PAST, PRESENT and the FUTURE...

[ANDRES25]

As all of us know, a University degree in the Philippines isn't really recognized here in the UK and no matter how much experience you have or how high your job position was in the Philippines, it doesn't really count much in securing or landing any jobs here in the UK except maybe if you're a registered nurse in the Philippines.

To all the FILIPINO members of this forum, I am just wondering, what was your job/ educational background before you left the Philippines and what's your current job now here in the UK?

It would really inspire a lot of people specially a person like me, who is starting from scratch. It would really be nice if you could share your experiences and what did you do to be in the position you're in now and what do you want to do or achieve in the future?

[Tawi2]

Very interesting question What if a pinay was coming here with a very good degree indeed and having worked on projects for,and having references from USAID and World Bank?

[bornatbirth]

i know plenty smart filipinos mainly my wifes family

and im sure they will do very well here!

but they will be shocked at the expense here

its just a matter of adapting and retraining in the uk and we all get the chance to education?

[Tawi2]

I know one who turned down a job in Pinas last month 50 thousand pesos a month plus car and fringe benefits,thats decent money over there

[Sophie]

I know one who turned down a job in Pinas last month 50 thousand pesos a month plus car and fringe benefits,thats decent money over there

he/she probably got a better offer elsewhere

[Tawi2]

She actually already has a very good job,no car with it though,but she gets plenty of flights,the job she turned down was closer to her family home however

[Sophie]

She actually already has a very good job,no car with it though,but she gets plenty of flights,the job she turned down was closer to her family home however

oh, she's probably desperate to get away from home

[Arthur Little]

[QUOTE=ANDRES25;135444]As all of us know, a University degree in the Philippines isn't really recognized here in the UK and no matter how much experience you have or how high your job position was in the Philippines, it doesn't really count much in securing or landing any jobs here in the UK except maybe if you're a registered nurse in the Philippines.

Don't I know it! And it's all so, sooooooooooo WRONG! My wife graduated BSc in Agricultural Education after 4 years' hard slog at the University of S.E. Asia's Tagum City Campus and subsequently taught for 22 years in a National High School. Yet, according to the Scottish Vocational Qualifications Authority [SVQA] her degree is only recognised as being on a par with HNC/HND here - in spite of further part-time study towards a 'Masters' in Education, and being the holder of a clutch of other certificates attained at various intervals throughout a highly successful teaching career.

Now, in my opinion - and I'm sure many will agree with me on this - a degree is a DEGREE, regardless of WHERE it is obtained. In fact, I even raised a thread about this very subject a number of weeks ago. Entitled "The Great (Educational) Divide", it appeared in the 'Rants' column, and, as the name implies, it drew attention to the imbalances in the academic 'rating systems' as percieved by different nationalities. Sadly, my article barely left the 'launching pad'! Fingers crossed THIS one will gather sufficient momentum (if not exactly to exert pressure on the British and other governments around the world to re-examine their set criteria) to at least encourage members of this forum who find themselves in a similar situation, to make their views known.

Normally, I am fond of interspersing my posts with a fair sprinkling of humour. As regards this PARTICULAR topic, though, I'm deadly serious!

[darren-b]

Now, in my opinion - and I'm sure many will agree with me on this - a degree is a DEGREE, regardless of WHERE it is obtained.

I totally disagree with you on this. Just because two things have the same name, it doesn't mean they are equivalent. You need to look at what the course actually involved and compare that to similar UK courses to work out the value of the qualification.

[adam&chryss]

I was a Document/Marketing manager for 2 years in an Export/Import company for 2 years, then was a Manager in a Korean Restaurant after that I was a Marketing Analyst in a publication company, worked there for 3years till i got here in UK. Which this publication is based here in UK, though I was working in Pinas. If we were in London my employer will surely hire me in his company but too far for our place.

Now i'm a fulltime housewife and a mother of two

[aromulus]

I was a Document/Marketing manager for 2 years in an Export/Import company for 2 years, then was a Manager in a Korean Restaurant after that I was a Marketing Analyst in a publication company, worked there for 3years till i got here in UK. Which this publication is based here in UK, though I was working in Pinas. If we were in London my employer will surely hire me in his company but too far for our place.

Now i'm a fulltime housewife and a mother of two

Happy Birthday, btw............

[Jay&Zobel]

Now i'm a fulltime housewife and a mother of two

The best job in the world! Well done!

Happy Birthday, btw............

it's your birthday, it's your birthday! happy happy birthday Chryssie? Adam? ;-)


_____________

I had several jobs back home:
I worked as a parttime Preschool Teacher/Administrator. (units earned in Preschool Education).
Freelance Accountant/Bookkeeper on weekends. (degree holder, BS Accountancy).
Other sidelines: Selling random things (hehehe... my passion)

My life there was 24/7!!!

