Tech headhunter says PH is “greener pastures” for IT workers

As employers in the U.S. and Europe tighten their belts, the best place for Filipino IT workers right now may be home.

“All the jobs are now here… Salaries (and) packages have become very competitive. I don’t see any reason why kids should still leave the country and find work abroad,” said Gina Duminy, president of technology jobs recruitment website ITProsAsia.com.

“The greener pastures they are looking for are actually here.”

The numbers back Duminy’s claim. Entry-level call center agents in the Philippines make more than their counterparts in India, bringing home US$300 instead of $US250. According to data from CBS Interactive, an IT manager with less than five years of experience makes an average of P270,922 per year (P22,577 a month) while a project manager gets P334,854 (P27,905 a month). 

People in other industries such as Systems Development (P282,375 per year), Communications (P241,459 per year), Support (P197,453 per year) and Administration (P286,143 per year) make roughly the same amount, with figures rising incrementally according to experience.   

 
Developing countries provide more opportunities

While salaries for Filipino employees remain a fraction of the average earnings in developed countries, there are considerations other than gross income.
 
Duminy says that workers who migrate to countries like the U.S. have to grapple with a higher cost of living. She adds that developing nations like the Philippines provide more opportunities for IT workers.   
 
RJ, who works for an offshore publishing company, earns P30,000 a month in a middle management position. He asked Yahoo! to withhold his last name and the name of the company he works for. He says that he would work abroad if the opportunity presents itself. However, he says that having to pursue further training is a deterrent. “Masyadong hassle. Kailangan mo pa kasi i-upgrade yung sarili mo.” 

Demand surpasses supply

Duminy says that employers are very particular with the skills they want from their new hires. “It’s like ordering at McDonald’s,” she says. Employers often request specific characteristics such as proficiency in certain tools and industry experience. This has led to a shortage of worthy candidates.

“The demand really surpasses the supply. The available workers are not enough to support the business,” Duminy said, adding that Filipinos are the preferred choice compared to Indian workers because of their adaptability to the American language and way of life.
 
Large companies like JPMorgan Chase and AT&T have set up shop in the Philippines, and more are expected to follow. “Why look outside when they’re all here?” Duminy said.


Source: Yahoo

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Elance Admission Test Answers

Topic: Getting started on Elance
Q .  As a provider, what is the benefit of maintaining paid plan?

1. Providers with paid accounts receive more Connects initially, and the ability to purchase additional Connects and service categories, allowing them to submit more proposals.
2. Providers with paid accounts are eligible for the Premier Provider Program, Elance chat, and Elance call.
3. Providers with paid accounts at the Small Business or Large Business level have the ability to create teams.
4. Providers with paid accounts can add more keywords and skills test results to their profile.
5. All of the above

Correct Answer: 5
Q.  Elance offers both skills tests and code tests to help providers standout. Through these assessments, providers are able to display their passing scores for the potential employers to review. What are some guidelines to keep in mind related to skills and code tests?

1. If you score higher than 30% of all test takers, you will receive a special indicator next to your score.
2. All tests are timed.
3. 60% is considered a passing score on the skills and code tests.
4. You must wait 7 days to re-test the same skill.
5. All of these are true except d.

Correct Answer: 5

Q. Why is it important for providers to build an effective profile?

1. It provides employers with information about your knowledge and skills.
2. It allows providers to promote their marketing messages.
3. It gives the provider an opportunity to showcase samples of their work.
4. All of above.

Correct Answer: 4
Topic: Finding Job Opportunities
Q.  What tools does Elance provide to enable you to track the time spent weekly on a job and updating an employer on the status of a job?

1. Status Reports
2. Timesheets
3. Tracker
4. Customer Support Contact Information
5. All of these except d

Correct Answer: 5
Q. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Workroom messages?

1. Public messages are different than Workroom messages.
2. It is acceptable to market your services in Workroom messages but not in Public messages.
3. Providers may only use the Workroom messages after submitting a Prebid or a proposal.
4. Workroom messages are viewable by anyone.

Correct Answer: 4
Q. In order for your provider account to become active on Elance, which step is NOT required?

1. Create your profile
2. Pass the Elance Admission Test
3. Enter a credit card
4. Verify your phone number

Correct Answer: 3
Topic: Managing Your Work
Q. Which of these provider actions would be considered a violation?

