think?
Hmm… what do I think? Well, Peter, do you want me to be honest, or to sugar coat my answer?
I’ll tell you what, let’s just be honest.
What I think is that you are crazy if you are going to move to the Philippines with basically no financial plan. My friend, trying to find a job in the Philippines is not a financial plan, either. Now, if you have a plan for a business that you plan to put up in the Philippines when you move here, have the capital investment needed to get the business started, and have enough additional capital to keep yourself living for 6 months or a year while the business gains traction, well, you are starting to move in the right direction. Even that is not a really good plan, but it’s a lot better than looking for a job in the Philippines.
When I responded to Peter’s comment, and request for a job, I asked him a few things.
- What are his skills? I mean, if you ask somebody to give you a job, you should at least tell them what kinds of things you are capable of doing.
- Will he be legally able to work in the Philippines? I mean, a foreigner can’t just fly over here and get a job. You need the proper kind of visa in order to even apply for a work permit. You also need some kind of special skills that are not otherwise available, because legally a foreigner may not take a job that a Filipino can do. So, will Peter have the proper kind of visa and a proper work permit?
- How much salary does he expect to be paid? I’m not even sure what kind of job he wants… he did mention that he could manage my business (does he even know what my business is?). Well, frankly, I am managing my own business, and I doubt that I would turn over those duties to anybody else. But, if I hired him to do some other kind of work for me, what kind of salary is he looking for? I can hire a local worker here for less than $10 per day to do almost any kind of job that I might have. Is Peter looking for more than $10 per day? Honestly, I can probably hire somebody for $5 per day if I need to, but I am just being generous by saying $10 per day. I seriously doubt that Peter would want to work for that kind of money. But, why would I pay more than that? I mean, I can easily hire somebody for that low amount, and it will be somebody who is legally qualified to work, and can do an excellent job too.
So, let’s get real about finding a job in the Philippines. The fact is that as a foreigner, the odds that you are going to move here and find a job are virtually nil. Yes, there are a few jobs for foreigners, working for big multinational companies, or for an Embassy or something, but those jobs are few and far between. Also, most of those jobs are not jobs that you will find while you are living here, they are jobs that you will get “back home” and the company will send you here when you are needed here. So, the very best thing you can do is to forget the idea of getting a job here. Find a way to make money here on your own. You can do it if you try. If you don’t try you will never get it done.
…ahem..any social programs for illegal expats per chance???!!!!
Hi brian – Ha ha… I am fresh out in the social programs dept. 😉
Hi Bob;
I’ve noticed that Dave Starr devotes a lot of his writing skills on the very same subject. And yet the people keep asking you both the same question over and over again.
My last job as a seaman, afforded me the benefit of living anywhere on earth, as long as I could fly back to the States for a new ship assignment.
How in the name of all that’s Holy, did the man get to his current age and have no plan for his future? What did he do during the 30 years he had after school?
If you’re are in your fifties, have saved nothing, and are thinking about a move like that, he’s let the ship sail and he’s not onboard.
Hi Paul – I used to write regularly on this subject a couple of years ago or more, but I try to avoid it now, because the topic really bores me. But, I still get e-mails or comments from people almost every day asking me how they can get a job here. So, from time to time I will write about it, for the benefit of those who haven’t read other things I have written. Like you said, the boat has already left port…. and this guy didn’t even have a ticket!
Paul Thompson’s remark about the guy whom is not on-board:
To put it nicely “Paul” you pissed me off, coz I am in the same boat.
Its not like I haven’t tried, heck I even was trying to be a seaman like yourself.
You don’t know what life has dealed to him, not everyone is lucky to be at the right place at the right time.
Hi Dan – I don’t think Paul meant anything mean or nasty or to piss anybody off.
Bob
I think some people are living in a fog. Please hit this Guy with the “Stupid Stick” for his own good so he will get the reality of it all.
Why would someone even think about living in the RP if they do not have some kind of steady monthly income backed up by a good amount of coin in the bank.
From everything I have read and been told from new arrivals from RP here in RI it seems like even the menial type of jobs, fast food, retail, etc you need a college degree.
With that said how could a foreigner even think he could compete with a local for a labor type job. Yes I have been paid 25 hr for welding, 20hr for Auto Painting but who would even want to do that type of work for 5 dollars a hour never mind 5 dollars a DAY.
Hi Neal – You are right… here in the Philippines you need a college education to get even the most menial jobs. And, an employer here, except for certain industries, is not really interested in hiring a foreigner anyway. It’s a losing proposition to even think about getting a job here.
All I can say is wow. well I can say a lot more then that I guess. My wife was a Nurse in Manila at the best hospital and she made about 1/64th of what she makes here. I said whaaaa.. a Dr makes about 1/100th what they make here in the US.. So No a plumber will not make a dime in the Philippines.
What I find Hilarious is the fact someone is under the assumption a White American can do any job better then a Highly trained Filipino.. And I mean Highly trained! A lot of people without a Job or in Janitorial type jobs have Masters degrees for crying out loud. Plumbers there have to do 10 years as a hardly paid if at all apprentice even after school!
I think a lot of it is OO I’m from the US and I have better training they anyone else in the world when in fact we have very low qualifications compared to some countries. There are millions of POW’s (Philippine Overseas workers) that couldn’t get a Job in the Philippines so they went to other countries to get jobs. This alone should tell you something.
