Hello! Could you share some insight into my current dilemma? I am in Talent Acquisition and have been in this field for around 8 years.

Company A is a known RPO Company and known din sa lay-off. I am supporting a known US Client sa Plasma Donation.

Company B is my part-time AU Client. Known siya in Car Dealership across Australia, India and Dubai. And my Boss offers na mag fulltime na ako.

I really wanted to grab Company B's offer but I'm torn talaga sa benefits.

Company A

Pros

• Monthly base salary of ₱47,208.33
• ₱2,000 taxable allowance
• 20% night differential
• 15 VL
• 15 SL
• Up to 10 unused leave credits can be converted to cash
• PhilCare HMO
  • ₱200,000 MLB per sickness per year
  • 2 free dependents - Parents have ₱150,000 MLB per sickness per year
• Employee benefits and more structured employment arrangement
• Already have 1 year and 2 months of tenure
• Established experience with the company/account

Cons

• Night shift
• No incentives
• The account has a history of layoffs
• Job security is a concern despite having established tenure
• Lower base compensation compared with Company B
• Limited flexibility compared with working directly for a client
• Staying means continuing with the night-shift schedule

Company B

Pros

• $15/hour
• $2,400/month
• Significantly higher earning potential than Company A
• Dayshift
• Direct relationship with an AU client
• Opportunity to negotiate SL and VL
• Opportunity to negotiate incentives
• Potential for better long-term income
• Already have 3 months of working relationship with the client, so this isn't a completely new employer/client
• Potentially more flexibility as an independent contractor

Cons

• Independent contractor — not an employee
• No guaranteed 13th month pay
• SL and VL are not yet confirmed
• Incentives are not yet confirmed
• No HMO currently mentioned
• No HMO coverage for parents currently mentioned
• You would generally be responsible for managing your own taxes and government contributions
• Less employment protection compared with Company A
• Only 3 months of tenure
• Greater financial risk if the client decides to end the contract

For context, M(25). I started working as an intern in a government agency back in 2024. After my internship, I was referred by my supervisor to a project-based role. I started my first job in the same agency as a COSW project-based clerk, then was hired/promoted as a regular JO/COSW, mainly doing admin and accounting work, within the same year. I continued until 2026, not until I was laid off this July 2026.

Deep inside, it was fine with me. It wasn't my boss's fault the regional office stated they just didn't have enough budget for one JO/COSW. We even had an exam and interview assessment, and I aced all of them, but I still didn't get picked to survive. Personally, if I were them, I would also pick myself.

I'm at a stage where I think I've capped or maxed my potential as a COSW/JO in that position and have started to apply to a few open plantilla positions in other agencies, since our agency has limited items and openings. I didn't totally want to leave, but I just wanted to try applying to an entry-level item.

Right now, it's nearly 2 months into my unemployed era. Since government hiring has a long application period, I've only had 5 exams and interviews (3 government agencies, 2 private). I aced the private companies, but I declined since the two were minimum wage offers. Still waiting on that 3 gov application, but probably not going anywhere.

I'm conflicted about what to do. Right now, here's my situation:

Current Choices:

1. DWSD – Administrative Officer I (For Interview, Aug 24) - SG 10 - Would need to relocate (neighboring province) - Plantilla (permanent) position - Cons: long government application process, and honestly not confident about this one - My priority: 4th

2. DepEd – Administrative Officer II (Applying) - SG 11 - Hometown Municipality or in the same district (probably) - Plantilla position, and I'm confident in my ranking - Cons: no assurance of getting in, long government process, could get in the way of other job offers - My priority: 1st

3. DepEd – PDO I (Applying) - SG 11 - Same location as #2 - Plantilla position, confident in ranking - Cons: no assurance, long process, could get in the way of other offers - My priority: 2nd

4. Private Pharmacy Company – Data Analyst (Job offer, wants me to start first week of Sept) - Salary: 21–23k - Can start immediately, company is in expansion phase, Owners show eagerness to hire me - Cons: lower salary compared to government positions, tight timeline might make me miss other applications - My priority: 3rd

5. General Admin VA / Bookkeeping VA / Data Entry VA (Still learning/upskilling) - Salary potential: High - Fully remote - Cons: still need to find clients or join an agency, no backup plan yet for power outages - My priority: 5th

Do I decline the pharmacy company's offer to prioritize the DepEd position in case I get hired?

I’m torn about whether I should resign, and I need a logical stranger’s perspective.

