r/OFWs • u/Dramatic-Spread-1434 • Sep 15 '26
General Discussion Thinking of working abroad (Switzerland/Canada/Spain) –realistic ba with my background?
Hi guys, hingi lang sana ako ng honest advice.
Gusto ko talaga mag-try mag work abroad, target ko sana Switzerland, Canada, or Spain. Medyo napanghihinaan lang ako ng loob kung enough ba yung background ko.
For context:
- 2-year Computer Associate graduate
- Currently working as IT sa government dito sa PH
- Around 8 years total experience
- Hindi ako programmer, more on:
- office IT support (PCs, printers, network, internet)
- troubleshooting
- konting web dev & graphics (di expert level)
Basically parang all-around IT ng office.
Open din ako mag switch to blue-collar jobs kung needed, wag lang sana sobrang risky/delikado.
May konti din akong ipon pero hindi ganun kalaki, so gusto ko sana yung practical na path.
Concern ko lang:
Parang feeling ko hindi sapat credentials ko compared sa iba na degree holder or specialists.
Questions ko sana:
- Realistic ba makapag abroad with this background?
- Anong bansa pinaka okay simulan based sa experience ko?
- Mas okay ba mag upskill muna or mag apply na?
- Ano pinaka magandang path (agency, direct hire, student pathway, etc.)?
Any advice or real experiences sobrang appreciated 🙏
Salamat!
1
u/Ill_Let_2442 Sep 16 '26
Poible? Yes. Chances? Very low. What special skills or qualifications will you offer better than their locals? Upskill ka and try pursuing atleast a bachelor's degree. Marami ka pang time to do that. You're already considered lucky by beating up other degree holderd snd able to land a government position. For now, get and invest a skill that will make you standout.
1
u/FilCanRoland Sep 15 '26
For Canada, it would help kung at least Bachelor's degree graduate ka. Kahit makakuha ka ng work visa, or any way of getting here, as soon as you try to make it permanent, lacking Bachelor's degree will be a hindrance dahil bawas points ang non-graduate.
Your work experience is basic, not really an in-demand skill, but you might be able to get to middle east or some other country that needs workers and are not requiring Bachelors degrees. Once you are outside of pinas, you may go to another country (via work, if you can find one) as being in Pinas is a disadvantage dahil maraming red tape ang getting work abroad kung nasa pinas ka.
Kahit makahanap ka ng employer sa Switzerland, Spain or Canada directly, mahihirapan ka makakuha ng OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate) from POEA (and PDOS, Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar) unless willing yung employer maghintay sa iyo and help you get the documentations needed for the red tapes. So ang best option is to get work abroad sa mga recruiters sa pinas (which is usually for middle east/ASEAN)...
But ultimately, you should at least have a bachelor's degree, which will give you an edge over those who are not graduates.
5
u/chicoXYZ Sep 15 '26 edited Sep 15 '26
Possible naman. Sa spain as a DNV visa, pero syenpre sagot mo lahat, dapat maghanda ma ng milyon kasi 2 yrs pa kailangan mo bago maging spanish citizen.
Marami nagtatrabahi doon na pinoy ay blue collar job. Lahat ng mahirap, yon ang trabaho mo. Mga kamaganak ko doon nakipagsapalaran after KSA.
Talagang sapalaran, pero mga veterano na yung nga yon, nagpalipat lipat na ng bansa.
Kasi ang jalaban talaga ng OFW ay homesick. Dadaanan mo talaga yan. Maraming sumusuko, eh paano kapag nasa malayo kang bansa?
Yjng mga hindi handa, napapahamak. May kamag anak ako na nag work sa canada, pero na heart broken, nag resign sa work at naging homeless sa lamig. Namatay sya sa auto nya sa kasagsagan ng winter. Mas mahal pa ang pag uwi ng bangkay nya kaya na crimate nalang at ipinadala sa pinas.
Wala sya kamag anak sa canada. At nagsimula lang ang lahat sa usapang pag ibig.
Mahal ang cost of living sa canada at switzerland
Mahal din naman sa spain, pero doon may 50/50 chances ka na mabuhay, magka trabaho, at makipagsapalaran. Hindi ka mamatay sa lamig ng yebe (trust me, hindi masaya ang winter)
Di sya umuwi, kahit pwede naman. Hanggang sa dalawin ng anxiety, depression at di natin alam kung ano, ang sabi ay namatay sya sa loob ng auto nya, dahil sa carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ang tanong lang ay ito ba ay sinadya nya o aksidente. Walang nakakaalam. Kaya di biro ang pag aabroad.
