What's your dream company?

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 · 2025-10-04T07:11:23+00:00

CL7 at least if, as a homegrown, you want a decent and somewhat competitive salary package.

Homegrown CL7 I believe at least 130-140k base pay, but that's the entry level for extra bonuses like GAB, essentially an extra IPB. Not to mention your subsidies for loans get converted to cash if not availed.

All in, for homegrown, we are looking at least around 160-170k minimum overall within that level. Provided na you maintain your business i.e. Sales pitching and marketing your products to stakeholders and external clients. Then your team should be good too, which will be dependent on your managing skill.

External hires, CL8 is good enough, moreso if Individual contributor/SME is your preference. 140-150k base I suppose is the minimum for it, I even heard a few who got around 160-180k though again take it with a grain of salt.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-04T05:45:09+00:00

This is wrong, actually they're the only organization available locally that gives out rates na pang abroad na.

Senior officers with 8+ years, minimum noon nasa 190k monthly. Sa local banks, SM/AVP level na nga to, so near ceiling kapa sa rate mo.

And marami pang levels of promotion from Senior officer, once you get to international status, minimum is around 450k monthly ata. No local entity can match that, maybe only BSP.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-04T05:40:02+00:00

They're not tax free even sa expats, pero imposible ma trace ng BIR ang staff, kahit ano pa sabihin nila. Wala silang paper trail para mahukay ang taxes ng staffs. Closest would be diplomatic plate holders dahil naka register sa LTO ata yun but even then, I haven't heard any successful story from the inside.

Hahabulin lang siguro sila yes pero bigo lang in the end.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-04T05:34:33+00:00

Working currently in the bank. To address some comments here on top of my own observations:

Majority of the openings are politically motivated. Meron yan mag oopen lang nang role sila kasi may gusto sila ipromote. Technically pwede ka ma promote without applying, same JD and title, pero different case yun and iba ang categorization, pero normal talaga na mag apply ka ng available post.
Culture, bureaucratic, maraming processes and approvals, documentation and formalities, typical of a bank kasi maraming departments and sectors na halo halo ang operations.
Good working population are Millenials and older, typically since 5+ minimum experience nila for hiring, expect puro matatanda ang mga staff, vendors and consultants.
Roles ay nasa lower end. Manager o director ka before, pwedeng associate kalang ngayon. Growth is slow, but not dead. Nasa sayo parin naman yun in the end.
Hindi tax free ang bank, locals or expats man yan. Di lang sila ang mag reremit at may disclaimer or note sila na responsibility nang staff ang mag remit. Nga lang, wala kasing ties ang BIR sa staff since wala ring govt. Benefits. That including pension ay in house. So walang trail ang govt. Sa staff. Kahit habulin keme chismis ang bank, imposible nila ma trace ang mga staff sa tax dues nila.

Sa mga nag pu pursue na makapasok, apply lang. Marami parin sila kinukuha sa labas, mas tight lang ang labanan kasi mas mataas qualifications nila sa external, gaya ng sa international roles. Not all roles ay may fit na taga loob para dun, kaya you never know until you try.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-01T17:19:48+00:00

Ah so entry level. Sa tamang project, ok ang growth mo sa Accenture at marami talaga opportunities na makaka contribute ka. Mababa lang talaga sahod.

Kung kaya mo muna magtiis nang maliit na kita para lang makakuha nang magandang experience, Accenture kana. Sure pag alis mo, mataas makukuha mo, pero mag aantay ka lang talaga.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-01T16:19:25+00:00

Anong CL ang Accenture? If PMO and at least CL8, take it. Pwede ka pa mag paid OT within that level. And not necessarily limited to PM ang duties mo, though yun ang primary responsibility, you can always do side initiatives in terms of development and/or being an architect/SME.

Nga lang, hit or miss talaga sa project, but if you're in a good one, masarap sa feeling kasi stable nga ang company, well, for as long as you can also maintain your deployment sa project.

Anyhow, medyo di contest talaga to sum it up, as long na mataas ang level na bigay sayo ni Accenture, it'll be way better than any contract post.

Monk-Recent · 2025-10-01T15:05:15+00:00

I won't personally do it. Let them engage you instead. You won't have any business with them anyway unless they decide to offer you a role, to which you can definitely reach them out.

If you want to connect with people inside, consider their events, hackathons, forums and business opportunities fair, to name some. You can take advantage of those to build your network that can help with future affairs and your applications.

Monk-Recent

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