Absurdity of Looking for Work in the Philippines
I acquired my spousal visa in the Philippines a couple of months ago and started looking for work. Since I'm not Filipino, I knew it would be difficult.
@drjs I have no tips at all!, but I would like to point out, based on your post, that your English is impeccable. Your grammatics are excellent and if these idiots here can't recognize it, I don't know what to tell you. I will also state that I agree. I haven't met one Filipino that speaks proper fluent English. It seems that even the ones who speak well have problems with past and present tense and also he and she context, since he and she are both siya in their language. One last thing, why would you want to work here? The wages are ridiculous, it's almost like indentured servitude. You must have your reasons! Anyway, later alligator!
Unless


@drjsHi there.first off, i just want to express my empathy for your troubles and hardship in finding employment. what you have expressed is very peculiar, and though i well understand from hearing of the experiencdss of other foreigners and their seeking of a job here, never have i heard of indepth challenges as youve so detailed.can i ask you about your professional background and the type of work youre actually looking for <SNIP>
cheers.- @kristopherryanwatson
Personally I’ve not encountered too many problems, except for the correcting of my English, which always cracks me up.
- @Oursus
can i ask you about your professional background and the type of work youre actually looking for ?
I'm at the point where I'm looking for ANY kind of job here. Preferably one that pays at least 25,000 a month.
Craigslist is still a viable place to find short term roles of all kinds. US/Aussie/Singaporean companies of all kinds use this platform to find pinoys eager to work these positions for a couple hundred dollars a month. because you're an english speaking native, you'll be looked on favorably. i wish i had though of Craigslists the first week i first settled here and not a month or two later, because i was interviewed and literally landed both those 2 jobs within a couple of weeks of first applying for them.- @kristopherryanwatson
I few jobs related to my PhD actually showed up recently. One of these was posted by a British company who are outsourcing work here. I thought that I was going to get this one as I aced interviews with two Brits to reach the third interview. Unfortunately the third interview was with the Philippines-based HR team. As usual, the guy interviewing me didn't speak fluent English (although he definitely spoke better English than any other Filipino who has interviewed me). He also knew absolutely nothing about the field and, whenever I responded to his questions using technical terms, he had no idea what I was talking about. I had to dumb my responses down considerably in order for him to understand and, even then, he still struggled to comprehend what I was talking about. I think it's safe to say that I won't be getting that one...
I've heard nothing back at all from the other jobs related to my PhD that I applied for. As they're Filipino companies, I doubt they will want to hire a foreigner.
Yes, both those 2 jobs i landed at the time were found by searching on Manila's Craigslist page.
As i previously mentioned, I was successfully able to land both jobs with a negotiated a salary of $500 a month each no matter how much work i did or how many hours i committed.
One company was a small marketing agency based in Singapore, another in Sydney.
If you peg the US dollar at $1 = 45 pesos at that time (Q4 of 2014), it is clearly not a huge salary to live extravagantly by western standards, but i was earning enough to live comfortably and contribute to expenses, bills, and nice things my partner and I wanted just in time for Christmas. she herself was an executive at a well-known banking institution.
for both roles, the responsibilities comprised of doing copywriting for their websites, doing sales letter pitches for prospects, rewriting client copy for their own websites and additional marketing collateral, and doing Google/FB Ad campaigns for said clients of both.
I held onto those roles until March of 2015 when then a role of a lifetime was offered to me. things just generously snowballed in my favor since then.
Personally I’ve not encountered too many problems, except for the correcting of my English, which always cracks me up.- @OursusI get this so often that I don't even bother responding when they correct me now. I had to say 'grind' a few times a couple of months ago. The Filipino was adamant that it was pronounced the same way as 'grinned' and he wanted me to pronounce it that way too. Of course, I wasn't going to purposely mispronounce a word just to please him and he became infuriated with me pronouncing the word correctly every time I needed to say it.- @drjscan i ask you about your professional background and the type of work youre actually looking for ?It's niche enough that I could be identified from that alone, so I would prefer not to say. I actually have two CVs. If I'm applying for a role in my field, I mention my PhD. The other purposely omits it as I know that having a PhD (especially in an irrelevant field) will see my application dismissed immediately.