1. Offering to accept payment outside of the Elance system.
2. Offering to complete a job for an amount below the stated Elance minimums.
3. Posting a work sample in the provider portfolio of which the provider does not have legal rights or ownership.
4. Placing contact details (e.g. a non-Elance website URL, e-mail address, etc.) outside of the designated area on the provider profile.
5. All of these are violations.

Correct Answer: 5
Q. If a conflict arises between an employer and a provider, which of the following steps is NOT part of the Elance dispute process?

1. Member resolution: Members first attempt to resolve the dispute on their own.
2. Elance Dispute Assistance: Elance holds a conference call to facilitate a mutually-agreeable resolution between the employer and provider.
3. Arbitration: A binding judgment is made by the 3rd party arbitration service offered through Elance.
4. Elance management makes the decision about whether the employer or the provider is right.

Correct Answer: 4
Topic: Getting Paid
Q. How does Elance Escrow protect providers?

1. Elance Escrow only protects the employer.
2. It shows that the client has set aside the funds to pay for the provider’s work.
3. It enables providers to defer income without paying taxes.
4. It eliminates the Elance service fee.

Correct Answer: 2
Q. How can providers view a list of all payment activity?

1. In the “Search” option under the “Find Work” tab.
2. On the Skills Central page.
3. In the Get Paid < Account Activity menu.
4. All of these will let providers view their payments.

Correct Answer: 3
Topic: Advanced Tips for Elance Success
Q. Which of the following are Elance features that are designed to provide resources and information to employers and providers?

1. Elance University
2. The Water Cooler
3. The Elance Blog
4. All of these.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 1: As a provider, what is the benefit of maintaing a paid plan?

A: e. All of the above.
Explanation: The answer is pretty obvious when they list a bunch of benefits. How can you go wrong? In any case, the big benefit is the ability to buy connects. In case you don’t know, you need to bid on at least 20 projects before you win your first one. Paid membership is the only option in my book.

Question 2: Elance offers both skills tests and code tests to help providers standout. Through these assessments, providers are able to display their passing scores for the potential employers to review. What are some guidelines to keep in mind related to skills and code tests?

A: e. All except d.
Explanation: You have to wait at least two weeks before re-taking a skills test. Do these at your leisure, and never make them a higher priority than doing work for your current clients. It’s important to pay attention to your test scores, but your work samples are a better indicator.

Question 3: Why is it important for providers to build an effective profile?
 
A: d. All of the above.
Explanation: If you didn’t get this one right, you are severely lacking in basic logic and critical thinking skills. They just listed a bunch of benefits. Of course it has to be all of the above.

Question 4: What tools does Elance provide to enable you to track the time spent weekly on a job and updating an employer on the status of a job?

A: e. Everything except d.
Explanation: Whenever they give you an option like “anything except d,” go with it. Why would they give you an option like that if d weren’t somehow out of place? Plus, customer service doesn’t have anything to do with helping you keep track of your hours.

Question 5: Which of the following is NOT true about workroom messages?

A: d. Workroom messages are viewable by anyone.
Explanation: Only you, your clients, and a few members of Elance’s staff can look at your workroom messages. The workroom is considered a private conversation between you and your client.

Question 6: In order for your provider account to become active on Elance, which step is NOT required?

A: c. Enter a credit card.
Explanation: You don’t have to enter a credit card unless you plan to hire somebody on Elance. Even then, you can enter your bank account information instead.

Question 7: Which of these provider actions would be considered a violation?

A: e. All of these are violations.
Explanation: You have to really watch out for a. Once you begin a contract with a client, you are required to do business over Elance for at least one year before you start taking your business off of the system. If you fail to comply with this rule, you will lose your provider account.

Question 8: If a conflict arises between an employer and a provider, which of the following steps is NOT part of the Elance dispute process?

A: d. Elance management makes the decision about whether the employer or provider is right.
Explanation: Elance never sticks its hands into any dispute between two parties. They hire a third party arbitration service in order to get an objective and unaffiliated perspective.

Question 9: How does Elance escrow protect providers?

A: b. It shows that the client has set aside the money to do the work.
Explanation: Escrow is arguably the reason why sites like Elance exist in the first place. Elance is like Craigslist, but it’s better because it’s much more secure. Without escrow, you have no guarantee that you’ll get paid.