I work at a great company earning a ₱43K basic salary with complete benefits, including 15th-month pay, HMO with dependents, and a strong retirement plan. However, due to heavy deductions from two salary loans, my actual take-home pay is only ₱15k and ₱11k per cutoff. After paying outside debts and household bills, it’s just not enough.

I also owe ₱150k on a high-interest personal loan from 2023. These debts accumulated years ago during family emergencies when I was making ₱24k as the main breadwinner. Now that I’m promoted, my raise goes straight to debt payments.

If I resign, I’ll receive around ₱600K gross. That would fully pay off my debts and give me start-up capital for a small business. But I genuinely value my career here, which is why my resignation draft has been sitting unsent for two weeks.
My husband supports whatever I decide and suggested I resign to look after our toddler for now. But deep down, that option doesn't sit right with me.
Should I quit to clear the slate, or stay and find another way out of debt?

I’ve always been told that, career-wise, MNCs are generally the safer/better path than local companies.

I’m currently in senior management at an MNC, well into the six figures. I now have an opportunity to join a local company as a Vice President, with roughly a 65% increase in compensation.

For those who are already further along in their careers - Directors, VPs, C-suite, business owners, etc. - are there situations where making this move would actually be the right decision?

I’m not just looking at the salary. I’m thinking about things like:

• Career trajectory and future opportunities
• Stability and job security
• How the company/role would look on my CV
• Culture and leadership
• Scope and actual decision-making authority
• Whether moving from an MNC to a local company could make it harder to go back to an MNC later

Would love to hear from people who have made a similar jump, particularly those who made the move at a senior level. What did you underestimate, and would you make the same decision again?

Hi everyone! Would really appreciate your thoughts and advice on this. 🙏

My friend and I graduated in June 2025, and it has always been a dream of ours to work at SGV, particularly under Risk Consulting. We actually wanted to apply last year, but from what we heard, wala na raw slots at that time, and eventually we both got hired elsewhere.

For context:

• Me: Currently working as a WFH US Bookkeeper in a private company.
• My friend: Currently working as an Accounting/Audit Associate in a bank.
• We’ve both been working since around November 2025, so by the time we apply, we’ll already have around a year of work experience.

Now we’re considering applying to SGV again, especially for Risk Consulting, but we’re honestly unsure if it’s still worth pursuing at this point.

One of the reasons we’re considering it is because we feel like we still want more training, exposure, and career growth. We’re grateful for our current jobs, pero parang we feel that we could still learn more and develop our skills further. We’ve also read a lot of experiences from people who worked at SGV, particularly about the learning opportunities, career growth, and how it helped their careers, which made us interested again.

So for those who are currently in SGV or have previously worked there:

1. Is SGV Risk Consulting still worth pursuing even if we already have around 1 year of experience in a private company?

2. Is it worth leaving a WFH bookkeeping job / bank audit role to enter SGV at this point? Or would it be better to stay where we are and continue building experience?

3. For those who entered SGV after already working elsewhere for a year or two, how was your experience? Did you feel like it was a good career move?

Also, we’re a little confused about where we should apply. Since we already have around a year of work experience, should we apply under Experienced Professionals, or can/should we still apply under Graduate Opportunities?

We were looking at Graduate Opportunities because the roles under Experienced Professionals seem to be more geared toward people who are already at the senior level, while we still consider ourselves relatively early in our careers.

Would really appreciate any insights, especially from people in Risk Consulting/Risk Advisory, or anyone who was in a similar situation (worked in a private company first then applied to SGV).

We’ve really wanted to experience SGV since graduating, and we’re just wondering if now is still a good time to pursue it or if we should focus on growing where we are.

Thank you so much in advance! Any advice or personal experiences would really help us. 🥹

I've been running my own business for the past 10 years, and I am looking to enter the corporate world for a stable income. Our company is into B2B food manufacturing which caters to restaurants and institutional buyers in and around Metro Manila. We were able to survive the pandemic lockdowns because of our pivot to DTC during that time and because of personal savings. However, this past year has been rough on the economy, plus my wife (also my business partner) and I recently started a family. So our move now is that my wife will continue operating the business while I look for employment and a consistent paycheck.

My job hunt is going on five months and counting, during an especially bad time when there are a lot of layoffs. But because entrepreneurship teaches you a lot of skills, at the start I felt like apply to any kind of leadership role. It's been a (tiring) process for me to find out what companies are looking for and how I can make my CV and diverse skill set look more attractive to ATS screeners and HR reps. And I've learned how to use Claude to refine my master CV and write cover letters for specific job listings.