I'm at the point where I'm looking for ANY kind of job here. Preferably one that pays at least 25,000 a month.Craigslist is still a viable place to find short term roles of all kinds. US/Aussie/Singaporean companies of all kinds use this platform to find pinoys eager to work these positions for a couple hundred dollars a month. because you're an english speaking native, you'll be looked on favorably. i wish i had though of Craigslists the first week i first settled here and not a month or two later, because i was interviewed and literally landed both those 2 jobs within a couple of weeks of first applying for them.- @kristopherryanwatsonI assume that's Manila Jobs on craigslist? There's not too much there other than a teaching role at the moment, but thanks. I hadn't considered using that website. Hopefully some more will show up throughout the week.
I few jobs related to my PhD actually showed up recently. One of these was posted by a British company who are outsourcing work here. I thought that I was going to get this one as I aced interviews with two Brits to reach the third interview. Unfortunately the third interview was with the Philippines-based HR team. As usual, the guy interviewing me didn't speak fluent English (although he definitely spoke better English than any other Filipino who has interviewed me). He also knew absolutely nothing about the field and, whenever I responded to his questions using technical terms, he had no idea what I was talking about. I had to dumb my responses down considerably in order for him to understand and, even then, he still struggled to comprehend what I was talking about. I think it's safe to say that I won't be getting that one...
I've heard nothing back at all from the other jobs related to my PhD that I applied for. As they're Filipino companies, I doubt they will want to hire a foreigner.
Its really unfortunate and discouraging. I am sorry that happened and it is unfair.
my advice is to just keep plowing forward, learn from experience, and do not ever give up.
Craigslist
By the way, this is really unfortunate to hear and I admit i had run into this occasionally at first too....totally acing the first and second interview, only to be shut down by the third because some Pinoy has an entitled chip on their shoulder preventing them form giving you a chance.
Its really unfortunate and discouraging. I am sorry that happened and it is unfair.
my advice is to just keep plowing forward, learn from experience, and do not ever give up.
- @kristopherryanwatson
I applied for a job as an office-based ESL teacher. The company wasted my time for about four hours as there were about 50 other applicants applying for the same position. I'd spoken to several other members of their HR department while I was waiting. The second I stepped into the interview room, they told me that they didn't hire foreigners. Why didn't anybody tell me this in the four hours I was waiting for my interview?
However, instead of sending me home, they told me that they had another role for me. I can't remember exactly what it was, but it had something to do with reviewing their teaching material and ensuring that their English was correct. I aced the first two interviews. In fact, the second went so well that I was told that the third and final interview was merely a formality as she was sure that the job was mine.
I knew that this wasn't going to be the case the moment the head of their HR department stepped into the room. He immediately looked down his nose at me. Unlike the others, his English was terrible. He struggled to understand anything I was saying during the interview and he was visibly annoyed to be interviewing me the entire time he was there.
I knew I hadn't got the job at that point. The company decided to waste more of my time though as they had me sit around for an hour waiting for the head of HR to get back to me. He ended up sending the woman who had previously told me that the job was mine. She told me that they wouldn't be hiring me, but couldn't understand why. She asked me if something had happened during my final interview, so I told her that he had made it clear that he didn't want to hire me the moment he saw me.
I knew that this wasn't going to be the case the moment the head of their HR department stepped into the room. He immediately looked down his nose at me. Unlike the others, his English was terrible. He struggled to understand anything I was saying during the interview and he was visibly annoyed to be interviewing me the entire time he was there.- @drjs

Facebook Groups are also a well of possible opportunities.
I am sure they're low-level for you, given your academic achievements, but you never know what you might stumble upon. besides, there is no harm networking and getting your name out to those groups. someone might drop your name to someone in need of someone such as yourself..