Then I got here... wasn't able to work for 6mos (I got bored, really bored, so bored, super bored...)
But then, I was blessed enough that my husband is a part-owner of their family business so they hire me as their Accountants Assistant, which until now I am very thankful of. (able to use my degree & experiences)

Now (on Maternity Leave) a fulltime mother & a wife and definitely loving it.


For job hunters: don't worry I am sure no matter what job you will have, you will excel in that field. Filipinos are known as hardworkers right?

Taking short term courses also helps

[kimmi]

I was a Document/Marketing manager for 2 years in an Export/Import company for 2 years, then was a Manager in a Korean Restaurant after that I was a Marketing Analyst in a publication company, worked there for 3years till i got here in UK. Which this publication is based here in UK, though I was working in Pinas. If we were in London my employer will surely hire me in his company but too far for our place.

Now i'm a fulltime housewife and a mother of two

Happy Birthday Adam& Chryss..but like what Zobel asked who's who?

As all of us know, a University degree in the Philippines isn't really recognized here in the UK and no matter how much experience you have or how high your job position was in the Philippines, it doesn't really count much in securing or landing any jobs here in the UK except maybe if you're a registered nurse in the Philippines.

To all the FILIPINO members of this forum, I am just wondering, what was your job/ educational background before you left the Philippines and what's your current job now here in the UK?

It would really inspire a lot of people specially a person like me, who is starting from scratch. It would really be nice if you could share your experiences and what did you do to be in the position you're in now and what do you want to do or achieve in the future?

When I was in the Philippines Ive worked as a

- Guidance Counselor and Psychology Prof
- Part- time Pre- School teacher
- Tutorials (one of my sidelines)
- Casino Dealer

Ive got a degree in Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Masteral in SPED.

now I am working here in the UK as a wife, a restaurant staff, a volunteer playgroup/classroom assistant,a trainee in the Post office here in our village and studying in OU..and I am just taking these jobs as experiences and as stepping stone to a career that I know sooner or later I'll be qualified also when I married my hubby and moved here in the UK I know that decision comes with a sacrifice ..

for all those Job Hunters wife, just dont give up..it doesn't matter if at the moment u cant find the JOB that is right with the degree that u finished in our country what matters is U LOVE ur JOB and u ENJOY doing it..

and we the current situation of the economy right now, we must feel lucky if we've got jobs, Ive just heard on the news this morning that BT Communications are going to lay off 15thou jobs..

[pennybarry]

Happy Birthday Adam& Chryss..but like what Zobel asked who's who?




When I was in the Philippines Ive worked as a

- Guidance Counselor and Psychology Prof
- Part- time Pre- School teacher
- Tutorials (one of my sidelines)
- Casino Dealer

Ive got a degree in Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Masteral in SPED.

now I am working here in the UK as a wife, a restaurant staff, a volunteer playgroup/classroom assistant,a trainee in the Post office here in our village and studying in OU..and I am just taking these jobs as experiences and as stepping stone to a career that I know sooner or later I'll be qualified also when I married my hubby and moved here in the UK I know that decision comes with a sacrifice ..

for all those Job Hunters wife, just dont give up..it doesn't matter if at the moment u cant find the JOB that is right with the degree that u finished in our country what matters is U LOVE ur JOB and u ENJOY doing it..

and we the current situation of the economy right now, we must feel lucky if we've got jobs, Ive just heard on the news this morning that BT Communications are going to lay off 15thou jobs..

Psychology???????
So you have no problem with your hubby's behaviour.

I am thankful I took about 28 units of Psychology and applied to my hubby's mood.

Wish you finish your course soon here Kimmi so we can call you a real Mam

[somebody]

Happy Birthday Adam& Chryss..but like what Zobel asked who's who?




When I was in the Philippines Ive worked as a

- Guidance Counselor and Psychology Prof
- Part- time Pre- School teacher
- Tutorials (one of my sidelines)
- Casino Dealer

Ive got a degree in Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Masteral in SPED.

now I am working here in the UK as a wife, a restaurant staff, a volunteer playgroup/classroom assistant,a trainee in the Post office here in our village and studying in OU..and I am just taking these jobs as experiences and as stepping stone to a career that I know sooner or later I'll be qualified also when I married my hubby and moved here in the UK I know that decision comes with a sacrifice ..

for all those Job Hunters wife, just dont give up..it doesn't matter if at the moment u cant find the JOB that is right with the degree that u finished in our country what matters is U LOVE ur JOB and u ENJOY doing it..

and we the current situation of the economy right now, we must feel lucky if we've got jobs, Ive just heard on the news this morning that BT Communications are going to lay off 15thou jobs..

Wow just a tad busy then

At the moment getting into the Job market is more important it seems than what actual postion. Many British people are having to reevaluate what Jobs they go after at the moment.

