r/CareerAdvicePH

Using a throwaway account for privacy since some of the details are quite specific. Salary figures are rounded for anonymity.

Need some outside perspective because I've been going back and forth on this decision.

I'm currently working for a multinational company in the Philippines in a senior individual contributor role in digital marketing.

Current job:

• Around ₱220K/month gross base + allowances
• 13th-month pay, annual performance bonus, and company stocks that vest periodically
• HMO with hospitalization and outpatient coverage
• Regular PH employee with statutory benefits and protections
• Mostly remote, with the option to go to the office whenever I want
• International scope and significant responsibilities
• Generally comfortable with my role, team, and responsibilities
• Potential career growth, although there are some upcoming organizational changes

New offer:

• Around ₱320K/month guaranteed gross
• Can reach approximately ₱420K/month gross with performance incentives
• Fully remote with flexible hours
• Independent contractor arrangement with a foreign company
• No 13th-month pay or traditional PH employee benefits
• No severance if laid off
• Only 14 days' notice if either party terminates the contract
• Around 20 working days of vacation plus additional wellness leave
• Medical reimbursement benefit after a six-month probationary period
• Quarterly performance incentives and a bonus upon successful completion of probation
• Would involve managing a small team

Here's my dilemma:

While the monthly salary difference looks significant, the actual increase in overall annual compensation is only around 10–20% once I factor in my current stocks, bonuses, and allowances, assuming the new company's performance incentives are achieved. This is before accounting for potential differences in taxes and benefits.

I'm currently on the individual contributor track and genuinely enjoy being hands-on. I don't particularly aspire to become a people manager, although I'm open to learning.

The new opportunity would mean taking on people-management responsibilities, which isn't necessarily the career direction I want.

I'm also concerned about giving up the security of regular PH employment, especially with the 14-day termination notice and zero severance. I have some major financial commitments coming up in the next year, so stability matters.

On the other hand, my current company is also going through potential organizational changes, so staying doesn't necessarily guarantee stability either.

I'm not actively looking to leave my current company. The offer just made me reconsider whether I'm leaving money on the table.

If you were in my position, would a potential 10–20% increase in total annual compensation be enough to justify the contractor risk and people-management responsibilities?

For those who moved from regular PH employment to foreign contractor arrangements, was the higher compensation worth giving up the benefits and job security?

Would appreciate your perspectives, especially from people who've been in similar situations.

Sa mga working na sa corporate/office, ano yung Excel skills na talagang ginagamit ninyo sa actual work?

Kung magsisimula kayo ulit from zero, ano ang unang 5 Excel skills na aaralin ninyo?

Any tips, personal experiences, or free resources are welcome. Gusto ko lang mag-focus sa skills na talagang useful sa trabaho. Salamat po! 🙏🏻

Hi, y’all!!

I’ll be starting my P&G journey this coming week. After almost 4 months of waiting haha. What are your tips po? Like what to expect in the coming weeks/months hehe. Our corporate onboarding po will be next first week next month.

Thank you po!!

P.S. bear with me po first job ko po kasi

I am working at a PH based company and WFH setup 100%.

Very light lang ang work as a Senior Support Engineer, maluwag din when it comes to leaves. They’re also prepping me for a team lead role, pero promise palang.

Basic pay is 85k per month with HMO (2 dependents) +5K allowance and +5k annual medical reimbursement.

Sa totoo lang sobrang easy ng trabaho since kabisado ko na.

Salary progression? Medyo ok before pero walang increase this year.

From 35k > 40k > 52k > 85k

Eto na nga, I’m turning 30 pero never experienced living alone. Hindi rin ako nagtatravel. Wala akong hobby as in.

Since nasa bahay ako 24/7, lahat ng problema ng pamilya, kahit sobrang simple lang, lahat naririnig ko. Kaya parang nawawalan ako ng gana. Hindi naman toxic family ko, hindi ko lang maiwasan talaga na isipin lahat ng nangyayari since nandito ako maghapon.

Tila every galaw kailangan kong i-overthink kahit di naman related sakin, gets niyo ba?

Panganay din kasi ako at breadwinner. So lahat ng sahod ko napupunta sa bills and groceries.

Yung mga simpleng bagay na gusto kong gawin, hindi pwedeng hindi ko sila isama sa plano.

Like gusto ko magsamgyup? Dapat sa araw na available lahat at ako magbabayad so x5. Eh si mama hindi naman gusto ang samgyup, so hindi ko itutuloy yung plano. Instead susundin ko ano bet ni mama.

Eh ang problema, ako lang nagiisip niyan! 😭 like di naman sila nagrerequire na isama ko sila sa plano pero di ko kasi kaya na ako lang magsasamgyup, or kaya dalawa lang kami ng kapatid ko. Nagi-guilty ako!!

Lalo na sa travel, tapos ako pa lahat magaayos at magiisip, kaya wag nalang. Simpleng punta nga sa mall na kumpleto kami naooverwhelm na ko.