If you have a postgraduate degree (Masters or PhD) then you might qualify for a UN job. (They usually want two UN languages as well, but not always). I worked for the UN for two years just as a native English speaker only, employed based on a BSc and 5 years+ previous experience. UN or other international NGO's offer really good packages and salaries (if employed as "International" grade), but not UNV or volunteer. "National" grades pays a lot less but it is an acceptable salary for the Philippines cost of living.
This is their official website. Just search the Philippines City nearest you. best of luck.
[link under review]
- @gsturdee
Facebook Groups are also a well of possible opportunities.
I am sure they're low-level for you, given your academic achievements, but you never know what you might stumble upon. besides, there is no harm networking and getting your name out to those groups. someone might drop your name to someone in need of someone such as yourself..
You can search for these Groups:
Startup Jobs Ph
Philippines Virtual Assistance Club
Virtual Assistant Ph
South Asian English Copywriters Network
- @kristopherryanwatson
Does anybody know if it's possible to start a fully remote job in the UK while I am based in the Philippines? I don't know much about the law in this area, but I think it should be possible.
I've had no luck getting a fully remote job in the UK though. I've received numerous job offers, but the employer pulls out as soon as they realise I'm in the Philippines.
It's also really difficult to find jobs in the UK that truly are fully remote in the first place. Most of the ones that say they are either require you to start training at their office, or need you to go to the office once or twice a week/month.

@drjsYou're very welcome.
Things are definitely looking up recently. I'm also confident that I will be offered two of the jobs I applied for in the past two weeks. One of these is essentially my previous job but with fewer responsibilities and it will be up to a Brit whether or not I am hired.
The other is somewhat connected to my PhD, albeit rather loosely. It's a role I have never really done before, but the company seems convinced that I will be able to do the job well. It's also Americans doing the hiring.
Things definitely go much better when I'm not being interviewed by Filipinos.
Question for you: How do you mean "if it's possible to start a fully remote job in the UK.." while you're here in the Phils ?Just wondering if you could clarify on this before I respond accordingly best that i can.- @kristopherryanwatson
I have no idea what the UK's stance on this issue would be.
I was offered an interview for the one I thought I would be a shoo-in for immediately, so thanks again.
First she was late for the interview. When I contacted her to ask her what time she would be available, she told me that she had forgotten about the interview (at least she was honest?).
She then accidentally ended the call as soon as I accepted it. She told me that she wasn't used to using Skype.
The first question she asked was if I had applied for any jobs with any companies other than theirs. Of course I had. Why would I have only applied for one job? When I told her that I had applied for other jobs, she asked me what the status of these was. I informed her that I had already had interviews for a few of these and also had a few more interviews coming up.
I figured she was asking this to try to glean whether or not I was serious about trying to find a job and if other companies were interested in hiring me (after all, why should they hire me if nobody else is interested?). Apparently not. She told me that her company didn't allow any applicants to have any pending applications with anybody else. I have never known any other company to operate in this way. She even told me that I would have to withdraw all of my applications with the other companies in order to progress with the interview. I lied to her and told her that I would withdraw all of my other applications as soon as the interview was over. I can't believe that she even asked me to do this in the first place.
None of the usual questions you would expect to be asked about in an interview came up. She would have already had the answers to most of them if she had bothered to read my CV. None of them were open-ended questions and every single question could have been answered with a single word. As it got towards the end and I realised that the questions weren't going to improve, I started shoehorning previous experiences into all of my answers to try to convince her that I could do the job. After all, she needed to know that I have experience in the field. If I hadn't mentioned any of this, she wouldn't have known as she clearly hadn't read my CV. I'm not surprised as yesterday she sent me a string of questions in response to my initial e-mail, all of which she would have already had the answers to if she had read my email beyond the subject.
