TLDR - Cliffs at bottom...
Tapping the great pool of knowledge here (incredible tips, glad I found this awesome community!) Saw the epic Philippines Thread but hoping to catch more eyes ITT. I want to live abroad a few years, and we all know how great PH is for escaping the West. However I am not willing to give up my comfortable lifestyle either. How can I go about living in Manila for 2-5yrs? Open to a paycut, just not living on <$10K USD/year like majority of Filipinos...my parents worked too hard to migrate West to make sure I did not.
Stats:
-Mid 20s single young professional
-Filipino American (full pinoy, first gen, born/raised SE USA) Major reason to move is to experience more of my ethnic culture.
-Eligible for dual citizenship and may own business/investments/property
-Proficient in Tagalog, will improve with full immersion
-Family connections (although lower-middle class)
-Hospital Admin background with masters from T10 US univ. (relates to below)
What USD-based or high-paying-PHP-equivalent jobs and other income sources are there in Manila? Obviously this is difficult to answer for a third world country, so could use more helpful insight. My brainstorming so far, in order of preference and feasibility:
1) CDC Public Health Advisor - Pretty good match actually. 2 Year Assignment as US Fed employee and I have relevant health admin exp. Probably Manila-based but may have to travel all over PH. Starting $63K is ~$3M PHP by conversion rate. Cons: Must be "GS12/14 grade" qualified, sounds Sr. Lvl requiring signf. leadership that I don't have yet. I do have healthcare-related masters but not MPH. Not a clinician MD/RN/etc. Not former military but clean record.
2) US-based employee of global IT or Advisory firm with overseas assignment. I've heard compensation can be $100K< USD for lucrative roles. Cons: likely IT/tech supervisory role. I have some healthcare IT exp. but not coding/networking/etc. Need to be employed first and assignments are by chance. Accenture, SAP, Oracle, Cognizant, etc have offices in Manila. Open to Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research industry but just unaware of opportunities.
3) Management Consultant as McKinsey Associate. I've been looking in strategy and operational consulting as a career change. From my research, supposedly McK's total comp. $150K< USD equiv. for post-MBA around the world, with some offices much higher depending on profit. Income potential is greatest here, with "1%" status if you climb to partner. Mgt. Consulting is a great track that I can see myself doing longterm. Cons: McK is the top firm in the world, very hard to get into. I wouldnt even consider if it wasn't for having an office in Makati. My "pedigree" is good with T10 MS, which ivy league-and-similar education is rarer in Manila than HK/Singapore, so that works to my advantage. Still, most Associates at top firms have a T10 MBA which itself is very competitive, expensive, and time consuming to earn (but I'm open to for overall career investment). These firms are global, so may be easier to transfer back to US office. Other Mgt Consulting firms include Big 4, although may be more Audit/Tax that I have little exp. in, and unsure if compensation is US-equiv like McK.
4) Banking: JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, BDO, etc. Cons: I know less about banking than consulting. And still may need a top MBA first.
5) Start a business. Cons: Currently lack drive and interests for entrepreneurship. Unsure what business to start. Aware of great rewards:great risk.
6) Remote work. Cons: Likely need to be IT professional (?)
7) Passive income via blogging/AM/eBay/etc. Con: Will take time and luck to grow substantial following or customer base. Need to find unsaturated, popular niche.
8) Contracting/Skilled Labor. Cons: Completely ignorant of. Major career change. Where to start and learn? Which skills are good abroad...Welding? Oil/Gas in PH?
8) Teach English: Generally <2yr gig
9) Entertainment/Modeling. Con: LOL....LMAO..... Although...naturally a big reason for moving is my dating outlook is noticeably higher there. Being PhilAm helps, and physically >6ft and good looking enough. Was asked if I was a model alot last time I visited. (Strong no e-brag...just noting since it could help find a high paying job where looks often matter, especially in Asia; as much it helps me for finding quality wife material!) Absolutely no interest in acting or singing. Would not want to be famous. Otherwise I would not mind finding a high-class Filipina to marry, which I think to have good prospects for. If she is a daughter of a rich businessman or a rising actress then I'd just want to be on similar social level to even meet this type.
Sorry if long read...I tend to overanalyze and have put alot of thought. It'll be a large commitment. Career is important to me, hoping to mitigate or increase professional outlook, not completely shut out the grind and become a lone wolf backpacker! This is not a vacation and still want to sustain a comfortable lifestyle. Not against staying in PH indefinitely if I absolutely love it.
Cliffs:
-Want to move to PH 2-5yrs but also keep western comfy lifestyle.
-Need USD salary or equiv. in PHP Pesos. Not necessarily looking to be super rich, but SE Asia is only fun if you have $$$ afterall.
-I am Pinoy American with potential of dual citizenship.
-Wanting to reconnect with family and culture. This isn't a vacation.
-Brainstormed some job ideas, looking for more.
-What other jobs or sources of income to look into?
Any other leads for good paying income sources in the Philippines are APPRECIATED!
