Filipinos told to take advantage of outsourcing opportunities

CEBU, Philippines - Filipinos can get multiple job offerings via the Internet, or even start off a home-based business, without having to incur big capital.

Well-known economist BernardoVillegas said that although there is increasing number of employment opportunities in the Philippines, Filipinos do not have to limit themselves to finding jobs in companies, as outsourcing opportunities for individuals is now surging in the world wide web.

“Those who are innovative enough can take this opportunity,” said Villegas adding that earning dollars these days do not anymore mean to leave family and go abroad.

Villegas, an economic professor of the University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P) made mention of the emerging ESL (English as Second Language) online opportunities for Filipinos.

Already, he said some innovative Filipinos are taking advantage of this no capital venture by teaching non-English speaking nationalities through the Internet.

The Philippines is now one of the top ESL destinations for foreign nationalities who have strong interest to learn English such as Koreans.

Filipinos should grab this opportunity as demand is not only limited to Koreans and other foreign nationals coming to the Philippines to learn English.

There is also a large number of nationalities who prefer to stay in their home country and learn the English language virtually.

In Korea alone, he said, there are   thousands who want to learn English without having to stay or travel to the Philippines.

This opportunity should be taken advantaged by Filipinos who are known for their English fluency.

“Some entrepreneurs are now using the Internet to reach out to these Koreans but the world is wide. There is still a huge market out there,” said Villegas.

Job opportunities on the Internet are not only limited to ESL. Villegas said Pinoy jobseekers could search and find other good money-making breaks, even as sidelines or a main job.     

A growing number of Filipinos have already tapped this virtual job opportunities taking works for international companies which are now embracing the outsourcing channel to get workers from all over the world.

Top online contractors such as oDesk, Elance, Freelancer, Guru, PeopleHour, and vWorker are just some of the reliable online employers that offer good jobs and compensation.

These sites often manage the payments, and make money by charging membership fees and/or take a cut of the payment. The cuts can range from four percent to 15 percent. oDesk charges 10 percent but does not charge a membership fee.

A commerce graduate, Cynthia Tabalin-Laput, resigned from her job as admininstrative officer in a local company to focus on her online work.

She earns at least P20,000 to P25,000 a month by getting job assignments from oDesk’s clients.

For three years now, Laput has been working from the coveniece of home by doing data entry jobs for one of the world’s largest retail chains, which is based in the United States. (FREEMAN)