Question 10: How can providers view a list of all payment activity?

A: c. In the get paid > account activity menu.
Explanation: You’ll be checking this all the time, so it’s definitely handy to know.

Question 11: Which of the following are Elance features that are designed to provide resources and information to employers and providers?

A: d. All of these.

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oDesk Readiness Test

Q: Can I start my own company on oDesk?
A: Yes! oDesk allows you to build and manage a team of workers, colleagues and collaborators.
You can even subcontract other workers on oDesk to other customers oDesk (and take a cut).

Q: Which of the following actions are NOT allowed when applying to job openings?
A: All of the above

Q: ‘How does feedback work on oDesk?’
A: All of the above

Q: Which of the following is true of your oDesk timelog?
A: All of the above

Q: Which of the following break the oDesk user agreement?
A: All of the above

Q: Which of the following statements about the oDesk Team application are true?
A: All of the above

Q: What do you need to do to ensure guaranteed payment on hourly jobs?
A: All of the above

Q: If you have not done so please download and install the oDesk Team application.
With the client running right click on the oDesk Team icon in the system tray (or doc for Mac users).
Which of the following options is listed first?
A: TeamRoom..

Q: Which of the following statements are correct about oDesk fees?
A: All of the above

Q: Buyers set weekly limits on hourly assignments, how do these work?
A: All of the above

Q: How does oDesk’s dispute resolution policy for work?
A: All of the above

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Interview Preparation

In the April 2000 issue of the Reader's Digest magazine, Nick Corcodilos, a famous headhunter, recounts how Zagorski, a professional seeking a new job, wowed an interviewer at a big corporation and got the job.

Zagorski went for an interview at AT&T. At the outset, even before Zagorski could settle in his seat, the interviewer told him that he had only 20 minutes to spare. Instead of feeling belittled or nervous, Zagorski got up and walked up to the marker board. He then started writing down the challenges faced by the company. Fifteen minutes later, he wrote down his estimate of what he would add to the bottom line. When he paused to take a look at the interviewer, he found him completely dazed. The next thing he heard was interviewer telling him that there was no need for any further interview. The interviewer called in his team, introduced Zagorski to everybody and they began a working meeting, which lasted for two hours.

Most people go to interviews hoping to be questioned and assessed by an interviewer (s). They go anxious and worried, wondering whether they would get the job. People like Zagorski approach an interview with a completely different mind-set. They go well-prepared to demonstrate how they would fit into an employer’s needs and bring value to their business. They go as a value provider, not as a job seeker.

Would you also like to impress your would-be employer just like Zagorski? If yes, the next time when you get an interview call, do not lose any time and get down to preparing a powerful presentation. Here is a road map:

Know the employer
Go to the company’s website and learn about its products and services. What initiatives this company is taking? Who are their competitors and what challenges are they facing? Read the “news” section to pick up the latest happenings there.

Review the job
Next, zero down to the job that you are pursuing. What are the employer’s expectations in terms of responsibilities, actions and goals? Also note the job requirements – qualifications, experience and skills – that the employer is expecting the right candidate to satisfy.

Review yourself
Look at your resume and review the assets you have: your experience, education, achievements, skills, knowledge and strengths.

Prepare a presentation
Having done the homework, now it is time to prepare a short PowerPoint presentation. The presentation should essentially comprise the following parts:

Part 1: About yourself
Prepare a short introduction to yourself in terms of education, experience and achievements.

Part 2: Employer’s business
This part is about showing your understanding of the company’s business: products, services, markets, competition, etc.

Part 3: Employer’s needs
In this part, list all of the employer’s expectations – responsibilities, actions and goals – you will be expected to meet. Also talk about the challenges you will be facing in the job.

Part 4: How would you deliver
This is the heart of your presentation. Demonstrate how you would tackle the challenges and go on to show how not only you can meet the employer’s expectations but exceed them. To make it credible, share actual examples from your past experience and use quantitative information.

On the whole, keep your presentation limited to 10 slides and 15 minutes long.

Practise
The last and final step is to practise delivering the presentation. The more you practise, the more relaxed, confident and convincing you will be during the interview. 

 Source:  Jobstreet

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