Ok ill end my rant, I think I do it way to much on here lol, sorry if I sound like an A**
Hi Jack – there are a lot of Americans who think that for the simple reason that they are American they can do a job better than anybody else who is not American. Frankly, that’s comical. It’s crazy. And, this guy asked me for a job. I assume that he thought I would pay him American style wages. Why would I? Lots of great employees are available here for less money.
The only reason that I could see to hire a foreign worker over a local one is in the matter of the ability , GENERALLY, to see the big picture in matters of the work that needs to be done . By that I mean that foreigners have USUALLY been trained to think further ahead, look at inventory before it is actually “out of stock”, budget for the project, ensure they have sufficient capital before proceeding-etc etc
However, after reading your posters comments BOB he has already shown his complete lack of those abilities and I for one would never consider hiring him for any sort of position where a level of thought and responsibility is required .
Hi Ian – The point about thinking further ahead, planning and such… I have found a lot of success in training people to do those things. I had one young lady who used to work for me for 7 years. She was still in college when I hired her. Within a relatively short period of time, and a lot of training, she was as good as any American employee that I have ever had, and I have employed a lot of people. In the end, she left my employment only because she ended up marrying an American and moving there. I hated to lose her.
Bob- I do not deny that there are always people who do not fit the usual mold. I’m sure that your former employee was not the only filipina in the country with those traits. Thats what capitals are for – to draw attention to the wording – as in GENERALLY and USUALLY !!! lol
I very rarely make blanket statements about anything.
Hi Ian – I did not say or even feel that your statement was out of line or untrue. This girl I mentioned was also the same way when I hired her, but training, if done properly works wonders. I have trained others as effectively too, just this one was the one that came to mind.
Somehow i doubt we would have the same kind of success training our 53 year old poster !! lol
I feel that filipinos are just as intelligent and adaptable and trainable as anyone else is from anywhere else- my comment was more about a general attitudinal problem which i perceive – one relating to a sense of lacking in self confidence- which i do believe is prevalent here at this time [ generally speaking]
” been down so long it looks like up to me”
Hi ian – I think that basically we are in agreement. I agree that there is an attitude of a lack of self confidence, even a feeling of “I’m not as good as other people”. But, I would encourage you and others, that good training can overcome that, or at least it has in many cases that I have been involved in.
Bob- I agree with you 100% .
Whew! Glad we got that behind us, ian! 😉
Bob you can rest easy I don’t want a job. The problem is that people create an illusion and they eventually start to believe their own dreams as being real. So if I may let me summarize. There are not jobs for foreigners in the Philippines, there is not welfare as we know it-no food stamps, no WIC, no unemployment coverage, no medicaid, no food banks, no homeless shelters, and no Obama entitlements. So what is there? Well paradise if you planned for it-if not you can’t have it. Ron
Yes, Ron, that’s true. If you say something often enough, or even think it, after a while you will convince yourself that it is fact, even if it is actually quite off the wall.
For me, I do not believe that the Philippines is paradise, though… I like it here, and I enjoy living here. It’s not paradise, though!
Ron;
Well put, great summary!
Hi Bob : The poor guy should be pitied, rather than horse-whipped, he needs to invest in some of your literature to understand the real P.I. for foreigners.
Babay:
Hi Roberto – Well, I hope I didn’t give the impression that I horse whipped the guy, because I don’t feel that I did. I just encourage him to get real and think realistically.
I agreed with Bob re the horse whipping ! lol Bob’s response was far from a horse whipping – just an honest straight forward response to a specific question. Sometimes it takes a good smack on the head with the reality stick to wake people up ! The poster said ” i love the people and the lifestyle”- personally i dont think the guy has a clue about either. In fact i get the impression he has never even been here- might be wrong about that- just reading between the lines.
Bob:
Agreed… Most foreigner jobs in the country are either with foreign companies or for highly specialized types of work. Engineers, Chemists, Geologists, and so on. Foreign companies usually transfer people here, and most companies do not hire specifically for that: The days of generous expat packages are nearly gone. Even the major multi-nationals are cutting back or eliminating those positions entirely.
In my case, though I live here, I work elsewhere in Asia. I was hired for a specific task, and there are no guarantees. I succeed or fail: simple, really. I also work in an industry where my specific skill set is in demand.
There are some opportunities in defense, but again, those jobs are normally obtained Stateside. (and are normally related to people with highly skilled jobs like avionics or radar technicians)
If you are in the trades, then it is best to forget it. If you are in the service industry, forget it. Even highly skilled workers cannot compete with local wages.
I think that Americans are particularly suceptible to this “we’ll teach them” way of thinking. Indeed, it is drummed into us at an early age. How many times do you watch TV and see people chanting “USA, USA!!!” The days of cushy union assembly jobs, work 25 years, nice pension are over. Unfortunately, now that the economy is in the toilet in the States, people are scrambling to think of what to do. They are scared. The old rules don’t apply.
Realistically, you really only can rely on starting something yourself. One of the big problems with many people in starting a business is that it is work… real work. You also need to give people a product or service that they are willing to pay for. Many of the Philippine websites make it sound like people will pay you to do nothing, or that the Internet is some form of saviour. Bob, you make your living online, but it is work. You invest the time and effort (and money) into seeing that your businesses succeed. This is where most people fail, I think. They come here and think they will be swinging in a beach hammock all day. What your book offers is no “get rich quick” or magic formula. It is a starting point on what to do…and how to think. It does, however, require genuine effort.
