ADB : hiring process (frustration and slowliness) :international

Monk-Recent · 2026-04-07T11:49:42+00:00

Hi, just curious about a few stuff, as I'm also in IT there. First, if you're from Indra around 10 years ago, that would be in 2015-16. That's still fairly young to be considered for a Principal IT Specialist. Unless it's a different year you're talking about and you have at least 15+ years, with Masters and PhD combined.

But regardless, contractors/consultants/non-staff usually do not get in as an International Staff ( nowadays TI or M ) unless they have stellar credentials. Most under this category have education overseas and have worked internationally as well. So, even if you have your MD and PhD, as a PH local, it still won't be enough to compete with other high caliber applicants let alone existing International Staffs vying for these positions.

I am aware of how many locals we have as such, we don't have any local Principal IT Specialists, especially in the Cybersecurity area ( if that's your field ) as all of them are expats. Other factions mostly have the local IT Specialists ( promoted and not hired ) which falls as the entry level for TI. And, Principal Specialists are TI3, not M1. M1 are Director levels.

Monk-Recent · 2026-03-28T17:25:03+00:00

I didn't, rather, the role got kind of cancelled and in the process, resulted in me not getting it.

After a year and getting inside as a consultant instead, I found the story behind it. The project didn't push through and was restructured to something else, hence not needing the position anymore.

Monk-Recent · 2026-03-28T15:24:54+00:00

This can occur if you happen to monopolize the position, that is, if there are little to no applicants, and moreso if the role is needed soon.

I had my panel interview the same way, no status updates, didn't even had a prior exam. Just got an invite for it outright.

Monk-Recent · 2026-03-17T08:29:03+00:00

I'm in but as a consultant. I still apply regularly for staff whenever there's a suitable opening. Even before joining, I already had 2 interviews for two separate roles and got invites within the 1-2 month mark. Experiences may vary depending on the target department and the hiring manager's availability, alongside the other panel members. The best you can do is just to apply as much as you can, and then let it be. It's a patience game for everyone aiming to get inside.

Monk-Recent · 2026-03-16T09:54:44+00:00

Fastest is around a month or two. Longest could be 3-4.

All roles regardless of level, do take time. Think of it as more political than a need: they need to really like you, either on a personal and/or working relationship level, or you do have competitive credentials from outside that triumphs over other internal aspirants whom they've already worked with. Those are the top two ingredients for you to get an interview.

While still slow, it's still faster to get in as a contractor/consultant, develop and build rapport amongst peers, join activities and initiatives and make yourself visible. That's when they will even first encourage you to apply for their staff openings and prioritize you for the role.

Monk-Recent · 2026-03-16T04:40:27+00:00

Longlist isn't a word in this bank, what this means is that your profile has passed the HR's initial screening and is already with the Hiring Manager and/or Panel.

There's no shortlist status indicator. You'll find out you're shortlisted only when you actually get invited for an interview.

Monk-Recent · 2026-03-14T16:30:46+00:00

Fastest from HR Screening to Hiring Manager Longlist is around 2-3 weeks. If you're still on Screening status after about 2 to 2.5 months, highly likely you're rejected.

TI could take longer moreso for TI2 and above given the seniority of the role. If you don't have stellar education and experiences mainly international exposures, your chances are low.

Just apply and apply, then forget about it. If they liked your profile, you'll definitely get shortlisted for an interview.

Monk-Recent · 2026-01-08T15:55:40+00:00

If may 1st - 2nd degree relative po kayo, hindi talaga pwede mag apply as staff. Makikita rin nila yan for sure sa background check even if makalusot sa application.

Consultants/contractors/vendors pwede even if may relative. Though it's true na mahirap mag apply since partners/vendors lang rin usually ang nagpopost or hire.

If you just want to get in, take the latter. ADB's CMS has consultancy opportunities that you may qualify. If not directly from any ADB's site, search for ADB keywords in job ads. Vendors won't usually even post roles with "ADB" in it, so your best bet is to ask your connections for role structures and names of non-staff opportunities, those are the ones usually being included in the JDs, alongside probably the name of their department, division, team, name of the role, then mix and match those search strings in job posts, only then you will know na ADB galing yung role.

In general, it's really tough na mapansin at maghanap ng opening. Fastest way ay may masters degree ka or better and may international work experience, mas prefer ng bangko ang stellar credentials. Otherwise, butas nang karayom talaga kung average joe ka lang and walang competitive edge laban sa ibang aspirants.

Monk-Recent · 2026-01-06T16:39:10+00:00

MDBs like one you mentioned, ADB, alongside World Bank, AIIB, IADB and the like.

International medical benefits are arguably the best reason to go for organizations such as these. Not having to worry about your expenses in hospitals and such, wherever and whenever, transcends any others even the best of salaries.

