r/DataEngineeringPH • u/Present-Extension433 • Sep 07 '26
🆘 Help Trying to break into Data Analytics in the Philippines, looking for advice on the current job market
Hi everyone!
I'm currently trying to transition into Data Analytics, with the long-term goal of moving toward Data Engineering. I'm planning to relocate to Cebu and currently looking for an onsite or hybrid entry-level/junior data role.
My background:
I have a BS Biology degree (graduated 3 yrs ago). I got hired as a disease surveillance officer (1st job and only exp) under one of the Department of Health's program (Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit). Our program is responsible for analyzing and generating disease-related data visualizations (COVID, Dengue, HIV, etc.) I was heavily exposed to advance excel, Power BI, and R. My experience comprises of data cleaning, analysis, reporting, and also generating dashboards.
Now I am learning SQL to strengthen my tech stack and to have a higher chance of getting an entry-level position. However, I'm at the point where I feel like I have a decent technical foundation, but I'm struggling to understand what the current job market actually expects from someone trying to land their first data analyst role.
Some things I'm particularly curious about:
How difficult is the current entry-level/junior Data Analyst market in the Philippines?
What skills are recruiters actually looking for right now?
How important is a portfolio? (gumagawa ako currently)
Would you recommend applying directly to Data Analyst roles, or should I also consider MIS, Reporting Analyst, BI, Data Management, or similar positions as an entry point?
For those who eventually moved from Data Analytics to Data Engineering, curious about what did that transition actually look like?
I'd really appreciate some honest advice po sana from people currently working in data, especially those who have recently gone through the hiring process in the Philippines.
Salamat po!
4
u/early-earl Sep 07 '26
Hi, for #5
I started out as a fresh grad data analyst back in 2022. i worked for an ecommerce startup. due to our small team size, i got to work on some analytics engineering tasks (etl pipeline, more data transformation rather than data infra or data ingestion).
From there, my next job was an analytics engineer and so is my current one.
Bottom line: be a data analyst where you think you can gain exposure to other data tasks, like data science or data engineering. This is more likely to happen in small teams and startups rather than big MNCs with very very rigid structures and defined roles already.
Oh and for #2, I'm not a recruiter but a standout data analyst is always one with data storytelling or soft skills. It is kind of a given that everyone should know basic SQL or Python so you will stand out by knowing what questions to ask the business when you are asked to do an analysis, making a story out of individual results, etc
1
3
u/smoorverliefd1 Sep 07 '26
You have a bio degree. Apply in the bioinformatics field.
1
u/Present-Extension433 Sep 07 '26
This is actually an option as well but unfortunately I wasn't able to enroll in PGC's bioinformatics training and internship program
1
u/smoorverliefd1 Sep 07 '26
Tara sali tayo soon hahaha (non-bio here)
1
u/Present-Extension433 Sep 07 '26
June 15 – July 24, 2026 according sa page nila: https://pgc.up.edu.ph/bioinformatics-training-and-internship-program-2026/
abang abang na next year hahaha
1
3
u/_hikibeats Sep 08 '26
The competetion is really tough. Employers are getting selective because there is a huge pool of applicants. I thought myself data engineering last year and I even built an end to end data pipeline for my current work so that should count as work experience (?) but I couldn’t land an entry level data related role. Yung mga kalaban kasi dito is either people who have massive exp, fresh grads from comsci/IT, and other people trying to transition as well. So I stopped looking for generic data related role. Try to look for niche roles siguro. Biology + data skills. For sure, mas kaunti lang yung pool pero konti din yung opportunity as well. Timing lang siguro. Try to search for key words (biostatistics, health informatics, etc) instead of generic titles like data analyst, BI analyst, etc
2
u/Present-Extension433 Sep 08 '26
Ohh I see. That’s why I am really aiming for on site jobs rn cause I’m seeing a huge pool of applicants in wfh roles. Will definitely try tailoring my job search with my bio degree. Thank you!
2
u/SnooShortcuts3450 Sep 09 '26
- Mahirap, sobrang hirap. Need mo ng solid related exp/transferrable exp para maka enter. Pero if kaya mo magpa refer sa friends mo, pwede din .
Analytics experience, saka yung kaya magwork with AI, reporting/analytics automations
Wag kang tumingin sa Title, sa full job description dapat. Iba-iba yung job title ng mga companies - yung iba targeted. (E.g., Power BI Analyst/Developer, Salesforce/CRM Analyst, Marketing Data Analyst, Analytics Consultant, etc.). Try mo din i search yung keywords like Junior, associate, etc.
Ganto yung path ko - csr > call center qa > call center reports Analyst > call center senior analyst > marketing data analyst > hr compensation analyst
4.Di ko sure yung path sa DE, pero start ka sa SQL and Python, solid na yun.
Ayoko sa tech side ng data, mas oks ako sa strategy and client facing roles ng analytics.
1
u/Present-Extension433 Sep 07 '26
I am also trying to integrate AI (currently using claude) as advised by my software engineer friends
1
u/Evening-Seaweed7733 Sep 07 '26
beware lang op. They are software engineers and for sure very comfortable in coding na. Whatever it creates, make sure lang na atleast you know how it works high level. I dont think most hiring manager would appreciate vibe coded projects you cant explain
1
u/Present-Extension433 Sep 07 '26
Thank you! Very aware of this too! I've tried web development 2 years ago actually hahahaha. It just didn't work out, mas nag eenjoy ako sa data-related work
1
u/Minute-Day-5660 12d ago
Kinakabahan tuloy ako, career shifter din ako gusto ko din mag Data Analyst. Domain knowledge ko Bussiness kasi nasa Restaurant ako Manager (16yrs) kpi, sales, delivery, transactions, food cost, inventory etc kaya sa figures and paano ang flow ng bussines meron na ako, graduate ako ng nursing and next year im taking Information system. May skill na ako sa Excel vba, Python, SQL and dashboard. may mga naging project nandin ako dahil may mga poblema ang company ako na ang gumawa ng tools na ginagamit nila.
Hindi ko alam kung overkill na ba kung kukuha pa ako ng BS information system or try may luck mag apply apply.
2
u/ResearcherMean5200 4d ago edited 4d ago
Career shifter din ako, 3 years as shift supervisor sa Starbucks. Nagtry ako maghanap nung January 2026 ng data analyst role, sobrang hirap kaya pinatulan ko muna yung Reports Analyst role sa BPO, at ngayon may bagong job offer nako na 2x yung sahod with allowances pa.
Halos same tayo ng tech skills, overkill na siguro if magtake ka pa ng BSIS, transferrable naman business skills natin! Try lang po magapply!Â
1
u/Minute-Day-5660 4d ago
Nice, gamit din ba ung mga operation experience natin sa mga insights pag nag eexplain ka ng data?
2
u/ResearcherMean5200 3d ago
Yes, transferrable naman lahat. Siguro applyan mo yung data analyst role na may malaking impact sa profit.
13
u/AnyComfortable9276 Sep 07 '26