Being a bustling tourist island all year round, Boracay hosts many employment opportunities.
Residents from the Panay mainland can take advantage of this due to their proximity, but those from far points in the country can also take part in the workforce. However, there are several considerations that must be taken, since Boracay fosters competition not only among businesses but also among workers. Here are four job-hunting tips for job seekers in Boracay:
1. Accommodation
If you are coming from somewhere other than Aklan, lodging on the island is a foremost necessity. If you happen to find a job in a hotel, the management might provide in-house lodging in exchange for a salary deduction. For other job positions, independent lodging is needed. There are homestays and rentable apartments in Boracay: just be patient to look for one that is within your budget.
Unlike having a regular job in the metro, working in Boracay may have its uptime and downtime. If you found a casual job, you might be asked not to report to work during the low season. Thus, you might find yourself doing less work, but you must be able to obtain supplementary funds by being temporarily employed.
2. Job position
There are a variety of jobs to be found on the island. Since competition is high, skills are essential. Professional chefs and managers may grab the same positions in hotels and resorts. The D’Mall may have some openings for clerks and sales representatives. Experienced surfers may become instructors, while seasoned Boracay travellers may become tour guides.
For those who are business-minded, opening a shop or restaurant on the island may be a possibility. Since foreigners cannot own any property on the island, natives may look for a partner to establish a tie-up business. This not only makes one an automatic owner or manager of the business but also opens opportunities for other Filipinos.
3. Compensation
For highly skilled positions, the salary must be higher than in the capital. However, for regular menial jobs, compensation may be around Php200 or Php250 per day, which may sound less enticing. The other part of the equation is the contract; most employers hire people for contractual employment that prevents them from being regulated and receiving benefits.
4. Competition
Boracay is an international tourist destination, so it only follows that the communication gap is minimised among tourists and service providers. This requirement has made a tight competition between locals and foreigners. It is not surprising to see more foreign diving or surfing instructors than locals because they can communicate much easier with foreign tourists using the international lingua franca.
The prestige of Boracay as a tourist-magnet may not be that beneficial to the local workforce due to tight competition, but those from nearby islands may still leverage from the many employment opportunities available there. Unless with great experience and skills, others may opt to look for positions in cities where higher compensation and possible regularisation benefits are offered.