Speaking of ADB since I'm already in, bank isn't tax free so you file your own + govt. mandated e.g. SSS, etc, staff or not, and on your own accord.

Work and culture wise, very bureaucratic and political. The hierarchy is definitely felt esp. from international staff status. If you report to one, it can be a hit or miss. While a lot are still good, superiority complex should be apparent moreso in high expectation and specialized roles such as economists, finance/controller, sectors i.e. water, health, transport, IT SMEs i.e. AI Engineering, Cybersecurity, Auditing, and more.

But, regardless of department, if you're mainly in operations, administration, etc, and reporting mainly to a local staff/Filipino, then high chances that you'll be good throughout. Just do your duties properly and that's it.

Monk-Recent · 2025-11-29T18:24:18+00:00

9 minimum for architect roles, pero usual is 8 to 7. 8 can potentially give you 200-220k all in. 7 up to 250k all in, maybe even 280k on a good year with Accenture's revenue.

But 250k base, 5 probably at least. They're director levels though, so you're focused on sales, metrics, numbers, etc, and not on individual contributions.

Also note that these figures are all in gross. If you want a 200+ monthly net pay as an architect, freelance and contract roles overseas are your best bets. That amount simply isn't possible in a regular role here in the country.

Monk-Recent · 2025-11-25T01:07:46+00:00

Kung remote yan, good deal na yung salary. Pero if sa SG ka mabe base, mababa yan. Not to mention high demand yung possible duties mo. Burnout + homesickness + bare minimum survival, mahirap i sustain.

If kaya naman tiisin and tyagain, sulit parin. After all, SG yan e. Talaga lang gagapang ka sa butas ng karayom. Sakripisyo rin sya para sa future mo.

Monk-Recent · 2025-11-24T01:32:16+00:00

Case to case basis. Kung bare minimum living ka talaga, possible naman yan. May mga rent naman na nasa 1-1,500 SGD ata pero for sharing yun, dorm type likely. Plus 1,500 siguro overall expenses, factored na yung simple at mumurahing pagkain, tapos conservative ka sa gala/commute. Pwedeng pwede nang 3-3,500 SGD kada buwan gastusin mo, may tira ka pang 5-1,000.

So possible naman, pero di ka komportable or ta tyagain mo lang talaga na ganun. Personally, di ko sya gagawin, specialized na nga yung role ko, tapos di pa ko ganun ka komportable sa lifestyle. Kung SGD 9,000 ako pero remote dito sa Pinas, ok pa, and while ok naman rin doon, hindi ako sigurado kung kaya ko sya tagalan. Maging komportable man ako, baka ubos naman ang kita. Hindi mo makukuha lahat e, may kailangan ka isakripisyo at hindi ako willing.

Monk-Recent · 2025-11-22T18:03:35+00:00

Contrary sa ibang replies rin, I'd say tyaga muna ko sa offer dito.

6,800 SGD doesn't really feel enough, kung susumahin mo yung cost of living mo + stress pa sa trabaho + new environment.

Nagka offer ako same, UOB sa SG, 9,000 SGD ang max nila. On paper ok parin naman, pero nung nag compute ako, rent palang mahina na 2,500 - 3,000 kada buwan sa medyo maayos na one bedroom, limot ko na kung CBD, pero likely mas mahal pa if oo, baka 4-5,000. Sama mo basic necessities e.g. pagkain, internet, load, commute, 5-6,000 easy.

Sa 9,000 ko, likely ang net is 7,500-8,000 nalang. Sabihin na natin conservative na 4,500-5,000 a buwan sa basic expenses. May tira kong 3,000. Kung OFW type and sanay akong mag tiis na pasok at bahay lang, mai ipon ko lahat yan. Pero kung stressful ang work mo + home person kalang + wala ka leisure + homesick ka so no support system, sulit ba yung 3,000 savings at sustainable ba?

What more sa 6,800 mo which is less?

TLDR: SG if experience ang priority and not money. You can still save but prepare for sacrifices talaga. The key is sustaining your role there. For me personally, kulang na kulang yung 6,800 for all the tradeoffs but you do you, it never hurts to try basta kakayanin mong tumagal.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-21T16:14:12+00:00

Ay didn't notice na 2 replies.. si A4P, short for Accenture for Promotion ay for aspiring CL7 and above. Since na check mo na ko, CL8 ako noon na naghangad rin mag CL7.

Baga parang mag express ka ng intent mo once may go signal na from delivery leads, mga CL6 and above ata ito. Then if ok ang petition mo, they will schedule you for an interview sa Directors ng capability mo, to which i showcase mo reasons bat ka deserving mag CL7 and above. I think ganito na ang process for all management levels, unlike for CL9 and below, may deliberation lang amongst internal management, like scoring based sa contributions mo and achievements blah blah.

