With remote workers and freelancers becoming a significant section of the global workforce, many businesses are now scouring around the world for fresh talents. The Philippines is one of the countries that have been at the forefront of the new trend. But why would you want to hire staff from this Southeast Asian nation? Here are some great answers to consider.
Hiring from the Philippines reason no. 1: Pinoys are easy to train
One concern that many companies have when hiring remote workers from different countries is the time it takes to train them for the job. This is often exacerbated by the language barrier between the company and the potential hires. With Filipinos, the training process is a lot easier.
First off, around 82% of Filipinos speak English with a good amount of proficiency. This breaks down the language barrier. Furthermore, Pinoys are willing to learn a new language if required for a job. As such, even companies located in non-English speaking countries will be able to effectively converse with Filipinos.
Many Filipinos’ ability to pick up new skills go beyond just learning a new language. They tend to be overachievers and place great emphasis on delivering a good performance to impress clients. Furthermore, they want to be more versatile and will try to learn even skills that might not be directly related to their current fields. This makes them handy as all-around remote office staff.
Hiring from the Philippines reason no. 2: Pinoys are culturally flexible
Another common hurdle when hiring remote staff or freelancers from another country is cultural differences. Each nationality can interpret work nuances according to their own culture. For instance, an American worker might interpret a simple OK emoji on the chat differently from how a Brazilian might see it. This can cause misunderstandings which will affect both the work at hand and team relations.
Owing to over 300 years of colonization, Filipinos are culturally adaptable and can fit in easily to different working environments. They have a strong Western influence courtesy of the Spanish and the Americans. On the other hand, the Asian influences are apparent thanks to their long relationship with the Chinese and Japanese communities.
Filipinos are also very knowledgeable about other cultures. Being one of the most Internet-savvy nations, they are updated with all that is happening in different countries. They are even willing to learn about new cultures they encounter, such as Korean culture through K-pop. Because of this affinity, Filipinos are often dubbed as “global citizens.”
Hiring from the Philippines no. 3: Pinoys are always ready for a challenge
You will likely have heard about Filipino resilience countless times, be it in the face of natural disasters or man-made circumstances. In fact, the Philippines is considered as the third happiest country in the world, according to the latest Gallup International’s Annual Global Year End Survey. And Pinoys are always ready to stand back up and start rebuilding when the hurdle is over.
What this translates into for remote work is that you get a strong-willed member always ready to take on challenging roles. Filipinos are also ingenious problem solvers. This stems from the need for many to make ends meet even with limited resources: As such, you can expect them to come up with solutions that you might not think of.
Another great thing about Filipinos is that they are always ready to help others. Whether it is a fellow team member or even a higher up, you can expect them to lend a hand. This even translates to customer service, as they would go to great lengths to resolve a client’s issues.
Hiring from the Philippines reason no. 4: Pinoys are friendly
Even if you and your remote team do not see each other physically, you would still want to build camaraderie between everyone. This is why having a Filipino member on the team is a great idea. Pinoys are naturally friendly and will get along easily with other members of different nationalities.
This friendly nature is already shown by overseas Filipino workers who are working with foreigners. They are always ready to show what Filipino hospitality is all about and offer their best hand to everyone. As such, you would want to check and see if the Pinoy freelancer that you are hiring has already worked with foreigners to be sure that they have the personality.
Pinoy members can also make the work environment lighter. They love to have fun at any given opportunity, be it simply bantering around or going out together to celebrate. What’s more, many Pinoys have a positive outlook in life that will easily rub off to other team members.
Hiring from the Philippines reason no. 5: Pinoys are loyal
One of the challenges with hiring freelancers and remote staff is getting ones that would stay with you for a long time. Often, they would immediately move to another client that has a better offer. While Filipinos are not exempted from doing this, they have a strong sense of loyalty for the right employer.
This stems from Pinoys’ concept of utang na loob, or a deep sense of gratitude for those who have helped them greatly. For instance, giving them a good work offer is enough to earn that sense of gratitude. As such, you can expect them to reward that opportunity with a strong commitment to the work at hand.
Of course, to get the most out of that commitment, you need to cultivate it properly. Providing your Pinoy remote staff with additional perks like more flexible working times and leaves are some of the simple ways to do that. Also, be sure to reward their efforts with more than just a pat on the back. Companies like Virtua Solutions understand this well and provide Pinoy remote teams with good salaries and other rewards.
Get the best Pinoy talents today
Aside from the above reasons, there are still more which will convince you that hiring from the Philippines is a great idea. And once you start working with Pinoy freelancers and remote staff, you will appreciate them even more for their dedication. Start hiring today and assembling the best team your business can have.