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!

[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

[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..

[Jamesey]

My wife is a nurse. She worked for a couple of years in the Philippines, then the Middle East and finally here in UK for the NHS.

But I've got a friend who met his Filipina wife in Bermuda. They're both accountants out there. It seems that the Filipinos are on par with the Brits, Americans, Europeans, etc. and they would be able to go pretty much anywhere in the world and get a decent accounting job.

I'm not sure of his wife's background but I think she worked for one of the big insternational professional services companies in Manila before she transferred to Bermuda.

Surely, if you work for a big company like that, then your skills and qualifications will be viewed equally throughout the world?

[Sophie]

I guess with regards to starting from scratch - we filipinas go through thesame dilemma as we have to start somewhere, and it could be lower from what we hoped for, but it's the experience were more after and we can take on from there and better off our careers slowly and establish ourselves here.
I have yet to face all this since i haven't really started applying for a job yet. I'm still spending and enjoying a little more time with my hubby since were still on our honeymoon stage but maybe in a month or 2, i will be on the hunt for a job myself. Anyway, when i do, i'm not sure what to expect, i guess i'll just have to be open minded and take on the challenge of getting a job that i feel suits me best. Having said that, i got a degree in Accountancy and my first job after my college graduation is in a consultancy firm in makati city, i only stayed there for 2 months though since i got a better offer from Philam Insurance/AIG in makati too and i worked there for 5 years, then i moved to a real estate company in ortigas city to further my career and worked there for 4 years as a credit control officer. Then i met my hubby, and now i'm here in uk as a full time wife (for now) I have yet to see what this country will bring as far as my career is concerned............until then, going for training courses here and acquiring more skills in line with your degree would help a lot i suppose.......... Best of luck to all of us filipinas

[Ann07]

Get as much qualifications as you can when you are in the uk...that will help you in a long run to get your dream job

[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

[Arthur Little]

OOps sorry. Happy Birthday, ADAM! Never mind, it gave me a grand opportunity to commend someone who [in a largely materialistic world] is prepared to lay aside the ubiquitous desire to earn more money for the sake of her husband and two young children. Which, in my opinion is how it SHOULD be!

I only wish there were more like you.

[DianaKevy]

Get as much qualifications as you can when you are in the uk...that will help you in a long run to get your dream job

I agree with you mam as much as possible don't be so picky in looking for a job coz what we want for now is the work experience. mostly thats what they are looking for. so to those who are still on job hunting good luck!

[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.

[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

[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

[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

[sunshine]

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

I'm still here in Pinas, never heard of the free CD Web Design. Lucky your friend got one. I want to learn this while im still in Pinas. trying to

[Florge]

hmmm... ALL Uni in the Phils? Even Asian Institute of Management who are internationally afffiliated with other business schools worldwide? hmmmm.... would have to ask about it then...

[Tawi2]

Reminds me of the Cambridge Neuropsychopharmacogenetics degree I bought in Bangkok