GOODBYE AMERICA

The Philippine IT professional is very much in demand around the world. After gaining two to three years experience locally, they are heavily recruited by agencies in the U.S.A, Singapore and Australia.

Local companies have difficulty hiring experienced programmers. And many just hire fresh graduates and train them for the job. That is why many IT groups in the Philippines ask new hires to sign 2 to 3 year contracts to protect their investment.

After more than 10 years in the IT industry, I still struggle every time a colleague resigns. You try to nurture friendships in the office. But after just a few years, your friends are bound to leave you behind for go abroad.

Some friends would leave for Singapore or Australia. Maybe they would work for a few years, save some money and come back. But most people dream of going to America. And to them it is the ultimate goal.

America is a good place to be. If one is willing to work hard, you can afford to buy a house and a car. Things that would normally be beyond one’s means in the Philippines.

But America is not for me. I’ve been to the U.S.A. twice. It’s a wonderful place. I would love to go there for visits. But it is not home. The Philippines is home. Home is where your family is. When you need a break from your children, you can bring them to Lola or Tita. When you come home tired from work, you don’t have to worry about housework because you have a maid. When you crave for sweets, you can buy the most sinful mangoes at the local "palengke".

I could go on and on about the things I love about the Philippines. There are also terrible things about our country. But to me the good still outweighs the bad.

Career-wise, those who stay in the Philippines tend to move up faster. With so many leaving the company, those who choose to stay are good candidates when senior IT positions open up.

For those who are thinking about going abroad, don’t rush headlong into it.

• It may help if you try short-trips first. Some find that they get really homesick after a few weeks.
• Think about your career long-term. Will the skill and experience required in the job be valuable 3 to 5 years down the road? If the answer is no, don’t take it.
• Consider your family’s needs. For families with small children - Are there sufficient day-care facilities? Will the compensation package cover schooling, car expenses, housing and relocation for the whole family? If you are already established in the Philippines, the move might not be worthwhile for you.
• Factor in other expenses. Taxes, car loans, rent and mortgages take a big chunk out of your take home pay. Deduct them from your salary offer and compare what’s left-over with your current pay.

I hope by going through this list, more people will join me in saying – Goodbye America!

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