The Philippines has been ranked number two in the 2014 Tholons Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations. Seven cities made it to the list including Manila (No. 2), Cebu (No. 8), Davao (No. 69), Metro Laguna (No. 82), Bacolod (No. 93), Iloilo City (No. 95), and Baguio City (No. 99). These rankings affirm the steady growth of the outsourcing industry in the Philippines.
Virtual assistance has seen a steady increase in demand over the past years with more business owners seeing the efficiency and convenience of this business solution. As we continue our series on outsourcing, we’ll have an inside look at working with Filipino VAs. In order to succeed in this venture, you need to know the Filipino worker first because this will help you interact and communicate better with your VA.
Filipinos are no strangers to outsourcing. From BPO companies to freelancers, many Filipino professionals have experienced working for an offshore client. Chances are, your VA has handled clients before and provided similar services to the one you’re looking for. They know what it takes when working with a foreign client such as possible night shifts and meeting important deadlines.
Filipinos are a hardworking bunch. Filipinos are known to give 101% when it comes to their jobs. Overtime is common place in Philippine-based companies. Even overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are known for going beyond what is asked of them. They have been conditioned to keep up with the pace of the West which prepared Filipino professionals to grind it out and adapt well to pressure.
Filipinos are generally shy. The non-confrontational culture of the country has made the Filipino worker more of a “yes man.” It’s not natural for them to ask questions. They prefer to simply follow instructions to avoid uncomfortable conversations. They are not generally vocal about their opinions but they have good attention to detail thus allowing them to execute tasks efficiently.
Filipinos are loyal. Filipinos can stay in a company for 20 years or more. They are very loyal especially if their employers treat them well. They also value good relationships with their co-workers and this makes them more devoted to the company they work for. Filipinos operate on a “debt of gratitude” principle which fuels their loyalty to someone who has showed them favor even if it’s just one instance.
Filipinos have a positive disposition. One of the best qualities of Filipinos is always seeing the brighter side of life. May it be recovering from a calamity or a personal tragedy, Filipinos manage to be joyful whatever their circumstances may be. Having said that, you don’t need to worry about having queen bees and drama queens in your team. Your VA’s positive outlook might even rub off on you!
So how do these play out with your working relationship with your Filipino VA? Remember that most of them know the dynamics of outsourcing and they wouldn’t be surprised with your demands. From your end, you need to give them the full details of their job along with your expectations. Since they’re hard working and have the tendency to overwork themselves, you need give them a specific schedule or work hours so that they can pace their work well. Encourage your VA to ask questions so that everything is clear with their tasks. Give them feedback so that they’ll know where they excelled and where they made mistakes. Keep communication lines open to make them feel comfortable talking with you.
When looking for a Filipino VA, start looking for VA firms first. These VA firms provide thorough training to their VAs and they have supervisors who oversee their tasks, ensuring prompt delivery and high quality output. You may have heard it said that “it’s more fun in the Philippines.” This is very fitting when working with them as well. Having a hardworking, loyal, and optimistic Filipino VA is a great advantage. They’re easy to work with and their professional skills are competitive to what the global workforce has to offer.
About Pepper Virtual Assistants
Pepper Virtual Assistant Services is a business solutions firm that specializes on administrative assistance, customer support, CRM, copywriting, and personal virtual assistance. We take pride in our reliable service and responsive client handling which embodies our team’s optimal performance.
Here here! It’s more fun in the Philippines! Not just by enjoying the place but by getting along with Filipinos. Filipinos are no strangers to outsourcing, they can deal with all customer complaints & resolve issues in no time with customer satisfaction. Filipinos are a hardworking bunch with a mixture of smart thinking. Filipinos are generally shy but eventually grow out from it & go FEARLESS! Filipinos are loyal which is so true! Filipinos have a positive disposition, truly in good times & in badIn Pepper, taking pride in reliable & exemplary service, responsive client handling and customer satisfaction embodies the team’s excellent performance.
Everything you said is right on the money, Essie! The Filipino character is truly one of a kind. Our optimism and hardworking nature is a great combination that allows us to excel. 🙂
Philippines produces a lot of successful and competitive VAs. Filipinos might be positively known through only a few of these positive attitudes yet then they are also applauded for their more realistic side. It’s not only these that make Filipino VAs more preferred by the foreign, it’s their way of facing their lives bravely through acquiring VA positions for their family’s benefit. Filipino VAs are way beyond who they are online which encourage their clients to choose them on online assistance and service.
We totally agree with what you said, Nikko! Our family values are part of our culture and thinking, which makes Filipinos very dedicated workers. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
As a person coming from a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Company, I say the Philippines is one of the best places you’ll find in the world. Filipinos possesses a positive attitude when it comes to work. Filipinos are industrious, skillful and friendly, few of the many attitudes that a client needs.
Filipinos are industrious who wouldn’t take no as answer for any request. They always ensure that their tasks were of excellence and not of mediocrity. It is never an issue for them to work on late hours or night shifts, as long as they can bring food to the table or sustain their family’s needs. Second, Filipinos are very skillful beings there is. They are fluent in English who can replicate any accent, computer literate who can maneuver any computer applications and good team players who always have a helping hand for their colleagues. Lastly, Filipinos are the friendliest persons in the world. They always find a way to socialize and have a very good laugh despite of the problems they are bearing.
Overall, Filipinos are the best people when it comes to Business Process Outsourcing because they are hard-working, proficient and sociable.