Hi John – Good thoughts there, and I am in full agreement with everything you said. It is true, in my opinion, that the only thing you can really count on is your own tenacity and willingness to create something that will earn you an income!
I have seen a couple resorts with foreign managers – although not American.
Hi Gary – Yes, many high end resorts and hotels have foreign managers. This would fall under the thing I said about foreign companies hiring foreigners, because for the most part, these hotels and resorts are owned by foreign companies, and they employ managers within their company and send them here. Still, such jobs are very rare.
I was commenting more about nothing in the service industry. But agreed, although I’m not so sure they’re all foreign owned. Bottom line, you’re already producing high-end results somewhere else when you are hired – you’re not landing at NAIA then handing out your CV.
Hi Gary, just want to clarify… I never said that they are “all foreign owned”. I said “for the most part” they are foreign owned. The ones that hire foreign managers, are, I believe, foreign owned for the most part. 😉
Like I said- thats what those capitals are for !!!! hahahahaha
Gary: Most of the high end resorts send foreign staff here from elsewhere: and they are usually already well-trained or specialized. Painting with a broad brush stroke here. For instance, Chefs (If they are good, well-known, specialized), SCUBA instructors (require lots of training), some head office types (Liaison with corporate, maintaining standards). Point is that very few of those jobs exist for people not already in the industry, and even fewer hiring once you are already here.
Sure, there are some expats who own bars, restaurants, and clubs who may prefer to hire a foreigner, but given the low wages for local labor, the fact that tipping here is minimal, and so on, I would think that it would be very very difficult to make a living here with that type of work unless you have enough resources to start the restaurant, resort, bar, etc. yourself (and very difficult to make a profit unless you are well versed in the business… Look at how many celebrity restaurants go under very quickly)
Hi Bob,
Without going through a whole lot of explanation, the issues re relocating to another part of the world and getting a job is not unique to the Philippines. One just doesn’t go to another part of the world and find a job unless one is hired on contract from overseas. Most Americans should be aware of that as it is happening to their country. (Except for EU citizens but it’s sort of like the US of Europe.)
Alex
Hi Alex – That’s true… because most Americans don’t travel abroad very much, and few ever move and live in a different country, many are rather ignorant of things like this.
Actually Bob I think there are few occasions when we do not agree to at least some extent!!! Sometimes i believe it is only the wording about things that we disagree on. Anyway I happen to think that a small amount of disagreement makes life more interesting ! Anyone who disagrees has obviously never seen American Idol ! lol
Hi Ian – I think one thing that a lot of people don’t understand is that it is possible to disagree in a manner that is still friendly and respectful. The world needs more of that. Instead, a lot of people, when they disagree are combative, cussing the other person out, belittling him/her, or something of that nature.
Hey Bob, I really need a job. Um, I’m honest and trustworthy, and pretty cool to hang around. I can run small errands, and I’m really good at surfing the web. Maybe I can test how fast your pages load on an iPhone – just a thought, I’m sure you have many more… References upon request ;-/
Hi Gary – Wow! It’s my lucky day! I am in need a web surfer… I find that I just can’t view enough pages myself in just 24 hours per day!
Hi Bob – Don’t need a job and don’t want a job; think I’ll start a virtual business.
I can assure most job seekers to look elsewhere, and do so for virtually 24/7/365.
I can assure those wanting to work in the Philippines that, virtually, there will be an excessive number of forms for you to complete and submit with proper fees and required additional documents, bureaucratic hoops to jump through for virtually every Philippine government agency, and virtually endless red tape to bind you.
I can assure anyone who can handle all of the above, and have a lot of time available to await opportunity’s knock on their door, that they are virtually a “shoo-in” for successful employment.
Or, maybe, I’ll just take advantage of your book offer and quote from it! 😆
Hi Paul – Hope your “vacation” is going well….
I wish I were in a position where I didn’t have to worry about working…. but I moved here at a relatively young age (38) and needed to earn an income still. I am happy, though, with the way things have worked out for me, being able to earn an income from the place where I want to live, and not having to live somewhere just so I could earn money. It’s worked out well for me.
Well, Bob, it seems as though I left one “rainy season” for a different one. No typhoons here, but the thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes make unwanted appearances. Long story short, I’m homesick!
You’re an inspiration for us “young guys” who are looking for happiness, adventure and a place to achieve both doing it “our way.” The trick to earning a living in the Philippines is to substitute brain for brawn. There are plenty of opportunities, but it takes a bit of thinking, researching, and basically “stepping outside of the box” to be unique.
Will share some “vacation stories” with you later! 😉
Wow, rainy season in the States too? Sorry to hear that you are getting wet!
Thanks for your kind words, Paul!
As usual, I always learn as much from the comments as from the original article.
Indeed I do write often on this subject, and it has now gone from talk about jobs in the Philippines to talk about jobs anywhere, especially for someone who is 53 and has no plan.
Let me give a little straight talk here, as Bob did. I’ll be 65 in September, God willing. That means I am even older 9technically) than a baby boomer. I worked more than 40 years in one capacity or another for the US government … one of the most fair-minded and regulated of employers when it comes to equal opportunity, stamping out discrimination etc. (heck I even spent some years getting paid to handle discrimination issues myself, so I know that for the most part, the government tries very hard to practice what they preach).
