A balikbayan's chances of finding meaningful employment in Manila

[FrankNYC]

For the past few years I have been planning my return to the Philippines. I have enough (I think) to live comfortably; but I would still like to work (I like working, it's a social event for me); I will be able to regain my Filipino citizenship.

I guess my question is: how marketable will I be? I have a B.A. from a local US college and an MPA from a top-notch US university. My experience can be categorized as "general management;" I work for a local government managing an office/personnel. As a 40+ year old, I am willing to go back to school; I've been looking into the AIM MM or Ateneo MBA--I could also take some executive development courses. My wife is fine with the idea; we would like to make the move before the kids get too old (currently 4 and 6). Financially, I can conservatively generate $2,200-$2,500/month from my current savings investment, but I would like to supplement this with a 150K pesos/month+ income (if this is reasonable, given my skills).

[KuyaDanny]

I believe your salary expectations are reasonable, and attainable without need for further school work. This is not to say you will have no trouble finding a job. Opportunities are still limited here.

You might consider finding a job elsewhere in Asia, and buy time before the eventual return home.

[LodRose]

medyo krisis lang kasi ngayon kapatid so baka mahirapan ka, actually marami na rin akong kilalang mga gustong makabalik sa pinas from abroad at talaga namang marketable nga pero di makahanap ng work/pay na makakatapat to what they were earning abroad.

though you haven't mentioned how extensive your experience is in general management (how many years as manager/how many people managed/your department's accountability in terms of budget/what did you mean by general management - administrative/logistics/operations?)

depende sa experience, your target of 150k may be possible kung ang title makuha mo ranging director/senior manager/department head. otherwise, i suggest you go entrepreneur path.

good luck!

[DisconnectedMX]

limited pa opportunities dito.

i agree with kuyadanny. pwede kang maghanap na lang ng mas malapit sa pinas, singapore or hongkong or macao or japan for example. and then, visit ka na lang here often and regain your citizenship. at the same time, obserbahan mo ang galaw ng market at business dito sa pinas, then pasok ka enterpreneur/business pag feel mo na ok na pumasok sa business.

[FrankNYC]

Visiting wouldn't be the same. I could open a business, but, I would rather work for a large company; I like the corporate culture, organization, networking, etc. Would an AIM MBA be worth it?
Things are fine--financially--where I am, but I miss my family, the culture, food, friends, lifestyle that the Philippines has to offer.

[zweihanderfaust]

regardless kung limited ang opportunities dito, try sending out your resumes sa mga companies dito malay mo may interesado talaga.

[Macky_EX]

Me and my family went back last 2005 after staying in the US for more than 6 years.... maganda yung uwi namin kasi it was before the dollar and realty business crashed kaya naibenta pa namin bahay namin dyan tapos malaki laki pa value ng naiuwi nami.... ok local jobs at that time since IT kami ng wife ko.... nasa technical pa rin ako as consultnat ngayon while the wife is now a GM in a Global 200 Jap-based IT company here.... malaking bentahe having a US school sa resume besides sa US management experience.... mabilis ang promotion (speaking for the wife).

Although atainable ang Php120k to Php250k na monthly salary for an IT management position (GM, Ops Mgr, Dept Mgr, etc.), I agree with the others here.... siguro kung ngayon din kami bumalik mga 20% lang ang chance namin for employment tapos below pa sa salary expectations namin ang makukuha namin. Besides sa BPO, yung ibang IT business kumonti ang requirements.

I would suggest applying online para pag bumalik kayo may interviews nang naka-line up or mas maganda kung may trabaho nang naghihintay....

Take as much information as you can specially sa cost of living dito.... we were misinformed at first nung dumating kami. Mabilis ang pera dito.... before akala namin ang Php75k monthly na gastos sa bahay is sufficient enough pero hindi rin pala.... we are running on a 120k monthly expense kasama na monthly payments namin sa bahay, household expense (ave. of 8k on electricity, cable, telephone, internet, maids, yaya, groceries, pet foods, etc) and gastos for 3 kids (tuition, school bus, baon, etc). Hindi na kasama dito car payments since tapos nang hulugan yung mga sasakyan namin. Di kasi namin nakuhang baguhin lifestyle namin.... masyado kaming nag-enjoy dito :) Kung titipirin pede na yung 75k monthly.

Yung 11 year old ko is in Garde 7 sa CSA (CSA is the cheapest kasi na may foreigner's class since hindi marunong magtagalog yung anak ko) with a tuition of 85k (kasama na Misc.) while yung dalawa ko is in Elizabeth Seton with a tuition of 75k each (kasama na Misc).

Good luck!

[oscar_schmidt]

Hi Frank. Why not go here for a month and test the waters? Im not sure though about the opportunities that you will get here as the whole world is in crisis and many businesses have closed so fewer jobs are available. But people with credentials like you have, are itching their feet to go outside the Philippines, and you are doing quite the opposite so I guess you have the chance. If you can live a frugal life, 2000USD may be enough for your family's monthly expenses. However, your kids maybe going to school soon, so you will have to consider tuition fees, daily allowance, extra curricular activities etc etc. You may consider looking for a job right away, rather than go back to school. But then if you're aiming for the 150k salary, your US BA degree + work experience + Masterals will give you an edge.