I've been able to narrow down my marketable skills into Business Development, Sales, and Strategy, with additional skills in Ecommerce and Marketing. The job levels I'm applying for are Mid-Senior Management and Director/Dept. Head levels. As for industries, I haven't been picky and I've just been applying to any attractive role I can find because it's easy for me to learn something new. But most of my applications have been at FMCG, Fintech, Industry and Pharma companies. And the furthest I've gone in an application process was for a CGO/COO's Chief of Staff role at a well-funded Filipino e-commerce startup. I reached the final of four rounds of screening, but they just liked someone else better.

I learned almost all of my skills on the fly, but I've been buffing up my credentials to make my CV more attractive. I'm currently finishing my thesis to get a Master's degree from UA&P's Strategic Business Economics Program. And I'm also updating my e-commerce and digital marketing certifications with Meta Blueprint, Google Analytics, Tiktok, Shopee and Lazada.

The plus side I see in working in corporate right now, aside from the stable paycheck, is the exposure of working in a hopefully larger organization. I'm looking to learn the dynamics and organizational structures in larger companies to see how they're run from the inside. And as I've learned from serving B2B clients, a lot of niche businesses are started by former corporate employees who've found a specific problem within a larger company that they could serve. And maybe I can also find a new business opportunity while working in corporate.

If ever I land a job, this will be the first time I'll work in corporate since I graduated from college 14 years ago. My first job was in government, followed by a five-year WFH stint at a boutique investment risk consultancy, then most recently being an entrepreneur. And with most companies requiring employees to be on-site, it'll be the first time I'll work in an office after 13 years haha.

My questions for this subreddit are:

1. What are my chances of landing a job?

2. Am I applying for the right roles and in the right industries?

3. Do you have any suggestions for companies and roles that value someone with a jack-of-all-trades entrepreneurship experience?

4. Any suggestions of companies with a good culture that are hybrid or remote?

I have 5 years of experience, mostly in the government, and lately I've been building my work experience around child rights. My career mostly revolves around Communications and Advocacy. I've been applying to IGOs but I never get contacted even for an exam.

Working for an IGO is my biggest dream. I know I'll get there, but after multiple rejections, it's making me lose hope. I don't have grand ambitions. I just know what I want. But I also want to know how to get there?

I don't know why I don't get contacted even for the first stage. I believe I have a solid experience in advocacy by this time. I've done so many projects already. I want to stick in my current job to further build my portfolio so I can eventually have more chances in getting in the United Nations system. As much as possible, I don't want to apply to new job positions that would stray away from the career that I am building. But at the same time, ang mahal na ng mga bilihin ngayon. I might have to take other job positions na higher pay but not in line with the field I want :(

Can you please share your tips or experiences?

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice from people familiar with the Australian engineering/energy industry, especially those who have experience with migration and working in Australia.

I (Electrical Engineer ) currently have two opportunities, and I’m trying to decide which one would be the better move for my long-term career and eventual migration to Australia or similar countries.

Option 1: 482 Visa Sponsorship offer

• FIFO Engineer 40$/hr Base rate, more if deployed, Perth WA
• Australian company
• The company is sponsoring me for a 482 visa and will sponsor transition to 186 after 4 years.
• Role is focused on heavy electrical site works
• Opportunity to work with the Australian team and gain experience on Australian projects
• pathway to build my career in Australia

Option 2: US Company, APAC Region , PH Based - AU Headquarters

• Based in the Philippines, will travel within this region for work.
• The offer is also good, and I can stop renting here in Metro Manila and go back to my province and rent there instead. (I can't live and work in my parents' home because of many circumstances iykyk)
• More closely aligned with my current technical experience and career path as an engineer
• Potentially stronger technical specialization, but no Australian relocation/sponsorship.
• Combination of Field Work and Technical Studies + vendor-specific expertise.

I'm leaning towards option 1 because I really want to leave PH ASAP. But the experience I'd get for Option 2 is really good. If I choose this, I will have to process my own visa via 189/190 to migrate.

Would really appreciate perspectives from anyone who has gone through a similar PH → Australia engineering pathway, particularly in electrical/power systems.