[Arthur Little]

.
Now i'm a fulltime housewife and a mother of two

Without a shadow of doubt, this vital (yet so often, grossly-underrated) role is the BEST job of all!

Chryss.

[adam&chryss]

Happy Birthday, btw............

The best job in the world! Well done!



it's your birthday, it's your birthday! happy happy birthday Chryssie? Adam? ;-)

Happy Birthday Adam& Chryss..but like what Zobel asked who's who?

Without a shadow of doubt, this vital (yet so often, grossly-underrated) role is the BEST job of all!

Chryss.

Well, thanks everyone!

It's Adam's birthday but feels like my birthday.. Because he took me out shopping.. He bought me new clothes and shoes

[tiger@tigress]

I was a Document/Marketing manager for 2 years in an Export/Import company for 2 years, then was a Manager in a Korean Restaurant after that I was a Marketing Analyst in a publication company, worked there for 3years till i got here in UK. Which this publication is based here in UK, though I was working in Pinas. If we were in London my employer will surely hire me in his company but too far for our place.
Now i'm a fulltime housewife and a mother of two

Same here adam&chryss.... My previous job was a Sales/Documentation/QC Manager (i do everything in import/export).... for a French Company based in Philippines for nine years. (free transportation, twice a year travel to China, Hongkong, Thai to attend exhibits) and five more years experiencein the same field from another company... My first job here in England was Kitchen Assistant in Nursing Home, hard job yeah,,,, But i did get my self into course..... I applied for a Office receptionist but the boss offered me a better position with a better pay

[adam&chryss]

Same here adam&chryss.... My previous job was a Sales/Documentation/QC Manager (i do everything in import/export).... for a French Company based in Philippines for nine years. (free transportation, twice a year travel to China, Hongkong, Thai to attend exhibits) and five more years experiencein the same field from another company... My first job here in England was Kitchen Assistant in Nursing Home, hard job yeah,,,, But i did get my self into course..... I applied for a Office receptionist but the boss offered me a better position with a better pay

That's the only thing i love about being a Marketing/Documentation Manager... Attending exhibits Everything's free. Transportation, nice and good Hotel to stay in, allowance and meals in an expensive restaurants with clients. Plus sneeking out to bars and discos at night
well, I do hope I can find a job easily, when Isaac is older to go to school. No matter what job it is as long as it's decent.

I guess your boss saw your potentials giving you a better position That's what filipinas are, can work anywhere and any kind of job.

[Arthur Little]

I totally disagree with you on this. Just because two things have the same name, it doesn't mean they are equivalent. You need to look at what the course actually involved and compare that to similar UK courses to work out the value of the qualification.

Do YOU have a university qualification in Agriculture darren-b? If so, perhaps you could share your knowledge with me. If not, then how CAN you dar[re]n b***** well possibly claim to disagree with my statement WITHOUT having at least some idea of the course content?

It's high time academia in Scotland came down off its high horse and acknowledged the fact that the misguided notions of worldwide "supremacy" it enjoyed in the field of education yesteryear, are long gone. Is it reasonable to expect the ever-increasing number of graduates from the more recent universities to be cast aside in favour of those who attended the more traditional establishments - even though they hold the same level of qualification? I think not!

[darren-b]

Do YOU have a university qualification in Agriculture darren-b? If so, perhaps you could share your knowledge with me. If not, then how CAN you dar[re]n b***** well possibly claim to disagree with my statement WITHOUT having at least some idea of the course content?

I am only disagreeing with your generic statement that a degree is a degree regardless of where it was obtained - the only part of your message I quoted. I did not make any comment about the comparison of a specific degree obtained in the Philippines against it's Scottish equivalent.

[cheesewiz]

I totally disagree with you on this. Just because two things have the same name, it doesn't mean they are equivalent. You need to look at what the course actually involved and compare that to similar UK courses to work out the value of the qualification.

I am 100% agree.

In Phils, one example is, a newly graduate with flying honours applying for a job that this person is so confident that he/she will get the job bec of academic achievement. Then another candidate applying for the same job got the same degree with no honours just bec she is a graduate from reputable universities/college let say La Salle or Ateneo, who do you think who will get the job? No doubt that its either of the two reputable school and this poor person who are more qualified sad to say will never get a job.

So, even in Phils, DEGREE becomes very important it depends where you get it in a reputable Universities, no wonder many DEGREES in Phils that never recognized in UK.

Aside from that I believe that education system in the Phils nowadays are very poor bec I think only in the Phils that so many private schools even a small house can be called a school and its more on business than actually an institution to mould children to have a good education for their future.

[Tawi2]

Got to endorse that dave.One word for you cheese,nepotism,pinas is infamous for it,if your from a small no reputation uni,against a graduate from Ataneo or silliman,but your family know the interviewer......................