But you know after I turned 50 a lot of things changed about my job. This is not going to be some discourse on how I was treated unfairly, because I don’t think I was ever the victim of any express discrimination, ever. But this is a real world, dang it, not make believe.
After i was 50, who got picked to manage the long-term “plum” projects? Who got picked to attend special schools, earn their master’s degree in government-funded programs, to fill leadership positions that had a “path” to the Senior Executive services, etc.
Not me. And why on earth should my bosses have picked me for special programs like that? I was already legal for retirement at age 55 … where would YOU spend your budget, honestly … a bright up and coming 30 yo just recently out of school, or a 50-something guy who hadn’t been to a formal school in 20 or 30 years and was ready to walk out the door .. or have a heart attack, or come down with some other work-related disability and go out on a pension?
If you are 53 or some age near that, even in the US, you should be reading books like Bob’s and you should be planning ways to make yourself self-supporting and independent, regardless if you ever want to move to the Philippines, ever.
The idea of”landing a job” and sitting in it for the rest of your life is soooo last century. One criticism young managers often make of older employees 9especially if no one is listening) is, “they are too set in their ways and refuse to learn new ways”.
Unfair? Well then prove them wrong. You want to move to the Philippines? Fine … there are hundreds of us living here now … and more will follow I am sure … but how many people reading this site or mine or otherwise did it by having a “job”? Aside from John who explained he does have a job, but it’s not in the Philippines, hardly anyone.
Those who I have missed, please chime in, but for those who are still figuring out how to get a “job” to make the move … get real.
Hi Dave – Everything you said makes sense. And, there is something you didn’t say. You talked about the age factor, and that is very real. But, take the age factor and add the fact that we are talking about living in a different country and, well, it just blows a job out the window. Why even consider it. It simply is not realistic to even consider it to be a possibility.
Hi Bob,
My wife returned from the PI a few months back and she told me her sister fed her family on one milk fish, rice and vegtables. They spent about P200 on food a day. So If that guy can live on that he’ll find a job, but I don’t see him invisioning that lifestyle so he’ll be very disapointed and hungry. He better invest in your book and save some money.
Oh by the way when we settle down over there she said I had to get a job.
I told her I already had three jobs lined up. In the morning catch every fish in the Pacific Ocean in the afternoon sleep test the bed and in the evening drink all the beer San Miguel made that day with BBQ. It’s going to be tough but a mans work is never done going to have to suck it up. 🙂
Hi B. Michels – Like they say, it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it! If you need help, just let me know, my friend! 😉
Bob,
Gotta give me the recipe and instructions on how to make liempo Balamban PLZ.
Asked the wife and she doesn’t know how to make it.
Hey you could always hire him to turn the wheel on your BBQ pit for $5.00 a day.
Oh Heck No !! I’ll turn the wheel and get some OJT on liempo balamban and I’ll do it for some cold drinks and a dinner plate. 🙂
But on a serious note when people are leaving their country in search of work thats a clue.
Their are no decient jobs their for there own people let alone a foreigner. You add that an the fact that he doesn’t speak the lingo or very little boy it would be hell on earth for him.
What does he want you or others americans to do support him so he can live over there I think not. To many of us have worked long and hard to get to this point and have earned the RIGHT TO LIVE IN THE PHILLIPINES appearently he has not earned the right do this. My Dad said, The bed you make is the bed you will have to sleep in. It can be as soft as cotton or hard as rock your choice. Hard work makes you a softer bed.
Hi Michels – Liempo Balamban is certainly a good thing! We got started on cooking it after reading Marketman’s blog about it, and he gives the “recipe” there. I did give a link to it in my first writeup about Balamban, but perhaps you missed it. Anyway, just click on the link that I provided in this comment. I am sure you will enjoy it!
Thanking you Bob and Bruce;
Bruce for asking the question, and Bob for providing the link, which I’ve saved to Favorites, for use next month upon the unveiling of my new “Mindanao Bob’s Deluxe BBQ Grill”. Bob I’m documenting the step by step constructing of the grill for a future LiP posting.
Can’t wait to read it, Paul! Enjoy the liempo balamban!
Senior,
When we get over there next spring I’ll buy the stuff for the Liempo Balamban and you can show me how Bob’s Deluxe BBQ Grill works.
Sounds like a deal? By then you should have plenty of practice.
Bob,
I think you started something with your BBQ Design. My Question to you is will I have to pay you royalties when I construct mine? 🙂
Hi Michels – I promise, my accountant is working on the bills, and they will be in the mail by the end of…. 2012 or so. 😆 Enjoy your BBQ grill for now! 😆
Hi Bob
Some people really need to visit the Philippines and get a reality check as to what is possible to make money in the Philippines. If your life is tough in the U.S. most likely your life will be tough or tougher in the Philippines. My wifes family has her own business, they own several trucks that has a contract with a company to transport items from the airport. They seem to make good money on it, but you will need trusted employees (drivers and helpers) and be a good mechanic. (Her opinion is that she was financially better off in the Philippines). I don’t think you can replicate that if you’re a single foreigner.
Hi Neil – I know that in our case, our financial position is much better here than in the States. Not only is the cost of living lower, but we also earn more money here than we ever did in the States, so it’s a double win in our case. I hope that the fellow in my article can also find a good situation like that.