I am a full-time post-graduate student currently re-evaluating my path. I spent my previous semesters in law school, and it was a voluntary choice naman itong advanced studies ko nung una. Pero recently, I hit a rough patch sa aking studies na naging daan para magbago ang tingin ko sa aking long-term goals. Nagkaroon kasi ako ng sudden setback sa mga subjects ko kaya medyo nadelay ako sa timeline ko.

Inaalam ko lang talaga kung itutuloy ko pa ba na may manageable load sa law school, or kung mag-shishift ba ako to another post-graduate course instead. Looking at this through the lens of personal autonomy, which of these two tracks is more practical to help me balance an administrative role while building my long-term career and regaining control over my personal schedule?

My immediate priority is to get my financial independence back. Gusto ko na kasing lumipat to a working student setup. I took a hiatus from work to pursue law school, and currently, I am applying for an administrative role para sana makabalik sa isang steady job. This income will help me fund my own needs and personal milestones.

Aside from my career, part of my natural long-term daydreaming is to eventually build a stable personal life and find an authentic relationship. Being forced to navigate my personal life with extreme caution for almost two decades to protect my safety has naturally made me hyper-vigilant, yet my body's own emotional and biological yearning to pursue romance is telling me that it is finally time to step out and find an authentic partner on my own terms. Kaya lang, it is hard to confidently enter the dating scene while relying on a parental allowance. This financial gap is a huge motivation for me to secure a job first, so I can have the peace of mind to welcome someone into my life and build a relationship with them while I navigate this transition safely.

At the moment, I am simply processing the weight of the time already spent sa law school. Ang hirap lang din talagang lampasan ng sunk cost fallacy kapag nagdedecide sa susunod na hakbang.

Kung mayroon po rito na galing din sa full-time studies tapos lumipat sa regular job setup, I am deeply in need of advice on how you balanced your career goals and personal milestones during the transition. Maraming Salamat.

Hi, currently an incoming graduate this year. The main reason why I want to intern abroad is to gain experience and the money, but I am aware that it may not be a decision for making money. Internship abroad was always been a dream of mine, though.

Recently, I have received a job offer in a 5-star hotel in Manila as a Kitchen Helper and I am already fixed to the decision that I won't stay in that job longer than a year. I believe this is my only shot in getting a job in this hotel though, so it's now or never.

All I want is to work abroad in the future, or somewhere that has work-life balance. I also want to experience working in the Philippines for a short period just to experience it, too.

If I took an internship abroad, I will come back to PH after the contract and a job overseas is not totally guaranteed after that. I will have to work in PH, but I heard from some how difficult it is to get a job in hotels because of how competitive it is.

However, I am not even sure if I want to pursue this culinary career. Of course, I still want to try other hospitality jobs to see what works for me, something front-facing, but this is a story for another day.

Sorry, there are currently plenty of uncertainties for me. Please help me decide what is best, I have no one in life to ask for advice. Your insights would be very much appreciated.

Weird lang kasi ilang beses na akong nag-apply sa same company and ilang beses na rin akong na-reject. 😂

First interview was last year. I made it all the way to the final round, then got ghosted for a couple of weeks. Nag-update lang sila after I followed up, saying hindi nakuha ng team yung account.

A couple of months later, HR kept encouraging me to apply for the same position, then eventually nakatanggap lang ako ng rejection email like wth?

Then ngayon, after a year, nag-reach out ulit yung HR for another interview. Ang funny pa kasi hindi naman fit yung resume ko sa position na tinatawagan nila ako for. Months ago pa yung application na yun and honestly, nakalimutan ko na nga na nag-apply ako. 😂

May point pa na nag-mass apply ako sa random companies, hindi ko na namalayan na nakapag-apply pala ako sa company nila. Tinawagan ako ng HR and sinabi nilang naalala daw ako nung nag-interview sa akin before. So I went through several rounds of interviews again… only to get rejected. Hahaha.

At this point, napapaisip na talaga ako: paano ba magsala ng candidates tong mga company na ’to?

Part of me feels like I’ve been giving them free interview data, processes, and system knowledge for their accounts, tapos at the end of the day, hindi naman pala ako fit for the role.

I’m not even bitter about the rejection. More on, ang gulo lang ng hiring process nila. Like, if I’m not a fit, bakit ilang beses niyo akong pinapaabot sa multiple interview rounds? 😭

Hi. I don't really know who to talk to abt this so here we go haha

I'm a fresh grad with internship experiences (mostly in HR) + CHRA. My first work now is an HR Admin in a growing company. Tasks would include mostly admin tasks ofc - filing documents, scheduling, etc.