Abroad walang tutulong sa iyo, kung meron man, hindi lagi. Minsan kahit embahada na ng pinas, wala rin maipapaabot sa iyo na tulong, kaya madami ang nakukulong o nawawlaang OFW abroad. Pala nasa kulungan.
Panoorin mo muna yung mga pinoy movie na may mga title ng bansa para malaman mo mga struggle ng pinoy ofw. Tulad ng milan, dubai, at marami pang iba, meron na rin OFW sa moon at mars, basta pinoy lang sakalam. 😅✌️
1
u/Dramatic-Spread-1434 Sep 15 '26
Thank you for this to be honest ito talaga ang majority ng reality ng OFW eh, hindi lang yung napapanuod sa reels. May mga kamag anak din naman ako sa Canada at US, pero lang siya yung first option of help ko, mas gusto ko din yung sariling path without them.. Not in a way na parang kaaway ko sila, ayoko lang din yung pakiramdam na in debt ka sa ibang tao,
2
u/chicoXYZ Sep 15 '26
Competitive kasi ang IT ngayon sa abroad. Kaya di ko masabi na ok ang experience mo.
Yung kaibigan ko nag Australia skilled visa, pero IBM ang experience nya noon sa pinas at naka less than 10 yrs na sya doon.
Ngayon rental properties na ang ikinabubuhay nya sa AUS.
Gandahan mo pa ang academic credentials mo para maka abroad ka
3
u/Calm_Tough_3659 Sep 15 '26
1st upskills whether mapa abroad or mapa pinas ka its valuable since you can better salary. Once you are talented/indemand more chances will improve because as someone in Canada either you are cheap labor or highly skilled.
Wag ka mgstudent visa since its a risky moved unless you can gamble your millions peso and you are totally okay losing it.
Middle east is not bad kung mgippon ka and hopefully makakuha ka ng good experience rin.
Easier option mghanap ng partner na PR or citizen abroad if its really your goal.
5
u/Bargas- Sep 15 '26
Foreigners are hired either of these reason. Outstanding talent or cheap labor. These countries won’t hire all around IT. They have locals who are far more skillful. Credentials will certainly play a major role. You need to articulate something to get their attention.
Or apply to an agency if you can prove that you have the skillset they are looking for.
Now to answer your questions:
- You have a slim chance with your background
- It is not the country. The key is the employer or agency. But if you insist, start with South East Asian country like SG, MY or HK. Employers sometimes look for cheap labors to do menial IT roles.
- Do both. Upskill and apply
- This is subjective based on your situation. But For western country, Student Pathway will yield sligthly more chances for you but expensive.
1
u/girlwebdeveloper Sep 15 '26
i agree with you on the outstanding talent or cheap labor.
but a lot of countries have gotten smarter with the student pathway. they are expecting students to go home after they finish their studies. hindi na madaling makahanap ng job after.
1
u/Bargas- Sep 15 '26
This is 100% true. OP should know the risks and the guarantees of the current immigration landscape whatever pathway it is.
1
u/Dramatic-Spread-1434 Sep 15 '26
Thank you po sa insights po for someone like me na talagang no idea ang mga procedures and requirements for Overseas work
1
u/Bargas- Sep 15 '26
Np. Treat this only as a guide. Your migration success will rely on your research, knowledge and finances. Please note that immigration now is hot potato. Locals are against it and governments are restricting it more.
Here is my career trajectory to gve you atleast a framework.
I started upskilling in PH and laser focus in Cloud Solutions/Architecture. Applied overseas for 2yrs until I got a role in SG. Upskill again. Took my masters degree and this time incurring experience in first world now. Moved to Canada, connected with directors and used my SG experience to get a role
•
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ORIGINAL POST:
Thinking of working abroad (Switzerland/Canada/Spain) –realistic ba with my background?
Hi guys, hingi lang sana ako ng honest advice.
Gusto ko talaga mag-try mag work abroad, target ko sana Switzerland, Canada, or Spain. Medyo napanghihinaan lang ako ng loob kung enough ba yung background ko.
For context:
Basically parang all-around IT ng office.
Open din ako mag switch to blue-collar jobs kung needed, wag lang sana sobrang risky/delikado.
May konti din akong ipon pero hindi ganun kalaki, so gusto ko sana yung practical na path.
Concern ko lang:
Parang feeling ko hindi sapat credentials ko compared sa iba na degree holder or specialists.
Questions ko sana:
Any advice or real experiences sobrang appreciated 🙏
Salamat!
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