Hi Bob,
I think with the notoriety you have achieved as an authoritative information source on just about anywhere and anything pertaining to Mindanao and for that matter the Philippines in its entirety, it may inspire many people to ” Just ask Mindanao Bob ” instead of taking the time to do a little research on their own first.
What some may not realize or appreciate is all the other things they may have never even thought of that they would come across if they spent some time doing a little more browsing around on the internet in what ever their interest may be about The Philippines. There is so much information out there just for the viewing. Then, if someone can still not find what they are looking for ” Ask Mindanao Bob ” !
Hi Bob – Ha ha… you are probably right about that! Thanks for your comment.
Definitions of notoriety :
the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality
This is the fame that someone has for negative reasons or actions
Bob New York – mmmm, either you dont know what notoriety means, or you are saying that Bob is a bad dude !!! lol I think it must be the first ???
You are correct, wrong word, so I will change that to ” Popularity ” instead.
One of your most informative articles Bob – wish I could have shown it 18 months ago to a friend who decided to sell up in Scotland and move to Manila with his Philippina wife and her two children who as far as I could make out really did not want to move.He decided he would make his fortune with internet cafes- he is now back in Scotland again.I tried to tell him how things were but he was not listening – he had not spent a great deal of time in the Philippines and the result was entirely predictable.
Hi Bryan – There was a day when Internet Cafe’s were a great business here, but the boat sailed on that one about 7 years ago, or so. I am sorry that your friend had to learn that the hard way.
A store renting VHS/Beta movies would have gone over big also.
I agree, Paul… it would have gone over big, then gone under! 😆
There’s no better teacher than experience. The worse the experience, the better the lesson!
😉
good luck to you good luck to you sir .Gis a job were i do not have to work but can sit all day counting the benifits and the perks,opps nearly forgot and have bonuses to.
Be careful, Frank! You are getting nasty in your old age! 😉
Not being nasty sir bob before i would do that i would not pass comment just my weird sense of humour i suppose.
I was just teasing you, Frank! No worries….
Bob, addressing reality disconnects is a tough and thankless task. But yet again, you’ve done a great job of it. The thing that I’ve really come to realize over the last few years is that with the right attitude and a willingness to work (should clarify that to a willingness to work on the right things), you can be successful wherever you are. Which of course leads to the corollary that just moving to a different place won’t miraculously transform you from a ne’er do well to a stunning success.
As it happens, I am in the process of interviewing for one of those highly specialized jobs in Makati that John Miele mentioned. While I am looking at an American style salary, I am not expecting to get a gold plated package with free condo, driver, plane tickets, etc, etc. Every indication that I have seen agrees with John’s comment that expat packages are just not what they used to be. I should know more in a week or two.
Hi Mike – Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Without a doubt, the expat packages of yesteryear are by and large a thing of the past now. It doesn’t mean, though, that a decent job cannot be found from time to time in a place like the Philippines. But, for the “average joe” finding such a job is next to impossible, and if he wants to live here he either needs to have something already in place to keep food on the table, or he needs to come up with a business of his own.
Good luck with your interview process! I hope that that things go as you are hoping for!
Just a quick follow up – I did get the job. The salary is very good, but as I thought, I did end up classified as a local hire, so I don’t get paid housing etc. I did negotiate a very nice salary though.
I’m in Makati now waiting for some final pre-employment process steps to get completed. I expect to start next week. I’ll be blogging about my experiences on http://mikestankavich.com – I know there’s not much there right now, but I have several posts about the move mostly written.
People are already asking me about how I found my job, can I help them, etc, etc. I plan to write a post that references this post explaining exactly what you have explained. Everything in my experience very much reflects what you have posted here.
Congrats on the job, Mike! I wish you the best!
If one person doesnt give yu the answer that you want- just ask someone else the same thing !! lol
peter nerwinski says:
June 19, 2010 at 5:51 pm
hi bob,,i live in california & someday i will live in davao,,as i told u ,,i will have only a couple thou usd to start with ,,so i will need to work there,,i am a 53 year old dental tech,,i hav taught informal english lessons to the boulevard kids where i have a host family,,i cant stay there cuz they have 8 or 9 people in the 10meter square lot/shack,,u know,,anyway i also spend time with ojt students to help them practice their english & talk about the jobs they want,,very spirit building for everyone,,fun for me,,but at times exhausting,,anyway,,i ma surprised to har u are back in the states working hard with the rest of us,,he he,,give me ur advice on my eventual plan to live in davao,,got any leads for hotels or resorts that could use a foreigner on staff,,tour guide,,mission helper,,english speaker for giving the staff practice,,i have time to develop a position in advance so your input is appreciated,,thanks peter
Hi ian – I’m confused, did you find this somewhere online? On one of my sites? You didn’t link anywhere, so I am unsure where this came from.
mmmmm I actually copied the question by peter nerwinski from Bruce’s website [ AmericaninDavao] , but i just notice now that it was addressed to “Bob” , so maybe this is the same post that Bob mentioned earlier ? Sorry if it is old news- I thought it was something new
No, that’s a different quote. The original came from my Mindanao Magazine. Interesting…
If you go to the following link you will find a photo caption that says
3. Dr. Arnold with a friend, Mr. Peter Nerwinski, a Dental Technician from California and owner of Pegasus Dental Laboratory
the link is http://motleycruel.blogspot.com/
Seems interesting that the owner of a Dental Labratory posts that he is basically destitute.