Like bet ko relax lang pero di ko magawa kasi iba iba trip ng pamilya ko. Gusto ko masulit yung labas and good feed back paguwi sa bahay. Again, nasa utak ko lang yan at ako lang din nagdedesisyon na ako magaadjust! Kasi sila priority ko.

Ngayon na magtrenta na ko, feeling ko wala pa kong nararating at naeexperience sa buhay.

Hindi rin naman practical na magsolo living ako dito kasi may bahay naman kami, dagdag gastos lang sakin.

Triny ko na kasi yan eh. Nagrent ako apartment sa same city, ending umuwi ako sa bahay kasi nanghinayang ako bumili ng mga gamit hahaha saka na-miss ko si mama.

Ang nakikita ko lang na way is to go abroad. Para kahit gusto kong umuwi, di ganun kabilis so malalabanan ko yung home sickness.

Hindi ko alam kung ok ba yung dahilan ko na yan? Practical? Ewan ko. Nag cut off din ako ng mga friends kaya wala akong matanungan.

Bigyan niyo ko ng comment at feed back. Paano ba dapat?

Yes, I need help. 😭

I'm turning 28, pero feeling ko wala pa akong strong background sa kung paano ba talaga gumagana ang BPO and corporate world. Idk rin kung anong niche ang bagay sa'kin.

Here's my background po.

1. Musician, Leader, and Event Organizer

I've been a musician and a leader since I was 14. We organize events such as youth camps and campus ministries. Kami yung nagpa-plan and nag-e-execute ng events. Sometimes, nai-invite din kami to play at different churches and events.

I also have average knowledge in multimedia. Ako yung in charge sa lights and sounds, from sound-checking the band to streaming events across Facebook. Actually, all-around talaga ako. Musician, sound tech, light tech, and event planner.

2. On-Call Computer Technician

Nag-work din ako as an on-call computer technician nung college ako. Around two years din yun.

3. General VA Intern at DICT

After that, naging General VA intern ako sa Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

4. Data Entry Specialist sa Shopee

Naging data entry specialist din ako sa Shopee for three months. Under siya ng agency, and logistics-related yung work. Ako yung nagpa-plan ng routes ng truck drivers and nag-aasikaso ng paperwork nila.

At that time, hindi ko masyadong inasikaso yung government benefits kasi bata pa ako noon and wala pa akong masyadong alam sa employment. Under agency din kasi yung setup, kaya naging okay lang sa'kin that time. Please eag nyo ko i judge. :(

5. Family Rice Supply Business

After that, nagkaroon ng business yung parents ko na bigasan. May mga clients na rin kami, like cafés and stores na binabagsakan namin ng rice. Sometimes, ako yung nakikipag-usap sa clients para makakuha ng new customers.

Until now, sumasali-sali pa rin ako sa business, pero mostly parents ko na yung nagma-manage.

6. Barista and Cashier

Nag-franchise naman yung mom ko and her best friend ng small café. Naging barista and cashier ako dun for a year.

7. VA Admin for an International Tech Store

Fast-forward to 2025, nagkaroon kami ng client ng partner ko that time. VA Admin ako for a tech store sa ibang bansa, and tumagal ako doon for six months.

We used tools like Asana, Shopify, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Discord, and Gmail.

My responsibilities included:

Buying and selling gadgets

Making reports for conversion rates and sales

Checking SKUs and managing inventory

Finding sellers sa online marketplaces

Answering inquiries

Handling payroll

So ayun, six months lang din. Wag niyo na tanungin kung bakit. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

8. Content Moderator

Naging content moderator din ako for a livestreaming platform.

9. Small Business Owner

Present na tayo. I currently own a small café and clothing business na mag 6 months na rin. One man team ako, so basically, ako lahat. 

Pero I'm planning to hand over the ownership sa brother ko para matuto na din sya, since mag internship na siya and related naman sa business yung program niya.

So yes, ngayon pa lang ako nag-aasikaso ng school credentials ko and government requirements like SSS, PhilHealth, etc.

So here's my question.

Paano ko ilalagay lahat ng experiences ko sa résumé? And paano ko i explain sa HR na wala pa akong SSS and other government requirements na fully processed without making them wonder about my employment history? 😭

I'm also scared sa employment process mismo. Baka ma lowball ako kasi wala akong traditional corporate background or hindi ko alam kung paano gumagana yung corporate world.

Honestly, feeling ko mangmang ako pagdating sa ganitong bagay. I also feel like naging spoiled and spoon fed ako. I know I have so much potential, pero feeling ko hindi ko pa talaga eto yun. I want

I also feel like hindi healthy sa'kin yung current environment ko kasi nabe baby ako, and I haven't really accomplished the things I know I'm capable of. I want to challenge myself, grow independently, and see what I can actually do outside my comfort zone. I always consider myself as beginner sa mga bagay bagay.