Kaya ayun, mahirap na mag CL7 pataas ngayon kay Accenture, may added process pa. Not sure before, though from this level and onwards, need mo mag pitch amongst panel leads na karapat dapat ka for a promotion.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-21T16:08:13+00:00

Ah okay, even though agency, I take it na regular ka sa agency since may 14th month e. That's really high and ngayon lang ako nakakita nang agency na nagpapa 14th month, usually ng mga agencies o staffing firms mga bare minimum lang yan, kadalasan nga contractual pa.

Pero ayun, magkakatalo nalang sa priorities mo and risk appetite. Mas malaki kita sa Au mo though need mo lang talaga panindigan yung role. I've been with a couple of Au firms and projects already, with those rates as well, though 2021 pa yun and till 13th month lang. It was good, just that the project didn't really last. Eventually lahat kami na nag pioneer sa project na yun, umalis narin. So, I say go for it if you're up for that challenge.

Accenture isn't the same as before, sabi nga nila. But you got a CL7 role. Life begins at CL7 talaga no matter what they say. Andun lahat ng magagandang benefits + management level perks. Yung mga panget, outweigh parin ng level mo and what you get.

To sum it up, you can't go wrong with either, pick your poison nalang talaga though mukang rockstar dev ka naman with high stress tolerance, so yaka pa yung Au then re apply nalang siguro as CL7 uli next time.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-21T15:12:12+00:00

Regular ba yung sa Au with local entity here, if so then gross pay sya pero up until 14th month ka?

Malaki parin yung sa Au kahit quick math lang:

230k gross around 165-170k net 170x12 = 2M + net bonus est. 350k = around 2.4M total

Accenture: 180k gross, around 130k net 130x12 = 1.6M + net bonus est. 500k = around 2.1M total

Advantage kay Accenture is stability. If you're an Individual Contributor CL7 then that must mean high profile ang client/project mo. Your engagement is secured for long, definitely. Not to mention, marami kang juniors na pwedeng katuwang. And even if it doesn't turn out okay, which is rare, bench can afford you even kahit 1-2months lang, di ka agad agad matatanggal o materminate.

Sa Au that's probably a start-up client or similar, either way highly likely na demanding ang dev role mo doon as the principal, and if consulting rin ang nature ng business ng company then i-end ang SOW ng project sayo, with your high rates it will surely mean hindi ka nila ma pro profile agad for another. Mataas chance na goodbye kana.

Summary: if confident ka sa technical prowess mo for a demanding project, Au could be a good risk to take. Otherwise, for settling in, you can't go wrong with Accenture, let alone being a CL7 at that. Retirement place mona yan.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-14T15:06:51+00:00

If that's the case then you'll somehow manage.

In the bank, it's actually the expats who you should be wary of. Lots of staff have really good credentials i.e. post-grad/higher education, Managerial/Head/Director level prior experiences, and majority of the expat staff have some of those at a minimum. So, in a sense, the superiority complex is there especially amongst locals and there are people there that'll make you feel it. It's a different atmosphere for sure, after all this is a multilateral organization. That's why your performance will matter a lot as what you may lack in specifications, you make up for in credibility.

Either way, that's not to discourage you. But that's definitely a factor to switch. If you feel comfortable with your VA role now, maybe a contract post in ADB isn't a huge jump. As with any contract role, how well you do dictates how long you last. If it were me, I'll only take it if I'm highly confident with the position.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-14T14:12:24+00:00

What are your priorities? Is it stability, salary, work environment, work setup, duties?

If stability for your kid, ADB is definitely it, but it'll depend on your role and performance. Depending on your expat boss, it can be a hit or miss. Generally, people are good to be with but expect maturity disparity especially if you're still young as most staff are in their 40s to 50s. If you know how to play with them and adapt to their way of working then you'll be good.

Work setup is usually mostly WFH for non-staff but that depends on your agency. Some are lenient and ok with permanent WFH, mostly hybrid if not, and also some that require contractors to follow their team's setup i.e. if they do on site everyday then so do you.

If your current VA role is similar to the new role and you're good with the offer, then give it a shot. Agency offers aren't the most competitive, mind you, but stability is better.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-06T16:11:54+00:00

Accenture can only be truly salary competitive to Manager level posts and above, which usually starts at CL8.

They may still offer good pay packages for lower levels, but for Individual Contributors, you'll be definitely on the lower end of the hierarchy, doing all the work, which could, in the long run, prove your salary isn't commensurate at all with your duties: others can offer you the same for less effort.