The best advice is to get a job which will allow blocks of time on and off. There are a lot of able seamen, merchant marines, mining and fishing workers who are able to spend 1/3rd of their time or more wherever they want in the world. I have several friends in the Australian merchant navy making damn good money 5 weeks on 5 weeks off, with very little in the way of formal qualifications. A lot of these get paid airfares all the way home. I also know some ex US Marines doing short contract work for Government and private agencies, this works well with a part time expat life too.
In your book Bob, you mention that people need to realise that profit margins in the Philippines are very small. Most retailers work on a 15% or 20% markup, as opposed to an 80% to 100% markup in western countries. Profit margins are small so in business you need a real lot of customers. likely you will only make $1 profit from each one, if you are doing very well. Then there is the factor that it is dangerous to compete with Filipinos. Setting up a bakery or a taxi company could easily get you killed.
These are the things people need to realise, they seem a bit unreal until you are there.
The only job board I have seen with any decently paid jobs in the Philippines are on Sulit.com. These are very high tech computer engineering jobs, the pay is in the 30 to 40,000 peso per month area. By Philippines standards that is huge money; less than half what a broom pusher makes in the US.
Hi Barry – I agree with most everything you said, except that “80% to 100% markup in the west” – in my business experience that simply is not true. Margins are lower here, though, without a doubt.
hi bob & all,,thanks for the reality check,,u guys are exactly right,,i am a dreamer,but i did have a plan,some of my projects worked nicely for a few years, but alas,,too much of my assests were dependendent on the stability of the real estate market here in california & my efforts to restructure & pull things out of the fire did not work,,with my dental lab here in california, i built something good with just my own 2 hands,,when things went bad here with the economy,, many dental lab businesses dropped dramatically in a very short time. my reserves got drained in the meantime,,i saw the outsourcing trend to PH for dental lab work was here to stay,, i went to Ph to investigate,(2x), got lucky to have a few meetings & make friends,,bottom line ..alot of work, intense training of a new work force,,cash outlay for equipment, etc,,then international competition in the field to deal with,,i guess i just got tired & my efforts to evolve my lab became overwhelming,,burnt out? not yet,instead of re-starting, how about starting something new? i will regroup here for now & gather some strength, (& buy bob’s book! ) thanks to everyone for your comments, its a small world so let’s keep me lookin good in PH if possible,,i will be back for more research & opportunity development,,,
Hi peter – Welcome to LiP, nice to have you join us here. I can certainly understand how things went south when the economy collapsed. Happened to all of us, me included, since most of my customer base is in the USA. Certainly, when the economy goes through changes, we all have to work doubly hard to catch up and keep making the bucks. I do wish you the best of luck in your endeavor of life in the Philippines.
Hi Bob,
Im Mark and i did contact you before a month ago about living in the Philippines and in particular Mindenao, and whether it was safe.
I did actually go to Manila on the 05 June and spent 10 days with my gf and met her family in Lanao el Norte. Wow, that was really awesome and i was honored and the whole family turned up to see me there when i stepped off the suzuki convertable after a 3 hour ride in the back from iligan.!
I was told not to go there due to the terror elements in this area by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But i did. I really wanted to Meet her family. Amazing walk among the rice paddies to get to their house in jandles along the half foot berms that seperate each of the fields. That was a balancing act and guess what , i never fell in.!
Talking about working in the Philippines i believe there is a law there that says that Philippines get employed first b4 foreigners and so for me i want to move to Manila first and begin my business. I have several business streams. One is i am a senior travel proffesional having 15 years in tourism and i now have a website and i am a broker in travel. The other one is i have just began another business with my gf selling western products in local area setting.
That is beginning to take off, and another is a Internet cafe in her area which is about to begin. So for me i am not rich by any stretch of the imagination and i dont have the money either but i am learning that if there can be a sustainable business on a couple of fronts then moving there can be a breeze, as long as i have the visa. My gf is operating the business for me and i over sea the operation from my country. But i will be moving for good very soon to Manila.
I am wondering whether you have any points or suggestions i could check out and whether we could croteqe my business options. The cafe is easy to set up and inexpensive basically. Yet the income from that basically pays for everything we will need. I would value your suggestions and hope we might connect a bit. Hope to see you soon. Mark.
Hi Mark – Yes, I remember you… you were quite hesitant to visit Lanao del Norte! Glad to hear that you made the trip!
I used to own two Internet Cafes, back in 2000-2002. That is a tough business to make money in these days. Prices have plummeted. Having a business like you are talking, online travel type thing, especially since you are already established and it is beginning to take off for you, that is a very good way to do it.
Good luck to you, Mark. Hang out here on LiP and you will get lots of help and advice on the move – from me, other writers, and the rest of the community.
Dear Bob,
I just posted a comment on your other web page: http://mindanao.com/blog/2007/10/bureau-of-immigration-davao-office/
I have found your views on the Job Hunting and Doing a Business in the Philippines very useful. One of my friends who is a Filipina and is now working in Dubai has told me that it is not that much easy to get a good job there in the Philippines. However, I know some Filipinas who work for the same client (company) that I work for here in India within this MNC. Well, I believe that opportunities do exist for those who are really qualified and proficient enough for a particular job whether it is the Philippines, or India, or the US, or some other part of the world.
I understand what you mean by: “People want to move here, but they don’t have any money, and they write to me and ask me how hard it would be to find a job here in the Philippines.”