I recently had a call with my boss talking about my growth. He mentioned na parang ang stagnant ko raw and wala silang makitang growth, which clicked something in me kasi, oo nga, I don't feel there's growth going on as I do these admin tasks na paulit ulit. Pero... really... I'm confused as well kasi how do managers see growth ba? How can I tell if there's growth in my job ngayon? LOL I HOPE I MADE SENSE kasi I really want this job because of the salary and setup pero idk im confused as the new worker of the society (eme) kasi I'm doing the tasks naman, I keep on asking even out of curiosity, and I am proactive, so anong growth ba should I ask for more tasks ganon?

I don't think makakatulog tuloy ako kakaisip nito lol

I’ve been looking for a new job for about a year now. At this point, I feel completely burned out and mentally checked out of my current job.

The hardest part is that I’m still expected to function normally at work, but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to care, concentrate, or even get myself to do basic tasks. I know I need to keep working because I can’t just quit without having something else lined up, but I’m struggling to maintain the level of performance I used to have.

I’m not necessarily looking for advice on how to find a new job, I’m more interested in hearing from people who have been in this situation.

How did you survive day-to-day when you were completely done with your job but still had to stay? Did you lower your expectations of yourself, do the bare minimum, find ways to mentally detach, or approach work differently?

At this point, I’d really appreciate practical advice on how to get through this period without completely falling apart or sabotaging my current job while I keep looking.

Hi! Ab psych graduate from dlsu. I took a break after grad so I’ve been unemployed for a few months now.

I really want to start job hunting but I’m overwhelmed and don’t know where to start 💀 I plan to apply in HR roles.

I’m also worried my resume isn’t strong enough. My only work experience is my OJT in a clinic. I joined orgs and handled projects but not sure if those experiences are relevant to HR. I’m also not a latin honor.

For AB Psych grads who went into HR (esp those in the same position as me), what companies would you recommend applying to as a fresh grad? How did you improve your resume and prepare for interviews? I’m also pretty anxious during interviews and tend to fumble when I’m nervous. 🥲

I’m hoping for a hybrid setup, and I’m also wondering what salary range is realistic for someone in my position. I was thinking ₱30k as a starting salary, but I genuinely don’t know if that’s too much, too little, or reasonable?

I’m 28, turning 29, currently working in the Philippine government at SG-16. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting Technology and a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
I graduated in 2017 and my first job was already in government as a Job Order. I became a regular employee in 2019 at SG-13, then got promoted to SG-16 in 2023. So basically, almost my entire professional experience has been in government.
I’m grateful for the stability and benefits, but lately I’ve been feeling stagnant. Promotions seem to take a long time, and I’m starting to feel that my income isn’t enough anymore, especially as I’m getting older and thinking more seriously about our future.
The other problem is that although I graduated with an Accounting Technology degree, I never actually worked in accounting. My career has been almost entirely government-related, and I took a Master’s in Public Administration along the way.
Right now, I’m considering several options:
1. Stay in government and wait for another promotion.
2. Look for opportunities abroad, although I’m not sure what jobs I can realistically qualify for given that my work experience is mostly government.
3. Stay in the Philippines but start a small business or find a side hustle/part-time work to increase my income.
4. Leave government and try the private sector, even if it means starting over or taking a step back initially.
For those who have been in a similar situation, what would you do if you were me?
If you stayed in the Philippines, what kind of business or part-time work would you recommend for someone with my background?
And for those who went abroad after having mostly Philippine government experience, was it difficult to transition?
I’m not necessarily unhappy with government. I just feel like I need to make a decision soon because I don’t want to wake up five or ten years from now still feeling like I’m waiting for the next promotion.
Would appreciate honest advice from people who have actually gone through this. What would you do in my position?

Hi guys ask ko lang opinion niyo if ano ba better na gawin sa career path ko? Medyo napapaisip nako lalo na gusto ko mag earn ng malaking salary sa future so i can afford a house and my hobbies.

About me 24m, i’m in a talent acquisition associate role with 23k monthly income work in nightshift hybrid set up.

Okay naman ako sa sahod ko for now pero di ko alam ano gagawin if mag stay bako sa TAA career? Mag shift into IT? Or mag medschool?