And yes, I think I might have ADHD.

 turning 28, feeling ko ang dami ko nang experiences pero hindi ko alam kung paano siya i connect into one solid career path. I don't know what niche would suit me best, how to market myself, or how to navigate the corporate world.

Given my background, anong career path or niche kaya ang bagay sa'kin? Paano ko ipe-present yung experiences ko sa résumé and sa HR without underselling myself? And how do I start building a career na aligned sa potential ko?

I know I have so much more to offer. I just need help figuring out where to start. 🥹

hi! its been a month na ata since nawalan ako ng work. reason? i need a job with a higher salary, kasi i need to start helping my family. second reason? napapagod na ako gumawa ng trabaho na hindi ko naman talaga work or mastery at least. i have been trying to find work all this time, super hirap and nasa constant state ako ng anxiety, im still passing my resume sa iba't-ibang companies but seems like napaka-hopeless ko. i have 3 years experience as a multimedia designer at ang hirap maging artist na magkaron ng maayos na pay sa pinas. amen? amen.

I'm 34 years old, been working sa TV and entertainment industry for 10 years. Meron akong gap na nagtrabaho rin ako sa call center, atbp after kong mapagod sa TV ng 2 years, tapos bumalik ako.

Nakakaramdam na ako ng hopelessness sa industry na ito. Ang laking kawalan talaga nung naipasarang network kasi whether employed ka roon o hindi, apektado lahat dahil humina ang TV, lalo with the rise of social media at AI. Sinubukan ko rin na maghanap ng translation jobs kaso nahihirapan ako, baka hindi pa pasado ang skill ko roon.

To add, unti-unti na akong nawawalan din ng kaluluwa sa isang bagay na sobrang mahal ko na ginagawa-- ang pagsusulat. Natupad ko yung pangarap ko na magsulat sa TV, pero nauubos na ako.

Lately, nare-realize ko yung isa pang bagay na love ko, ang pagkain. Natutuwa rin ako sa mga pagluuto kahit wala akong gaanong alam. Kaya naiisip kong mag-career shift sa culinary. Kinukumbinse ko ang sarili ko na lahat ng bagay ay pwede namang matutunan kapag interesado ka. I am even considering to work abroad, since yung scriptwriting skills ko ay malabo pa sa tubig-kanal na makakuha ng work abroad.

Gusto ko lang malaman kung may nag-career shift from media at 30+. Thanks!

Need Advice: Lately, ive been really worried about my future career. For context, I’m a first year engineering student at one of the big 4. I tried to balance org and my student assistantship role, but it’s really hard and I had to defer from my org application. Now, I’m not sure whether being an SA is just a form of financial assistance for me or would it help me land a job in the future.

So should I keep doing SA or should I focus sa orgs? (Without sacrificing my acads)

Problem/Goal: In all honesty, would you accept a position at BIR knowing that corruption is widespread there? We all know the state of our country’s economy nowadays. Will you resort to corruption for stability?

Context: I am an accountancy graduate and some of my friends work at BIR. In just a year, they already have a car, upgraded to the latest iphone and travelled to several countries. I feel left behind in life seriously. I am a Virtual Assistant earning about 40,000 - 50,000 per month. I also help with our household expenses.

Previous Attempts: I took an exam last February 2026 at BIR and passed both the written exam and interview but i have not selected for those who will be given plantilla positions last April. They said, I can still be chosen within 5 years.

Di ko alam kung ano ba magiging excuse ko while having invitation/s to attend interviews sa ibang workplace eh 😭🤣 Nakakapanghinayang naman din yung chances kung di ko subukan.. hays HUHUHU help meee

Any insights would be helpful!

I recently had a panel interview for a position, and I’m trying to understand how I should interpret what happened.

Interestingly, it didn’t feel like a typical interview. Instead, it was more of a discussion between me, the department head, and the supervisor.
During the discussion, the department head mentioned that she had some reservations about my background because my previous experience isn't exactly the same as what the role requires. She also brought up the possibility that I might feel overwhelmed with the transition.
The supervisor, however, seemed more reassuring and mentioned that my current experience could actually be quite challenging compared to the new role. They also explained that there would be around 6 months of training if I were selected.
They told me that they liked my personality and the way I presented myself, but also mentioned that they wanted to interview other candidates since I was the first candidate they interviewed.
When they brought up the concern about my background, I acknowledged that my experience may not be a perfect match, but I explained that I also started my career without much experience and was able to progress from Associate to Assistant Manager and eventually became Employee of the Year.
I also mentioned some of the skills I've developed throughout my career, such as handling calls, payment-related tasks, dealing with different types of clients, and managing challenging situations. I said that I believe these skills can be transferred to the new role while I learn the areas that are new to me.
It's now been 48 hours since the interview, and I haven't received any feedback yet.
I understand that they still have other candidates to interview, but I'm curious how others would interpret this interaction.
Does this sound like a positive sign, or does it sound like they still have significant concerns about my fit for the role?
I'd especially appreciate insights from people who have been on the hiring side or have experienced a similar type of interview.