I tell you about me. About 4 years ago I made my plan of moving to the Philippines. But I didn’t wake up one morning and took a flight. I thought over my financial status and support I could get from my family. I knew nobody would favour my idea of marring a Christian girl because I am Hindu guy. So, I decided of living my home and family and everything there and moved to New Delhi. I was a graduate (B.A.) that time. I struggled a lot and then got a good position in an MNC, namely HCL, which is world wide known. After a year I enrolled myself for a Master’s Degree programme in IT. Today I was awarded the degree. It was a momentous day of my life. I am thankful to my girl from Davao City who has inspired my life in ways I can’t count.
So, I laid out a good place, in fact. Now I am in a situation when I can think of flying there. 🙂 Well, I will write more tomorrow. I am leaving now as my shift is over. It is 2 am now. Ingat!
Hi Dev – Good luck with your plans.. I hope that everything works out just the way you want!
Hi Bob… do u have any suggestion where Dev can find a job here in Davao City?Or do u know any company or agencies that can help him?
Hi des – On my other blog (where Dev linked) he told me that he is Indian and will be here on a tourist visa. Dev cannot legally work in Davao if he is a foreigner and only has a tourist visa. I cannot advise him to do illegal activities here, or I can also be considered libel for that. I explained this to him on my Mindanao Magazine site where he also posted a query.
Magandang Gabi, Bob!
Kamusta po? 🙂
I am not aware of any Visa that can enable me to enter the Philippines for finding a job. However, there is a Visa type “Pre-Employment” mentioned on the official web site which requires Appointment / Offer Letter (Employment Confirmation) from the Organization / Company that I would work for in the Philippines.
In fact, I don’t want to apply for either of the Tourist Visas: for Pleasure (3 months), for Business (6 months).
I want to apply for a Visa that can allow me live in the Philippines for a long time and also do a job there legally. So, the “Pre-Employment” type of visa should be the one I would have to apply for. But I don’t meet its requirement- the appointment letter from an organization! 🙁
Bob, in my case, I first need a sponsorship from a company so that it would be easy for me to apply for the visa and work there.
O, well, my company also has operations in the Philippines. But I know, its corporate politics won’t help me.
Hi Bob!
I’m a 17 year old male from England currently living and studying in Manila. Being European and studying in a British school certainly secures me a brighter a future than those of local teenagers my age which is a bonus. But, I’m 17 and I’ve been brought up in the Western style, which means that this would be a good time to think about getting a part time job. Obviously, in the Philippines I’m considered as highly privileged, but back home my family is below average as far as wealth and property is concerned. The only reason my dad can afford my private education in British School Manila is because he works there as a teacher, hence halving my tuition.
My private education in the Philippines is far superior to the public one I had back home (which is why I moved in with my dad in the first place). But I hate every other aspect of being a fortunate foreigner in Manila with a fiery passion. I cannot stand being surrounded by diplomats’ pompous offspring.
Anyway, what I would really like is to just be able to find a small job. Primarily, if not solely for the purpose of experience rather than pay. Rest assured, I am not in the illusion that this will be an easy or rewarding task but I want to have at least tried and wondered if you could give me some tips? cheers
Hi fergal – Thanks for commenting and sharing about your situation. As for tips… well, here in the Philippines success often (usually) comes down to who you know, and a person in your situation usually has a lot of good contacts. Teachers, parents of other students from your school, etc.. those people should be able to help you connect with a decent job. Use your connections to get your foot in the door, and from there it is up to you to prove yourself.
Good luck.
Hello all, Name is Kevin Blackmon.
Like many people I am looking to move there. I have a programming degree 12 years of experience in the Network and Design Field. I have met a wonderful lady there and would like to live there for awhile. Also I have a job offer with Doppler internet, Carl Doppler. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this man and his company?
Sorry Kevin, never heard of the man or the company.
Hey Bob,
I came to your site while doing some research about the job prospects in the Philippines. Things have been getting more serious with my girlfriend so we’re starting to discuss long term plans. I’ve been to the Philippines twice before and I have to say I love the people and the beautiful places there. That being said, I’m young and doing pretty good as an engineer here in the states, but after your reading your article I have some doubts that my job prospects are as marketable over there. My GF is very close to her family, so it’s looking more and more like moving there is the best option. I’m happy to come across your website and consider my other options. Personally, I’m a risk-averse person and never saw myself as the entrepreneur type, but I’m also willing to work hard at whatever I’m thrown into, so I’ll be getting your book as a tool to help guide me. Thank you for providing this service.
Bob (yes, a fellow Bob)
Hi Bob – I wish you the best in your quest to find what is right for you when it comes to living in the Philippines. I hope that you locate the work that you need, whether it is a job, or by creating something on your own! Good luck.
Thanks Bob. I know it won’t be easy, and that’s why I’m trying to keep my expectations realistic. I started reading the book and I must say I’m impressed with the content so far. The value of the the content is higher than expected and I’m happy with the purchase. What some of the skeptics fail to realize is that you have been there, done that, and gone through the trials and errors to see what succeeds and what doesn’t. Money doesn’t fall from the sky. It will always take work, and at the end of the day value from a product or service must be delivered. There is no magical way to get money, and I hope some day more people can realize that.
