Thinking about moving to Manila – realistically, are there jobs for a German in technical sales?
Hi everyone,
I recently spent three weeks in the Philippines and completely fell in love with Manila.
What really struck me was the combination of Southeast Asian culture and how widely English is spoken. It made it feel very different from the other places I've traveled.
I spent the first few days wandering around Manila on my own, and later experienced the city with a local, which gave me a much better sense of what everyday life there might actually look like.
I'm from Germany, 38 years old, and I've been thinking about living abroad for a while. My English is pretty good, but not quite at the level where I can speak it completely effortlessly every day, mainly because I don't get much daily practice in Germany.
I work in B2B technical sales, mainly selling equipment (capital goods) in metalworking and industrial automation. I also have a technical background, so I'm used to discussing manufacturing processes, machinery and automation solutions with customers.
I don't expect to just move to Manila and get a German-level salary at a local company. But I'm really curious whether someone with my background could realistically find a well-paid role at a multinational, an international sales organization, or perhaps an APAC-focused position based in Manila.
Has anyone here made a similar move in the middle of their career?
I'd especially appreciate advice on:
Companies or industries worth looking into
International/European companies that hire foreigners in Manila
Realistic salary expectations
Work visa sponsorship
Whether it's better to apply from Germany or build a network locally
I'm not packing my bags tomorrow; I'm trying to gauge whether this could become a realistic plan over the next few years.
Any experiences or advice would be hugely appreciated!
The Philippines isn't where foreigners make money. The jobs are for locals. Foreigners retire here or earn from overseas (like digital nomads, or fly-in/fly-out work like oilfields).
Just no. Find a job in Singapore and have the Philippines as part of your sales territory. You'll get higher pay and healthcare, unlike working in the Philippines.
Here's what you do. Find a remote job in Germany that lets you work from anywhere. Then move to the Philippines.
Ask about remote work and spend a while there. Vacationing and living are two completely different things.
I'm sick and tired of all these young guys with no money wanting to move here just because they can't get laid in their own countries. No, there's no job for you here. Focus on being more successful in your own country, and you won't have to abandon your job and move to the other side of the world just to get laid. This sub is loser central.
The advice others have given is pretty good. The only other option I can think of is pitching yourself to startups abroad (especially in Germany, given your connection) that want to hire but don't have a big budget. You'd pitch it to them as 'Western competence at Southeast Asian prices.'
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