For many Filipinos, working abroad is a means to secure a better future for their families. Such is the path that Leonard Bayot took in order to send his three siblings to school, keen to see them graduate and eventually succeed on their own. In 2006, he left the Philippines to explore opportunities in Singapore, where he worked his way up to become a senior test engineer for a global IT company.
By 2024, he had successfully accomplished his mission while building a thriving career in the Lion City. “My siblings have already graduated and are starting to build their own lives,” he shares proudly. His next goal became clear: to come home to the Philippines. “It had been 18 long years since I left, and I thought it was about time to go back and spend more time with my family,” he says.
His time away also made him realise how he wants to spend his life moving forward.
“Time is very precious and we need to be very wise with how we spend it. Because once it's gone, you can't gain it back.”
While planning a homecoming may sound easy, it can be a tricky feat, especially for overseas Filipino professionals who wish to continue building their careers and receive good compensation within the local landscape. Leonard was aware of how fierce the competition was in today’s job market. Thankfully, he found a way to smoothly transition back without sacrificing his professional goals.
With the help of Grace Sampan, international candidate manager running the Balik Bayan Programme of Robert Walters, and Andrea Martinez, senior consultant at Robert Walters Philippines, Leonard was able to quickly find employment in line with his engineering expertise and fulfil his dreams of being reunited with his family. “It’s very challenging to be away from home and to work in a foreign country,” admits Leonard. “First, there’s the challenge of missing your family. Then there are the differences in culture.”
But those are struggles he no longer has to face. “Robert Walters gave me the chance to achieve my ultimate goal: to go back home and be with my family,” he says. “And on top of it all, they gave me a great job opportunity – a new place where I can share my talents and enhance my skills further.”
The process proved to be easier than he’d anticipated, too. “The job search was uncomplicated, simple, and most importantly, effective,” Leonard highlights. He also found that the HR team was extremely helpful and reliable. “The recruitment team was very accommodating, and they helped me beyond my expectations,” he adds.
These days, Leonard is relishing his new life wherein he gets to enjoy the best of both worlds – personal fulfilment and career growth. “I believe time is one of the most valuable aspects of life and we should prioritise spending it with family.”