Eventually she started to ask me to rate myself out of 10 in various areas. I thought it was strange that she chose to do this for five different things. Especially when one of the things she asked me to rate myself out of 10 in was not one of the job responsibilities, but something a client you are providing the service for would do. I tried to explain this to her, but she had no idea what I was talking about.
It was pretty clear that she knew absolutely nothing about the role she was advertising. I think it's safe to say that I won't be getting this one.
i'm so sorry to hear of this outcome of your interview.
But it isn't unlike anything i have experienced to some degree...
I work in the marketing and advertising sector. This is an industry that has been inherently competitive among rival agencies for decades, especially here in Manila where the community is quite small; many of the top executives from well established agencies know each other. I have taken interviews for quite a few agencies over the years even when i have been gainfully employed elsewhere or doing something else generating my incomes.
Usually this was just for my own entertainment or for their benefit just so they can tell their manager that yes, they did interview that handsome Canadian man for the role, even though he wasn't too interested.
Most often than not, the interviewer, typically an HR personnel with less than a few years experience, has asked me if I have applied to other Agencies/Companies. on the very rare occasion, they have asked me the names of those companies (this has perhaps maybe only happened twice), i have told them that i would prefer not to say, and they have respected that. End of questions on that regard. Not ever did they instruct me that i would need to withdraw my application from any other pending roles elsewhere (even though there weren't in actuality).
I find your situation with the woman who interviewed you to be incredibly intrusive and unprofessional.
she has not right to ask/tell you to do that, and as a matter of fact, i wonder if that might even be illegal.
that woman, with all of her failings to lead the interview properly (unfamiliar with Skype? who the hell isn't familiar with using Skype at least once in their life?) should be fired.
Anyway, please keep your head up and keep going. it looks like you've had a slight good break in the last day or so.
just keep being vigilant to apply to whatever roles land in front of you. you got this.
.Does anybody know if it's possible to start a fully remote job in the UK while I am based in the Philippines? I don't know much about the law in this area, but I think it should be possible.I've had no luck getting a fully remote job in the UK though. I've received numerous job offers, but the employer pulls out as soon as they realise I'm in the Philippines.It's also really difficult to find jobs in the UK that truly are fully remote in the first place. Most of the ones that say they are either require you to start training at their office, or need you to go to the office once or twice a week/month.- @drjs






Eventually she started to ask me to rate myself out of 10 in various areas. I thought it was strange that she chose to do this for five different things. Especially when one of the things she asked me to rate myself out of 10 in was not one of the job responsibilities, but something a client you are providing the service for would do. I tried to explain this to her, but she had no idea what I was talking about.- @drjs




.Does anybody know if it's possible to start a fully remote job in the UK while I am based in the Philippines? I don't know much about the law in this area, but I think it should be possible.I've had no luck getting a fully remote job in the UK though. I've received numerous job offers, but the employer pulls out as soon as they realise I'm in the Philippines.It's also really difficult to find jobs in the UK that truly are fully remote in the first place. Most of the ones that say they are either require you to start training at their office, or need you to go to the office once or twice a week/month.- @drjsWell. Thats common for EMPLOYMENTS,BUT I have worked from my home almost all the time since 1978 - so long before most even thought of such excist- by geting ASSIGNMENTS from businesses to my OWN BUSINESS. Its much easier for clients to pay your invoice than having you as enployee specialy for small businesses.
(E g I have done from home:/acounting and tax forms./other administration./business consultings solving their problems and/or improving their results for small or no investments needed, so only cost them my mostly only a percentage of their improved result./Making print originals./website production and content. (I were in front line in website coding back when internet was young and there were no automatic website production programs. By not bothered to continue improving my knowledge in that, I am among bottom of such nowso when I need such nowadays, I hire someone to do most of it. I switched when it became to much to be worth the time to update and keep fresh to be worth it by I many different types of work.