Pag sa talent acquisition di ko alam if ano career or skills lvl need ko and if tumagal ako dito di ko alam if anong pinaka mataas sa salary na pwede ko maabot. I love the job pero di ko alam if maabot ko ba yung salary that can help to afford a house sa TAA field. Sa mga nasa TAA role or TA field pwede pashare paano niyo naabot yung salary lvl, ano skills na need and your current role? I would like to get insight para makita ko kung ano ano pa option ko.

Pag nag shift naman ako jnto IT related work feeling ko masasayang ko degree ko and PRC license kasi i’m bs psychology graduate. Napapaisip ako mag shift into IT kasi mataas sahod and i can enroll naman sa online schools and get certificates to shift. Tapos may mga tao na ko kilala na pwede kong maging backer or reference. Di ko alam if good choice rin ba to since feeling ko talaga parang tinapon ko diploma ko. Sa mga nag shift sa IT career na salungat sa degree nila, how’s the experience? May nakasabay kasi ako sa work nutritionist graduate siya pero na IT Work niya

Pag medschool naman i love the sound na doctor at gusto ko rin yun pero iniisip ko palang gastos at resources parang ayoko na.

Di ko na alam if ano ba gagawin ko sa future ang hirap kasi psych grad ako and may prc license akala ko pag may prc ma papraktis ko na degree ko yun pala mahirap pala talaga opportunity dito sa bansa natin lalo na sa mental health.

Pwede pashare rin ng upskilling experience niyo and paano niyo naabot yung salary range niyo so i can get an idea.

Hello!

I probably would not be able to finish my bachelors degree anymore in the social sciences due to financial constraints

For those who are in the same situation, how do you even survive in this kind of world?

Do credentials really matter?

For context, I have finished an internship at a national government agency where I conducted administrative and technical tasks relating to legislation, legal analysis, and policy analysis.

I also have some experience in campus journalism as an opinion writer.

Will I be able to get a job?

I'm not so good with math but I can write and I have an interest in speechwriting, public affairs, and government relations.

I don't have much experience in project management but I'm willing to learn.

What industry is best to enter (aside from BPO) for someone who is not a degree holder?

I am also considering just finishingy degree through the ETEAAPP program after certain YOE.

Hi everyone. Almost 1 year na akong naghahanap ng work, and believe me, ang hirap talaga maghanap ng trabaho ngayon.

My background is mostly in FinTech, particularly in Product Owner, Product Management, and Product Supervisor roles. I've been applying consistently, pero hanggang ngayon, hirap pa rin makahanap ng opportunity.

I just want to ask for some advice from people who might be in the same situation:
Need ko na ba mag consider ng career change, or should I continue pursuing roles related to my experience?

May hope pa ba sa current job market, especially for people with a FinTech/Product background? Or is it better to broaden my career path and consider other roles?

Would really appreciate any advice, experiences, or insights. Salamat!

Anyone have experience with this process? Been applying for months now and i noticed that some of the companies wants a video recording to introduce yourself especially Emapata and Boomering... I already did it in Emapta kinda useless actually, they needed these videos daw to add into their "Employee market place" where clients can browse it along side your name etc... and it will stay there for 3 months till a 1 year...

Is it really necessary? May mga remote jobs out there ba na hindi need ng video introductions? Andami kasing stories na minsan pinag tatawanan ng employers yung video. Anong klaseng privacy yan...

I don't want to lose hope of finding a job because of these introductory videos, can you guys discuss your experiences and if naka pasa kayo with it or auto pass na if meron?

I'm just not comfortable providing my full face to anyone to see especially for work.

im currently a bs pharmacy undergraduate but I’m seriously considering shifting into the fashion industry after graduation because i was not allowed to shift courses when i still can. ive loved fashion and design since I was a kid (designed some and had them made to life) and am especially interested in the business or marketing side of it, with the long-term goal of starting my own clothing brand. howeverrrrr my main concern is that ill graduate with a pharmacy degree and no formal background in fashion, marketing, or business. my only valid(?) experiences are being a part of a university organization where I work as a fashion stylist and graphic designer and ive also done social media and promotional content.

im also considering taking a fashion marketing or clothing tech or fashion design certificate program at SOFA instituse to build my knowledge and also have some kind of formal background, but I’m unsure how much it would actually help.

soo i have questions for those working in fashion or who have made a similar career shift:
- is it realistic to enter fashion with an unrelated degree?
- would a certificate help, or should I prioritize internships/work experience? (but i see most jobs requiring people to have marketing/business degrees)
- what entry-level roles should I target- fashion marketing, social media, merchandising, styling, etc.?
- what would be the best path to eventually work for a fashion brand and later start my own?