[Tish]

I totally disagree with you on this. Just because two things have the same name, it doesn't mean they are equivalent. You need to look at what the course actually involved and compare that to similar UK courses to work out the value of the qualification.

I'm with you on this darren-b

Tish

[joebloggs]

I'm with you on this darren-b

Tish

for a degree being a degree,

in some countries you can get a 'degree' in 2 years, that's why NARIC might say its only equivalent to a HNC/HND.

there are many fake unis/colleges in the UK giving out worthless bits of paper as certificates.

my misses has just been on a 10 day medical course taught by Indian consultants who work for the NHS, after finishing the course, she told me some of what she was taught by her profs back in Laguna was

the misses has not given up being a doc in the UK, just one exam to go, it's taken 4yrs to get this far. she's not giving up

[Tish]

for a degree being a degree,

in some countries you can get a 'degree' in 2 years, that's why NARIC might say its only equivalent to a HNC/HND.

True. And even if nursing degree were accepted here, transitional period still have to be implemented, so nurses will have to work in the same standard of practice.

there are many fake unis/colleges in the UK giving out worthless bits of paper as certificates.

Oh yeah. It's advertised everywhere on the net!

my misses has just been on a 10 day medical course taught by Indian consultants who work for the NHS, after finishing the course, she told me some of what she was taught by her profs back in Laguna was

the misses has not given up being a doc in the UK, just one exam to go, it's taken 4yrs to get this far. she's not giving up

That's so good of her Joebloggs. I salute her on that. I know how hard it is to study and work at the same time whilst being a Mom, Wife, Lover and so on

Tish

[David House]

I totally disagree with you on this. Just because two things have the same name, it doesn't mean they are equivalent. You need to look at what the course actually involved and compare that to similar UK courses to work out the value of the qualification.

I have to agree with you Darren. Many degrees in the Philippines are a farce. The system is so corrupt that students can pay off their tutors for course work not done. The "universities" pass many who know very little simply to maintain a good record. You must remember that the motivation of these institutions is to make money. They thrive on high drop out rates, high student to teacher ratios and as low a standard to actual education as they can get away with. I have some recent personal experience as my wife attended the University of Cebu for the last semester and I was appalled at what she was taught for her degree course. It would struggle to meet GCSE standards here. She did a Btec in the UK in the years before and agrees that that course was much more demanding.
That is not to say ALL degrees in the Philippines are like that. Some from the major institutions will match the best but no-one should claim a "degree is a degree" because all the evidence says that is untrue. I know many arriving Filipinos expect that their qualifications will be of great benefit and feel cheated when the UK employers don't recognise them but their anger needs to be re-directed at the education system in the Philippines which requires a total overhaul and the implication of new and strictly enforced national standards both of teaching and examinations.

[pennybarry]

As all of us know, a University degree in the Philippines isn't really recognized here in the UK and no matter how much experience you have or how high your job position was in the Philippines, it doesn't really count much in securing or landing any jobs here in the UK except maybe if you're a registered nurse in the Philippines.

To all the FILIPINO members of this forum, I am just wondering, what was your job/ educational background before you left the Philippines and what's your current job now here in the UK?

It would really inspire a lot of people specially a person like me, who is starting from scratch. It would really be nice if you could share your experiences and what did you do to be in the position you're in now and what do you want to do or achieve in the future?

Most of us here started from scratch so you are not alone. My CV was quite impressive before as after I graduated, I worked in a big company as Payroll accountant for 3 years, 7 yrs supervisory job, travel agency and ran business. But when I arrived here, my CV became such a horrible one. I worked for housekeeping , factory, webpage design, machine operator But that is life. The most important is, THE WAGES. Will not give up studying until I got the job that I will enjoy

[sunshine]

Most of us here started from scratch so you are not alone. My CV was quite impressive before as after I graduated, I worked in a big company as Payroll accountant for 3 years, 7 yrs supervisory job, travel agency and ran business. But when I arrived here, my CV became such a horrible one. I worked for housekeeping , factory, webpage design, machine operator But that is life. The most important is, THE WAGES. Will not give up studying until I got the job that I will enjoy

Hi pennybarry, where and how did u learn web design? I really wanted to learn this but its quite expensive to enroll here in Philippines for such a short term

[pennybarry]

Hi pennybarry, where and how did u learn web design? I really wanted to learn this but its quite expensive to enroll here in Philippines for such a short term

There's free CD given to those who are willing to learn Web design. In the Philippines, my friend got one. Where are you? Here or Pinas? If you are coming here soon, you can enrol to your nearest local college. Not so much expensive here. Also, we had free orientation and training at work. There have also lots of private tutorials here. Our neighbor do tutorial but it cost 20£/hour. Expensive