/software production. E g I did lead a software developing for a client where others made the coding but I made sure the parts would suit to each other./writing. Inspite of the ignorants, who have complained much about my spelling and grammar when its NOT IMPORTANTI HAVE bothered about such when it IS important and had a steady assignment for a rather big newspaper in almost 20 years (until they had to startt savbing by internet competition so they skiped all not full timers. ( have been paid e g for 200+ articles about as different subjects as sports and psycholopgy...
/not assignment, but I have earned rather much at the "western" stock market - until I SKIPED when it started to become overvalued by investors not knowing what they are doing, they ONLY decide based at TA - or even worse just using a TA based "automatic program" which they have no clue how it functions!!! ( I know how they function so I know how to FOOL TA to make buy or sell signalsI did it sometimes back when I still invested in "western" stocks 10+ years ago so IF it was illegal the prosecution time have passed now anyway
Then I changed my focus to SE Asia where the potential is much better. (Phils have a stupid law not allowing knowledge from foreigners dominating in any business!!! So it took some years for me to both research which businesses are most interesting to start in Phils AND find anyone with knowledge enough to make so its enough I add a minority of the needed knowledge
But now I have found one such Filipino (tribe) and we are in progess to start the second business (in same business as the first too but much different but both can be located rural.) I can be generous but concerning business I think similar to Kamprad (=IKEA) holding the costs down very kuripot
except we pay employees some more than they are used to plus all, who work good, will get a big bohnus when the businesses start earning good. Back when I had a 70 - 115 employees the total office was 6 squeremeters of my appartment, so when a client came and visited after I had done big services for them several years, he looked funny when he saw my tiny office
Perhaps you knowledge suit to be runned in your own business?(Part owned by you, except if at least 60 % of income will come from abroad, then you can own whole IF no land owning involved.)- @coach53
By I am against Nuclear power if I would be writing a "manual" ii would be againstThat's quite a list you have there. Have you ever considered being a simultaneous interpreter? Or perhaps translation of Nuclear Powered Station Regulatory Inspection manuals ? - @Lotus Eater(Bloody system making crap code automatic making a mess.)Inspite of your BS insiniations I have WORKED using 4 languages( =Swedish, English, German and Spanish - plus a litle bit Tagalog when a Filipino have some problem with English. ) Sometimes switching fast in between, communicating with different people at same time. Although it have happened it become "Ops" I used wrong language with someone
Sure excist but I have never seen anyone with English as first language showing more TOTAL language knowledge than I have... As someone told recently many Americans can only ONE language! I SUPPOUSE some less bad average for Brits by closer contact with rest of Europe, although being close to Spanish and French havent influenced average language skill among Americans...or about ALTERNATIVE energies. (I HAVE written some about alternative energy at profesional level, but that was mainly about business view of such .)

Yes, that's what I'm asking. My understanding is that, as I have been in the Philippines for five years, I will be taxed here. It sounds as though it will be entirely my responsibility to collect the forms, fill them out and submit them. I won't be taxed in the UK, as I'm not working from the UK and I have been abroad for too long. At least this is what BIR told me.- @drjs
I have no idea what the UK's stance on this issue would be.
I think this depends on the Company and the Country from which it bases its Operations.
For example, If i may, I would like to explain my situation as it applies to you and your pursuits.
For the past year and a half, I have been working as a private Consultant. I have 3 clients that I dedicate my time for this work, and along with this, i am co-founder of a small boutique marketing agency based in BGC but i've slowly moved away from my responsibilities over the last year. my founding partner of that agency is 100% Filipino. she has an accountant/hr person that handles the taxes for both of us and our team.
For my consultant work, There is an American Company that acts as a 'broker' between myself and the clients i have. it operates in the US, but it has specific personnel that filed my required paperwork and handle my taxes for me here. a true convenience.
I am not considered an employee by any means. this company has no regulation or control over how or when i work, and my service agreements of my commitments, deliverables, and so forth are strictly between myself and my clients. As far as everyone is concerned and how it looks on paper though, I am regarded as an Independent remote worker who is an extension of the broker in the US, who happens to pay taxes here in the Philippines. Quite clever.