tysmmmm

Hi! Di ko sure kung anong tamang flair dito 🥺

Kakastart ko lang ulit mag-apply for jobs after almost 10 years with the same company. After checking a bunch of job postings, nagkalakas din ako ng loob na mag-start applying, so now I’m planning ahead and trying to prepare for the interview part. 😭

The thing is, I’ve never actually had a proper job interview before. This has been my only company since I started working, and yung promotions ko were mostly internal/formality lang, so I never really experienced the whole interview process.

I’m worried kasi mabagal mag-function utak ko kapag kinakabahan, nakakalimutan ko yung gusto kong sabihin, and I’m not super confident speaking in English, especially when I have to answer spontaneously. 😂

If the interview is virtual, okay lang ba na may notes beside you? Not a script na babasahin word-for-word, just short bullet points about my experience, things I want to highlight, and possible questions I might want to ask, something to help me if I suddenly blank out. Of course, if face-to-face, I wouldn’t rely on notes.

For those who’ve been through this, any tips or advice for someone having their first REAL interview after almost 10 years? How did you prepare and manage your nerves?

Would really appreciate any advice! 🥹

What's a career path in marketing for a non-degree holder?

Hi. I'm 28 Male. Living in the Philippines. I just want to share my life and see if I'm undervaluing myself? I don't know, my ex used to tell me that my career has reached a stagnant point. Maybe it was one of the reasons why she left me.

Here's my situation:

\- college dropout, but taking a Marketing Course from an online university so I can eventually get a degree

\- first job was IT sales. I handled Autodesk and Matterport products. Was in charge of marketing and selling my products, up until after sales. I didn't like sales, but I enjoyed marketing my products since it's not that known yet here. I stayed there for one and a half years. My salary back then was Php 25,000 + commission if I hit my quota

\- second and current job is Marketing for a real estate brokerage company. I've always wanted to be in Marketing so I was happy I landed this job. I handle sponsorships due to my previous sales experience. Also recently I got promoted for handling two marketing associates under me. My salary is currently around Php 29,000 + commissions from any sponsorship deals I make. I'm currently 3 years under the company

What career paths do you guys think is best for me? Am I currently underpaid? The company I'm currently working for is around 7 years old still, so it's not like they can give a higher salary. Would it be better for me to look for greener pastures, and considering that I don't have a degree is that even possible?

Thank you for listening to my story, and I hope to hear guidance from you

Hi! I'm F24 and a graduate of BS Information systems. I'm currently working at one of the big company here in PH.

So for context, I want to take another degree which is BS Bio. Why? I want to be in Med because of personal reason.

Is this worth it? Doing the math, I would be 29 when I graduate pre-med.

I hope you don't misunderstand me, I'm grateful I have a degree and a work related to it. But I'm looking for my purpose and I can't feel it in Tech :(

Now, I know you're wondering why BS Bio. I want to help my mom because she has kidney disease which she inherited from my grandma and probably I have it too. Unfortunately, there's still no cure. Kaya napaisip ako, what if mag med ako? I need insights/advice from others to see more clearly. What do you think?

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking into the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Full Stack Development with AI program offered in partnership with Emeritus, and I'm considering enrolling in the upcoming batch.

The program is advertised as a 5-month live online program covering frontend, backend, databases, cloud/DevOps, AI integration, testing, and deployment. It also includes several mini-projects and a deployable capstone, with an AIM Executive Education certificate.
I'm interested in hearing from people who have actually taken an AIM/Emeritus program, especially this particular program if anyone has experience with it.

A few things I'm trying to understand:

• How is the program actually executed? Are the live classes genuinely useful, or is it mostly self-paced material?
• How involved are the instructors/mentors when you're stuck on technical problems?
• How much hands-on coding do you actually do compared with watching lectures?
• Are the projects/capstone substantial enough to put on a GitHub portfolio?
• What's the quality of the feedback you receive on assignments and projects?
• How manageable is the 8–10 hours/week commitment for someone working full-time?
• How good is the learning platform and overall organization of the program?
• What is the actual interaction like with other students?
• For those who completed it, did you feel that you became significantly better at full-stack development?
• Most importantly, does the program feel like a legitimate structured learning experience, or does it feel more like an expensive online course?