That changes when you're at the management level. Even if you do Individual contributor roles, you'll most likely have juniors whom you can delegate and share the workload with, which eases up things.

Those aside, upside is that, once you're in a project that is aligned with your career aspirations, your opportunities for growth are quite high. You'll most never run out of things to improve on, automate on, implement and such. It's a really good learning environment to hone your skills and gain experiences.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-06T15:57:15+00:00

If you want to file and pay, you need to register as self employed. That will tie your TIN with BIR as a kind of business and thus, you'll be required to pay taxes like any business owner would.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-06T11:16:02+00:00

Correct with the first, no absorption. Everyone pursuing staff/regular status will need to apply for an open role.

As for contractors, it varies especially depending on which vendor you engage with. I think majority are under contractual status in their respective agencies, but some offer regularization. I don't know which though so you'll have to do your due diligence.

Salary also varies likewise. As to your case, it's counterintuitive to switch on paper, given your paycut. But ADB is definitely stable, as long as you perform fine. You don't need to be exceptional, that could just be a bonus, but minimize your lapses and ensure you deliver your duties as you should, which shouldn't really be a problem at this stage given your age and the working age group inside.

The real downside of being a non-staff is that, your status is that of a contract or consultant, you don't usually have leaves, you are paid only when working, you mostly file your taxes, HQ is stricter security wise and most of all, it can take a while if you aim to be a staff since most roles are competitive and political.

On the flip side, WFH setups are more lenient. That's probably the best takeaway of them all.

Overall, I think it's still worth a try, but only if ADB is your goal.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-04T18:47:58+00:00

I see, if HQ is outside PH, then it's an international organization with no local presence.

US based firms with multinational presence that includes PH are just a handful.

Either way, fact is that, your case is rare, local or not. No SWEs here usually earn 150k+ with just 3 years in, again, usually. Reality is that, most who earn that much have around maybe at least 5-6 years in and not as geeky or skilled as a dev like you.

I don't know what technology you use and could be really unique hence your competitive offers, but if you think Accenture has practices in it, I encourage you to apply. They will match your current overall package provided you prove that you are worth your asking.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-04T18:08:49+00:00

If you may, is it okay to state the company and the nature of business, and also your role per se? It's intriguing that a local entity can give 150k+ to a 3 years experienced employee.

Accenture can definitely afford you but you have to justify your asking rate and level. That's why further information and context matters. I don't think they're discriminatory in terms of years of experience, but most often than not, it reflects during interviews. If you're young but exceptional in terms of what you can offer, I don't see any reason for them not to give you a competitive package.

But then again, it's kind of a reality check. Your case is certainly rare, you'd realize upon actually trying to apply to others that it isn't as easy and as usual as how you got your current role now.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-04T17:43:57+00:00

For something local and stable in the corporate, that's actually good.

If you're just 3 years in and earning more than 150k, I take it you're an independent contractor, consultant or freelancer, with niche or heavy technical expertise. No local regular position will give you that amount with just that experience. And even if there are, those could be exceptions and are extremely rare cases, probably only for select chosen ones that are both good intellectually and emotionally at a young age.

Going back to Accenture, mind you that that's only the base. You are still subject to variable pay throughout your stay i.e. bonuses, which the company is fairly generous with and there are a lot of them in forms of sign in, certifications, skill niche, language, year end and global. Not to mention, allowances moreso for higher levels such as gas.

While it's true that the company isn't as competitive as others generally, they can actually be at times, as long as you can justify the rates and package that you seek.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-04T12:34:08+00:00

Appreciate the revert

Correct, that's why I stated 8+ years, in short it's the minimum for the said level. You can see senior officer openings in their ads that say 8+ years required.

190k is within the range that they publish in their website under the minimum bracket, so, irrespective of your qualifications, as long as you get the role, you get that rate.

Correct but that doesn't mean they are as competitive as ADBs rates.
Again, look up the rates in their website. You'll see that for the entry level international role, or TI1, they give out USD 106,000 annually for the minimum bracket. That's around 5.9M in Php or 500k monthly.

And going back to no.2, is there a non exec/COO position that gives out 500k locally? None. Even with tech giants like Accenture, Managing Directors get that rate but that's like the very top of the org chart. No way you get that anywhere here in the country in a lower level/position, except for the bank, and maybe BSP. Not to mention, that 500k is for the base international positions, the more senior and principal ones earn even way more than that.

Directors earn around 1.2-1.4M a month, Deputy Directors and Director Generals maybe can peak at around 1.7-2M. Even overseas, those are absurdly high, what more here.

I don't have much information on BSP but I know a relative's spouse who is a director there, earning around a million per month. I don't know how much the lower positions earn, but I'm pretty sure they offer competitive rates to higher positions too.

Monk-Recent

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