My understanding is that, as I have been in the Philippines for five years, I will be taxed here. It sounds as though it will be entirely my responsibility to collect the forms, fill them out and submit them. I won't be taxed in the UK, as I'm not working from the UK and I have been abroad for too long. At least this is what BIR told me.- @drjs
I have no idea what the UK's stance on this issue would be.

Omo :Its not only looking for work here that is absurd so is any kind of investing taxwise or otherwise.- @manwonder


I was offered an interview for the one I thought I would be a shoo-in for immediately, so thanks again.That turned out to be one of the most ridiculous interviews I have ever had.
First she was late for the interview. When I contacted her to ask her what time she would be available, she told me that she had forgotten about the interview (at least she was honest?).
She then accidentally ended the call as soon as I accepted it. She told me that she wasn't used to using Skype.
The first question she asked was if I had applied for any jobs with any companies other than theirs. Of course I had. Why would I have only applied for one job? When I told her that I had applied for other jobs, she asked me what the status of these was. I informed her that I had already had interviews for a few of these and also had a few more interviews coming up.
It depend of the AGREEMENT between Phils and each country to not become taxed at same income
and the tax laws in the involved countries.
You need to check that country to country agreement to get to know (if no one else know and tell). I dont know that Phils-UK deal!!!
- @coach53
What a nightmare. Sorry you experienced this. I can only echo the others in that some Filipinos have no idea what they are doing, and will do anything to save face, ie. not look bad. I am sorry you are having so much trouble and having your time wasted to such an extent.
- @pnwcyclist
I'd already passed the first two interviews with an Australian company (the first two interviews were with their Philippines-based recruitment team). They e-mailed me at 06:00 this morning, inviting me to an interview at 08:00. Obviously I failed to attend due to the complete lack of notice they had given me.
They sent me another e-mail at 08:15 telling me that my application had been withdrawn due to my tardiness. The nerve. It sounds like I dodged a bullet though if that's the way they act.
This isn't even the first time this has happened. Three American companies did similar things. The first was basically identical. They sent me an e-mail at 01:00 inviting me to an interview at 06:00. At 06:05, they told me that I was no longer being considered for the role as I hadn't shown up on time for the interview.
Another incident saw me miss an interview as Calendly had failed to send me any notifications, which meant that I didn't have the link to the Zoom meeting. I contacted the employer about the issue twice before the interview was scheduled, but they ignored me. 15 minutes after my interview time, the employer contacted me to have a go at me for wasting his time by failing to attend. It's not my fault he ignored the previous two e-mails I had sent...
The final incident saw an American company send me an e-mail at 00:00, asking me to complete an assignment in the next eight hours. I got it to them by 10:00 and they told me that I had failed the assignment as I hadn't submitted it in time.
I have to wonder if these people realise that there are different time zones in the world...
Even if the time difference wasn't an issue, I still feel that the deadlines they set were far too short.
Yeah. I'll find out who I need to speak to from the UK about this later and see what they have to say. @drjs
It's not my fault he ignored the previous two e-mails I had sent...



@drjs why people move to the PI to work is absurd. If your not retired and that means you don't need income...... then don't go to the PI. Very rare there are any jobs there except perhaps some US based company has a satellite branch there. Starting any business like a bar or restaurant is just going to lose money for you.
@pike0072
I moved here to be with my partner. However, having done so means that I do have to work in some form or capacity in order to contribute to our expenses and lifestyle. There are plenty of long-term benefits that look great on my Resume and to Professional platforms where i am active (LinkedIn), and as such, this is attractive to US/Western businesses and future clients who wish to work with teams that are based here.
Knowing that the teams they work with are Operated and managed by a Canadian are found to be attractive and has done no harm at all
Starting any business like a bar or restaurant is just going to lose money for you.
- @pike0072

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