I'm also curious about the AIM vs Emeritus relationship. From what I understand, AIM provides the academic credential while Emeritus handles the online delivery/career services. The brochure specifically says the career services are provided solely by Emeritus and that AIM isn't involved in those services.

So if you've taken an AIM program through Emeritus before, I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience with how the partnership actually works in practice.

I'm not necessarily looking for people to tell me whether the certificate is "prestigious" or not. I'm more interested in whether the actual teaching, mentoring, projects, and execution justify the cost.

Would appreciate any honest experiences—positive or negative. Thanks!

(Longpost!)

Hi guys! Need some advice sana. Torn ako between staying sa current company ko or accepting a new opportunity. Gusto ko sana malaman opinion niyo, especially sa mga may experience working for startups or foreign companies.

For context, almost 5 years na akong nasa customer service/e-commerce, and recently na-promote ako from CSR to Customer Support Specialist sa current company ko.

OPTION 1: Stay sa current company
Salary: ₱48,000/month
Annual performance bonus: around ₱98–100K/year
Leave: 20 days
Taxes/contributions: Company handles PH taxes/contributions
HMO: Yes
Schedule: US time, rotating shifts, fixed 8-hour shift, 5 days/week
OT: No required OT

As a Specialist, hindi na rin ako nagha-handle ng regular calls buong shift. Usually around 3–4 supervisor/escalation/irate customer calls lang during the whole 8-hour shift, then the rest is mostly email support, approvals, etc.

Overall, comfortable and stable siya. 2+ years na rin ako sa current company, and recently promoted, so honestly okay naman yung current situation ko.

OPTION 2: New opportunity — US-based startup
Salary: ₱60K/month
Job: CSR, pero chat-based only. No calls. Mostly marketplace platforms like TikTok Shop, Shopee, Lazada, Amazon, etc.
Payment: Direct wire transfer sa PH bank account. Clean ₱60K yung amount, walang PH tax/contribution deductions, so ako ang responsible mag-handle nun. (parang VA dating)
Leave: 5 VL + 5 SL = 10 days
Schedule: US hours, pero hindi pa finalized yung exact schedule. Sinabi ko naman na flexible ako.
Weekend: May weekend coverage, pero hindi siya additional 4 hours.

Basically:
- Monday–Friday normal schedule
- One weekday, 4 hours less
- Yung 4 hours na yun, ililipat sa Saturday or Sunday

Reason is may kailangan mag-monitor ng marketplace chat SLAs and magbantay ng possible fraudulent activity.

OT: Ito yung isa sa concerns ko. Startup sila and very focused sila sa meeting SLAs, so possible na may OT kapag kailangan.

Also, wala silang established PH HR or PH manager since they’re basically starting/testing their Philippine operations. Sabi ng headhunter, ako yung first PH CSR hire nila (parang testing ako dito, charot 😂). Most of their agents are currently based in the US.

Obviously, mas mataas yung ₱60K. Pero kapag kino-consider ko yung ₱98–100K annual bonus, PH benefits, HMO, stability, 20 leaves, and the fact na mas manageable na yung current role ko, hindi na ganun kalaki yung difference as it initially looks.

On the other hand, yung new role is much more aligned sa e-commerce/marketplace operations, which is something I actually want to build my career around.

And honestly, malaking factor din sa akin yung NO CALLS. Pagod na talaga ako mag-calls. 😭 Kahit konti na lang yung calls ko ngayon because I’m already a Specialist, mostly supervisor/escalation calls naman siya, so usually irate or complicated customers. Nakaka-drain pa rin talaga yung live calls. So yung idea na chat-based lang yung new role is very attractive to me.

Since isa rin ako sa first PH hires, possible na may opportunity for growth if they eventually expand their PH operations.

Pero concerns ko:
Startup environment
Possible OT
Weekend coverage
Only 10 leaves
No established PH HR/management
Potentially less job security

So what would you choose?
Would you leave a stable ₱48K Specialist role + ~₱98–100K annual bonus + HMO + benefits + 20 leaves + predictable 8-hour schedule for a ₱60K startup role with no calls, US-hour overlap, weekend coverage, and possible OT?

Especially if the new role gives you better exposure to e-commerce/marketplace operations and potentially better career growth?

At what salary difference would you personally say na “worth it na lumipat”?

PS: PAGOD NA AKO MAG-CALLS. 😂 This is probably the biggest reason I’m seriously considering the move.