No, this isn’t a user manual on how to get rich quick. It is a guide on what is feasible and what works, how to get started, and the risks to keep in mind. This is the result of your years of experience “In the field” so to speak. I’m sure you’ve spent many, many hours of your own time figuring out the hard way what is possible and what is not. By providing a guide on what DOES work, you are saving the rest of us the time, effort, and uncertainty of pursuing that route on our own. Bearing that all in mind, I feel like I’ve got a deal.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, PhillyBob. I’m glad you found my book helpful.
Getting a job in the Philippines I think is kinda hard even fresh grad have trouble finding a job.
Hi, Bob:
I have been living in the Philippines for over 2 years now with my Filipna wife. We are both college grads. She has a Bachelor in Civil Engineerig and I have a B.A. degree. We have a son, and I am a 13-A permanent resident here. I am American. I advice any foreigner thinking about moving to the Philippines to live and work to really think it over. It is literally almost impossible even for the locals with college degrees to find not just a job, but a rewarding job. Even Filipinos have to go abroad to Singapore, Taiwan, EU or Saudi ipursuit of a job that will pay them more than in the Philippines, and at that they are often abused as OFW. With her degree, my wife is fortunate if she gets an Engineering job that will pay her P12,00/mo., the equivalent of $250.00 USD mo.I would not even consider the prospect of landing a job here even as ESL Teacher/Tutor, for one the pay will be just as bad or worst than they will pay my wife. I live on a small income granted to me by the USA and I’m just waiting for an opportunity to fly back to my country and send for my wife and child. The child already has his US Passport and I will just work on requesting a visa for my wife back in the States. Life here is harder than in the USA, there are a lot more opportunities in the States particularly if you are over the age of 40 and living in the Philippines, don’t even think about it, you can’t even file a job application here for almost every job if you are over 40.
Hi Luis – I’ll be honest, I find your view to be very limited. Probably for somebody with a view like yours, you are doing the right thing by heading back to the USA. If you want to be an employee and make money for somebody else, the USA is a great place to do it (if you can find a job). Here in the Philippines, it is very easy to make money on your own, though. How do I know? How can I say it is easy? Well, I’ve been doing it for 15 years now, and have been quite successful at it. But, if that is not for you, I understand your decision to leave. Best of luck.
Thanks Bob,
You seem to be a really cool down to earth guy, very straight foward in all your replies to others in your website. I have much admiration and respect for you. You are doing an awesome great job keeping others informed in your website about prospects of employment here in the Phillippines and do keep it very realistic. I live with my in-laws, they are cooks and do cathering for special occassions. Unfortunately, they are very poor, and while I have sufficient fundings to live independently with my wife and son, I choose to live with them, because what I am going to spend to live elsewhere I rather give it to them to prosper more in their business. This way we are helping ea ch other until I book a flight out of here. I like living here, but Bob back in the States I have business as an independent contractor in construction and my wife is Civil Engineer in Construction. I don’t have the client base to do that here, nor do I speak tagalog. My wife is fluent in the English language and for now she doesn’t want to live here in the Philippines. She has relatives in the US that by Filipino standard of living are doing very good. These are all realistic and practical why for now I will try to limit my stay here. I was in Daou yesterday looking for work. It is a big difference between city and rural life in the Philippines. I am in a small rural community here in Pampanga. There are no business here employing even the locals and most housing are very impoverished. It is joke to think about getting hired here to do construction or home improvement. You would need to know Kampangpang and know the person who hired you, and be willing to work hard for 300 pesos the entire day.I am computer literate and do not limit myself, but it is the reality of life here. I am a hard working person and laying around doing nothing is sickening, whereas if I was in the US Iwould be working right now.
Hi Luis – I understand the things you are saying, but if you want a job, and want to get one here, you have to make an effort. Learn the language, that is the most important thing you can do if you want to have a happy and successful life here! Don’t make excuses, do the things that you know are right to do.
All I can say is good luck to you, and I wish you the best!
Bob, I agree with everything you said about working in the Philippines. I have been coming to Manila since 2004 (11-yrs). Married in Quezon City in 2008, moved to Manila in 2010 but I do travel back and forth to the U.S. Unlike other Americans I actually have Residency in the Philippines and living in a Retirement Military Pension however still I like to work opposed to staying at home being bored every day. I work for the pleasure NOT the money because as you said earning P66000 is not a lot of money. But working as English Teacher is good productive job. So my advice to your American friend is to tell them living in Manila or even Cebu is a better chance to get t job working as English Teacher because they are native speaker. But again $1400 per month (P65000) is not same as living in the US. As for me, having a military pension as well as additional income is ok.
Nice comment, Leon, and so true. Speaking of jobs… I am expecting to be able to share some big information soon… hopefully in the next week or so! Can’t say anything yet, though! 🙂
I came to the philippines in Nov 2015. I am 38 years old. I receive 1200USD a month and I am enrolled in an online college. Before Philippines I was in Brazil. I have to admit that I left the USA for political reasons and not economic. I never had a hard time finding a job in the USA. I had the same experience in Brazil. In Philippines i had a few interviews with online schools looking for teachers but I did not like the pay. When I came to the philippines it was my goal to look for teaching jobs in surrounding countries such as China, Russia, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Iran, North Korea, Mongolia and other countries that I am politically aligned with. I think the Philippines is ok for a short stay but I really cannot see myself here in the long term. I really want to go back to Peru and go live in the Amazon away from people.
Good luck to you, Michael.