Tapping the great pool of knowledge here (incredible tips, glad I found this awesome community!) Saw the epic Philippines Thread but hoping to catch more eyes ITT. I want to live abroad a few years, and we all know how great PH is for escaping the West. However I am not willing to give up my comfortable lifestyle either. How can I go about living in Manila for 2-5yrs? Open to a paycut, just not living on <$10K USD/year like majority of Filipinos...my parents worked too hard to migrate West to make sure I did not.
Stats:
-Mid 20s single young professional
-Filipino American (full pinoy, first gen, born/raised SE USA) Major reason to move is to experience more of my ethnic culture.
-Eligible for dual citizenship and may own business/investments/property
-Proficient in Tagalog, will improve with full immersion
-Family connections (although lower-middle class)
-Hospital Admin background with masters from T10 US univ. (relates to below)
What USD-based or high-paying-PHP-equivalent jobs and other income sources are there in Manila? Obviously this is difficult to answer for a third world country, so could use more helpful insight. My brainstorming so far, in order of preference and feasibility:
1) CDC Public Health Advisor - Pretty good match actually. 2 Year Assignment as US Fed employee and I have relevant health admin exp. Probably Manila-based but may have to travel all over PH. Starting $63K is ~$3M PHP by conversion rate. Cons: Must be "GS12/14 grade" qualified, sounds Sr. Lvl requiring signf. leadership that I don't have yet. I do have healthcare-related masters but not MPH. Not a clinician MD/RN/etc. Not former military but clean record.
2) US-based employee of global IT or Advisory firm with overseas assignment. I've heard compensation can be $100K< USD for lucrative roles. Cons: likely IT/tech supervisory role. I have some healthcare IT exp. but not coding/networking/etc. Need to be employed first and assignments are by chance. Accenture, SAP, Oracle, Cognizant, etc have offices in Manila. Open to Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research industry but just unaware of opportunities.
3) Management Consultant as McKinsey Associate. I've been looking in strategy and operational consulting as a career change. From my research, supposedly McK's total comp. $150K< USD equiv. for post-MBA around the world, with some offices much higher depending on profit. Income potential is greatest here, with "1%" status if you climb to partner. Mgt. Consulting is a great track that I can see myself doing longterm. Cons: McK is the top firm in the world, very hard to get into. I wouldnt even consider if it wasn't for having an office in Makati. My "pedigree" is good with T10 MS, which ivy league-and-similar education is rarer in Manila than HK/Singapore, so that works to my advantage. Still, most Associates at top firms have a T10 MBA which itself is very competitive, expensive, and time consuming to earn (but I'm open to for overall career investment). These firms are global, so may be easier to transfer back to US office. Other Mgt Consulting firms include Big 4, although may be more Audit/Tax that I have little exp. in, and unsure if compensation is US-equiv like McK.
4) Banking: JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, BDO, etc. Cons: I know less about banking than consulting. And still may need a top MBA first.
5) Start a business. Cons: Currently lack drive and interests for entrepreneurship. Unsure what business to start. Aware of great rewards:great risk.
6) Remote work. Cons: Likely need to be IT professional (?)
7) Passive income via blogging/AM/eBay/etc. Con: Will take time and luck to grow substantial following or customer base. Need to find unsaturated, popular niche.
8) Contracting/Skilled Labor. Cons: Completely ignorant of. Major career change. Where to start and learn? Which skills are good abroad...Welding? Oil/Gas in PH?
8) Teach English: Generally <2yr gig
9) Entertainment/Modeling. Con: LOL....LMAO..... Although...naturally a big reason for moving is my dating outlook is noticeably higher there. Being PhilAm helps, and physically >6ft and good looking enough. Was asked if I was a model alot last time I visited. (Strong no e-brag...just noting since it could help find a high paying job where looks often matter, especially in Asia; as much it helps me for finding quality wife material!) Absolutely no interest in acting or singing. Would not want to be famous. Otherwise I would not mind finding a high-class Filipina to marry, which I think to have good prospects for. If she is a daughter of a rich businessman or a rising actress then I'd just want to be on similar social level to even meet this type.
Sorry if long read...I tend to overanalyze and have put alot of thought. It'll be a large commitment. Career is important to me, hoping to mitigate or increase professional outlook, not completely shut out the grind and become a lone wolf backpacker! This is not a vacation and still want to sustain a comfortable lifestyle. Not against staying in PH indefinitely if I absolutely love it.
Cliffs:
-Want to move to PH 2-5yrs but also keep western comfy lifestyle.
-Need USD salary or equiv. in PHP Pesos. Not necessarily looking to be super rich, but SE Asia is only fun if you have $$$ afterall.
-I am Pinoy American with potential of dual citizenship.
-Wanting to reconnect with family and culture. This isn't a vacation.
-Brainstormed some job ideas, looking for more.
-What other jobs or sources of income to look into?
Any other leads for good paying income sources in the Philippines are APPRECIATED!